University Advising > For Students >

Families & Supporters

Families & Supporters

The Exploratory Preference major or the Exploring Business preference major is a strategic way to start college.

Why exploring makes sense

  • Stay on Track: Advisors help ensure students meet requirements and graduate on time.
  • Personalized Support: Exploratory students work one-on-one with advisors who specialize in guiding students through the decision-making process.
  • Confidence in Their Choice: Intentional exploration reduces the need for multiple major changes later.
  • Career Alignment: Students learn how their interests connect to real-world opportunities.
  • Resources & Support Network: From career assessments to workshops, students get tools to make informed choices with advisors, faculty, and peers to provide guidance every step of the way.

Spartan Family Connections

Spartan Family Connections (SFC) is a central resource for Spartan families as they help their students succeed while navigating life at MSU. 

Explore family resources

New Student Orientation Information for Families & Supporters

Resources and valuable information for families & supporters of Spartans getting ready to come to MSU. 

NSO family & supporter resources

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a great question and we are happy to hear you want to be involved in our students’ success. Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), MSU employees are unable to share student record information unless there is a signed FERMA waiver on file. You can find additional information on Student Privacy Rights online. If students have questions about their class performance, we encourage them to reach out to their professors/instructors directly. Exploratory Advisors are also available to coach students in having these conversations should they need assistance. We want to empower students to have these conversations with their professors/instructors directly.

We are sorry when these instances occur, but know they will for some of our students. Please visit the student Grief Absence Policy guidelines for more information. While the most important person students should connect with during these circumstances is their professor/instructor, Exploratory Advisors are also available to coach students through this process.

All students must declare their major before they reach junior status or 56 credit hours. If students have questions about this process, they can learn more by meeting with an Exploratory Advisor.