Governance

The Initial Review Committee (IRC) plays a critical role in the project evaluation process, serving as the first formal checkpoint before proposals advance to the governance stage for final approval. The IRC ensures that proposals are thoroughly vetted for quality, feasibility, alignment with strategic objectives, and readiness for further review.  

IRC Key Responsibilities

• Preliminary assessment 
  Evaluate the project’s objectives, scope, feasibility, and alignment with organizational goals prior to moving it forward to governance review.
• Risk identification 
  Identify potential risks, dependencies, and challenges that may impact project success.
• Resource evaluation 
  Review initial estimates for budget, personnel needs, and technology requirements to ensure feasibility.
• Stakeholder engagement 
  Confirm that key stakeholders have been consulted in project planning.
• Recommendations to requestor(s) to better prepare for Governance review 
  Provide feedback, suggest necessary refinements, and determine if the project is ready to proceed to the governance board.
• Decision making 
  Approve, request modifications, or reject the project proposal based on the assessment criteria. 

Governance review

The Governance team provides strategic oversight and guidance for project initiatives. Comprising members from across the university, the team ensures alignment with institutional priorities and long-term goals. 

Membership includes representatives from:

Role of Governance Team

• Evaluate and assess new project requests
• Ensure selected projects deliver value to MSU
• Monitor in-progress projects to ensure projects are on track
• Reprioritize projects based on evolving needs and priorities
  • Review completed request for proposals (RFP) to confirm readiness for implementation
  • Approve project closure, verifying all deliverables are met