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September 2024 Newsletter

How about that move-in?! In my 25 years of moving students, this was by far the best one! Fall Welcome events continue this month as we help students connect with groups, resources and support to help them succeed. Students are making their way around campus to classes, registered student organizations, the MSU Dairy Store, and finding hidden gems like the botanical gardens and their new favorite study spots under a tree, in a hammock, or tucked in a corner of the MSU Library. Campus is again bustling, and we’re here for it. 

It can be hard to feel a sense of belonging in a place so big, and some students will start feeling homesick, even if they are returning students! Don’t be surprised if your student needs a little extra love and support as the semester progresses. Interested in sending a treat? Use the code FAMILY15 to get 15% off at the MSU Bakery just for Spartan families! 

And, if YOU are feeling a nostalgic, we still have a few Spartan Family Care Kits available – cuddle up on the couch with a snuggly Spartan blanket, sip some tea from a Sparty and squirrels tumbler, look at a picture of your Spartan in an MSU photo frame and squeeze the stress squirrel while writing out postcards to send to your kiddo! We tried to think of what would help us feel better and hope it does you, too. (Proceeds go to programming and events for you!) 

Enjoy the beginnings of fall and let us know how we can help support you. Join our webinars on the 18th and read on for resources we’d like your students to use. Thanks for helping us help them! 

Take care and Go GREEN, 
Laurin 

 

Family Weekend and Ticket Link 
Family Weekend presented by MSUFCU is Nov. 1-3! We are working hard on this year’s schedule and array of partner events that are only available Family Weekend, including MSU Memorial Chapel tours, tours of Beaumont Tour, experiences in the MSU Main Library, and the pre-game Tailgate (with full menu!). Thanks to a generous sponsorship from MSUFCU, the Sunday breakfast with administrators is included in this year’s registration fee. Registration for Family Weekend presented by MSUFCU will remain open until Friday, Oct. 18.  

Many of you already know that you would like to attend the MSU vs. Indiana football game Saturday, Nov. 2. PLEASE NOTE: TICKETS TO THE FOOTBALL GAME ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FAMILY WEEKEND REGISTRATION AND MUST BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY! Tickets to this football game can be purchased through the MSU Athletic Ticket Office or online through FEVO. This is a special Family Weekend block that has a slightly reduced price per ticket, and all tickets are in the same seating areas so you can cheer with other Spartan families! If your student has season tickets in the student section and you want them to sit with you, you will need to purchase a ticket in the family section for them. Their student section ticket is not transferrable to this block seating area, and family section tickets cannot be used in the student section. 

 

MSU IT Service Desk
The service desk is here to help with MSU tech needs and questions. For resources, self-help options, or to reset passwords, visit the IT Help portal at ithelp.msu.edu. Service Desk analysts are also available by chat and by phone at 517-432-6200 from 7 a.m. to midnight any day the university is open.  


Collaborative Tools Training

MSU IT offers live virtual courses, as well as on-demand course recordings, on several applications like Zoom, Spartan 365, and specific Microsoft applications like Teams, OneNote, Forms, Outlook, SharePoint, and OneDrive. We also offer in-person training sessions from September to December. Visit the SpartansLearn website for more information.

 

MSU Tech Store
Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., to help with all hardware, software and accessory needs. Located on the first floor of the Computer Center building, the Tech Store also features a walk-up Tech Bar to help answer questions. Shop today to take advantage of exclusive Spartan discounts on Mac and Dell products. Visit techstore.msu.edu. 

 

MSU ID Office
Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m., in Room 170 of the International Center. The ID Office issues and troubleshoots problems with student ID Spartan Cards, sells Spartan Cash and dining plans, and is the only place on campus to purchase CATA bus passes. 

 

University Health and Wellbeing Update 

Welcome to fall 2024! As we head into the colder months, we have three health and well-being tips your Spartan can use: 


Online Scheduling: Feeling under the weather? Remember that your Spartan has up to three subsidized primary care visits at the Olin Health Center per academic year, some of which you can schedule online.  


Health insurance: Need coverage? The MSU Student Aetna plan is offered through the MSU Benefits Office and provides great national coverage at a competitive price. The MSU Student Aetna plan recommends students seek care at Olin Health Center first during business hours. 


Fresh Check Day: Feeling stressed out or overwhelmed? Your Spartan is invited to #FreshCheckDay, Oct. 2 from noon to 4 p.m. The event will be held in People’s Park (behind the International Center) and will feature FREE FOOD, games and mental health check-ins. Learn more here.

