January NSO Communications

See You Tomorrow! [MSU Orientation] - Sent on January 4, 2021

Hello new Spartan!

We hope you had a safe and happy start to 2021! As hard as it is to believe, your synchronous experiences for NSO start tomorrow. We hope you are as excited about it as we are!

You should have completed the Becoming a Spartan module in D2L (Step Three) by now. If you haven’t, please get that done! You also should have received your orientation group meeting Zoom link (Step Four) from nso@msu.edu. (If you haven’t, check your spam folder!) The final step, academic advising (Step Five), should also be set up with your academic advisor and you should have the information to connect with them at the appropriate time. Learn more about Step Five with this quick video.

There are also some affinity groups available on Friday, January 8, for you to learn about MSU resources and start meeting other students who identify as you do. Find those pre-registration links here near the bottom of the page. Whew! There is a lot to keep track of this week!

We know this can sometimes be a bit overwhelming and are here to help! If you need assistance with anything this week, we have a Zoom help room set up! Click on this link for live help, at any of these times:

  • Monday, January 4: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm EST
  • Tuesday – Thursday, January 5-7: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm EST
  • Friday, January 8: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm EST

We are excited to welcome you (virtually!) to MSU. We wish you all the best this week and this semester!

Go GREEN!

New Student Orientation (NSO)
Michigan State University

MSU Family Orientation [MSU Orientation] - Sent on December 28, 2020

Hello new Spartan!

Make sure your family/caregiver(s) know they need to register for the Family Orientation Program in advance. Please share this invitation with them!

MSU recognizes the importance of family/caregiver(s), students, and the university working together to support student success.

Our Family Orientation Program is a free program designed for adult family/caregiver(s) or other adult success supporters of new students.  January’s Family Program will be virtual, taking place via Zoom on January 4 from 10:00 am – 3:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time (EST). All sessions offered during the Family Orientation Program are designed to give family/caregiver(s) information and tools to help their students be academically successful.  The sessions provided at the January 4 program will be recorded and available on the NSO Family Webinars page for those unable to attend the synchronous sessions and those wanting a review after attendance.

MSU also recognizes the importance of support for those supporting students.  Find your support team in the affinity groups we have created and are offering on January 4 in two time slots – 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm and 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm, EST.  Pre-registration is required and can be found on the NSO Family Orientation program webpage.

We look forward to meeting you in January! Please contact NSO with questions or concerns at (517) 355-8490 ornso@msu.edu.

Go GREEN!

New Student Orientation (NSO)
Michigan State University

Action Needed: Orientation Groups Sign Up [MSU Orientation] - Sent on December 14, 2020

Hello new Spartan!

One of the next steps in your New Student Orientation is signing up for your Orientation Group meetings (Step Four).

Part of the orientation experience is about connecting with other students, both incoming and current Spartans. You have the ability to choose the time you will meet with these other students if you take the time to sign up!

Learn how to get started with Step Four with this quick video!

You were sent a personalized link to your MSU email. Use the link included in that email to opt in to a specific one-hour time slot for each day, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, January 5, 6, and 7. 

If you haven’t signed up for a time by December 27 at 11:59 PM EST, we will add you to an open slot and send you the link to join the group. We know how important connection is to overall student success, so these group sessions are a required part of your NSO experience.

Our orientation group leaders are excited to talk with you about what you might experience as a Spartan. They are also a great resource to answer questions you might have about being a Spartan and living in the East Lansing area. Come with your questions and be ready to meet other excited Spartans starting their academic journey at MSU!

By the way, information about Step Three will be released on December 28th. Be sure to check your MSU email for details!

Please contact NSO with questions or concerns at (517) 355-8490 ornso@msu.edu.

Go GREEN!

New Student Orientation (NSO)
Michigan State University

Step Two of NSO [MSU Orientation] - Sent on December 7, 2020

Hello new Spartan!

