The Spartan Orientation Station

Hey everyone! Welcome back to our podcast, the Spartan Orientation Station. As you start to arrive to MSU, you may be wondering, “how can I get involved on campus outside of my classes?” Today, we will answer that question and more as we discuss getting involved on campus through organizations, clubs, and more! The Office of Spartan Experiences, the campus department that works with Registered Stu...

Hello everyone, and welcome to this episode of the Spartan Orientation Station!  Today we will be discussing an exciting resource: the Education Abroad Office. MSU is known for being one of the top schools in the US for study abroad, and Education Abroad offers more than 300 programs to all 7 continents, even Antarctica! With more than 175+ majors represented there is definitely a program for you!...

Welcome back to Spartan Orientation Station. Today's episode is Spartan Transfer Talks: Starting Fresh and Building Your New Community, where we will discuss your new MSU community and getting involved in extracurriculars and social scenes. We are joined by the Transfer Student Success Center team, Dr. Charles Jackson and Ashley Hewlett-Lemke. Thank you all for joining us.

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station. This week, we will be featuring two episodes aimed toward transfer students, called Spartan Transfer Talks. In these episodes we will be featuring the Transfer Student Success Center (TSSC). The TSSC supports our transfer student population through extracurricular activities and events.  On today's episode, Dr. Charles Jackson, the Director of the T...

On this episode we are meeting with MSU’s Ombudsperson: Dr. Shannon Burton. You may or may not have heard of this position, but it is important to know that it is the most significant tool a student can use to voice their opinions and concerns. The Office of the University Ombudsperson helps students who are dealing with conflict or want to learn more about their student rights. The service operat...

Welcome to NSO’s Spartan Orientation Station! On today’s episode we will be exploring everything you will need to know regarding Financial Aid. The Office of Financial Aid provides access, aid, and advisory services for the MSU Community. They hope to model campus-wide communication and collaboration while respecting the needs, values, and diversity of MSU students, parents, and colleagues.   Toda...

Welcome back, today we will be discussing the Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions (also known as OCAT) and the work they do at Michigan State. OCAT focuses on bringing students from all different backgrounds together and helping them engage with both their own and other cultures. They also collaborate extensively with multicultural student organizations on campus to host events, support st...

In this episode, we discuss the Student Parent Resource Center, or SPRC for short. The SPRC strives to support and uplift non-traditional students and their families. To do so, the SPRC provides vital services to parenting students, such as assistance with academics and finances, as well as on-campus space for them to connect with other families. Today, we’re joined by Laraine Walton, the administ...

Hey everyone! Welcome back to our podcast, the Spartan Orientation Station. Today, we will discuss religious and spiritual life here at MSU. Specifically, we will be talking about the Religious Advisors Association, also known as RAA. This group is made up of a variety of religious professionals from many different faith traditions.     Joining us today is Rev. Curt Dwyer, President of RAA and lea...

Welcome back to our podcast, the Spartan Orientation Station. Today, we will discuss the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center, better known as the GSCC. Located in the Student Services Building, the GSCC acts as a resource for LGBTQIA2S+ students on campus. They offer educational resources, fun events, support for LGBTQIA2S+ students, and so much more! Joining us today to tell us more about the GSCC...

Welcome to NSO’s Spartan Orientation Station! On today’s episode, we are discussing the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, also known as the RCPD. They provide resources and accommodations for students here at MSU. Their mission is to maximize the ability and opportunity for full participation by persons with disabilities. Please welcome Hannah Huey-Jones from the RCPD office, who is h...

One of the things that characterizes MSU is its population of over 9,000 international students from more than 140 countries. Our community of international students have a long process of papers and legalities that they have to go through to be able to join us every fall. MSU has the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) here on campus that has the sole goal of helping those studen...

On this week’s podcast, we will be discussing university health resources including MSU’s Olin Health Center and Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS).  The Olin Health Center offers a wide variety of health care services to students year-round. Additionally, CAPS offers both virtual and in-person counseling options that allow students to connect with mental health professionals. However, hea...

On this episode of the Spartan Orientation Station, we are welcoming Captain Dan Munford and Dana Whyte from MSU's Police Department. MSU's Police Department, also known as MSUPD, is responsible for emergency response on campus, parking, registering bicycles, and so much more! Their priority is ensuring that Spartans feel safe and secure at MSU, and they strive to be friendly faces on campus.  For...

Walk around campus and you will hear students say they just finished their IM game, or they just took their CS exam; it's more than just “common.” With countless departments, positions, and locations, Michigan State University is full of acronyms. From the well-known ones like MSU itself, to the more obscure ones that may leave you scratching your head, we’ll dig deep to uncover their origins, con...

Welcome to the first episode of the Spartan Orientation Station! On this episode, we will be featuring advising tips and tricks to prepare new students for their first advising appointment at MSU.   Whether you’re a first year just stepping onto campus, or a seasoned senior preparing for graduation, one thing remains constant: the importance of effective advising. Advisors take on the responsibili...