Spartans,

As the air grows crisp and leaves begin to turn, we know fall is in full swing, and our routines are in place. It is also the month that our annual rivalry game with the school down the street occurs, which means wear your green and white with pride. We encourage you to pace and take care of yourself as your midterm tests and papers are due. See below important action items and resources to help make your fall semester successful.

Highlights

• MSU’s 2023 Fall Break is Monday, Oct. 23 and Tuesday, Oct 24.
• Spring 2024 enrollment starts Monday, Oct. 30! You will receive an email notification in mid-October notifying you of your specific enrollment start date/time. Schedule an appointment to meet with your academic advisor to discuss your class selections before enrollment begins. 
• Register by Oct. 20 for the second annual Spartan Family Weekend, Nov. 3-5! 
• The FAFSA application for financial aid in the fall of 2024 and spring/summer of 2025 will be delayed until at least December 2023. 

1) Take care of yourself and others.

• Support your physical and emotional transition to MSU with Student Health and Wellness.  
• Download the SafeMSU App, official app of MSU Police! Use the “virtual friend walk” to share your location in real-time, access Safe Ride from ASMSU and more.  
• Celebrate Halloween respectfully and safely! If you plan to participate, keep it respectful and festive with these guidelines, and keep yourself and others safe with this important information. 
• Learn more about understanding pronouns! The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center is hosting the first in a fall series of open virtual workshops Oct. 10, from 10-11:30 a.m. Register at gscc.msu.edu. 

2) Engage in your academic experience.

• MSU’s 2023 Fall Break is Monday, Oct. 23 and Tuesday, Oct 24.  
• Spring 2024 enrollment starts Monday, Oct. 30! You will receive an email notification in mid-October notifying you of your specific enrollment start date/time.  
• Before enrollment: 
  • Schedule an appointment to meet with your academic advisor to discuss your spring and summer enrollment. Find them on the list of academic advising resources by college. 
  • Clear any financial holds that may prevent enrollment.
• Plan your degree with the Academic Requirements Report (Degree Audit).  
• Check out the Neighborhood Student Success Center resources available in on-campus neighborhoods.  
• Participate in Undergraduate Research opportunities in science, engineering, medicine, the arts and humanities.  
• Remember to keep this generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) guidance and reminders in mind as you complete your coursework. 
• Find information for fall 2023 commencement at commencement.msu.edu.  

3) Find your way and make connections.

• Register by Oct. 20 for the second annual Spartan Family Weekend, Nov. 3-5! 
• Celebrate MSU’s first-gen students during the First-Generation Student Celebration Week, Nov. 6-10! Learn more at firstgen.msu.edu. 
• Join the Student Veterans Resource Center for a Veterans Day Brunch Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon — honor our veterans and learn more about the incredible impact of our military community. 
• Connect with on campus student organizations! Fill out this quick form to get connected with your hall government and/or your neighborhood Black or LGBTIQA+ caucus. 
• Explore collectivism and intersectionality via the Stronger Together Dinner Series — dinners hosted by the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center start in October! 
• Visit Involve@State to connect with student clubs and groups.  
• The arts are happening all around you! Connect with jobs, events, academic programs and opportunities in the arts for MSU students at arts.msu.edu/students.  

4) Get involved outside the classroom.

• Apply for an on-campus job! View Student Life & Engagement job postings. 
• Activate your Recreational Sports and Fitness Services (RSFS) membership and use three indoor intramural gyms on campus, the new turf field, IM sports and more! 
• Schedule a meeting with a career advisor to prep for fall career fairs. 
• Introducing Spartan Student Rewards from MSU Athletics! Earn points that can be redeemed for prizes, check out special offers, upload photos and more. Available through the official MSU Athletics app. 
• Create, relax, perform and learn this month with a host of University Activities Board events across campus — from crafting to karaoke, escape rooming to thrifting, there are great events to connect and unwind.  

5) Connect with important resources.

• Attention current residents in their second year and beyond! Submit your interest in on-campus housing starting Oct. 9. Current first-year students will select their housing for next year in the spring.  
• Watch MSU IT Street Trivia episodes weekly throughout October where we put Spartans’ cybersecurity knowledge to the test! Stay tuned and help us #SecureState this Cybersecurity Awareness Month. 
• Not required to live on campus next year? Check out the 2023 MSU Housing Fair Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the MSU Union Ballroom. 
  • Learn more about off-campus housing options.  
• View the 2023-24 housing operations overview for details on when residence halls will be closed and services will be reduced. 
• Reminder: On home football game days, parking lots and garages are made available for tailgating locations and buildings are locked. Please plan accordingly if you need to visit campus during those times. 

6) Billing and financial aid updates.

• Check student.msu.edu to review any balance due on your student account — next billing statements arrive Oct. 11 and are due Nov. 1.  
• Set up an authorized guest in the Student Information System, so a parent or other individual can view and pay your bill. 
  • The Student Accounts Office will not be able to discuss your account with anyone unless they are authorized guests. 
  • Update guest access in SIS via the “My Profile” tile > “Share My Info Electronically” in the left navigation. Authorized guests will receive emails in the future whenever a new bill is produced.
• Need to make a payment? Learn about fee schedules and everything you need to know about paying your bill. 
• Questions about billing? Email the Student Accounts Office at Student.Receivables@ctlr.msu.edu or reach them at 517-355-3343.  
• The FAFSA application for financial aid in the fall of 2024 and spring/summer of 2025 will be delayed until at least December 2023.
• Check the status of your current financial aid via the MSU Financial Aid Portal in the Student Information System. Review your financial aid package and act on any loans if needed. 
  • Your financial aid package may not be complete until you finalize any outstanding items. Verify you are viewing the August 2023-May 2024 tab to act for the aid year. If actions on your financial aid portal homepage are listed as “Completed” or “Not Required,” no further action is needed.
• Questions about your financial aid? Email finaid@msu.edu or call 517-353-5940. 

If you have any questions about anything related to MSU, please email sle@msu.edu.

We wish you luck on upcoming midterm exams and a restful fall break! Please let us know if we can help in any way.

Sincerely,

Vennie Gore
Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement

Mark Largent

Vice Provost & Dean of Undergraduate Education