About 1,400 new Spartan Engineers filled the Engineering Building on Aug. 28 for the College of Engineering’s annual Colloquium, an opportunity for incoming students to connect with the people, resources and student organizations that can help shape their experience at Michigan State University.
Part of MSU Fall Welcome, Colloquium introduced new first-year and transfer students to academic and student resources while giving them an early look at the opportunities available beyond the classroom.
“Colloquium gives our incoming students an opportunity to see everything the College of Engineering community has to offer from the very beginning of their time at MSU,” said Amanda Idema, assistant dean for undergraduate student affairs. “By connecting with student organizations, College resources, faculty, staff and other students, they can begin building the relationships and sense of community that will support them throughout their Engineering experience, both inside and outside the classroom.”
Exploring Spartan Engineering
Students moved throughout all three floors of the Engineering Building and into the courtyard as they explored the College community.
MSU and Engineering resources filled the first- and second-floor hallways, while Engineering student organizations gathered on the third floor. Outside, student teams gave incoming students another opportunity to learn about hands-on experiences available through the College.
Those opportunities span interests including motorsports, solar vehicles, rocketry, robotics, computing and other areas where students can apply what they learn in class to collaborative projects, competitions and real-world engineering challenges.
Students were also encouraged to explore the entire event through a Colloquium Passport, collecting stamps as they visited resources, organizations and activities throughout the building.
The event introduced students to College resources that can support their academic experience as well as the wide range of student groups available to help them develop technical skills, build professional experience and find community at MSU.
New Spartans, new opportunities
For incoming student Gracie McCarthy of Roscommon, Michigan, the start of the semester has already highlighted the range of opportunities available at MSU.
McCarthy plans to study Applied Engineering Sciences, a program that combines an engineering foundation with coursework in business and other areas.
“I’m excited to be a MSU Spartan because of the support system and all of the amazing opportunities available here. I chose AES because it offers a combination of engineering principles and real world business strategy that will give me versatile options for my future career. Go green!”
For students like McCarthy, Colloquium provides one of the first opportunities to see how an Engineering education at MSU extends beyond courses and laboratories.
Through student organizations, academic resources, professional development opportunities and hands-on project teams, incoming Spartan Engineers can begin building the connections and experiences that will help shape their time at MSU from the start.
Learn more about undergraduate programs and opportunities through the Michigan State University College of Engineering.
Written by Austin Witt
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page