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Nervous about starting at Michigan State? Worried about your class schedule, living away from home, or where to even start? The Spartan Orientation Station (SOS) is a podcast hosted by New Student Orientation staff and was created by students for students. This podcast will launch twice a week throughout the summer, and each episode will feature a unique interview with campus departments discussing their services, common misconceptions, and fun Spartan engagement opportunities. When you need help at Michigan State, it is okay to signal SOS! Don’t worry – MSU is there for you.
You're listening to the Spartan orientation station on Impact eighty nine FM, the podcast by students for students. Now this week's episode.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to the Spartan orientation station. On this week's episode of our living community series, we are featuring Lyman Briggs College. Lyman Briggs, also called Briggs or LBC, is a science living learning community on campus. LBC was founded in 1967 to bridge the cultures of the sciences and humanities and social sciences. My name is Madison Siwic.
Speaker 2:I'm a program coordinator for new student orientation on campus, and I'm also a Lyman Briggs alum.
Speaker 3:I'm Jonah Durer. I'm a SC on campus on my third year. Today, we are welcoming Jackie and MJ from Lyman Briggs to discuss all things LBC. Thank you so much for joining us today, and we are excited to discuss Lyman Briggs College.
Speaker 2:Can you all begin by introducing yourselves and just telling us a little bit about your role within Lyman Briggs?
Speaker 4:Yeah. So my name's MJ. I'm from Naperville, which is a Chicago suburb. I'm currently a second year student at Lyman Briggs, and I'm pursuing dual degrees in human biology and genetics with a minor in bioethics. My career aspirations include genetic research and bioweapon research.
Speaker 4:Currently, serve as the executive student coordinator for Lyman Briggs College, where I get to collaborate with students and faculty to improve recruitment efforts. Additionally, I volunteer at hospice and I'm an active member of a sorority, and I also work as a certified nursing assistant.
Speaker 5:Awesome. Thanks for having us. My name's Jackie. I'm the recruitment coordinator for Lyman Briggs, as well as an academic adviser. So I work pretty closely with all the incoming first year students and the students that we're recruiting from different high schools, college fairs.
Speaker 5:You'll see me in the fall kinda all over the state. Yeah. Working with our new students, helping them apply and figure out if Briggs is the right place for them.
Speaker 3:Well, thank you for joining us today. Can we just start by getting a little explanation of what Lyman Briggs is and what majors and minors are in LBC?
Speaker 4:Lyman Briggs College is the science residential college at Michigan State University, which provides a comprehensive education that integrates the sciences and humanities. This approach ensures that students receive a well rounded education and prepares them for diverse careers in science and beyond. The college has approximately 1,800 students, which fosters a close community where collaboration and personal connections thrive. Lyman Briggs offers nearly 40 majors, which include biology, nutrition science, neuroscience, computer science, mathematics, astrophysics, and geology to name a few. These programs are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their chosen fields.
Speaker 4:Additionally, the college offers minors such as bioethics, science and society, entrepreneurship, and science technology environment and public policy, which allows students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals. The curriculum at Lyman Briggs emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, encouraging students to explore the intersections between science and humanities. This approach not only enhances critical thinking and problem solving skills, but also fosters a deep understanding of the societal implications of scientific advancements. With a supportive environment and a wealth of resources, Lyman Briggs College is committed to nurturing the next generation of scientists, innovators, and leaders.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. I remember so many of my classes in Lyman Briggs had that emphasis on, like, current events or what's going on in the world. So it was really nice to get that perspective as well. So if students are listening and they are thinking Lyman Briggs sounds like the perfect opportunity for me, how do they indicate interest or join the community? Is there, like, an extra application?
Speaker 2:Can they join at any point during their four years, or is it just a onetime process?
Speaker 5:Awesome. That's a great question. So joining Lyman Briggs is fairly simple, but can be a little bit confusing. First off, we only take students that are incoming students. So you can't start at MSU in a different college and then join Lyman Briggs to get that residential experience and kinda all the benefits we've been talking about.
Speaker 5:But if you're interested in joining Lyman Briggs and you're a prospective student out there, all you have to do is apply to MSU and list your major preference as Lyman Briggs College application. If you're applying through the common app, it's in the supplemental questions of MSU. And then from there, if you're admitted to MSU, you are admitted to Lyman Briggs. You're eligible to join. We don't have a secondary application process.
