Dear Colleagues,

The arts and humanities are central to MSU's mission as a land-grant, research-intensive university. Our faculty provide dynamic intellectual and creative leadership and students in the College of Arts & Letters enjoy vastly expanded opportunities in a wide variety of subjects, including the creative and performing arts, languages and literatures, art history, philosophy and religious studies, as well as many interdisciplinary fields. Courses offered by the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities reach every undergraduate student, enhancing intellectual and emotional growth by fostering the essential skills of critical thinking, creativity, writing, and communication.

The College of Arts & Letters provides a carefully balanced education that trains students for careers in their disciplines and at the same time fosters the higher thinking skills that allow our students to adapt to the accelerated pace of our changing world.

Students who major in our programs learn to think independently and engage in active inquiry, learn to ask questions and pursue new ways of integrating multiple kinds of knowledge, gain self-knowledge and strengthen their understanding of their role as citizens of a global community. They are encouraged to become creative problem solvers, prepared to tackle the challenges that confront our nation and our world. They acquire dexterity in communication, the ability to make ethical decisions in a morally complex world, respect for and an ability to learn from diverse communities of people, and an awareness of time and place.

Our graduate programs are mindful of these learning goals and prepare the next generation of scholar-teachers not only for excellence in their disciplinary preparation, but also as engaged educators who seek innovative ways to convey knowledge.

Thank you for considering a gift of your support to the 2009 All-University Campaign. We appreciate your generosity and are deeply grateful for the commitment you have shown during past campaigns. We invite you to visit our web site at www.cal.msu.edu to see the many exciting things that are taking place in the College of Art & Letters.

Sincerely,

Karin A. Wurst
Dean