The Office of the EVPA is pleased to share a quarterly update on the currently active MSU Innovation Lab projects that have advanced since the beginning of the year.
Facilitated by the Enterprise Project Management Office, the Innovation Lab supports innovative ideas from concept to implementation through structured project management, experimentation and collaboration across the EVPA portfolio.
Have questions? Interested in learning more? Please reach out to us! EVPA.InnovationLab@MSU.EDU
Improve Wayfinding and Digital Tools – ADA
Campus Partners: IPF, MSU IT, ISPM, Accessibility
Project Lead: Annette McLane
Project Overview:
This project improves campus accessibility by making accessible building entrances easier to find through clear signage and enhanced digital maps. Visitors will have better visibility of ramps and accessible routes before they arrive and while navigating campus. The initiative removes physical and perceived barriers to access. It reinforces MSU’s commitment to inclusion and equitable access for all Spartans.
Current Status:
A3 build-out started May 11 with elaboration of the product backlog. Status meetings have been scheduled.
Passive RFID Pilot for MSU IT
Campus Partners: MSU IT
Project Lead: Michelle Szidik
Project Overview:
The Passive RFID Pilot modernizes how MSU IT tracks and audits technology assets across campus. By replacing manual inventory processes with RFID scanning, the project saves time while improving accuracy and compliance. This approach supports grant requirements, financial transparency and operational efficiency. The pilot is scalable for broader adoption across the university.
Current Status:
The team has successfully tested the technology in three planned locations: FlexHub storage with 31 assets, Crescent Road Data Center with 38 assets and AVIT Team with 32 assets. All tagged assets were reliably located within seconds, confirming the effectiveness of the solution in a dense infrastructure environment. The pilot remains on track to establish scalable, production-ready tagging and scanning practices.
Launch MSU PayFlex
Campus Partners: HR, Payroll, RHS
Project Lead: Patty Martinez
Project Overview:
The initiative would allow employees to pay for eligible campus services through payroll deduction, leveraging existing systems and processes. If advanced, the program could expand payment options for services such as recreation and dining. PayFlex is intended to support employee wellness and engagement while potentially increasing participation in campus offerings.
Current Status:
MSU PayFlex is currently in the A3 process phase, where the concept is being explored and validated.
Modernize MSU’s Annual Review Process
Campus Partners: HR
Project Lead: Deborah Hafke
Project Overview:
This initiative modernizes MSU’s annual review process with streamlined forms and signature compatibility, in addition to updating the rating scale language. By reducing administrative burden and changing the language, the process allows reviews to focus more on development, performance and showing employees they are valued.
Current Status:
These updates are in progress and are expected to roll out in July 2026.
Workstation Management: Preconfigured Laptops
Campus Partners: MSU IT
Project Lead: Mike Walters
Project Overview:
This project creates standards and processes for laptop provisioning by enabling preconfigured devices to be shipped directly to employees. Remote setup reduces onboarding delays and supports hybrid and remote work. Automated tracking maintains security and asset compliance standards. The result is a faster, more flexible experience for new and existing employees.
Building Coordination and Community of Practice
Campus Partners: IPF, DPPS, ISPM, MSU IT
Project Lead: Christine Carter
Project Overview:
This project expands a facility manager model that improves communication between EVPA operational stakeholders and campus building occupants. Dedicated coordination helps prioritize service requests and resolve issues more efficiently. This approach bridges the gap between individual departmental operations and broader EVPA initiatives, driving consistency in sustainability and resource stewardship across the portfolio. It brings consistency to facility support across campus.
Current Status:
Data validation, survey planning and enterprise tool evaluation are ongoing, with coordination across operations to understand feasibility and long-term ownership.
Centralized Event Calendar and Map
Campus Partners: IPF and DPPS
Project Lead: Ken McFarlane and Mike Yankowski
Project Overview:
This initiative creates a centralized campus event calendar and interactive map to be used to improve planning for landscape operations, public safety and facilities teams. It replaces manual data collection from multiple sources with a single, reliable view of campus activity.
Current Status:
Scraping data from current disparate calendar sources is wrapping up. Project owners are validating data that is being imported into Power BI.
Time Off App via SAP Fiori
Campus Partners: HR, IT
Project Lead: Deborah Hafke
Project Overview:
This initiative modernizes Michigan State University’s leave request process by integrating a dedicated application into the SAP Fiori EBS tiles platform. By transitioning from inconsistent, manual processes to an automated system, the project aims to achieve user satisfaction while ensuring high data integrity. Employees benefit from real-time quota visibility, while supervisors gain a clear, auditable workflow that reduces turnaround time and eliminates manual entry errors.
Current Status:
Pilot planning continues with a phased approach, focusing on specific units. The A3 proposal has been approved.
Time Tracking Automation – IPF Landscape Mobile Pilot
Campus Partners: IPF
Project Lead: Christine Carter
Project Overview:
This mobile pilot drives operational excellence by replacing fragmented, manual workflows with a standardized digital intake system within IPF Landscape operations. By centralizing time-off tracking through a modern, mobile-friendly interface, the project provides leadership with real-time visibility into staffing levels, enabling data-driven resource allocation and improved accountability. This initiative serves as a scalable proof of concept for digital transformation, bridging the technology gap for frontline staff while ensuring greater data integrity and consistency across the enterprise.
Current Status:
Work centers on the A3 proposal approval and preparing streamlined working time and leave tracking processes for the IPF Landscape Services pilot unit.