We found 9 results that contain "ethnicity"

MSU's Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Development has a great collection, "Resources for Difficult Dialogues in the Classroom" including but not limited to internal [to MSU] and external links on confrontation, bias, policies, and more. Here are a few of the resources:
The Art of Confrontation – COVID version

Prepared by Rick Shafer, Dean of Students Officehttps://remote.msu.edu/_assets/docs/The_Art_of_Confrontation_faculty_COVID_version.pdf

Bias Busters: Guides to Cultural Competence

Website Project of the MSU School of Journalism, College of Communication Arts and Scienceshttp://news.jrn.msu.edu/culturalcompetence/

IDI Education and Training Opportunities

Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusionhttp://inclusion.msu.edu/education/index.html

Ideas for Disciplinary Content

Compiled by the MSU Librarieshttps://www.lib.msu.edu/inclusiveteaching/

Office of Institutional Equity Policies

http://oie.msu.edu/

To My Professor: Student Voices for Great College Teaching

Book by MSU School of Journalism students and editor Joe Grimm, College of Communication Arts and Scienceshttps://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/09/12/new-book-advice-college-instructors-based-thousands-student-comments

Difficult Dialogues Guide

Annotated resources produced by Vanderbilt Universityhttps://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/difficult-dialogues/

Difficult Dialogues Handbook, Strategies and Resources

Resources produced by the University of Alaska Difficult Dialogues Project and the Ford Foundation

http://www.difficultdialoguesuaa.org/handbook
http://www.difficultdialoguesuaa.org/strategies_and_resources



Handbook for Facilitating Difficult Conversations

Resources produced by Queens College, City University of New York (pdf)Link to PDF document

Inclusive Practices for Managing Controversial Issues

Online document produced by Flinders University of Australiahttps://ofasd.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/TIPS_controversial.pdf

Inviting Dialogue

Resource produced by Clark University (pdf)https://ofasd.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ClarkUnivInvitingDialogue.pdf

Mindfulness and Discussing “Thorny” Issues in the Classroom (article)

Alexakos, K., Pride, L. D., Amat, A., Tsetsakos, P., Lee, K. J., Paylor-Smith, C., … & Smith, T. (2016). Mindfulness and discussing “thorny” issues in the classroom. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-015-9718-0 

Toolkit for Inclusive Learning Environments

Project by the Sheridan Libraries of Johns Hopkins Universityhttp://guides.library.jhu.edu/TILE

Books Available from oFASD
To borrow any of the following titles, stop by 2W of the Main Library (across from the Digital Scholarship Lab). Some titles are available electronically on stable links through MSU Libraries.

Brookfield, Stephen D. The Discussion Book: 50 Great Ways to Get People Talking.    

Book via electronic access, courtesy of MSU Libraries


Chickering, Art (Foreword)   Encountering Faith in the Classroom: Turning Difficult Discussions into Constructive Engagement

Book via electronic access, courtesy of MSU Libraries


Landis, Kay (ed.) Start Talking: A Handbook for Engaging Difficult Dialogues in Higher Education.  

Book via electronic access


Nash, Robert J. How to Talk About Hot Topics on Campus: From Polarization to Moral Conversation.
Roderick, Libby. Stop Talking: Indigenous Ways of Teaching and Learning and Difficult Dialogues in Higher Education.
Wheatley, Margaret J.  Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future

Book via electronic access



BIAS AND RACE
#Charlestonsyllabus

Resource produced by the African American Intellectual History Societyhttp://www.aaihs.org/resources/charlestonsyllabus/

#FergusonSyllabus

Resources produced by Sociologists for Justicehttps://sociologistsforjustice.org/ferguson-syllabus

Eight Actions to Reduce Racism in College Classrooms

Article by Shaun R. Harper and Charles H. F. Davis III from Academe  (pdf)https://ofasd.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/HarperDavis-EightActionsToReduceRacismInCollegeClassrooms.pdf

Learning to Talk about Race in the Classroom

Resource from Inside Higher Ed.’s Gradhacker (blog article)https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/gradhacker/learning-talkrace-classroom

Project Implicit (Implicit Bias)

Project by Harvard Universityhttps://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/

Promoting Racial Literacy in Schools: Differences That Make a Difference

Book by Stevenson, H. C. (2013). Teachers College Press.