By now you should have completed Step One of orientation, Spartan Essentials, and be moving through Step Two, Preparing for Advising. The information you learn by completing Step Two will confirm your major, explain MSU’s math placement requirements, and prepare you for meeting with an academic advisor in January. By completing Step Two, the academic advisors will know you need an appointment with them January 5, 6, or 7 to plan spring semester courses.  You must complete Step Two by 8:00 pm EST on December 28 so your College knows to contact you!

Meeting with an academic advisor to plan for and enroll in spring courses is an important part of the NSO experience. An academic advisor will email your MSU email account with information on how to connect with them on January 5, 6, or 7. Be sure to watch for that email in late December!

Learn how to get started with Step Two with this quick video!

Step Three of orientation, Becoming a Spartan, will be available to you on December 28 and will take some time to complete.  There are eight (8) modules in total, and Step Three needs to be completed by January 11, 2021.

Please contact NSO with questions or concerns at (517) 355-8490 ornso@msu.edu.

Go GREEN!

New Student Orientation (NSO)
Michigan State University

January Family Orientation Mailer

Welcome new Spartan families!

New Student Orientation (NSO) is communicating with your student via their MSU email address. However, we understand you may also be interested in this information. We are posting communications on our website, if you want to look at what your student receives.

NSO is an experience which takes place over a series of steps. These steps include some asynchronous (on their own) pieces in December, as well as synchronous activities taking place January 5-7, 2021. Your students will need a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam and microphone and stable internet connectivity. If they do not have these, they need to complete the Accommodations and Technology Access survey, or contact us by phone at 517.355.8490 or email at nso@msu.edu to coordinate arrangements with our team. They will need to participate all three days, January 5-7, 2021.

Family NSO is also being offered virtually, on Monday, January 4, 2021. The sessions will be offered from 10:00am – 4:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) via Zoom webinar, and the link to that webinar can be found on our Upcoming Family Programs webpage. If you are unable to attend the webinar, don’t fret! The sessions will be recorded and can be found on our Family Orientation Webinars webpage soon after the event. PLEASE NOTE: Family NSO program takes place on Monday, January 4, while your student’s synchronous activities take place on Tuesday-Thursday.

We also want you to have the opportunity to connect with other family/caregiver(s), if you should choose to do so. On Monday, January 4, from 4:00pm-5:00pm EST and 5:00pm-6:00pm EST, two separate optional session blocks will be available for you to meet and interact with family/caregiver(s) who may share your identities and hear about MSU resources to help support your students. These are optional, and participants must pre-register to participate. The Zoom meeting link and password will be emailed to you upon registration. The sessions included will be for out-of-state families, families of color, first generation (your student is the first in your family to attend college) families, LBGTQIA+ families, international families, and families of transfer students. Go to our Upcoming Family Programs webpage to register for these opportunities.

If you need assistance with registration, please contact us by phone at 517.355.8490 or email at nso@msu.edu to coordinate arrangements with our team.

We are excited to work with you and your student throughout NSO. If you have questions, visit our Family Orientation FAQ page on our website or please feel free to contact us at any time.  In the meantime, stay well and stay safe, and…

Go GREEN!

New Student Orientation (NSO)
Michigan State University

Step One of NSO [MSU Orientation] - Sent on November 30, 2020

Hello new Spartan!

Step One of New Student Orientation (NSO) is all about Spartan Essentials. Beginning December 1, you will learn the tools necessary to access and navigate MSU’s learning management system, Desire2Learn (D2L), virtual meeting and enrollment platforms, and what is next in the process of orientation to MSU. Once you complete Step One in D2L, which should take approximately thirty (30) minutes, NSO Step Two, Preparing for Advising, will be made available to you. Step Two is all about advising and enrollment and what to expect from academics at Michigan State and should take approximately forty-five (45) to sixty (60) minutes. You must complete Steps One and Two before 8:00 pm EST on December 28, but don’t wait! Get these steps done before the holidays so you can relax and enjoy some self-care before the new year begins.

Learn how to get started with Step One with this quick video!

If you need to, review the complete NSO experience and deadlines for all steps included in the process.

