January 2023 Action Items and Resources for Students

Dear Spartans,

Welcome to 2023! We hope you had a relaxing and wonderful time over winter break. For our new Spartans, welcome to campus! 

As we kick off the spring semester, we would like to advise you about some notable action items and opportunities happening at MSU in January. You'll find the information below arranged by categories vital to your success. Go Green!

1) Take care of yourself and others.

• Counseling and Psychiatric Services, or CAPS, provides a broad range of resources and services, including triage, consultation, counseling (for individuals, couples and a host of groups), psychiatric care, referral services, and outreach. Be sure to check out the resources are available to you.  
• Rec Sports is hosting its annual recreation festival Jan. 20! Come celebrate our 10th year. There will be games, inflatables, a photo booth, Club Sport demonstrations and an appearance by Sparty! 
• The SafeMSU App is the official app of MSU Police and Public Safety. Its “virtual friend walk” feature allows you to share your location with a friend in real time so they can follow your progress to your destination. The app also features access to Safe Ride from ASMSU and much more. 
• Signups with the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities PEER Program are still open for the spring semester! The PEER (Promoting Education & Emotional Resilience) Program seeks to empower students to learn about their mental health, develop positive coping skills, and work through navigating challenging barriers. The program runs Jan. 17-Feb. 22. Sign up today! 

2) Engage in your academic experience.

• The last day to add a course for spring 2023 is Friday, Jan. 13. The last day to drop a full session course with a full refund for Spring 2023 is Friday, Feb. 3. 
• The last day to request a grading change from numeric grade to CR-NCG for an elective course is Wednesday, March 1.
• Take advantage of free training from MSU IT. Learn about collaboration tools like Zoom, Spartan 365, and specific Microsoft apps like Teams, OneNote, and OneDrive. Access on-demand course recordings or take a live course either in-person or virtually. Discover and register for courses at SpartansLearn.
• Career Services Workshops for all majors begin Jan. 19.View our schedule and register now. 
• Our spring 2023 career fairs are now accepting resumes. Log into Handshake to view fair listings and to submit your resume to participating employers for interview opportunities. Need help with your resume or job search?Click on the “Career Center” link in Handshake and then on “Appointments” to schedule a 1:1 meeting with a Career Services team member. 
• Do you know someone at MSU who has gone above and beyond to help you? Send them a thank you with the #iteachmsu thank an educator form.   
• Fill out the graduation application if you plan to graduate this semester, and don’t forget about your cap and gown. Reminder: For your name to appear in the Commencement Program as a graduate, your information must not be restricted per FERPA.

3) Find your way and make connections.

• Springticipation 2023gives students the opportunity to learn more about MSU’s incredible variety of Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). Meet with more than 200 RSOs Jan. 17, from 5-8 p.m., in the STEM Building. Whether you’re looking for clubs and groups with like-minded interests or aiming to simply try something different, Springticipation provides attendees a great opportunity to network and build community. Explore all 1,000-plus RSOs at Involve@State. 
• The Career Services Network offers a variety of events to help you build your resume, find jobs/internships, and so much! For instance, don’t miss the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Career Fair and Symposium for all majors Feb. 1 at the Breslin Center, 3:30-8 p.m. 

4) Get involved outside the classroom.

• A variety of exciting and educational opportunities are being offered to the MSU community for the 43rd Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration. View the MLK Events Calendar for details on events and offerings taking place Jan. 12-20.  
• Register to present at the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) before Feb. 9!The 24th annual UURAF is Friday, April 14, at the Breslin Student Events Center and online. All stages of research and creative scholarship from any semester are welcomed, and abstracts/proposals do not need to be complete at the time of registration. 
• Register to present at the 6th Annual University-wide Diversity Research Showcase. Open to all MSU undergraduates, the showcase is Jan. 13 in the MSU Union from 1-5 p.m. Present your work or work in progress (project need not be completed) on issues of diversity that advance inclusion. Call for presenters is taking place now, and up to $700 per category will be awarded! 
• Looking for opportunities to give back to your community, gain skills in crisis intervention, and provide direct services to survivors? Consider volunteering with MSU Center for Survivors. Deadline to apply is Jan. 23. To learn more, join an informational meeting Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. via zoom by RSVP’ing to Kathryn Naber at naberkat@msu.edu. 
• MSU Safe Place is also accepting volunteers for the spring 2023 semester. This is a great opportunity to develop practical, work-related skills while providing trauma-informed, client-centered care to survivors.  
• The MSU Center for Engaged Learning and The Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration Planning Committee are hosting a Stuff the Library Book Drive and Fundraiser in honor of Dr. King’s Legacy. Learn more about the effort aims to fill school libraries with books on topics of social justice and with characters representing diverse backgrounds. 

5) Connect with important resources.

• Did you know that all MSU colleges have a career management office with professionals and students to help you explore careers in those areas? They can help you develop job search documents, practice interviewing, and locate internships and jobs as well as help you strategize for after-graduation jobs or continued education. Reach out to a career consultant today.  

6) Billing and financial aid updates:

• Always be sure to review each billing statement that is produced. Unpaid bills will result in financial holds that will prevent schedule changes and future enrollment. 
• The most current billing statement was due Jan. 6. The next statement will be available Jan. 14 and is due Feb. 1. 

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

Thank you for your academic efforts, and your help in keeping campus safe. We hope you have a fun and productive start to the semester! 

Sincerely,

Vennie Gore
Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement

Mark Largent
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies