The Spartan Orientation Station

Welcome back to Spartan Orientation Station 💚It’s another Top 5 in 5-ish, and this one is for all our out-of-state Spartans figuring out life in a brand new place. We’re breaking down five things you actually need to know when moving to Michigan, from navigating health insurance and residency details to registering to vote and getting settled on campus. And yes, we’re talking about the weather, because adjusting to real Midwest seasons (hello snow, wind, and layering) is a whole experience on its own.These are the little things that can feel confusing at first but make a big difference once you’ve got them down. Think of this as your shortcut to feeling prepared, confident, and a little more at home 💚

Welcome back to Spartan Orientation Station 💚We’re kicking off a brand new series, Five in Five(ish), where we break down the five most important things you need to know in five to ten minutes.This episode is all about MSU language and abbreviations, because let’s be honest, people will start throwing around things like NSO, ULA, and CAPS like you’re just supposed to get it. We’ve got you.We’re covering the top five terms you’ll hear everywhere on campus, what they actually mean, and when you’ll use them, so you can walk into your first week at MSU already sounding like you know what’s going on. Let’s decode MSU together 🎧

Welcome back to Spartan Orientation Station, your go-to guide for all things Michigan State 💚🌎In this special Earth Day edition, we’re sitting down with the MSU Office of Sustainability to talk about what it really means to live Spartan green. Whether you’re brand new to campus or just looking to be more intentional, this episode breaks down sustainability in a way that’s practical, approachable, and actually doable.For more information on Sustainability & being Spartan Green, find the team on Instagram @msusustainability or visit their website, sustainability.msu.edu.

Hello families and supporters! Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station’s Family Fridays series, brought to you by the NSO Family and Supporter Committee. This monthly summer series shares guidance, insights, and resources to help families and supporters navigate the transition to college alongside their student. In this episode, we focus on supporting Spartan success, with an emphasis on persistence strategies and long-term success throughout the college journey. Joined by Dr. Christina Bridges and Justin St. Charles, LMSW, from MSU’s Strategic Retention Unit, we explore how students, families, and supporters can engage with resources that help Spartans thrive both academically and personally. Whether you’re looking for ways to encourage your student’s persistence, wondering how to best support them during challenges, or hoping to build long-term habits for success, this episode offers practical insights, strategies, and encouragement for the path ahead.

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode, we will be discussing the MOSAIC Center for Education and Outreach! For more information about the MOSAIC Center, visit their office on the second floor of the MSU Union. For connections on social media, students can find the Campus Interfaith Council @msu_cic and Women*s Student Services @womensstudentservicesmsu on Instagram!

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode, we will be discussing Undergraduate Research at MSU! Undergraduate research is conducted in all sorts of different forms and disciplines, and the UR team is here to help you find the best opportunity for you! Today, we welcome Dr. Brian Keas and Brittany Guercio Finch from the Office of Undergraduate Research to the podcast!For more information about Undergraduate Research, visit their website at urca.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @ur_at_msu.

Hello families and supporters! Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station’s Family Fridays series, brought to you by the NSO Family and Supporter Committee. This monthly summer series shares guidance, insights, and resources to help families and supporters navigate the transition to college alongside their student. In this episode, we explore the emotional and practical adjustments that both students and families/supporters often experience as college begins. Joined by Dr. Olivia Scott from MSU’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), we discuss common challenges, how to recognize signs a student might be struggling, and the range of support resources available on campus, including CAPS, peer networks, and Spartan Family Connections. Whether you're preparing for a long-distance transition or simply adjusting to a new dynamic at home, this episode offers helpful tips, reflection, and reassurance for the journey ahead.

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode of our Living Community series, we are featuring Lyman Briggs College! Lyman Briggs, often called “Briggs” or LBC, is a science living learning community on campus. LBC was founded in 1967 to bridge the cultures of the sciences and the humanities and social sciences. Today we are welcoming Jacki and Makena from Lyman Briggs to discuss all things LBC. Thank you so much for joining us today! We are so excited to discuss Lyman Briggs College! For more information on Lyman Briggs, visit their website lbc.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @lymanbriggscollege.

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On Tuesdays throughout the summer, SOS will feature a Living Community series, which highlights the different residential programs/communities that students can live in at MSU!This week, we are discussing La Casa, which is a Living Learning Community for Spanish learners at Michigan State. La Casa is reopening in Fall 2025 and is located in Shaw Hall. For more information on La Casa, find them on Instagram @lacasamsu or visit their website to learn more!

On our final episode of the Spartan Orientation Station for the summer, join some of our very own student staff as they discuss their other positions as Resident Assistants, Assistant Community Directors, and Intercultural Aides working with Live On, MSU's Housing team! For more information about Live On, visit their website https://liveon.msu.edu/.

Hello families and supporters! Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station’s Family Fridays series. In this episode, Raven and Laurin chat with the Director of the Transfer Student Success Center (TSSC), Dr. Charles Jackson, about the different ways transfer students and other students think about student success. Listen to learn more about defining student success, tips for academic success and beyond the classroom, and student narratives regarding their own success at Michigan State. Go Green!

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode, we will be discussing the MSU Libraries! The Library aims to provide expertise, collections, and infrastructure for discovery and creation through their work with MSU students, faculty, and staff. For more information about the Libraries on MSU's campus, or any of the amazing services the Library provides students with, visit their website lib.msu.edu or find them on Instagram @msulibraries.

On this week's episode of the Spartan Orientation Station, we are learning about the Transfer Experience Mentorship Program (TEMPO). TEMPO provides opportunities for new transfer students to be paired with a more experienced mentor to learn about MSU. For more information about the transfer student experience, follow the Transfer Student Success Center on Instagram @msutransfersuccess or email the TSSC team at transfersuccess@msu.edu.