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POTENTIAL MERGER COULD AFFECT MSU TOURISM ACTIVITIES
 Institutional change is a part of the evolving higher educational landscape. Universities adjust their missions in response to societal needs, growth opportunities, and budget constraints. Michigan State University is no exception.
Over the past year, our College, Agriculture and Natural Resources, has been engaged in a planning process designed to help position itself for the future. As the College came to the end of the planning process, our Dean proposed that four smaller units be combined as part of a restructuring process. The proposal was announced in May 2002.
The Dean specifically recommended that Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources (PRTR), Resource Development (RD), Agriculture and Natural Resources Education and Communication Systems (ANRECS) and the Travel, Tourism and Recreation Resource Center (TTRRC) be combined into a new department. Faculty members from the four units have been holding meeting to discuss the proposal.
Obviously, this proposed change could have profound implications for our programs in tourism. It is too early to know all of the implications, but the proposal is being taken seriously. We are all looking for the opportunities it presents, while being mindful of the drawbacks.
Each of the units brings a unique focus to this merger. TTRRC and PRTR have a long tradition of serving clients in parks, recreation, tourism and commercial recreation, some in the public sector and others in the private sector. This newsletter is but one example of how we attempt to provide technical assistance, outreach education, and research results to clients across the state. Resource Development has a long history of studying environmental issues, a broad set of natural resource management issues, watershed management, community development and international development. In the case of ANRECS, they have provided the general agricultural major for the college, have focused research on agriculture organizational management, and have provided leadership development training to agricultural organizations.
Change creates opportunities and challenges. While we cannot predict the exact structure of this new unit, we can imagine and build upon these images. Much of tourism in Michigan is based upon natural resources. This new unit, with its enhanced expertise in natural resource planning and development, could shed new light on the relationship between natural resources and a healthy environment. Increasingly, rural communities depend upon tourism for their economic growth. This new unit should bring a broad range of community development ideas to the discussion of how tourism fits into the economic picture. Finding the leaders of tomorrow is a challenge for many industries, including tourism. It is not hard to imagine that this new unit could be a source of leadership training in tourism that goes beyond what is currently being offered by MSU.
Poorly managed change can lead to failure. It is our goal to move in a direction that supports tourism in the state. While our internal structure will change here at MSU, it is our strongest desire that MSU remain a place for tourism professionals and the tourism industry to turn to for assistance and information.
As we make changes, stay in touch. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us. If you would like to review the four units involved in this merger, please use the web sites listed below. If you have comments to share, send them to one of us or to Dean Jeffrey Armstrong (armstroj@msu.edu)
TTRRC: www.tourismcenter.msu.eduPRTR: www.prr.msu.eduANRECS: www.anrecs.msu.eduRD: http://rdserv1.rd.msu.edu/Thank you.
The Editors
Don Holecek, Director of TTRRC - dholecek@msu.edu
Joe Fridgen, Dept. Chair, PRTR - jfridgen@msu.edu
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