 

Upcoming Webinars 

The Office of Community & Student Relations, Spartan Family Connections, and Student Legal Services are pleased to announce the upcoming Family Connections Off-Campus Housing Webinar Sept. 18 at noon. This webinar will provide valuable insights into finding off-campus housing and highlight the various resources available to MSU students as they navigate their off-campus living experience. Register here to receive the link to join. 

Additionally, join us Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 7-8:30 p.m. for a family webinar:

Making Space for Your Adult Child’s Choices  

Join us for this discussion in support of healthy relationships with our adult children.  The conversation will include:

  • Re-envisioning our relationships from parent/child to adult parent/adult child
  • Identifying core values for this next chapter of parenting
  • Responding to their choices with curiosity before judgement
  • Making space for vulnerability, uncertainty and letting go of control
  • Interrupting unhelpful thinking and behavioral responses that get in the way of support and connection
  • Expressing concern without taking control
 

REHS Updates for Students Living On-Campus  

After we receive a package, we log it into our system and send an email when it's ready for pick-up. This helps us track all items, ensure they’re delivered correctly, and address any issues with carriers. It’s important that your student wait to pick up their packages until they receive an email from the service desk! More info on the package process can be found here: liveon.msu.edu/packages.

Get to know the On-Campus Residence Hall Team! 
In our residence halls, a dedicated team is available to support students:  

Resident assistants (RAs) are students living on each floor who help residents adjust to campus life, offering information, support and leadership.

Intercultural aides (ICAs) foster community and promote academic success by uniting students from diverse backgrounds and creating opportunities for intercultural engagement.  

Residence Education staff includes full-time community directors (CDs) and residence directors (RDs), along with graduate assistant community directors (ACDs), who oversee the residence halls, enforce policies and provide leadership.  

Neighborhood administrative coordinators (NACs) manage service centers and logistical operations, including keys and mail.  

Community support staff (CSS) handle administrative tasks and assist with information distribution.  

Facilities staff are responsible for cleaning common areas and making repairs, with work orders submitted via the service center or online form.  

The Housing Assignments Office (HAO) manages housing applications, contract renewals, and room changes, and is reachable at 1855 Place or via email and phone.  

Together, this team ensures a safe, supportive and well-managed living environment for all residents.

 

Culinary Services Update

We are noticing some students are feeling the effects of new allergens and germs, along with changing patterns in sleeping and eating, with an increase in illness. It’s no fun being sick, but we have a way for students to continue to get meals with Sick Meal Pickup Arrangements. The ill student just needs to complete the fillable PDF to have another student pick up their meal. The ill student needs to fill it out for each meal needed and the meal must be picked up from a dining service in their neighborhood.

Please remind your student to practice frequent and thorough handwashing, increase ventilation, and practice good sleep hygiene. Many students and staff also choose to mask to avoid illness. 

 

Have You Read This Far?

Let's celebrate with another MSU Dairy Store single scoop coupon giveaway! Enter here by 11:59 p.m., Sept. 30 for a chance to win two coupons to enjoy a single scoop on us!

Congrats to Sree I., our August winner!

 

Travel Options for Students

Many of you will start making plans for your students to travel over fall break (Oct. 21-22), Thanksgiving break (Nov. 28-29) and winter break (Dec. 13-Jan. 12) and may be curious about options. Michigan Flyer is a great option to get to Brighton, Ann Arbor and Detroit Metro (DTW). Reservations are required and they book quickly, so it’s good to think ahead. Many students from the Chicago area rely on Amtrak and its ease of use and great location, traveling from East Lansing (just south of Holden Hall) to Union Station in about 4 hours. MSU does not currently offer a ride share system. 

 

Undergraduate Action Items

On a monthly basis, Vice Provost & Dean of Undergraduate Education Dr. Mark Largent and Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement Vennie Gore send an Action Item email to all undergraduate students. You can find this messaging here.

 

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

September
Sept. 18: Off-campus Housing Webinar
Sept. 18: SFC Webinar: Making Space for Your Adult Child's Choices
Sept. 19: Last day to drop a fall semester full session course with full refund


October
Oct. 1: Second tuition payment due 

Oct. 14-19: Homecoming 

Oct. 21-22: Fall break (no classes, university open) 

Oct. 28: Spring semester enrollment by appointment begins 


November
Nov. 1: Third tuition payment due 

Nov. 1-3: Family Weekend Presented by MSUFCU 

Nov. 3: Daylight Saving time ends (set clocks back one hour at 2 a.m.) 

 

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