University Advising
Office of Undergraduate Education
We are so happy you are joining the academic advising community at Michigan State University. We’re thrilled to have you join our team of dedicated professionals who support student success every day. As you begin this new chapter, we want to ensure you have the tools and guidance you need to feel confident in your role.
This page contains resources, guides, and onboarding materials designed specifically for new academic advisors. To begin acclimating to your new role, download the welcome packet, which includes steps to complete in your first few weeks, links to helpful resources, and additional points of contact.
New Academic Advisor Training Course serves as a comprehensive, self-paced course consisting of six distinct units, each designed to build upon the previous one. This training equips MSU academic advisors with essential tools and guidance, empowering them to excel in their roles. We strongly recommend all academic advisors to engage in this interactive program during their first year in an advisory position. Additionally, established advisors are encouraged to utilize this resource for ongoing professional development.
The Undergraduate Advisor Directory serves as a centralized location for advisor contact information for all undergraduate majors, minors, and programs. The directory includes contact information and direct links to major/minor/program websites and curriculum guides, as well as advisor leadership and support contacts. Click on the button below to access the guide. If you are an advisor who needs to request edits to the guide, please complete this form. Directory
New Faculty and Academic Staff Orientation is an expectation for all new full-time academics who are contracted for 90% time or greater for two or more semesters, including tenure system faculty, librarians, health programs faculty, FRIB/NSCL faculty, fixed-term faculty (teaching-focused faculty), academic specialists in the continuing system, fixed-term academic specialists, and senior research associates. Others who are in these roles at reduced appointment levels are invited, but not required, to attend.
Invitations are typically sent in the summer. Please visit the Office Faculty and Academic Staff Development’s (OFASD) website for more details.
Academic advisors are required to complete specific training courses that equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to perform their roles effectively and ethically. This page includes mandatory trainings such as FERPA, Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM), MSU Foundations, and Disability and Accessibility Policies Training. It also features optional campus-wide training opportunities, including Quest: Building Capacity for LGBTQA+ Inclusion, teaching and learning resources, and guidance on supporting students’ basic and essential needs. Use the links below to explore both required and recommended trainings.
FERPA is a federal law that protects students’ rights to access, amend, and control the disclosure of their education records. To complete this required training, click on the button below.
All faculty and staff are required to complete training on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM) within 30 days of hire. This training includes important information on MSU policies, including protocols for mandatory reporting.
MSU Foundations: Our Spartan Community (formerly DEI Foundations) is a university-wide online educational learning experience created for new students, faculty, and staff. To foster a sense of belonging, the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion developed this fully customized, MSU-specific e-learning opportunity in collaboration with many campus units and experts.
The Disability and Accessibility Policies Training covers MSU’s obligations under disability laws and policies, explains your role in supporting employee and student accommodations, and covers principles of digital accessibility.
The Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation (CTLI) offers comprehensive teaching resources across all MSU schools, colleges, and departments. If needing assistance with creating course content, getting started as an instructor, or making enhancements to an existing course, CTLI offers a wealth of information and support.
The Basic/Essential Needs Educator Training was created to provide educators with practical skills and insights to effectively guide students to various campus resources that support a range of basic and essential needs.
Quest: Building Capacity for LGBTQA+ Inclusion is the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center’s core curriculum. This program is designed to encourage the growth and development of ally skills and practices over time by providing a greater variety of educational programs and workshops at varying levels and on specific topics and identities.
An AVI is an ongoing assault with a weapon causing death or serious injury of multiple victims in a populated area. Awareness training is recommended for all students, faculty, and staff.