Where can I go to connect with other families and supporters?
Please visit Spartan Family Connections! This is our family engagement office, and they would be happy to provide you with more information. Site: family.msu.edu. We also have a Family Facebook page and a group with several current (and former) MSU families. New Student Orientation will also have several community-building events for incoming families and supporters.

What events are there for families and supporters?
There are several events families and supporters can engage in throughout the year. For example, Family Weekend is an annual event where families can come together for MSU sports (like Hockey and Football), engage with resources, and get a special family gift from Spartan Family connections. Incoming families and supporters are also invited to participate in Family & Supporter Orientation and fall welcome events hosted by New Student Orientation.

Where can I go if I have questions and I’m not sure who to ask?
Please reach out to the family engagement office at family.msu.edu for any questions or concerns you might have during your students’ time at MSU. If you have questions about orientation, please contact us at orientation.msu.edu.

Financial Aid

Who can my student contact to talk about FAFSA?
We recommend your student connect with the Office of Financial Aid for any questions regarding FAFSA. For the Office of Financial Aid’s Frequently Asked Questions, which includes some common information regarding FAFSA, please visit the Office of Financial Aid’s FAQ.

Student Accounts/Controllers/Billing

What does the office of student accounts (Office of Controller) oversee?
This office processes payments for tuition and fees. You can contact them at ctlr.msu.edu. For common questions about bill payments, like “How do I pay my bill?” please visit the Office of Controller’s Bill Pay FAQ.

Housing/Residential Life

What safety measures are on campus?
The Department of Police and Public Safety has implemented various safety tools and security measures on campus, including ID Access Control and green security posts and callboxes throughout the campus and inside of buildings. For more information on DPPS and their services, please visit the Department of Police and Public Safety’s website page.

Who can my student talk with if they have an issue living on campus?
Each floor in MSU’s residence halls is staffed with a Resident Assistant who serves as the first point of contact if your student is experiencing an issue while living on campus.

Who can my student talk with about living off campus?
Students interested in living off campus should speak with the Office of Community and Student Relations for more information regarding local laws, tenant rights, and more in the communities surrounding Michigan State University.

What if my student is looking for guidance or has a question about their lease agreement? 
The Associated Students of Michigan State University offers legal consultation and free advice to all eligible MSU students through appointment, including questions or potential issues with lease agreements. For more information on this process, including how to make an appointment, please visit ASMSU’s Legal Services website.

Dining

What options exist for meal plans on campus?
There are several options for meal plans on campus that may vary depending on whether or not a student lives on or off campus, with multiple tiers for both on-campus students and off-campus students. For more information regarding meal plans, please visit Eat at State’s Dining Plans website page.

Where can I go if I have dining questions?
Eat at State is responsible for the operation and staffing of MSU’s dining halls. For questions regarding dining, including dietary restrictions, hours of operation, and more at the Eat at State website.

Culture and Community Centers

What organizations can my student get involved with?
There are over 1000 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for your student to get involved with while at Michigan State. For more information about RSOs at MSU, please visit the Registed Student Organizations website from the Office of Spartan Experiences. RSOs are organized on the Involve@State engagement portal that allows students to browse RSOs at MSU at RSOs to post information including officer information, registration information and more. Please visit the Involve@State website for more information.

What policies are there around discrimination and harassment of students?
The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance has a website of all policies related to discrimination and harassment of students on campus. For information on these policies, please visit the Office of Civil Rights Policies page.

Student Health & Wellbeing

What health services are available?
University of Health and Wellbeing (UHW) is committed to the holistic health of students. UHW encompasses Campus Health Services, Mental Health and Trauma Support Services. MSU offers several health services that are available to MSU students year-round at the Olin Health Center and the Neighborhood Clinics. This includes Allergy and Immunization Clinics, Physical Therapy, Nutrition Counseling, Trans Health, Gynecology, and more! For more information on the services that are offered by Student Health Services, visit the Services at Olin Health Center website.

Academic Success

What academic resources are available?
There are several academic resources available for students to utilize during the academic year at Michigan State. This includes the MSU Libraries for resources and services, Neighborhood Student Success Centers for academic achievement and institutional navigation with more resources available at the Academic Support website.

What is the advising process?
The advising process can vary depending on the college that your student is part of. For more information on each college at Michigan State University and their advising process, please visit the Advising By College website, which explains the basic process a student participates in for advising.

FERPA / Viewing Student Information 

Will I be able to see my student’s educational records and information?
No. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), your student’s educational records cannot be released to you or anyone else without your student’s approval.

What does FERPA cover?
The law is expansive, but you can think of these three categories: financial records (bills, tuition, fees, room and board, etc), academic records (courses, grades, class standing, etc), and student life (conduct violations, disciplinary actions, etc).

If I pay the bill, do I have access to their records?
No. This information will have to be released to you, including the bill itself, even if you are planning to pay.

My student is only 17 so I’ll be able to gain access to everything until they’re 18, correct?
No. FERPA covers all students in postsecondary education, regardless of age. If you have a student who enters college at any point before their 18th birthday, the FERPA law grants them the right to give or return access to their records.