<p>Hey I was just wondering if anyone could help me out with some pros and cons about each of these schools and which you might have preferred if you visited both.</p>
<p>Any information, really, about either would be great!</p>
<p>If you post this question on the MSU website you will probably get a response from the one of the regular posters there. I don’t know anything about RCAH but MSU has a reputation for doing a good job with residential colleges.</p>
<p>If you are interested in RC at Michigan, I would recommend taking a visit. Some students really like RC but it is definitely not for everyone.</p>
<p>Also you can find pretty good information on this site with searches. I think there are several threads on RC at Michigan.</p>
<p>The RCAH is very new at MSU. The university at East Lansing is closing down some departments. </p>
<p>[The</a> State News : Department of Geological Sciences among potential department, program cuts](<a href=“http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2009/10/department_of_geological_sciences_among_potential_department_program_cuts]The”>Department of Geological Sciences among potential department, program cuts - The State News)</p>
<p>I would be very leery about how long that particular school might be around.</p>
<p>A Future for Geological Sciences at Michigan State
July 29, 2010</p>
<p>I am very pleased to pass along to SVP members the news that, following a period in which the Department of Geological Sciences at Michigan State University was threatened with closure, a plan has been developed and approved that focuses on securing the future of geosciences at MSU. The plan has the backing of our Dean and the MSU Provost and President. It involves a series of steps over the next five years to increase research funding and enhance the visibility of our program, and it includes the possibility of future targeted faculty hires for the department.</p>
<p>I would like to heartily thank the many SVP members who sent in letters on our behalf, and also those individuals who signed the online petition last year. The strong show of support from the broader community was a vitally important element in reversing the proposed closing of the department, and my colleagues and I at MSU are very grateful.</p>
<p>I hope to see many of you in Pittsburgh and have a chance to say thanks in person!</p>
<p>– Mike</p>
<p>Michael Gottfried
MSU Geological Sciences & Museum</p>
<h2>Source: [A</a> Future for Geological Sciences at Michigan State](<a href=“http://www.vertpaleo.org/news/permalinks/2010/07/29/A-Future-for-Geological-Sciences-at-Michigan-State-/]A”>http://www.vertpaleo.org/news/permalinks/2010/07/29/A-Future-for-Geological-Sciences-at-Michigan-State-/)</h2>
<p>Despite high attendance, UMMA faces budget cuts</p>
<p>By: Caitlin Huston
Daily Staff Reporter
Published March 31st, 2010</p>
<p>The renovated University of Michigan Museum of Art is celebrating its one-year anniversary today since it re-opened following major renovations. Though UMMA has surpassed its attendance goals, museum officials are now expecting that the museum will face budgetary challenges in the next year. </p>
<p>UMMA officials say the museum has been successful in its first year. But despite UMMAs popularity on campus and its high involvement with the public and students, the museums budget is expected to fall from $5.4 million to $4.7 million next year, forcing museum officials to reduce some of the museums program offerings. </p>
<p>Kathy Huss, interim co-director and chief administrative officer at UMMA, said in the first year following the re-opening of the museum, museum officials have been able to achieve many of their goals.</p>
<p>Weve had many, many opportunities to make this a meeting place for the arts, which is what this building was built for, Huss said. </p>
<p>Huss said the museum has surpassed its attendance goals, as they have already had more than 250,000 visitors.</p>
<p>Ruth Slavin, interim co-director and education director at UMMA, said the first year has been fantastic due to the scope of the programs the museum has offered to both the public and students. Over this year, the museum has hosted classes, exhibitions, film programs and many concerts, Slavin said.</p>
<p>But Slavin said the success of the museum would not have been possible without the initial enthusiasm of the students at the student opening.</p>
<p>I think that success really started at the very beginning, Slavin said. </p>
<p>Mary DeYoe, education program coordinator at UMMA, said the museums one year celebration entitled 1 year, Many Voices, will reflect the influence students have had on the museum. </p>
