MSU Trustees Frequently Absent From In-Person Meetings
EAST LANSING, MI – November 12, 2025, 06:38:16 AM EST - Full in-person attendance is not standard practice for the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, according to statements made to The State News this week. The issue of trustee attendance surfaced following questions regarding the participation of Trustee Pat Denno.
The infrequent in-person presence of board members raises concerns about transparency and engagement in critical university governance. While remote participation is permitted, consistent physical attendance is frequently enough viewed as a demonstration of commitment and allows for more nuanced discussion and direct interaction with administrators and the public. The board’s decisions impact over 50,000 students, thousands of faculty and staff, and the university’s $3.2 billion economic impact on the state of Michigan.
Trustee Melanie Alan revealed that Denno’s attendance record at board and committee meetings has been noted by other trustees and university President Kevin Guskiewicz.Despite awareness of the situation, Alan expressed skepticism about the board’s ability to mandate in-person attendance. “To be fair, I don’t know that there’s anything they could do to get a grown adult to show up for their job,” she said.
Requests for comment from Denno went unanswered, according to reporting by The State News. The board’s next scheduled meeting is December 13, 2025, where the issue of trustee engagement could perhaps be addressed.
