June/July Freshman Program Information--Parents

Welcome to the Spartan Family! We are so excited that your student has chosen Michigan State University! We understand the important role you have played in preparing your student to attend college. We also know how important it is for parents, the university, and the student to work together. For these reasons, we invite you to attend the Parent Orientation Program (POP).

The student and parent orientations are purposely designed to be separate from one another. By holding separate orientations, the staff is better able to address the unique priorities and questions that students and parents typically have. In addition, orientation is a step in your student’s adjustment to college life dealing with topics he/she will encounter in college.

We strongly discourage bringing small children/siblings since parent orientation is not designed for a young audience. With the limited space available, if you need to bring your children please utilize our "Children's Room," located down the hallway from POP sessions. This room is available for children during the duration of the program on day one. All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This room will not be supervised at any time by an orientation staff member.

During POP, you will have the opportunity to:

• Acquaint yourself with various aspects of the university’s academic, residential, and student life
• Visit with members of our faculty, administrative staff, and the MSU student body
• Receive an enriched sense of sharing in your student’s college life

On this page you will find:

Arriving on Campus
Things to Bring
Costs
Meals
Lodging
Information Your Student Can Expect Before AOP
Dates
Schedule
Meeting Your Student
Exploring MSU and the Surrounding Area

Arriving on Campus

Orientation Welcome Tent (Located near the Orientation parking lot) An Orientation staff member will welcome students and parents, give directions to the program locations (Student-Case Hall, Parent-Brody Hall) and respond to general questions. At this point students and parents will go to their respective programs.

All parents should come to MSU on the date of the Parent Orientation Program of their choice, park in the area designated and proceed to the Brody Hall South Lobby for program check-in at 8:30am.

The first session begins at 10:30 am.

AOP check-in begins at 8:00am for students needing to take placement tests and 10:00am for students who have already taken the placement tests in North and South Case Hall Lounges.

Things to Bring to Campus

The Academic Orientation Program (AOP) staff has put together a list of things that you should bring when you come for Parent Orientation (POP). Remember to dress casually and comfortably when you are getting ready to pack. You want to be comfortable during the sessions. Do not bring any valuable possessions with you because the Academic Orientation Program is not responsible for items that are lost, stolen, or damaged.

• Comfortable clothes and shoes – We do a lot of walking at MSU! You will need to walk from the parking lot to the program location. You can also take a self-guided walking tour.
• Paper and pen – You might want to take notes during the sessions
• Watch – We try to start every session on time
• Umbrella - You don’t want to get caught in the rain
• Spending money – Grand River Avenue has many restaurants and shops

Costs

Michigan State University offers the Parent Orientation Program as a service to parents in conjunction with the Academic Orientation Program. There is no charge for the program.

Meals

Lunch is available in the Brody Hall Cafeteria. Lunch tickets may be purchased at Brody Hall after you check in for POP. No reservation is necessary.

A lunch break is provided at 12:00pm during the program. You can purchase a lunch ticket for $8.00 plus tax. There is also a scheduled break at 2:55pm.

Remember to bring a snack if you know you will be hungry!

Lodging

Parents or other family members will need to make their own accommodations at local hotels for the night (http://www.ctlr.msu.edu/travel/msu_hotel.htm). Friends or family members are not permitted to stay the night in Case Hall with students.

PLEASE NOTE: All students, including those students who live in the local area and/or students who will commute to MSU in the fall, must spend the night in Case Hall. Staying the night in Case Hall is a program requirement. The overnight stay has been carefully planned so students who will live on campus with students who will live in their residence hall in the fall. Students who will commute to campus room with other commuter students. If students do not stay the night in Case Hall, they will not be able to enroll for their classes on day two of the program.

Information Your Student Will Receive Before Orientation

• Mailings from academic colleges

• Immunization Information (https://ntweb1.ais.msu.edu/immunize/) - Students must complete this online. This is a university requirement.

• Financial Aid Information (http://www.finaid.msu.edu) -Students can expect to receive their first award letter from MSU by mid-April, if they have filed FAFSA (link: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) correctly.

• Housing Information (http://www.uh.msu.edu) - Students should receive their residence hall assignment by the end of May. Students will receive their roommate assignment in August.

• Early Course Reservation – If students took the Math Placement test before the given date listed in the admission packet, students will receive information regarding any pre-scheduled courses.

Dates for Parent Orientation

The following dates include a Parent Orientation Program (POP). If you are not able to come to POP on the same day your student is attending AOP, you are more than welcome to attend any program date. Feel free to attend the entire program or any part you believe to be beneficial.

	June 9-10, 2008	June 26-27
	June 10-11	June 30-July 1
	June 11-12	July 1-2
	June 12-13	July 2-3
	June 16-17	July 8-9
	June 17-18	July 9-10
	June 18-18	July 10-11
	June 19-20	July 15-16
	June 23-24	July 16-17
	June 24-25	August 19
	June 25-26

Schedule for June/July Freshman Parent Orientation

The Parent Orientation Program covers a wide range of topics which address campus resources and transitional issues related to academics, residence hall living and the campus scene for both parents and students. Listed below is a tentative schedule of activities.

Day One

8:30 am - 10:15 am	Check-In: Brody Hall South Lobby
10:30 am - 10:35 am	Senior Administrative Welcome
10:35 am - 10:40 am	City of East Lansing Welcome
10:40 am - 10:50 am	Program Overview
10:50 am - 11:35 am	Academic Programs and Academic Success
11:35 am - 12:00 pm	Computing and Technology
12:00 pm - 12: 50 pm	Lunch
1:00 pm - 1:40 pm	Housing and Campus Life Resources
1:40 pm -1:50 pm	Bus Transportation on Campus
1:50 pm - 2:55 pm	Health, Safety, Security and Transitions in a Student's and Parent's Life
2:55 pm - 3:05 pm	Refreshment Break
3:05 pm - 3:35 pm	Student Panel
3:35 pm – 4:00 pm	Student Billing/Student Work

4:05 pm - 4:30 pm	Financial Aid
Day Two
9:30 am-10:30 am	Residence Hall Tour
8:00 am - 12:00 pm	Resource Fair

 

Meeting Your Student

On day two of the program, each student receives a personalized schedule (including academic advising, class enrollment, and our MSU Resource Fair). The order of these events, therefore, vary. We are unable to alter scheduled times. Please keep this in mind when you are making your travel arrangements. Most students finish and check-out of orientation by 1pm.

Exploring MSU and the Surrounding Area
http://www.fyi.msu.edu/college_life/things_to_do.html

Want to get out and explore? The Michigan State University campus, East Lansing, and Lansing has a lot to offer! Whether it be walking around campus, going to the movies, or in search of a mall, we want you to make the most of your time in the area. You might pick up a couple of ideas to share with your student!