July 2021 Action Items and Resources for Students

Dear Spartan, 

We are excited to welcome you to campus and have been enthusiastically planning to support you to learn, thrive, and graduate. As you prepare for a busy fall semester, here are some things that you may need to do this month.

Vaccinations

• President Stanley announced that MSU is not mandating COVID‑19 vaccinations at this time other than in a small number of limited situations. At this time, most of MSU’s COVID-19 mandates have been lifted outside of health care settings. This means that masks are no longer required indoors, buildings and services can operate without restrictions, and MSU’s COVID-19 Early Detection Program is no longer mandatory.
• We are optimistic about current trends and data, and we will continue to carefully monitor cases in our region and state. If needed, we will put the necessary COVID‑19 protocols back in place to protect our campus community. The one thing each of you can do now to prevent the campus from having to impose COVID-19 protocols is to get yourself vaccinated with an FDA-authorized or WHO-approved vaccine. These vaccines are very safe and incredibly effective at preventing infection and illness.
• Vaccines are widely available to the vast majority of MSU's students, and the COVID-19 vaccines are incredibly safe and effective. Now is the time to take steps to protect yourself ahead of the fall semester. All members of the MSU community can receive a free COVID‑19 vaccine through the MSU Health Care Pharmacy. For those not in the East Lansing area, you can visit www.vaccines.gov to find a vaccination site near you.

Academics

• All returning students can access the fall 2021 and spring 2022 class schedules by logging into the Student Information System to add classes to your shopping cart and to change or update your schedule. If you have any questions, please contact reg@msu.edu. If you are new to MSU, you will have a hold on your account until you have met with your academic advisor and have completed your NSO modules.
• Visit the University’s Academic Calendar as you make plans for the fall semester.
• For students graduating after summer 2021, plan your degree with the Academic Requirements Report (Degree Audit).
• When’s the last time you met with your academic advisor? Schedule an appointment today and check out our list of academic advising resources by college. If you are new to MSU, you can make an appointment with your academic advisor after you have completed your NSO D2L modules and your college orientation modules.

Campus Life

• For students living on campus, prepare for fall move-in. Current students received an email on June 30 to select their arrival time and new students will receive their sign-up email the week of July 12.
• Student ID cards will be available for expedited pick-up at the Breslin Center August 26 – August 29 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. if you have submitted a photo online by August 1. If you do not meet this deadline, you will need to visit the ID Office where they will take a photo for you and print your card; you should be prepared to wait in line.
• Learn more about on- and off-campus dining plans. Update your on-campus dining plan in your My Housing account or purchase an off-campus dining plan now.
• Shop for books and MSU gear at the Spartan Bookstore.
• Purchase tickets for the student section for football, men’s basketball, and hockey (all other regular season sporting events on campus are free for MSU students).
• Please make note that MSU has lifted most of its own COVID-19 mandates to align with state and federal guidance. This includes the wearing of masks and physical distancing mandates.
• For fall 2021 incoming students, we are excited to welcome you as new Spartans! As you continue to participate in the New Student Orientation (NSO) Experience, specific communications from NSO and your college will be sent to your MSU email. Please continue to check your MSU email, visit the website, or contact us with questions. As a new student, please note that you can make an appointment with your academic advisor after you have completed your NSO D2L modules and college orientation.

Technology Tools and Services

• Your MSU NetID is your electronic identity at MSU and your login to many university applications and systems.
• How to get online on MSU’s wired Internet & Wi-Fi.
• Which laptop should you buy? Here are MSU’s Laptop Requirements. The MSU Tech Store can help with all your technology needs. Visit online or on campus at Computer Center, 450 Auditorium Rd in Room 100 for exclusive student discounts and back-to-school promotions.
• Download the MSU App for MSU news, a map of campus, residence hall dining options, upcoming campus events, and more.
• New Student Information provides you with basic information to get you started with technology at MSU, including computer lab locations, common tools you’ll use to collaborate or support your coursework, how to stay safe online, how to print on campus, and more.
• MSU IT Service Desk is always here for support. Phone (517) 432-6200 or toll free at (844) 678-6200 or email ithelp@msu.edu.
• Find more information about technology resources for students and visit tech.msu.edu/students.

Billing

• Need to make a payment? Learn more about fee schedules, and everything you need to know about paying your bill for the fall 2021 semester.
• Be sure to watch for an email on July 20 informing you that a new bill is ready to view. Payment is due by August 1, however this year, MSU will not assess late fees until August 15 to allow families extra time.
• MSU is introducing a new payment plan where you can divide your payments into four throughout the semester. (If enrolling for the payment plan after August 19, a lesser number of installments will be offered).
• If you would like a guest to get notified that your fall bill is due, grant them access before July 20 in the Student Information System at student.msu.edu. To make changes to guest access, click on the My Profile tile and Share My Info Electronically in the left navigation to update your options.

Financial Aid

• Check the status of your financial aid through the MSU Financial Aid Portal to check your financial aid package and act on any loans if needed.
• Not seeing a financial aid package in the MSU Financial Aid Portal? You may have been selected for a FAFSA review process called verification and need to turn in some documents to complete the process. What is verification? Verification is a secondary review of the FAFSA application. FAFSAs are identified for verification review for a variety of reasons, including a random selection process. Michigan State University cannot give you a final financial aid offer until after we have completed the verification review and receive clearance from the US Department of Education. How do I provide the documents for verification? We ask that you provide the information required for the verification review by following the instructions listed in the Financial Aid portal at student.msu.edu.
• If you have any questions, please visit www.finaid.msu.edu, call 517-353-5940 to speak with an advisor, or email us directly at finaid@msu.edu.

Please continue to check your MSU email regularly for updates and reminders. For current information about MSU’s response to the pandemic, please visit the Together We Will website. More information and student-specific resources can be found here.

We are excited to embark on this journey with you. If you have any questions, please email studentaffairs@msu.edu.

Go Green!

Vennie Gore

Senior Vice President of Residential and Hospitality Services and Auxiliary Enterprises, and

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Services

Mark Largent

Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies