February 2022 Action Items and Resources for Students
Dear Spartans,
We would like to advise you about notable action items and opportunities happening at MSU in February. You’ll find the information below arranged by categories vital to your success.
1) Take care of yourself and others
Every student who does not currently have a vaccine exemption is required to receive a COVID-19 booster and update their verification form. Please take a moment and go HERE to update your verification form. For details on COVID compliance measures and testing, please see the Together We Will website.
Proper mask wearing is an important way we keep ourselves and others healthy. While indoors at MSU, you are required to consistently wear your mask over both mouth and nose. If you’re enjoying a beverage, please move the mask to drink and replace it immediately after you take a sip.
MSU has many resources and services to help you manage stress. Besides Counseling and Psychiatric Services options, you can also find resources related to addiction recovery, fitness, nutrition, and much more on the Mental Health and Wellbeing resources list.
Please update your current address within the Student Information System. This is a requirement for all students and it enables MSU to support you with your health and wellness, as well as your academic needs.
2) Engage in your academic experience
The Neighborhood Student Success Collaborative is excited to host its signature event, the C3 (Community-Curriculum-Career) Expo, both virtually and in person from noon–2 p.m. (EST), Monday, Feb. 21, 2022, online via Zoom, and from noon-4 p.m. (EST), Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at the STEM Teaching and Learning Facility. The C3 Expo former Marathon of Majors is a one-stop success event for all undergraduate students to connect with communities of support, learn about their curriculum (majors) and access career resources. Register here for C3.
The 24th University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF)will take place on April 8, 2022, in-person at the Breslin Center and virtually on Symposium by ForagerOne. Poster, oral, performance, film, exhibit, and demonstration presentations will all be on display.
Your college experience is about so much more than academics. At MSU, the interactive My Spartan Story platform captures MSU student experiences outside of the classroom, including leadership programs, student employment, research positions, internships, and service-learning and civic engagement opportunities. Add these activities to your Spartan Experience Record through My Spartan Story!
Reminder: Spring Break will take place this year from March 7-March 11. Residence halls remain open and dining options available for current residents.
The MSU Libraries is seeking feedback from MSU students about their use of the Libraries’ website. This survey will take approximately 10 minutes, and will inform the redesign of their website. Please take a few moments to provide us with your feedback and comments by completing this short survey. Participation is voluntary and your responses will be anonymous and personal information will not be collected or associated with your responses. If you have question, please send us an email.
March 2 is the middle of the Spring 2022 Semester. This marks the last day to drop a course with no refund. It’s also time to consider if you want to choose the course grading option of Credit-No Credit (CR-NC) for your course. This semester, the deadline for choosing CR-NC has been lengthened from the fifth day of classes to the mid-point of each class. You can find when mid-point of each class is by going to student.msu.edu and viewing the “Enrollment Deadlines” under each course. You should speak with your academic advisor before choosing the CR-NC option because doing so may limit the ability of the class to fulfill certain requirements.
3) Find your way and make connections
Complimentary on-campus parking has been extended: Due to the temporary reduction in CATA service, complimentary parking at pay-by-plate and metered pay stations has been extended through March 13. Read more.
February is Black History Month. In celebration, MSU’s colleges and units are hosting events both online and on campus throughout the month, including the Slavery to Freedom lecture series, Black Empowerment Festival and much more. See the full, regularly updated list of events for details.
4) Get involved outside the classroom
Career advising appointments, in-person and virtual, are available through Handshake. Once logged in, click on the “Career Center” tab in the top, right-hand corner of your home page, then click on “appointments” to schedule an appointment.
Learn about drop-in career advising services and review these available options.
Participate in a career fair or career education workshop. Learn more about upcoming career events at: careernetwork.msu.edu/events.
Consider participating in MSU Alternative Spartan Breaks where you will gain accessible, quality service experiences, education about social issues, and exposure to diverse cultures and communities to promote the active citizenship of Michigan State University students. Apply for one of the spring break and/or weekend experiences by visiting asb.msu.edu
Build your community with other Spartans during your journey at MSU. Learn about MSU’s Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) and explore all 1,000-plus RSOs at Involve@State.
The Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU) election packets are now open. Consider running to represent your college in the General Assembly for the 59th Session (2022-2023 Academic Year). The General Assembly is the legislative body that makes decisions on behalf of all undergraduate students at MSU. Be the change you want to see and file to run by March 18. For more information, please contact elections@asmsu.msu.edu .
When it’s too cold to make it to the gym, check out the neighborhood group fitness classes at recsports.msu.edu/fitness/groupex. There’s also an indoor track available at IM Sports East. Validate your membership before you enter the building and bring your student ID for entry. More information on this can be found at recsports.msu.edu.
Tune in on the following Mondays, Feb. 28, March 14 and 28, April 11 and 25, via Zoom to participate in the Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions (OCAT) Success Series using this Zoom link: 949 1272 4572 and password: OCAT.
“The Ánimo” is a three-part series focusing on leadership capacity, purpose, career readiness and removing barriers to learning and success. The series continues from 6–8 p.m. on Mondays, March 21 and April 4 at Erickson Kiva at MSU.
The 28th Día de La Mujer Leadership & Empowerment Conference (DDLM) will be from 8 a.m.-4p.m., April 16, at Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center at MSU. This year’s theme is: El Sol Que Deshace El Nudo: Ardiendo Nuevas Raices. Registration is free for MSU students. Volunteers are also needed.
To sign up or get more information contact: DDLM at ddlmconferencemsu@gmail.com with subject line “Volunteering 28DDLM.”
The Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) is sharing volunteer opportunities open to all students. More than 300 available opportunities with 15 different community partners in the Lansing area are available. Virtual opportunities available. Transportation provided for select in-person opportunities. To be prepared to volunteer, ensure you have completed the following requirements:
- D2L Community Engaged Learning Orientation (All Positions)
- Criminal Background Check Authorization Form (Positions working with specific populations)
Updates will be made to the CCEL volunteer opportunities throughout the semester. Be sure to check for updates and follow CCEL on social media to stay in the know.
We are also incorporating the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals within the matching process with our volunteer opportunities. To learn more about these goals and to find which goals resonate with you, please watch this short Videoand/or follow this linkto read and understand the history of the goals.
We’re working hard to better communicate with students. Click here to fill out a very brief survey and enter a drawing to win a $75 gift card!*
5) Connect with important resources
The MSU IT Training Team offers no-cost, virtual, instructor-led trainings for all students to become more familiar with the technology available at MSU, like Teams, OneNote, and OneDrive. Visit the Spartans Learn website for more information, including in-depth course descriptions, dates, and registration.
Do you know your rights and responsibilities in the classroom? Have questions about syllabi, grades, or ethics in the classroom? Please visit the Office of the University Ombudsperson at www.ombud.msu.edu, call (517) 353-8830 or email at ombud@msu.edu.
Current first-year students will complete next year’s housing selection in March. Students should sign their housing contract by Feb. 28; they must do so to receive their sign-up window. Students who do not select their housing or receive a housing exception will have housing randomly assigned. Roommate matching services are available. Learn more on the Live On website.
Students can now add FS22, SS23, and US23 courses to their shopping cart in the Student Information System. Courses for FS22 can also be validated to make sure that pre-requisites are met and that courses will be ready to add during enrollment by appointment. As a quick reminder, enrollment at MSU will be moving to semi-annual enrollment for the FS22-US23 enrollment period. Enrollment by appointment for FS22 will begin on April 11, 2022. Enrollment by appointment for SS23 and US23 will begin on October 31. Students will get their specific appointment times as we get closer to those dates. Informational videos explaining how to use MSU’s Class Search and Shopping Cart, as well as other help resources, are available online at sis.msu.edu/help/enrollment.
6) Billing and financial aid
The most recent billing statements were produced on February 8 and are due on March 1. Please be sure to review your bill to ensure your account is kept current.
If you have any questions about anything related to MSU, please email studentaffairs@msu.edu.
Sincerely,
Vennie Gore
Senior Vice President for Student Life &Engagement
Mark Largent
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies