New Student Orientation at Michigan State University

You are officially a member of the Michigan State University community! We are excited for you to participate in New Student Orientation (NSO) as you prepare to begin your journey as a Spartan. Orientation is an engaging experience that aims to welcome new first-year and transfer students into our community while supporting their successful transition to MSU.

Our goal is to help students develop meaningful connections, empower them to take ownership of their learning, create opportunities of deep engagement in academic and social activities, explore and discover their interests, and create an inclusive and innovative space for growth and development within the MSU community. We are looking forward to embarking on this transitional journey with you!

NSO Overview:

For Fall and Spring 2024 students, the NSO experience is organized into five (5) checkpoints, which includes virtual engagement opportunities and an in-person Orientation program occurring right before the semester begins. NSO is not a specific date in time, but, instead, an experience that occurs over time.

During the NSO experience, all new students will virtually interact with our D2L (Desire2Learn) online learning platform, complete important assessment forms and surveys, connect with an academic advisor, enroll in classes, interact with various student-run podcasts, engage with other incoming Spartans, and so much more. Check out the NSO Checkpoints below for more details and general next steps.

NSO Timeline for Fall 2024:

Checkpoints 1-4 of NSO will be completed throughout May, June, and July while Checkpoint 5 will consist of an in-person Orientation program, which will occur between Fall Move-In and the first day of the semester that all new students are expected to attend.

The NSO journey begins by completing the appropriate placement assessments (math and/or language), an immunization form, and the NSO Accessibility and Technology survey (Checkpoint 1). Students will then gain access to the online NSO D2L course beginning in May, which includes virtual interactions with online modules that will help all new students with identifying important resources and departments at MSU (Checkpoint 2). Once the Fall 2024 New Student Orientation NSO D2L experience course has been completed, students will be referred to connect with an academic advisor/College in June and July, 2024 to schedule an advising appointment and complete the enrollment process (Checkpoint 3). Other virtual engagement experiences, including our recorded NSO podcast series titled ‘Spartan Orientation Station’, will continue to highlight various MSU resources that we recommend students, families and supporters engage with as they prepare for the upcoming semester (Checkpoint 4). All of these steps will help prepare new students for the optional in-person Orientation experience, which will occur before the semester officially begins in late-August (Checkpoint 5).

Fall 2024 NSO Checkpoints – Detailed Overview

NSO E-Newsletters and Resource Guide:

Orientation newsletters will be sent to students, families and supporters leading up to the beginning of the semester. These newsletters will contain information for all new students including important campus resources, next steps, and various deadlines. We look forward to communicating with you over the course of the next several months. Use the link below to access our newsletter communications:

Fall 2024 NSO Newsletters

Check out the New Student Orientation Resource Guide and our welcome video below! The guide is full of important information and campus resources for new Spartans and their family and supporters.

Download the 2023-24 NSO Resource Guide

 

IMPORTANT DATES

May 2024

NSO D2L Course Launches

June & July 2024

Advising & Enrollment

August 21-23

In-Person NSO Program

Each new Spartan participates in New Student Orientation (NSO) prior to their first semester as an MSU student. By paying your Advanced Enrollment Deposit (AED) you are automatically registered to participate in NSO. Check out a general NSO Welcome video below for more information about the Orientation experience and checkpoints.