Michigan State University has built a strong relationship with Lansing Community College in the form of Envision Green, a program that makes it easier for LCC students to transfer to MSU, finish their degrees and help build an educated workforce in Greater Lansing and across the state.
The Envision Green program was introduced in 2021 and provides LCC with MSU academic advising and admissions support for prospective LCC students to help them make a successful transition.
To continue growing this program, its first leader was appointed in July. Envision Green Program Director Laura Wise is leading the program and considers it the centerpiece of a Venn diagram for transfer student success between LCC and MSU. “The ultimate goal is to help LCC students have more of a sense of belonging and be more aware of MSU resources before coming to MSU to increase their confidence in making that transition,” she said. “Minimizing credit loss during the transition is also a chief concern of the program.”
Over 5,500 LCC students have transferred to MSU over the last decade. Since September, more than 175 students engaged with Envision Green through events, academic and admissions appointments and one-on-one support with the program continuing to grow.
Envision Green’s current focus is support services for transferring LCC students while acting as a liaison between MSU and LCC. From engagement opportunities and on-site express advising with MSU academic advisors at LCC, to hosting transfer success sessions with advisors at both institutions and the LCC Transfer Center, Envision Green looks to make the transition for students as smooth as possible. Ultimately, the program aims to minimize credit loss, help students with cost savings and work with students to expedite the time to graduation.
“Really, it’s trying to make sure that we understand the needs of each LCC student, to try and remove any barriers,” Wise said. “Because we know it’s not just learning about the admissions process and learning about which credits will transfer but are we addressing other barriers to them transitioning to MSU?”
Now more than two years into the program, even more is coming.
Wise said Envision Green has plans to expand the services and sessions offered, like providing sessions on financing a college education or navigating support services. Envision Green also wants to highlight MSU curricular and co-curricular opportunities, and services and activities that students can engage in during their time at LCC. This will help enable a warm handoff to MSU, particularly to the Transfer Student Success Center, as students transition.
Among many campus partnerships, Envision Green is partnering with Pathway to Research, a program offered through MSU’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Office that helps students through the process of identifying and securing a research mentor. Offered multiple times throughout the year, students who participate work toward narrowing their research interests, identify prospective research mentors and prepare for outreach and interviews with those potential mentors. The program aims to provide students critical one-on-one support as they look to secure research positions.
Through the partnership with Pathway to Research starting next summer, undergraduate students transferring to MSU from LCC will have access to research opportunities in the summer before they start at MSU.
“We know that Lansing Community College has the highest number of transfer students coming to MSU, so focusing on that local partnership, if we’re able to provide good support there, it impacts a very large number of students,” Wise said.
To learn more about Envision Green visit undergrad.msu.edu/strategy-retention/envision-green.
By Mark Johnson