While February is the shortest month on the calendar, it can feel the longest. It is still cold, dark and weeks away from spring break. How is your student spending their time? This is a great time to remind them to go to an IM Building and check out the classes, equipment or teams (IM and Club Sports), cheer on Spartan winter sports, maybe catch a show at Wharton Center (students can buy two reduced-price tickets for every show!), Abrams Planetarium, or an exhibit at the MSU Museum or Broad Museum. And with more than 1,000 student organizations, there’s something for everyone at MSU!
This February also brings remembrances. The plans for Feb. 13, provide an opportunity for members of the MSU community, in the way that makes the most sense for them, to reflect, grieve and honor those lost, those injured, and all those impacted by the tragedy that occurred on our campus last year. We validate and respect that everyone in our community will have various reactions to the anniversary, as each person remains on their own individual journeys. Information about the opportunities to remember in community or through individual practices has been made available to students via email but will not be pushed through social media sites. This is so students can choose when to access the information rather than be surprised by an unanticipated social media post. Please remind your student to regularly check their MSU email.
As family members, we continue to support our student while also experiencing our own emotions. This can be challenging when our student is away from us. Learn more about and register for upcoming webinars, below, as we move through these especially anxious times.
In solidarity and support,
Laurin
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Spartan Family Reflect and Connect Session: Helping Yourself Stay Grounded While Your Kid is Away at College
It can be hard to have your college student away from home, off in the world, doing their thing. The natural tendency is to grab hold of your kid and hold them tight, protecting them from any possible harm. Yet, this is not what they most need from us. What they need is for our wise and grounded self to listen to them and help them find their own way forward. Most family members could benefit from some skill-building to help navigate their children’s quest for independence in a world beyond our ability to control.
Spartan Family Connections and the MSU Division of University Health and Wellbeing and are teaming up to offer Spartan Families two opportunities to gather in community, reflect on this challenge, and explore keys skills such as:
- Strengthening your ability to notice when your stress response is activated
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Increasing capacity to ground yourself in the red hot moment of your upset and fear
- Interrupting unhelpful thought habits
- Managing your own emotional reactions
- Increasing the likelihood of responding from your deepest, wisest self
Join us for one of these online reflect and connect sessions, by registering using the link below
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 6-7:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 12, 4-5:30 p.m.
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Spartan Strong Fund Reimbursement
Recognizing that the healing journey is different for each person following the Feb. 13 tragedy on campus, MSU students who were enrolled on that date, along with staff and first responders who were employed at the time of the events, can now apply for reimbursements for mental health services from the Spartan Strong Fund. $500,000 of the $2 million Spartan Strong Fund will be allocated to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses for mental health services.
University Health and Wellbeing (UHW) announced Jan. 25, it is ready to begin the application process. Qualifying out-of-pocket expenses include deductibles, co-pays or co-insurance related to out-patient counseling and mental health care services, including tele-health, in-patient hospitalization with a mental health diagnosis and residential mental health treatment. Learn more and apply for mental health care reimbursements by visiting UHW Spartan Strong Fund.
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Updates from MSU DPPS
Campus safety and security updates were released on January 30 by Vice President and Chief Safety Officer, Marlon Lynch. You can view the contents of the update here.
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Religious Observances & Holidays
Many religions have observances and holidays in spring. MSU values and actively supports diversity, including spiritual expression and practice, and enables that observance through this policy for students, faculty, and academic staff. Please note, according to section 4, it is the responsibility of the student to inform their instructor at least two weeks before the observance day, make arrangements in advance with instructors, and catch up on material discussed and assignments given.
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2024-25 Housing Sign-Up for First Year Students
Current first-year student on-campus housing sign-up for the 2024-25 academic year is approaching! As a reminder, students are required to live on campus for their first two years at MSU. The 2024-25 Housing Contract will soon be available in your student's My Housing account. Contracts must be signed by March 8 to receive a sign-up window.
In mid-March, students who signed their contracts will be emailed a randomly assigned 24-hour window to select their space for the second year. There are designated spaces for second-year students in each neighborhood, with spaces across campus released daily during the sign-up period. On-campus apartments are not available for current first-year students.
Learn more here.
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Residence Hall Spring Break Information
It's hard to believe spring break is just around the corner! If your student is heading off campus for the break, we wish them safe travels. However, for those choosing to stay on campus, whether for the entire break or just part of it, rest assured they are free to do so without any additional steps.
Halls will require card access for entry, and resident assistants (RAs) will be on duty from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The primary service centers in each neighborhood will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit liveon.msu.edu/servicecenters for open locations. For further questions about spring break operations, contact the Housing Assignments Office at 517-884-5483 or liveon@msu.edu. Safe travels to those heading off campus!
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Spring Break Dining Info
MSU’s spring break is Monday, Feb. 26, through Friday, March 1. Dining locations on campus will have modified hours of operation from Friday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, March 3.
Brody Square, South Pointe at Case, The Edge at Akers and The Vista at Shaw will remain open during the break. Their hours for Saturday, Feb. 24, through Saturday, March 2, are as follows:
Breakfast: 8-9 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Dinner: 5-7 p.m.
Residential dining halls transition back to spring semester hours beginning Sunday, March 3. For additional details, including hours for retail locations and foodservice partners, please visit go.msu.edu/dininghours. Hours will be posted on the Eat at State website by mid-February.
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Have You Made it This Far?
Let’s celebrate! Click here to enter to win two (2) MSU Dairy Store single scoop coupons (one entry per person). Drawing will take place Feb. 29. Watch your email for updates!
Congrats to Lisa M. for winning in January!
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Taste of Spring Break Event Coming To Brody Square
Culinary Services is hosting a Taste of Spring Break Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Brody Square from 4:30 to 6 p.m. This spring-break-themed sampling event is inspired by the exotic cuisine of tropical locations. Students will be welcomed in the Brody Square lobby with leis and tropical beverages (student-appropriate). They can also take photos with props in front of a tropical backdrop. The sampling event will occur behind Pangea in the demonstration kitchen area, where guests will receive six tickets to try a new recipe offered by each neighborhood, including the Kellogg Center and Sparty’s Market at 1855 Place. Chefs from each neighborhood have created recipes, and students may vote for their favorite. Their vote enters them into a random drawing for one of two gift baskets full of spring break goodies. Additionally, the recipe with the most votes will be added to our menu rotation, and the chef(s) who win get the honor of creating the favorite dish!
The event will also feature live music by the MSU student group, Salsa Verde (MSU College of Music), and a visit from a special guest. All the Brody Square venues will serve tropical-inspired cuisine for dinner. Please encourage students to join us on Feb. 20 to participate in the fun!
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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.
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Upcoming Events and Important Dates
February
Feb. 7: Spartan Family Connect and Reflect Session, register here
Feb. 12: Spartan Family Connect and Reflect Session, register here
Feb. 13: Classes canceled, university open
Feb 14: Concert Band and Campus Band, Wharton Center
Feb 16-18: Spartan Stampede, MSU Pavilion
Feb. 26-March 1: Spring break, residence and dining halls open
March
March 1: Third spring semester payment plan installment due
March 4: Last day to drop a course with no grade reported
March 10: Daylight Saving Time begins (turn clocks ahead 1 hour at 2:00 AM)
April
April 1: Final spring semester payment plan installment due
April 19: Last day of spring semester classes
April 22-26: Spring semester final exams
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