Michigan State University incorporates a global perspective into its land grant philosophy of sharing knowledge with the public. As part of that mission, MSU internationalized its curriculum, making global competence a critical part of all students' education.

For its part, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS), founded in 1963, seeks to ensure a quality undergraduate experience; support for research; resources for teachers at all levels; business; government; media; and the general community. CLACS is a leader in innovative initiatives for K-12 education outreach and policy. As a federal Title VI Center since 1991, CLACS seeks to:

• Expand and improve undergraduate and graduate programs both on campus and abroad

• Encourage and assist graduate student and faculty research in Latin America and the Caribbean

• Coordinate and facilitate the activities of resident Latin Americanist

• Create a forum for the scholarly discussion of Latin American and Caribbean society and culture

• Act as a resource for the University community and the general public

• The National LCTL Conference - Held in Washington, D. C. for all Title VI centers, this conference is part of a larger program to prioritize and organize the teaching of Less Commonly Taught Languages to increase coverage and prevent duplication.

• Collaborative, cross-disciplinary research with Latin American colleagues.
• The Impacts of NAFTA on the Mexican agrarian sector, with colleauges from the Universidad Autonoma de Chapingo, Mexico.
• The Water Security and Health in Latin America project, funded by the Hewlett Foundation, coordinates collaborative projects in 5 Latin American countries. For additional information, visit the water project website.
• Latin American Media and Human Rights project, launched after the Human Rights and Press Freedom in Latin America. This conference brought in journalists from both the US and Latin America to discuss and analyze the factors leading to a free press.

• National Study Abroad Conference - Hosted by MSU President, Peter McPherson in Washington, D.C., this conference brought together deans and provosts to discuss the problems and prospects for study abroad.

• Alternative Model to Poverty Alleviation in Latin America: Social Capital - With the support of the Hewlett Foundation, the United Nations Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean, Michigan State University sponsored the conference in Santiago, Chile.

• Las Jornadas Culturales: Arte, Crítica y Literatura - Now in its eleventh year, this conference jointly sponsored with the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and the University of Arizona, brings together top-ranked Latin American artists and academics.

• The Future of the Mexico/United States Border: Population and Natural Resources - Jointly sponsored with the Woodrow Wilson Center, the Colegio de la Frontera Norte, and USAID, this meeting brought Mexican and US academics together to discuss this often fractious issue.

• International Conference on Undergraduate Internships - Along with Brigham Young University and ITESM (Monterrey), MSU hosted the conference in Monterrey, Mexico for 160 participants on the creation, monitoring, and assessment of internships.