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Supportive resources

Supportive resources

Students

The latest information regarding available resources for students can be found on the Counseling and Psychiatric Services website.

Additional services:

  • Walk in counseling services at CAPS (located at Olin Health Center) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • 24/7 virtual crisis counseling is available. Students can call CAPS at 517-355-8270 and press “1” at the prompt to speak with a crisis counselor any time.
  • Uwill 1-1 support teletherapy. Students can create a profile and receive free, immediate access to a therapist of their choice.
  • To request a University Health and Wellbeing listening space, students can use this request form.


Families

Counseling and Psychiatric Services also has a guide for families to help support their student. In addition, a recording of the webinar on responding to tragic events at MSU can be found here.

All Employees

Counseling and Psychiatric Services has webpage dedicated to supporting employees.

Spartan Resilience Training Program Reflect and Connect Sessions offered several Reflect and Connect Sessions throughout February for MSU faculty, staff and graduate students. Teams interested in additional sessions can request them by emailing Lisa Laughman at laughman@msu.edu.

Additional services:

  • MSU Employee Assistance Program can also receive employees in person or by ZOOM. Usual hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Employees can call 517-355-4506 or email eap@msu.edu to make an appointment.
  • To request a University Health and Wellbeing listening space, faculty and staff can use this request form.

Faculty

Resources for teaching after a crisis are available on #iteachmsu playlist. The Office of the Provost developed a 6-Step Approach to Starting Class.

A recording of the webinar Rebuilding Hope: Teaching in the Aftermath, presented by Alyssa Hadley Dunn, is now available. Dunn was joined by Chris Rozman from MSU Police who spoke about campus safety.

A recording of the Trauma Informed Response training for advisors that took place on March 3 is available to watch. 

Staff

The Office of Human Resources developed a toolkit to assist supervisors in the transition to standard operations.

MSU HR is hosting Community Connections sessions as an opportunity for support staff to hear from senior leaders and provide input.

 

Stay Informed

Please follow MSU Police and Public Safety (@msupolice) for verified and accurate updates as well as msu.edu/emergency. Recordings of MSU DPPS media briefings are available online.



Frequently Asked Questions



Campus safety

Effective March 13, most buildings on the East Lansing campus will require key card access by current students, faculty or staff members between the hours of 6 p.m. through 7:30 a.m. each day. Accommodations will be made for public events that take place on campus.  

The university also will begin outfitting 1,300 classrooms on campus with an appropriate lock system that allows instructors to secure classrooms while maintaining building and fire code compliance and allowing first responders to enter the spaces in the event of an emergency. University leaders identified the fall 2023 semester as the goal to have this measure in place. Other doors outside of classroom settings also may be considered for additional safety measures.  

MSU will expand its camera network of more than 2,000 to include additional cameras throughout campus, including academic buildings and Green Light phones already on campus, to provide adequate monitoring coverage. Simultaneously, MSU Police and Public Safety is proceeding with its project to centralize the oversight of all cameras and security systems.

While the university has voluntary active violence training available through MSU Police and Public Safety, it will begin requiring all students, faculty and staff to complete active violence intruder training starting this fall.

If you tap your ID card on a door card reader and the door fails to unlock, the ID card is either failing or access to that particular building has not been authorized for the ID card.

 

Test the ID card to determine what happens if the ID card is tapped on the door card reader:

When tapped, does the card reader fail to beep? If yes, then the ID card has a chip failure. A new ID card is required and must be acquired in person.

  • Bring the failing ID card to the ID Office, which is open 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • Unless the ID card has received abnormal use (e.g., a hole has been punched into the ID card), there will be no charge to replace a damaged ID card.
  • Questions about IDs can be emailed to idoffice@msu.edu.

 

When tapped, does the card reader beep but the doors remain locked? This is an access control challenge and individuals should email DPPS.SecuritySvcs@msu.edu with information about the building they are trying to access. Emails are typically responded to by the next business day.

Yes. Currently, MSU Police and Public Safety officers and the East Lansing Fire Department have access to MSU’s buildings in the event of an emergency. MSU Police and Public Safety is evaluating ways in which additional law enforcement agencies from surrounding communities could access MSU buildings in case of an emergency.