Speaker 5:We're not looking at any specific criteria other than you indicated interest and you were admitted to MSU. But we are a limited enrollment major, so our students have to make their acceptance fee in order to join Lyman Briggs. We can only bring in 650 students every year. So when we hit 650 students who've paid that acceptance fee, we move to a wait list. Actually, for this year, we're already on that wait list, and we normally hit around the March year.
Speaker 5:And then from there, we create a pool of students who are still interested. And if spots open, we pull from that pool.
Speaker 3:So if you do get into Lyman Briggs, is there a residential hall that you guys are all housed in, and are there classes in that building?
Speaker 4:Yeah. So Lyman Briggs is housed in Holmes Hall, which is in the East neighborhood of Michigan State. It's the first year residence hall, so all first year Briggs students live in Holmes Hall, which was really fun in my experience. Our classes and labs are also in Holmes Hall, which is really nice. I would forget my goggles sometimes for lab and just run upstairs, which I really liked.
Speaker 4:It's also the first residence hall on campus to have labs, which is pretty unique. Our biology labs offer open hours where students can stop by whenever time accommodates them, which is also nice, and flexible for group work. Our physics labs have cameras at each table, which record experiences with real time data tracking technology, which is really neat. Holmes Hall approximately has 1,200 students and it has suite style dorms. It's also the biggest dorm on campus, which is really fun to meet a lot of people.
Speaker 4:There are co ed floors, gender inclusive floors, honors floors, and single gendered floors. Each floor is study lounges, which I love to collaborate with peers and study together. My favorite memories of Holmes Hall were studying in our lounges together before exams. The shared experience helped us prepare for our tests and strengthened our bonds, which made the challenging moments a lot more manageable.
Speaker 2:No, that's absolutely true. I remember rolling to those eight a. M. Labs and like pretty much getting out of bed like five minutes beforehand and still being able to make it on time. So having it in the basement of the building was was really, really nice.
Speaker 4:Yeah. It definitely made eight AMs more manageable.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. So in terms of resources, what resources does Lyman Briggs have available for its students?
Speaker 5:So we have an endless amount of resources for students just like any other college here at MSU. What's great about being part of Lyman Briggs, I think, is that you're not just limited to the resources of Briggs, but because of our coordinate major system, we also have resources within the college of Natural Science and obviously all the MSU resources. But in terms of things that are really specific to Briggs is we do have in house academic advising career services that's built into our curriculum. We have study tables built into our classes, and then also just the ability to access those resources in the building you live in. I always tease students that when you hear that sometimes when you're maybe 17 or even 32 like I am, it sounds nice that the idea of not having to leave the building to go class or, like you guys mentioned, waking up at 8AM and being able to get to class right away is really great.
Speaker 5:But what we think about when we think about resources is not just the fact that we have them or that they're easy to get to, but that you might be more likely to actually use them. I tell students all the time that if you're looking for help, it may be your first few weeks at school, you have a few different options, whether that's reaching out to your professor or reaching out to somebody in your class, reaching out to academic adviser. And if you're a Lyman Briggs student, sometimes that's as easy as walking downstairs because your professor's office is in that building, and they know you by name because you're one of only 30 students in their class versus maybe hopping a bus, taking the bus campus to a building you've never been in and going to a classroom or a building with the professor's office and they don't know you because you're one of 300 students, which opportunity are you more likely to actually go do. Right? That's what we mean when we say take advantage.
Speaker 5:If you're looking for somebody in your class, it could be as simple as, like, rolling over in your bed because your roommate is also in that class with you. So I think that is something that is really unique to the living learning communities we have here, particularly the three residential colleges that our students get to participate in.
Speaker 3:So kind of building off that, are there any extracurricular opportunities that are available for students in Lyman Briggs College?
Speaker 4:Yeah. So Jackie and I are part of Briggs Ambassadors, which, we lead a group of students that takes tours for prospective students, families, alumni, and other student groups, which is really fun, and we do that together. There's also Lyman Briggs Student Advisory Council. They hold various events that support student body. Today they're working with the dean and giving out free treats in preparation for finals, which is really nice.
Speaker 4:They also help with decisions with faculty. They hold a bunch of other events in career oriented events. They also do certification making. We also have Holmes Hall Science Society, Inclusive Committee Group, Holmes Hall Government. So we have a bunch of other groups that get Briggs East working together.