Responding to Incidents of Hate Speech

Webpage produced by the Center for Research on Teaching and Learning at the University of Michiganhttp://crlt.umich.edu/node/93036

Teaching Tolerance

Program of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Resources for K-12, but many transferrable ideashttp://www.tolerance.org/lets-talk

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Here is the recording of our 80-minute Blended and Hybrid Learning webinar presented by the CTLI.Here is a link to the Blended and Hybrid Learning slide deck which includes further links to resources on slides 27-30. The main external resources we recommend are:

Multimodal Instructor Guide https://hcommons.org/deposits/item/hc:46633/  
List of Big Class Discussion Strategies https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/speaking-listening-techniques/ 
Educause (7 Things You Should Know About the HyFlex Course Model) https://library.educause.edu/resources/2020/7/7-things-you-should-know-about-the-hyflex-course-model 
Online Learning Consortium (The Blended Institutions of Higher Education) https://www.everylearnereverywhere.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Blended-Institution-for-Higher-Education.pdf  
Blended Learning Guidebook https://www.blpmooc.org/guidebook 

Please feel free to follow up with Jay Loftus or Ellie Louson from the CTLI with any questions or to request a consultation.Image from Pexels by Kampus Production.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash
 
What Do I Mean By “Inclusive”?
 
Before I start discussing how your content and curriculum design choices can be more inclusive, let’s start with a working definition for an inclusive classroom. According to the Association of American Colleges & Universities, inclusive classrooms are learning spaces where “active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity” occurs “in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathetic understanding of the complex individuals interact within systems and institutions.”  So, as an instructor concerned about inclusive teaching, I encourage you do consider how your course content and assignments both represent a diverse (for example, gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, nationality, epistemological perspectives) set of scholarly voices and how you can hold yourself – and your students—to more inclusive standards of behavior and discourse in the classroom.
 
Inclusive Classrooms Require Intentional Thought and Not “Extra Work”
 
Creating an inclusive environment in your classroom does not require “extra work” – what it requires is “intentional thought” in how you plan and implement your classes. This involves a deliberate awareness of the decisions you’re making and the impact they have on how you represent your discipline and the multiple voices connected to it. I’d argue that this level of intentionality is a key hallmark of curriculum design across disciplines.
 
Four Tips Toward Inclusive Curriculum Design
 
(1) Select the work of scholars from different cultural or paradigmatic backgrounds: Make sure you are presenting a variety of voices and perspectives across the course readings, videos and material you select.  Additionally important is presenting a full spectrum of disciplinary paradigms in the field so that students have a full picture of disciplinary conversation(s).
 
(2) Acknowledge the limitations of course material with regards to demographic representation: Frame what you are providing and point out the potential limitations of your materials. This can help students see how and why you have made the decisions you did. This can also help students to get a better window into your teaching decisions and engage alongside you critically.
 
(3) Pay attention to WHO and HOW you represent in your presentation slides, case studies, videos, and guest panels: As with our tips above, it’s important that the slides, case studies, and videos you use reflect multiple voices and backgrounds. Additionally, it’s important to pay attention to how various individuals and groups are portrayed in these materials. In their portrayals, are you sending the messages you want sent to a diverse group of students?
 
(4) Maximize the inclusion of all student voices in instructional activities: Make sure you provide multiple opportunities and safe spaces in your classroom for all student voices. Not all students will immediately respond to one way of engaging in the classroom, so make sure your approaches vary and respond to what you have come to know about the different students in class. We will share more specific tips about instructional activities in later posts.