Please contact NSO with questions or concerns at (517) 355-8490 ornso@msu.edu.

Go GREEN!

New Student Orientation (NSO)
Michigan State University

Your January NSO Experience - Sent on November 20, 2020

Welcome to the Spartan community! Soon you will begin your New Student Orientation experience. We are excited for you to get started!

Your January NSO experience is a multi-stepped process that will occur virtually but have asynchronous (complete on your own) and synchronous (virtually present during a specific date/time) parts. Your first step – Step One – begins on December 1. Mark your calendars – but don’t worry, we will send out an email to remind you!

The January NSO experience is outlined below. There are five steps in total you will need to complete. You can also view this checklist on our website.

View your New Student Orientation experience outline.

Step One: Spartan Essentials

Get prepared for the rest of your NSO experience in this step. This step must be completed by December 28, 2020 at 8:00 pm EST.

Step Two: Preparing for Advising

Prepare for your academic advising appointment and course enrollment which will take place in Step Five of your orientation experience. This step must be completed by December 28, 2020 at 8:00 pm EST.

Step Three: Becoming a Spartan

Learn more about helpful resources and offices on campus that will help you during your time as a Spartan. This step must be completed by January 11, 2021 at 8:00 pm EST.

Step Four: Orientation Group Meetings

Start to build community with other new Spartans in your Orientation Group led by a current MSU student(s). These group meetings will take place virtually but synchronously January 5-7, 2021. More information about sign-up coming soon!

Step Five: Academic Advising and Course Enrollment

Meet with an academic advisor from your College to create your academic plan. Once you finish meeting with your academic advisor, you will be able to enroll in your courses. This step takes place virtually but synchronously January 5-7, 2021.

Do you have questions? We’re here to help! 

Don’t hesitate to reach out with your questions. We can be reached via email (nso@msu.edu) or by telephone (517-355-8490). If you call and need to leave a message, please leave us your name (it is helpful if you spell it out) and phone number where we can call you back.

Go GREEN!

New Student Orientation (NSO)
Michigan State University

Your January NSO Experience Mailer

Dear Newest Spartan,

Welcome to the Michigan State University Spartan community! Your New Student Orientation experience will help you prepare to begin your Spartan journey. During this experience, you will learn about MSU, Spartan essentials, preparation for academic advising and enrollment, build community with other new and current students, and helpful resources.

See the graphic below that outlines your New Student Orientation experience. Steps 1-3 will take place asynchronously and virtually. Steps 4 & 5 will take place synchronously on January 5-7, 2021. If you need technology access or other accommodations, please complete our survey as soon as possible by checking your MSU email account or by visiting our website.

View your New Student Orientation experience outline.

Once you complete your New Student Orientation experience, you will be equipped with the tools you need to be academically successful. As you begin your Spartan journey, you will continue to add to this tool belt throughout your time as a student.

Ask for help when you need it, explore new opportunities, and learn from others around you. While beginning at MSU may feel at times overwhelming, remember that you are surrounded by people who believe you can succeed.

Go GREEN!

Portia L. Watkins, Ed.D.
Director, New Student Orientation

Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
Michigan State University

Website: orientation.msu.edu
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Welcome Email - Sent on November 5, 2020

Hello from MSU’s New Student Orientation team!

We are excited to meet with you for orientation in January. We realize that the email you initially received insinuated that the program would be in-person. January’s orientation will be entirely virtual, so please plan on having internet access and a device (laptop or desktop) to access the orientation steps.

Speaking of access, we need information from you! Please complete the Accommodations and Technology Access survey to help us understand what needs you may have for a successful orientation.

Leading up to orientation you will be receiving occasional emails to your MSU email address with important information and reminders from NSO and other MSU departments, so be sure to check it regularly.

You can begin completing the checklist items found on our website. Please use the New Student Orientation website as a resource to begin preparing for orientation and don’t hesitate to contact our team if you have any questions. We look forward to meeting you during your New Student Orientation!

Go GREEN!

New Student Orientation (NSO)
Michigan State University