Speaker 2:That's so awesome that students can be involved in in a an organization basically with their their classmates. That's awesome. So in terms of if a student's listening to this, they're like, all of these things sound sound amazing. I really just want to know, like, what is the overall benefit? What would you say is the biggest benefit to being a Lyman Briggs student?
Speaker 2:And what is the biggest difference between being in Lyman Briggs or studying, let's say, neuroscience in the College of Natural Science?
Speaker 4:Yeah, I would say the the biggest benefit that I see is a smaller class sizes. My intro chemistry class had about 40 students and my recitation had 15. So we all knew each other very well. These small classes, as Jackie was saying, allow us to connect with our professors and get the help we need. There's really no fear on will the professor know my name?
Speaker 4:How do I make myself feel seen? I always felt like my Briggs professors got to know me, and by day two, they knew my name and where I was from and what I wanted to do with my career. It also helps with getting to know your classmates. We don't grade on a curve, so you get to work together and it's super collaborative and there's always opportunities to do more and learn more together.
Speaker 5:I would say other than the things that MJ mentioned, that science and society element that Lyman Briggs has is very unique to what we do in Briggs. And I think it really helps students push their brains to think a little bit differently about science and how science connects to the world, how it connects to society, how to make ethical decisions when it comes to science. Those things that when you leave Lyman Briggs, you don't just know how to think like a chemist or a biologist, but you also potentially know how to think like a sociologist and a psychologist and an anthropologist because of those science and society courses that cover the history, philosophy, and sociology of science. I think it makes our students really able to think differently, and it pushes them to ask the why. And so when they're confronted with a question or hypothesis once they leave Lyman Briggs, their brain will naturally also push them to think of the why, and that really makes our students ready for the next step, whether that's med school, graduate school, going into the workforce.
Speaker 5:It really allows the students to push their brains in a different way, and it's really unique to Briggs.
Speaker 3:So you guys have given us a lot of fantastic resources and opportunities that Lyman Briggs offers. But if there's one thing that you would say a new student absolutely has to take advantage of during their first year, what would it be?
Speaker 4:I would say every student should visit the collaborative experiential learning lab, which is called the cell because that's quite a mouthful. It's in West Holmes Basement and it's basically a maker space, which is kind of new to some STEM students. But it has three d printers, sewing machines, laser cutters, drawing supplies, painting supplies. There's jewelry making tools, electronic kits, photography kits, really anything you want to be creative, which is really fun for STEM majors who are kind of focused on the sciences. It also has VR games, board games, card games, you can hang out with your friends there.
Speaker 4:There are sign up times and open hours, so you can work on personal projects or school projects. It's really cool. It provides a space for students to be creative and innovate together. And it's also brought a lot of cool ideas to campus, which is neat. I just spoke on a health vending machine in the union, and that was actually derived from the cell.
Speaker 5:I would say go see your academic advisors, which is a shameless plug because I am an academic advisor. But our students will see us in the summer for new student orientation, and then they are not required technically to schedule another appointment with us. But I highly recommend that you take advantage of your Lyman Briggs advisers that first semester, that first year, just to make sure that you are on track and also have access to all the resources that you need.
Speaker 2:Amazing. That's a perfect transition into our next question, which is how does the academic advising system work in Lyman Briggs? Do they have a dedicated adviser their entire time? Are there mandatory classes that students have to take in that first year? What does that process look like?
Speaker 5:Yeah. Great question. So for our students that are incoming to Lyman Briggs, over the summer, they will sign up through the new student orientation modules to meet one on one with a Lyman Briggs adviser. And you'll have a one hour session with that adviser where via Zoom, where you go through everything you're interested in studying, your AP test, dual enrollment, all the things you're coming into MSU with. And from there, you will work one on one with that adviser to schedule your fall semester courses.
Speaker 5:That's technically the only required thing you have to do before you get here to start your classes in Lyman Briggs. And you are not actually assigned an academic advisor, so you can see any Lyman Briggs advisor at any point. We're not split by majors or split by students or anything like that. So you can see whoever's available anytime throughout your years here at MSU. And we do drop in advising at the important times of the year, whether that's enrollment times or we're doing them next week for finals.