Currently, MSU Police and Public Safety officers and the East Lansing Fire Department have access to MSU’s buildings. MSU Police and Public Safety is evaluating ways in which additional law enforcement agencies from surrounding communities could access MSU buildings in case of an emergency.

Our MSU campuses in Flint, Grand Rapids and Detroit are evaluating building access accommodations that need to be considered.
The measures announced March 1 are a starting point on our campus journey toward a balance of safety and a welcoming community. MSU is always looking for ways to improve and implement new safety measures and will implement additional safety measures as needed.

Yes, students will have access to all academic buildings by using their MSU ID card. 

Yes. Our plan is to add cameras to areas where we do not currently have adequate coverage, including academic buildings. The installation of these cameras will be integrated into our Security Operations Center.

While active violent intruder training is currently voluntary, the university will require this training by the beginning of the next academic year for all employees and students. More information will be provided about the training in the coming months.

All students received the alerts via their university email. And students who enrolled in text alerts also received the alert on their phone.

When students enroll at MSU, their MSU email is automatically added to the university’s emergency alert system. Employees’ email addresses and office phone numbers also are automatically added. To receive alert notifications on a cell phone, students and employees must update their contact information at alert.msu.edu. Parents, families and the community can sign up by texting MSUALERT to 888777. MSU sends out a test alert the first few weeks of each semester.

Yes. Across campus classrooms and spaces, MSU requires the posting of information on what to do in the event of an active shooter, fire or other interior hazards, weather emergencies and hazardous material spills. A copy of the guidelines is available on MSU Police and Public Safety’s website.

While MSU’s cameras can be viewed in real time, currently, real-time monitoring is not taking place.

Once completed later this year, the new MSU Operations Center will centralize the university’s security systems and technology. The result will be enhanced, seamless and efficient operations as well as real-time monitoring between campus units. It also will enhance cross-collaboration between those units, which includes MSU IT, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities and Residence Education and Housing Services, among others.

The direction doors open is determined by the state’s fire codes at the time the building was constructed. Most fire codes require doors to swing out — in the direction of the exit — based on the occupant capacity of the room.

MSU policy bans openly carrying a firearm on all property owned and governed by the university. Employees and students may not possess a firearm on campus even if they have a valid permit. Further, students cannot have a gun in residence halls (General Student Regulation 2.08) and no one may carry a concealed firearm in buildings on campus or buildings owned and governed by MSU. These policies do not apply to certified law enforcement officers in the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety.

Under the Board of Trustees Ordinance 18.00, the general public may carry a concealed firearm with a valid permit but not in any university building or entertainment venue.

The university cannot be more restrictive than the state law. As such, in most outdoor public spaces, MSU cannot ban carrying a concealed weapon for those with a valid permit. That includes individuals unaffiliated with the university who are traveling on campus roads to get to their destination, which may not be MSU.

Classes

MSU leadership worked toward a return to learning and research in a way that recognizes and gives space for the grief and pain while bring us together as community to support each other. We consulted with trauma experts as well as colleagues across the country who have unfortunately experienced similar incidents.

Experts noted the distinct value of returning to common spaces and practices as a helpful way to find perspective and regain a sense of self and community. They also said it is important to avoid isolation as well as seek help and support.

Together, we will move forward. Together we will keep our MSU community unified and strong.

Yes, MSU is offering a credit/no credit grade reporting option for all 100- to 400-level undergraduate courses for spring semester 2023. Students will have the entire semester to make that selection.

Undergraduate students are encouraged to reach out to their academic advisers for information about individual student accommodations such as a grief absence or medical withdrawal. 

Credit/no credit grade reporting options also are generally available to graduate students for spring semester 2023. Courses already being taken for Pass/No Grade (P/N) are not open to the CR-NC option. Graduate students in programs with licensure and accreditation standards need to consult with their program and departments/schools about what, if any, options are available to them.

Graduate students should check with advisors and graduate program directors before choosing the CR-NC option to ensure this decision aligns with their academic goals.

You can find more information as well as a list of FAQs here.

In addition to the credit/no credit grade reporting option, the following options pertaining to enrollment exceptions are available to undergraduate and graduate students:

  • Late drop of a class or withdrawal from all classes
  • Medical leave
  • Office of the Registrar review

Students should discuss their individual situation with an academic advisor. Additionally, some students may need to consult the Office of Financial Aid to discuss financial implications before submitting requests for any of these options.

 

Graduate-professional students should seek more information and options directly from their college. More information can be found here.

We trust our faculty to make professional decisions about their courses and how to best support our return to the regular schedule. 

Instructors have been given the flexibility to adjust syllabus expectations and have been told that they need not rush to catch up for lost time. Instructors are encouraged to record lectures, move or drop assignments and to avoid “heavy lifts” such as scheduling tests too soon after the return to classes.
Spartan Resilience Training Program Reflect and Connect Sessions are being offered for MSU faculty, staff and graduate students.

Resources for teaching after a crisis are available on #iteachmsu playlist.

In addition, more than 1,000 faculty and academic staff participated in the webinar Rebuilding Hope: Teaching in the Aftermath, presented by Alyssa Hadley Dunn.

Berkey Hall will be closed for the rest of the spring 2023 semester and the fall 2023 semester.

After careful consideration and conversations with numerous stakeholders including students, faculty, staff and building partners, the MSU Union will reopen April 3. This announcement was communicated via a message to the campus community March 29, 2023 from Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko and Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement Vennie Gore.

For students

In support of students’ well-being, instructors have been asked to modify their assignments as well as adjust test schedules and due dates to allow students the time to process these events. Questions about what is expected of educators, staff and students during this time should be directed to deans or department chairs. 

For staff and faculty

MSU Union packages and deliveries handled by Logistics and Mail Services has resumed.

Berkey Hall mail for the College of Social Science and the Center for Integrative Studies in Social Science is now being delivered to Owen Hall. The Department of Sociology and the Dean's Office College of Social Science is being delivered to the MSU Federal Credit Union building at 195 Crescent Road.

All other Berkey Hall departmental mail, parcels, or University Stores orders are available for pick-up at Mail Services (166 Service Rd), which is open from 8 p.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please be prepared to provide your MSU ID and a tracking number, if applicable.

Monetary donations may be directed to the Support Our Spartans Student Emergency Needs Fund. If you are interested in donating goods and services please visit the UPL website to complete a donation request form.

For families

Monetary donations may be directed to the Support Our Spartans Student Emergency Needs Fund. If you are interested in donating goods and services please visit the UPL website to complete a donation request form.

In support of students’ well-being, instructors have been asked to modify their assignments as well as adjust test schedules and due dates to allow students the time to process these events. Questions about what is expected of educators, staff and students during this time should be directed to deans or department chairs. 

Support

While MSU is covering hospital bills for the injured students, the Spartan Strong Fund, which garnered nearly $1 million in donations in the days following the shooting, will provide support for the evolving needs of the individuals most critically impacted. The fund will also be used for student and staff counseling, campus safety enhancements, and recognition for those involved with the crisis, such as first responders.
Support our Spartans is an existing fund available to all MSU students that provides emergency assistance for those facing an unexpected financial burden, which may put them at risk of completing their education.
If you are interested in donating goods and services please visit the UPL website to complete a donation request form.
To ensure safety and adherence of university policies, all non-student or non-employee led events must have a sponsor affiliated with the university. If you are MSU faculty or staff, or from off-campus, please contact the IPF events staff at ipf.campusevents@msu.edu or 517-432-0547 for assistance. If you are a student organization, please contact the Office of Spartan Experiences at involve@msu.edu or 517-355-8286.

Union reopening

The union will be under restricted access from 6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. in accordance with MSU’s newly implemented building hours for campus. Additionally, parts of the building will have 24/7 building access restriction, including the north doors and access to the food court. Only authorized personnel will be able to enter those spaces.

While union CAPS counseling staff will be going back to their office in the Union to provide virtual services. Their in-person services will be maintained at Olin Health Center. Virtual options also are still available for all students and can be used instead of in-person sessions as well. 

It has not yet been determined when dining within the union will reopen. When that time comes, we’ll be sure to share that information with the community. 
Yes, the Sparty’s mini-market will be opening, along with the lounges on the first floor and the computer labs. 
At this time, we have not made a decision for when classes may be brought back into the union.
The admissions office moved their tours and events from the union to the Kellogg Center for the remainder of the semester. It has not made a decision yet on when it will return that programming to the Union.