June 2018 Student Success Updates
It is a pleasure to send you the June 2018 MSU Student Success Newsletter. In addition to the stories below, the MSU Board of Trustees announced at its June 22 meeting that MSU would be moving to a block tuition model starting in Fall 2019, charging the same rate of tuition for students taking between 12 and 18 credits, the amount currently charged for 15 credits. This change is consistent with our "Go Green, Go 15" credit momentum campaign and will be beneficial to student success.

R. Sekhar Chivukula
Professor of Physics
MSU Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
Dean of Undergraduate Studies
A design showing slogans to help make the goals of student success clear for students_ Make connections_ stretch yourself_ fail forward_ learn from difference_ commit to respect_ take time to reflect_ and discover your purpose.
Student Success Summit Recap
The Student Success Summit, held in May, was an opportunity for many of the individuals and units involved in Student Success initiatives to come together and recount the progress that was made over the past year. 

More than 270 MSU colleagues gathered in Wells Hall on May 9. The Pre-Summit provided practical tips on how to use data in furthering student success initiatives. The Summit included an overview of student success across the university, a networking lunch, and breakout presentations highlighting projects and their growth. 

The day culminated with a reception, poster session (along with posters from the Teaching & Learning Spring Conference), a keynote by MSU Foundation Professor Dr. Beronda Montgomery on re-framing mentoring as learning, and a panel of academics from across the university, sharing their answers to the question: "How do you teach for student success?"

See some of the 2018 Summit posters here and presentations, the keynote, and the panel here. (Note: MSU NetID login required)
Student Success News
Signature wordmark for the Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology at Michigan State University
New Co-Curricular Record will illustrate range of student learning opportunities 
Bill Heinrich of the Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology, and Korine Wawrzynski, assistant dean of academic initiatives and director of undergraduate research in APUE, describe how MSU's Co-Curricular Record came to be and how it will show a more complete picture of the student learning experience at MSU.

Spartan Helmet next to the letters STEP_ which is an acronym for Spartans Transition to Excellence Program
Program helps students transition into college
An extended orientation program that starts immediately after AOP and continues throughout the year provides community and support for first-year students. 

"The first year of college is most critical and will largely determine if students will continue and graduate," said R. Sekhar Chivukula, associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of undergraduate studies. "Students arrive from high school having been closely supervised by teachers and parents. But by the end of that first year in college - a short nine months - students need to have matured enough academically, emotionally and socially to become the agents of their own success."

Portrait of Shannon Lynn Burton_ recently named University Ombudsperson
MSU Appoints New University Ombudsperson
Shannon Lynn Burton has been named Michigan State University Ombudsperson. The university ombudsperson provides an impartial, confidential forum for students who may have conflicts or disputes within the University, and helps to suggest revisions to policies that impact students. 

Read more here
Spartan Success Stories
Pre-College
16 High School Students Awarded STARR Charitable Foundation Scholarships
Each year, a number of graduating high school students from Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Wyoming are awarded a generous four-year scholarship, covering tuition, room and board, books, and more, for four years. This year, 16 students were awarded the scholarship.

Students and trip organizers hold a Spartan flag outside Google headquarters in California
Undergraduate
Students learn about accessibility, consider career paths in Silicon Valley
As part of a summer study away program,14 MSU students, many of whom study experience architecture, visited tech companies in Silicon Valley to test accessibility in digital and physical spaces. They found the experience to be valuable for networking, and all left with a greater sense of responsibility to make technology and content for persons of all abilities. 
 
An S with a 3 overlaid--symbol for the S3 grant _Science _ Society at State_
Graduate
Interdisciplinary grant gives doctoral students the chance to inform journalism with research, and learn better science communication skills
"Cultivating Newsroom Expertise Through Creative Partnerships Between Journalists and Emerging Scholars" is the name of a partnership between the Lansing State Journal and MSU doctoral students, funded by an S3 (Science + Society at State) interdisciplinary grant. 

Mickey Stamm, associate professor in the Department of History, and project team leader, says, " This innovative program brings together a cohort of graduate students from History and STEM disciplines to work directly with journalists throughout Michigan to develop stories analyzing important issues in science and technology.  As these students contribute their technical expertise to news articles, they not only develop stronger science communication skills but also provide important contributions to public life. Bringing the research talents and disciplinary expertise of MSU's emerging scholars to partner with professional journalists creates a model that other news leaders will be interested in, stories worth telling, and a program worth studying and disseminating through scholarly organizations."

Lorenzo Santavicca is awarded the Student Body President of the Year award at the NCLC. He is in a portrait with other campus leaders
Alumni
Lorenzo Santavicca wins prestigious national award for ASMSU leadership
The National Campus Leadership Council awarded the former president of the Associated Students of Michigan State University with the Student Body President of the Year Award for his leadership and impact on campus. 
 
Hilda Mejia Abreu_ assistant dean for admissions and diversity and inclusion in the College of Veterinary Medicine
Educators
VetMed assistant dean Hilda Meija Abreu receives award for LGBTQ+ Advocacy
Hilda Mejia Abreu, assistant dean for the Office of Admissions and Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the College of Veterinary Medicine was awarded the LGBTQ+ Advocacy award by the Broad Spectrum Veterinary Student Association.
ICYMI: More Spartan Success Stories
A number of additional MSU student success stories that may interest you this month include:

2018 Featherstone Endowed Prize awarded to most outstanding MSU senior; finalists named


State of Michigan provides funding for new STEM teaching facility
Sincerely,

R. Sekhar Chivukula
Professor of Physics
MSU Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
Dean of Undergraduate Studies