When considering anti-oppressive classrooms (learning environments where all forms of oppression are actively and intentionally challenged) it is important to consider instructor identity (specifically that how you employ your identity can empower and/or oppress students). We use the word anti-oppression because it specifically targets unjust treatment in learning environments. We may often think of an example of oppression in the classroom as a blatant act, such as a student using overtly racist language. However, when you think of oppression in the classroom we want you to include subtle forms of oppression in your definition – such as students interrupting one another. We introduced a 4-step process of self-reflection on your identity, which we put forth as necessary to create and maintain anti-oppressive learning environments. In this card, we want to continue the journey on inclusive, anti-oppressive learning environments, but with a focus on student identities.
 
Four Questions to Begin the Journey

Are you aware of all student identity statuses: sex, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, age, ability, religion, socioeconomic status, national status, language, etc.?

Answering this question is the first step toward a non-oppressive classroom in that you become aware of the student identity statuses so that you can begin to understand their meaning and how they intersect.
 
Suggestions:
Administer a survey before the start of the term (where you could, for instance, allow students the opportunity to share about their cultural background, make you aware of preferred nicknames or pronouns, etc.). Have students record how they pronounce their names for a pre-semester D2L assignment
 

Have you acknowledged/do you understand what student identities mean to students?

Answering this question allows you to understand who students are, so that you can begin to address the privileges (or lack thereof) associated with student identity statuses.
 
Suggestions:
Establish discussion guidelines with communication norms and expectations. Facilitate discussions and assignments    that allow students to relate course material to their experiences.
 

Have you accepted the privileges (or lack thereof) that comes with student identities?

Have you internalized why this matters? Answering this question allows you to deal with reactions you may have while accepting student identity statuses (such as defensiveness, guilt, powerlessness, responsibility, ownership), so that students can embody their identities in a true and authentic way.
 
Suggestions:
Recognize unfair treatment when it surfaces. Have open and honest dialogue with the students regarding privilege and oppression
 

Do you actively engage student identities within your teaching?

How do you situate or position yourself in the classroom? Now that you have become aware of, acknowledged and accepted all student identity statuses, you must critically consider what actions you can take to address privilege (or lack thereof) in the classroom.
 
Suggestions:
Provide a variety of course material, references, and examples that reflects all of the student identities. Use Identity-specific or targeted activities, like the “Class Race.”

At this point, most educators have likely heard about “inclusive classrooms.” We want you to consider an alternative perspective about how you can make classrooms places where all students feel seen and heard. This perspective – that of “anti-oppression” – rather than inclusivity or diversity – will help you understand the role instructors play in creating classroom environments in which some students are oppressed and others are privileged. We recommend this lens because it focuses on the systems in which oppression operates rather than on differences themselves. Individuals differences can too often be used by educators (consciously or unconsciously) to privilege or oppress those they are teaching. Anti-oppression in the classroom begins with you. 
 
What is an Anti-Oppressive Classroom?
Anti-oppressive classrooms are those in which all forms of oppression are actively and intentionally challenged. Anti-oppressive classrooms attempt to directly address issues of power toward the fullest recognition of all individuals. As instructors, we have considerable power/influence over the classroom environment. How we assume that role and use that power will determine the boundaries and expectations for a non-oppressive classroom. As the instructor, you set the parameters. Your students will either be empowered or oppressed as a result of how you employ your identity in the classroom. This is why it’s important to begin the process towards an anti-oppressive classroom by reflecting on elements of your own identity.
 
Authentic self-reflection may not be easy, but is required if you commit to a non-oppressive classroom. This is a process…it involves steps. We can only start from who and where we are. To help you start your journey, we provide four questions to engage you in intentional thought towards becoming mindful of your identity.
 
Four Questions to Begin the Journey
 

Are you aware of your identity statuses: sex, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, age, ability, religion, socioeconomic status, national status, language, etc.?

