University Advising
University Advising is home to any student who begins at MSU interested in exploring majors (exploratory preference) as well as a resource for all students who seek additional academic exploration opportunities that reside within one of our 14 undergraduate colleges.
College Colloquium
New Spartans will meet other new students in their college, the Dean, Faculty, Academic Advisers and upper-class students. This session is an essential way for you to learn about what it takes to be successful at MSU.
New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation will introduce you to academics at MSU, help you make important contacts on campus, assist you in setting goals, and gathering the information you need to be a successful student.
Bridge, Transition and Cohort Support Programs
MSU understands that college is a major transition for most students, so it offers a range of programs that can help admitted students transition to the University during the summer between high school and college. Some of these programs, called Bridge programs, offer credit toward your degree, while other programs serve as supportive communities to help you succeed.
- Academic Scholars Program
- Detroit M.A.D.E. Scholars Program
- Dow STEM Scholars
- First-Generation Leadership & Innovation (FLI) Vanderploeg Scholars
- First-Year Seminars Abroad (FSA)
- Instilling Quantitative and Integrative Reasoning Program (INQUIRE)
- Maximizing Academic Growth in College (MAGIC)
- Nursing ACCESS Program
- Multicultural Business Programs
- TRIO Excel Summer Program
- Citizen Scholars Program
- College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)
- Charles Drew Science Scholars
- College-Based Living-Learning Communities
- Detroit M.A.D.E Scholars Program
- Dow STEM Scholars Program
- First-Generation Leadership and Innovation (FLI) Vanderploeg Scholars
- Global Educators Cohort Program
- Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment (RISE)
- Social Science Scholars
- TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program
- Urban Educator Cohort Program
First-Year Experiences at MSU
The MSU Pathways Initiative seeks to enhance collaboration amongst programs designed to enhance students' success during their transition from high school to college through their second year. The effort accomplishes this goal by encouraging best practice, aligning our work with learning outcomes, and building a culture of assessment.Work done by George Kuh with the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) indicates that certain programs, called high-impact practices (HIPS), provide educational benefits for all students. HIPs promote student-student and student-instructor relationships; employ active, experiential learning techniques; and intentionally promote analytical, reflective inquiry and problem-solving. Research suggests that these practices enhance student learning, engagement, and retention. MSU suggests that students attempt to build two or more HIPs into their time at MSU.
- New Student Orientation (NSO)
- Bridge, Transition, and Learning Community Programs
- Detroit Promise Scholars
- First-Year Seminars (FYS)
- Global and Intercultural Learning
- Living Learning Programs
HIPs are not restricted to students' first year in college; they can engage in these meaningful practices throughout their time at MSU. In fact, other HIPs shown to significantly enhance the undergraduate experience include: