Welcome Home, JMC Spartans!

August 23, 2022 - Jesús Hernandez and Beth Brauer

JMC provides preview of Fall Welcome

While the weather in Michigan continues to feel like summer, Spartans across the country and around the world head to East Lansing this week to begin fall semester. James Madison College will welcome 282 first-year students and approximately 260 returning second-year students to Case Hall this fall.

JMC will be hosting a Welcome Reception and Student Organization Fair from 2-5 p.m., Sunday, August 28 in Club Spartan. Students will have the opportunity to meet faculty and staff and learn about a variety of Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), led by JMC students.

University-organized events will begin with the MSU Convocation from 10:30 a.m.- noon, August 29, in the Breslin Center. There, President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., MD., Provost Teresa K. Woodruff, Senior Vice President for Student Life and Engagement Vennie Gore, and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of Undergraduate Studies Mark Largent will address all new incoming Spartans.

Welcoming first-year students

Following Convocation, students will break for lunch; then at 1 p.m., first-year students will attend the JMC Colloquium in the Wilson Hall Auditorium, where several college leaders, including Dean and MSU Foundation Professor Cameron Thies, will greet students with opening remarks and advice for a successful start to the academic year.

JMC alumnus and MSNBC Daily writer and editor Hayes Brown (IR ‘10) is the featured speaker. Brown will share his experiences as a Madison student and how his education prepared him for a career working in news media.

“Hayes demonstrates the possibilities, potential and paths that a James Madison College alumnus can achieve and contribute to society. He consistently acknowledges the impact that attending Michigan State University and James Madison College had on his future in public affairs, and we are beyond thrilled that he will speak to our JMC students during this year's Fall Welcome Colloquium,” said Brian Johnson, assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Previously, Brown served as a cyber policy analyst for SRA International; as an editor, reporter, and blogger for Center for American Progress; and, as a senior world news reporter, editor and podcast host for BuzzFeed.

Following the Colloquium, first-year students will participate in an interactive workshop that emphasizes the importance of diversity and civility called LIVE IT @ JMC. Facilitating the workshop will be JMC staff and faculty members: Assistant Dean Johnson, Assistant Professor Melissa Fore, JMC DEI Specialists Jahshua Smith and Florensio Hernandez, and student assistants Safiya Webster (SRP '24) and Noon Bannaga (CCP '24).

“Many students feel nervous about saying the ‘wrong’ thing in class and may not have the tools to enter a dialogue with diverse populations,” said Fore. “LIVE IT provides students with an opportunity to understand how social identities are formed and how they influence our experiences and interactions. We know that building inclusive communities doesn’t happen organically; it happens when students are intentional, respectful, willing to listen and dedicated to treating others with dignity.”

LIVE IT is part one of a two-part series. First-year students will attend the second part, SPEAK ABOUT IT, a live performance that discusses healthy relationships through directly addressing issues of consent, sexual assault and bystander intervention, the following day at 11 a.m. The performance is inclusive of all genders and sexualities. Attendance for LIVE IT and SPEAK ABOUT IT is required.

Students are encouraged to participate in an MSU-themed scavenger hunt at 4 p.m. beginning in Wilson Hall. Prizes will be awarded.

Welcoming second-year students

Programming specifically for second-year students begins at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 30, in the Wonders Hall Kiva for Part 2: LIVE IT, which is a follow-up to last year’s program and reintroduces students to concepts of diversity and civility. SPEAK ABOUT IT will follow a lunch break at 2 p.m. in the Wilson Hall Auditorium.

Important information for all JMC students

Beginning at 4 p.m., all students are encouraged to attend MSU Fall Welcome Spartan Spectacular hosted by the Department of Student Life located at Cherry Lane Field (corner of Shaw Lane and Harrison Road). The event, which runs till 10 p.m., features the Culinary Food Fair and Sparticipation, a student involvement fair highlighting over 500 student organizations.

To close the evening, Spartan Spirit begins at 7:30 p.m. in Spartan Stadium followed by Spartan Movie Night. As a reminder, only clear bags are permitted in the stadium.

Schedule of JMC events

Sunday, Aug. 28

• 2-5 p.m., James Madison College Welcome Reception & Student Organization Fair

Monday, Aug. 29

• 10:30 a.m.-Noon, MSU Convocation, Breslin Center
• 1 p.m., JMC Colloquium, Wilson Hall Auditorium & LIVE IT (First-year students only)
• 4 p.m., JMC Scavenger Hunt (First-year students only)

Tuesday, Aug. 30

• 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., SPEAK ABOUT IT, Wilson Hall Auditorium (First-year students)
• 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., LIVE IT (Part 2), Wonders Kiva (Second-year students)
• 2-3:30 p.m., SPEAK ABOUT IT, Wilson Hall Auditorium (Second-year students)
• 4-10 p.m. MSU Fall Welcome Spartan Spectacular

Wednesday, Aug. 31

Classes begin (follow Monday class schedule)

Take advantage of JMC resources

James Madison College academic advisers are available for drop-in appointments 9 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-4:45 p.m., Aug. 29-Sept. 1. Visit S369 Case Hall to connect with one of the following advisers:

Emelia Hammond, Academic Adviser

Florensio Hernandez, DEI Specialist and Academic Adviser

Max Olivero, Field Experience Coordinator and Academic Adviser

Jahshua Smith, DEI Specialist and Academic Adviser

Lindsay Snyder, Academic Adviser and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Affairs

For information pertaining to Career Services, reach out to Karrisa Chabot-Purchase, Assistant Director of Career Services Network for James Madison College. For meetings with Assistant Dean Jeff Judge, contact Kristie Hess at 517-353-6754 or by email.

For more information about MSU Fall Welcome, visit the website or view the schedule.