<p>In preparation for the event, students were asked to respond creatively to an art piece from the museum, DeYoe said. The winning contributors work will be displayed along with student performances, and films made by students.</p>
<p>We felt like it got students engaged with the works of art, DeYoe said. </p>
<p>Bob Bohlen, chair of UMMAs National Advisory Board, said the museum has also been helped by the support of donors. Bohlen was also chair of the museums capital campaign a five-year effort to finance the expansion and reopening of the museum that raised almost $100 million.</p>
<p>Bohlen said he and his wife who have an African art gallery in the museum named after them donated to the museum to aid the educational experience it gives to students.</p>
<p>I donated because I thought that was a great way to have students on the campus experience and get them into a museum, Bohlen said.</p>
<p>But Bohlen said future donations may be hard to come by if the economy continues to decline.</p>
<p>In this economic climate in Michigan, donations are going to be harder to get, he said.</p>
<p>Stephanie Rieke Miller, external relations manager and senior writer for UMMA, wrote in an e-mail interview that despite Michigans economy, they are hopeful that the donations will continue.</p>
<p>We anticipate that our current donors and new prospects will be engaged by the new UMMA and support our ongoing and future program needs, Miller wrote.</p>
<p>Private support will become increasingly important for the museum, with the expected budget shortfall Miller said. </p>
<p>Huss said that though some of the budget cuts are due to the economy, much of the budget decline is due the unusual first year they have had, with the launch of many new programs and costs of new exhibitions.</p>
<p>To offset the financial impacts, Huss said the museum will not be filling any open or vacant jobs and will also be reducing the number of programs provided.</p>
<p>Source: [Despite</a> high attendance, UMMA faces budget cuts | The Michigan Daily](<a href=“http://www.michigandaily.com/content/umma-celebrates-one-year-anniversary-renovation-and-expansion]Despite”>Despite high attendance, UMMA faces budget cuts)</p>
<p>^^^I would hardly compare the smaller budget for an art museum on the same level of concern as the potential closure of a major department in something as important as geology. I am glad to hear that the department will remain open. Btw, I recently had a relative graduate from the RCAH at MSU. She did very well there and is now in graduate school at…Michigan. :-)</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. Is anyone in either of these programs?</p>
<p>res ipsa - Where on the MSU site could I ask this question?</p>
<p>Post your question here. You will get some useful information.</p>
<p>[Michigan</a> State University - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/michigan-state-university/]Michigan”>Michigan State University - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>@rj- That’s interesting. The RCAH didn’t even have it’s first full graduating class until this year (those who started as freshmen in 07). She must not have been a part of the RCAH during her first few years at MSU, unless she graduated in 3 years or less. </p>
<p>Oh, and don’t worry, the RCAH’s budget is well under control. You don’t have to worry about it closing ;).</p>
<p>^^^That is correct. She entered the college as a sophomore. I hope it doesn’t close. She enjoyed the college and the professors who taught in it. She was one of only 7 students who completed their degrees this past spring. I had two relatives graduate MSU this past year. One from the smallest school and one from the largest. The two graduating ceremonies were quite different from each other to say the least.</p>
<p><a href=“Residential College in the Arts and Humanities | Michigan State University”>Residential College in the Arts and Humanities | Michigan State University;
<p>^ Lol, I would imagine. </p>
<p>I’m glad she enjoyed it. I hope she has a grand time at U of M. I too was looking at U of M for grad school in anthropological work, but I think I might move out to the east coast and get the hell outta dodge XP lol.</p>
<p>She is now enrolled at The School of Social Work in A2. So far she is loving it, but it is intense!</p>
<p>Social work is a great field. I hope she is happy there. One of my good friends in RCAH’s sister graduated from the Social Work school at U of M 5 or 6 years ago (actually… it might be a bit more now <em>shrug</em>). She easily found a job, but is having a heck of a time with the stress of social work. Best of luck to your sister- good social workers are few and far between. It is a demanding field and I really do wish her the best!</p>