Michigan State University is one of the founding members of the Big Ten Conference and a major public research university in East Lansing, Michigan. Founded in 1855 as the nation's first land-grant institution (predating the Morrill Land-Grant Act), MSU has exceptional programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, education, business (Broad), communication, and the natural sciences. MSU is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). MSU's 5,200-acre main campus is one of the largest in the country and is known for its outstanding natural beauty — its Red Cedar River corridor, …