The Spartan Orientation Station

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It’s another Top Five in Five(ish), and this time we’re talking food.

Whether you're looking for a quick bite between classes, a late-night snack, or a nice sit-down meal, MSU and East Lansing have plenty of great options. Today, we’re counting down some of our favorite spots to grab a meal all over campus and the surrounding area. 

Welcome back to Spartan Orientation Station 💚

It’s another Top Five in Five(ish), and this time we’re breaking down packing for your residence hall.

Packing for college can feel overwhelming, but we are here to help. In this episode, we talk through what to bring, what to leave at home and how to make your space feel comfortable without overpacking. From fans and med kits to why AC units and random sports equipment should stay behind, this episode is full of helpful tips for move-in and residence hall living.

Welcome back to Spartan Orientation Station 💚

It’s another Top Five in Five(ish), and this time we’re talking all things careers.

Whether you already know your dream job or have absolutely no idea what you want to do after graduation, there are plenty of ways to set yourself up for success while you’re at MSU. We’re sharing a few simple tips that can make a big impact, from building your resume and gaining experience to networking and making the most of campus resources.

A little preparation now can open a lot of do...

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station 💚

Starting college is exciting, but it can also bring new challenges to maintaining your health and well-being. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Alexis Travis to discuss the importance of caring for your physical and mental health during your college journey. We cover campus well-being resources, strategies for managing stress, tips for building healthy habits, and ways students can stay balanced as they navigate life at Michigan State. 

For additional resources, students can visit or call: 

Welcome back to Spartan Orientation Station 💚

College is full of new experiences, including learning how to manage your money. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Amanda Guinot Talbot and Dr. Erica Tobe from MSU’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies, along with Ryan LaBarge, a financial education specialist at MSUFCU. They discuss what Go for the Green is, financial aid resources available to students, how to develop a budget and tips for managing money in college.

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...

Welcome back to Spartan Orientation Station! It’s another Top 5 in 5-ish, and this time we’re talking about academic advising, aka the key to the thing everyone’s excited about… enrolling in your classes.

If you’re not totally sure how advising works, when you’re supposed to go, or how it connects to building your schedule, we’ve got you. We’re breaking down the top five things you need to know so you can walk into your appointment prepared and leave with classes you’re actually excited about.

From your first advising meeting to getting...

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 y...

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In this episode, we’re heading under the stars at the Abrams Planetarium, one of MSU’s coolest hidden gems. We’ll talk about what you can actually do there as a student, why it’s way more than just looking at stars, and how you can make it part of your campus routine, even if you’re not a science person. 🚀✨

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 final preparations and early-semester guidance to help Spartans start strong. With move-in and the first week of classes just ahead, we’re sharing practical tips to ease the transition and build confidence for the semester ahead. This episode features insights from members of MSU’s...

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...

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode of our Living Community series, we are featuring James Madison College, also called JMC. JMC is a residential college at Michigan State focused on creating an inclusive learning community that empowers students to pursue equity and justice through public service and civic engagement. Today we are welcoming Jahshua to discuss all things James Madison. Thank you so much for joining us today! 

For more information on James Madison, visit their website jmc.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @jmcmsu.

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode of our Living Community series, we are featuring James Madison College, also called JMC. JMC is a residential college at Michigan State focused on creating an inclusive learning community that empowers students to pursue equity and justice through public service and civic engagement. Today we are welcoming Jahshua from JMC to discuss all things James Madison. Thank you so much for joining us today!  

For more information about JMC, visit their website https://jmc.msu.edu/ or follow them on Instagram @jmcmsu.

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 of our Living Community series, we are featuring the Arts Living Learning Community. The Arts LLC focuses on socially engaged art and emphasizes belonging and community for its students.

For more information about the Arts LLC, visit their website at artsliving.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @allc_msu. 

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.

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On today’s edition of the Spartan Orientation Station’s Living Community series, we are speaking with the Honors College! The Honors College at MSU is home to high-achieving scholars dedicated to academic excellence and personal growth. Joining us today are Melanie and Noah who are here to chat about all things Honors! Thanks for joining us!

For more information about the Honors College, visit their website honors.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @msuhonors. 

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 su...

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode of campus and community resources, we are discussing first generation college students and the resources available to them! 

Today we are welcoming Sarah and Marlene with First Generation Student Success. For more information about First Generation resources on campus, visit their webpage firstgen.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @msufli_1stgen.

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 w...

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On Thursdays throughout the summer, SOS will feature a Campus and Community Resources series, where students can hear from experts about important departments and programs!

On this week's episode, the orientation team discusses all things Experiential Learning. For more information about the Office for Experiential Learning, visit their website or send them an email at ssc@msu.edu. 

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!

