VPRGS or the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies was the previous title of the department and vice president for research at MSU. The unit name was changed in January of 2019 to Research and Innovation and now includes the Office of Research and Innovation (OR&I) and the Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI).

VPRI is used at MSU to refer to the Vice President for Research and Innovation. VPR is also common at other institutions for Vice President for Research.

MAU is the technical term used in the University's business and accounting systems and identifies colleges and other major units.