Speaker 5:So all throughout the year, we'll have those drop in advising as well. In terms of the classes our students take, there are no mandatory first year classes depending on what a student comes in with for credit. A lot of our students start kind of in that core curriculum of calculus, chemistry. And then we have that intro science and society course that covers your WRA one zero one requirement, which is your tier one writing requirement. So that's generally what our students take that first year.
Speaker 5:But what's so great about having that one on one meeting over the summer is if your classes don't align with that or if you're coming in with chemistry credit or anything, you're gonna bypass that, and we'll help you get into the right courses.
Speaker 3:Awesome. So last question here, more of a fun one. What is your favorite part about working with slash being with LBC?
Speaker 4:Yeah. So I get the best of both worlds. I'm a student in LBC and I work for LBC. And I love how close our community is. I came from out of state.
Speaker 4:I only knew two people at Michigan State and nobody in Lyman Briggs. But before my even before my classes even started freshman year, I'd met so many people at Briggs and I walked into my classes day one knowing about half of my chemistry class. As a second year student now, I know pretty much everyone in my classes on day one. I love my Briggs community and I love to see them whether it's at Target, on a walk or in Holmes Hall. I have a lot of fun with them and I love how close faculty is as well.
Speaker 4:They are the best, and they love to see our students succeed.
Speaker 5:I think the best part about my job working for Lyman Briggs is that I get to see students through their whole process at MSU. So I get to recruit students whether they're in their junior year, their senior year. I meet them at their high school. I meet them in their neighborhoods and in their communities, and then I get to work with them their whole four years here, which is pretty different than some of the other positions I've had. I've worked in admissions before, and you kinda work with them through that recruitment process.
Speaker 5:Then when they get here, they don't ever come see you again. But these students, I get to work with their whole time, so I really get to see their growth. As well as I think it's really fun to work with our student ambassadors. So we have a group of about 50 student ambassadors who help with recruitment and give tours and connect with prospective students, and I oversee that program. And it's been such an honor to see all of our students grow.
Speaker 5:It's like our first year, we have students graduating since I've been here. So that's part of the best part of working for Briggs for sure.
Speaker 2:That's amazing. Yeah. Briggs is just such an awesome community, and so I absolutely love hearing all of y'all's experiences and knowing everybody in your chem class. It's so much less intimidating than walking into a huge lecture hall.
Speaker 3:So you had mentioned working with students across their entire time at MSU. So once they move out of residential hall, what's their involvement like, and what resources and opportunities are still offered to them?
Speaker 5:Yeah. That's a great question. So Alignment Briggs, because we're a full four year degree granting college, our students are part of Alignment Briggs all four years. But we have this coordinate major system where our students take their core classes through Lyman Briggs. So chemistry, math, physics, bio, and then they go kind of move into the courses that are specific for their major.
Speaker 5:For instance, neuroscience, then you move into neuro three zero one. You move into neuro three zero two, and those classes are actually taught out of the college of natural science. And so those students are in their soft or really their junior, senior year are not taking as many classes in Holmes Hall or within Lyman Briggs, but you're still a Lyman Briggs student. So those are the years that you'll most likely take your science and society courses in your senior seminar. So you'll move from having the majority of your courses in Holmes Hall to probably just having one, but you're still connected to the college, whether that be in these programs we've talked about like Briggs ambassadors or the classes that you're taking.
Speaker 5:We have a lot of undergraduate learning assistants that help teach some of our courses, and they stay connected in those ways. And then actually Lyman Briggs certifies your degree when you graduate. So you're still a Lyman Briggs student. It's just you move into those college of natural science classes that are specific for your major.
Speaker 4:Yeah. I can kind of also speak on that. As a sophomore, I currently take physics and a science and society class through Holmes Hall or through Lyman Briggs and Holmes Hall, I guess. And then my other classes are through my genetics and human bio majors. So those are through natural science.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. I remember, like, having that one class in Holmes, like, the semesters that you were mostly, like, in other buildings on campus. It felt like coming home. That's so cheesy to say. Totally does.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Love that. But thank you both so much for joining us and chatting a little bit more about Lyman Briggs. And for everyone listening, tune in next time to hear more about the living communities on campus. Go green.
Speaker 2:Go white. Thank
Speaker 1:you for listening to this episode of the Spartan orientation station on impact eighty nine FM. Let us know what you think by connecting with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram at MSU underscore NSO.