Hello families and supporters! Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station’s Family Fridays series. In this episode, Raven and Laurin chat with the Assistant Director of Spartan Experiences, Lance Sharp, about the ways students can get and stay involved at MSU. Listen to learn more about family and student engagement, registered student organizations (RSOS), campus resources, tips for getting involved at MSU and in the greater Lansing, and student perspectives. Go Green!  

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/.

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! This week, we are sitting down with Dr. Olivia Scott, Acting Assistant Director of Multicultural Initiatives and Community Engagement at MSU's Counseling and Psychiatric Services, to discuss all things self care, community care, and mental wellbeing!

For more information about CAPS, visit their website: https://caps.msu.edu/index.html or follow them on Instagram @healthyspartans.

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 are speaking with the Broad Art Museum on campus. Located at 547 E Circle Drive, right across from the Student Services Building, the art museum features a variety of fun exhibits and learning opportunities.

For more information about Broad Art Museum, visit their website https://broadmuseum.msu.edu/ or find them on Instagram @msubroad. 

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, our student staff answer your questions about Michigan State University! We know the transition to MSU can be tricky, so we want to share our tips and tricks for academic success, time management, and more! 

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. 

Hello families and supporters! Welcome to the Spartan Orientation Station’s Family Fridays series! Co-hosted by Raven Baugh, the NSO Program Coordinator for families and supporters, and Laurin Gierman, the Director of Spartan Family Connections, this monthly summer series will feature tips, resources, and perspectives about the college transition for families and supporters of incoming college students. On this week’s episode, we discuss the new dynamic and relationship involving families, supporters, and students due to the college transition process. 

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week's episode, we will be discussing the Residence Hall Association (or RHA). RHA is Michigan State's on-campus student government, representing the students who live on-campus. Joining us today is RHA President, Erin Caldwell.

For more information, find RHA on Instagram @msurha or visit their website rha.msu.edu. 

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week’s episode, we speak with the Writing Center on campus. The Writing Center offers students, faculty, staff, and the community different support opportunities that covers an array of different writing fields and disciplines. Speaking about the Writing Center today is Melina, the Writing Center’s Community Engagement Coordinator, as well as Eva who works as an Undergraduate Writing Consultant.

For more information about the Writing Center, visit their website at https://writing.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @wcmsu.

Welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! On this week's episode, we speak with the Neighborhood Student Success Center, or NSSC. The NSSC supports student success initiatives around campus through collaboration and innovation. Speaking about the NSSC today is Dr. D'Wayne Jenkins, Neighborhood Director for Student Success in South Neighborhood.

For more information about NSSC, visit their website at nssc.msu.edu or follow them on Instagram @nsscmsu. 

On this week's episode of the Spartan Orientation Station, we will be discussing intramural (or IM) sports on campus, your MSU gym membership, how to sign up for IM teams and fitness classes, and hearing from students who have been a part of an IM team! Joining us this week is Ross Winter, the Assistant Director of Recreational Sports and Fitness Services.
For more information about IM sports, gym memberships, and more, check out the Recreational Sports and Fitness Services website: https://recsports.msu.edu/. To activate your fitness membership, use your Spartan ID card and sign in h...

On this episode of the Spartan Orientation Station, our team talks about all things MSU Varsity Athletics. Featuring conversations about how students can buy athletic tickets and attend MSU athletic events, we’ll also share a little bit about our experiences as students attending these events.
For more information, visit the Official MSU Athletics Website at msuspartans.com. To learn more about student sections or student athletic tickets, including all of the information shared here, check out the Student Section page linked here. To sign up for the Athletics newsletter mentioned in this podcast, click here.

As we get ready to welcome new Spartans to MSU, the New Student Orientation (or NSO) office is excited to talk about this summer’s orientation process! Throughout the summer, students can engage in a variety of different virtual programming before our in-person fall welcome program. Here to talk about the student orientation process are three NSO Program Coordinators, Maddie Sewick, Raven Baugh, and Jared Stratz.

For more information on Transitions and Transfer Student Success (which houses NSO), find us on Instagram @msu_nso, Facebook MSU New Student Orientation, or email us at nso@msu.edu. 

New Student Orientation (NSO) offers many different positions for undergraduate students to gain invaluable experience and have the chance to help incoming students make MSU (Michigan State University) their home.  I’m here with a few of these student employees to talk about their experiences in the many different positions offered at the NSO office and give some insight into the kind of work they do. These students represent the four undergraduate positions available in the office, spartan leaders (SLs), office assistants (OAs), orientation interns (OIs), and student coordinators (SCs).

For more information about working for NSO, che...

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Spartan Orientation Station! Today we’ll be talking about the Center for Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students (CVMAS). The CVMAS is dedicated to promoting the educational, career, and personal advancement of service members, veterans, and their families at Michigan State University. Today we are joined by Patrick Forystek, the Director of the CVMAS. 

For more information about the Center for Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students, check out their website: https://veterans.msu.edu/. You can also find them on Instagram: @msu_cvmas or visit their office in Room 8 of the Student Ser...