Orientation Events & Traditions

As part of Checkpoint 5: Optional In-Person Welcome Programming, the New Student Orientation team presents a variety of signature events and traditions designed to support students as they transition to campus life. These events provide opportunities for new students to engage with their peers, faculty, and staff, fostering a sense of community and belonging. Through a carefully curated selection of activities, the orientation team aims to ease the transition into college by offering valuable resources, building connections, and introducing students to the unique culture and traditions of the institution.

Signature Events

  • Family & Supporter Meet, Greet, and Mingle Resource Fair is a drop-in style resource fair featuring partners from across campus. This event features several fun activities for families/supporters and their students to engage in!
  • The New Student Kickoff is an exciting event that launches Fall Welcome and the new academic year! All new students are required to attend this event, as it welcomes them to Michigan State University. Including important campus figures and traditions, the New Student Kickoff is an exciting start to the Fall Welcome program!
  • The Campus Open House is a self-guided exploration of campus, featuring important departments, services, and more! In addition to our campus partner involvement, the Campus Open House includes components such as: Belong at State activities, which aim to help students find their community at MSU; The Spartan Quest, where students can explore campus with a Spartan Leader; and Relaxation Stations, where students can engage in mindfulness and relieve their stress!
  • Sparty Gras is an exciting carnival-themed event where Spartans come together for festive fun! Including carnival games, food trucks, music, prizes, and more, Sparty Gras is the perfect chance to connect with other Spartans under the neon lights.
  • The Fall Transfer Student Welcome is an exciting event sponsored by the Transfer Student Success Center where new transfer students can connect with other new students, engage with campus partners in a resource fair format, and participate in a community service project!

Traditions at New Student Orientation

  • The New Student Orientation Theme changes for every orientation program! Our theme encompasses NSO events, values, and the MSU campus, and it is present in merchandise, staff uniforms, events, and more! NSO will announce our exciting theme on social media, via email, and throughout other communications in the weeks leading up to each program. The Fall 2024 theme was Welcome to EL (East Lansing). Stay tuned for more information about the 2025 theme!
  • The NSO Team Competition is an exciting battle between teams of new students each program. In the Fall, teams are created based on residential neighborhood (North, South, East, Rivertrail, and Brody) with our off-campus commuter students joining North Neighborhood! Students can earn points by attending events and checking in, winning competitions, and more! Students can check their individual or team standings in the NSO App, available for free on Apple and Android App Stores! The inaugural winner of the NSO Team Competition in Fall of 2024 was NORTH NEIGHBORHOOD!
  • The NSO App is a tool created and maintained by students for students to assist with the on-boarding experience to MSU! The NSO app is used to track your standings in the NSO team competition, view profiles of our Spartan Leader staff, decide which events to attend using our Schedule of Events, and find relevant resources like our podcast and other event materials in the Resources tab.
  • The Neighborhood Spirit tradition is a part of our Fall Welcome program each year. Each neighborhood is assigned a fun color that their Spartan Leaders (orientation staff) wear throughout programming to represent their team as well as a MSU-themed mascot animal. Keep an eye out during training & programming to see what color & mascot each neighborhood will have this year!