Answering this question is the first step toward a non-oppressive classroom in that you become aware of your identity statuses so that you can understand their meaning and how they intersect. (For instance, you’re not only Latino or White …you’re a [Latino or White], heterosexual, cisgender (insert other identity statuses here) male.)
 

Have you acknowledged/do you understand what those identities mean to you? For instance, do you know what it means to be white racially if you identify as racially white? Answering this question allows you to understand who you are, so that you can begin to address the privileges (or lack thereof) associated with your identity statuses.

 

Have you accepted the privileges (or lack thereof) that comes with your identity? Have you internalized why this matters? Answering this question allows you to deal with reactions you may have while accepting your identity statuses (such as defensiveness, guilt, powerlessness, responsibility, ownership), so that you can embody your identity in a true and authentic way.

 

Do you actively engage your identity within your teaching? How do you situate or position yourself in the classroom? Now that you have become aware of, acknowledged and accepted your identity statuses, you must critically consider what actions you can take to address your privilege (or lack thereof) in the classroom.

You might think linguistic diversity equates to different languages people speak. However, I urge you move toward a more nuanced understanding, one where our linguistic background involves both our variable linguistic repertoire (the resources of a language we use or have access to) and our sociolinguistic competence (our ability to interpret social uses of language and use language in socially meaningful ways). A linguistically inclusive classroom, then, would include nuanced understandings of linguistic diversity. To help you intentionally move toward linguistic inclusion, I provide seven tips below.

Learn a little about language. Language is a resource we utilize for a variety of purposes (e.g. prestige, power, recognition, etc.). For instance, you might use language perceived as “more proper” to be identified as educated or professional, or use more colloquial language to fit in with peers. Thus, before you engage with language in the classroom, make sure you can differentiate the facts from the myths (to start, see Richard Nordquist’s post about Language Myths).


Get to know your linguistic background. Have you thought about how you use language? If not, you might be surprised by how your own language varies (from how much -ing vs. -in you use to your speech in formal or informal situations). Taking some time to get to know yourself as a language producer and perceiver will help you come to terms with your linguistic identity.


Get to know students’ linguistic backgrounds. No matter where you teach, you will surely come across language variation. Recognizing this will help you understand students and how they use language. Students come from different linguistic backgrounds and bring different language experiences (with different associated norms). I get to know students by having them talk about where they are from on the first day of class, but mostly this work requires listening for clues enabling you to differentiate between, for instance, dialectal features (e.g. “ain’t”) and mispronunciations.


Become aware of linguistic assumptions. Though it is not always easy to talk about, we all have linguistic biases. These might surface as pet peeves (see Weird Al’s parody “Word Crimes” for some examples), stereotypes (e.g. that “southern”-sounding speakers are “lazy”), or assumptions (e.g. thinking there is an objectively “right” or “correct” way of talking). Acknowledging and addressing these biases will help you see language more objectively and address language in the classroom more dynamically.


Know how linguistic assumptions affect the learning environment. Regardless of whether you teach a course that discusses language or not, you are in a position to set rules and expectations about language. As such, it is important to consider what you tell students about language. Language assumptions can lead to linguistic profiling. They can make students linguistically insecure, or feel they are somehow linguistically inferior. Make sure you’re creating classrooms flexibly, accommodating multiple and diverse language uses.


Be willing to accommodate. As a result of individual linguistic backgrounds, students’ language behaviors might not map to your expectations. Some students might not have experience writing essays, but might be profound bloggers, tweeters, or novelists. Some might speak different languages or come from backgrounds where there are different cultural norms surrounding language use (e.g. the use of silence, turn-taking, interruptions, etc.). Before jumping to conclusions, ask yourself if a student comes from a culture where language use is governed by different rules. Be flexible, willing to accommodate, and work together toward where you all hope to go. Start by defining culture- or dialect-specific terms in course content and assessments; vary assessment types to accommodate different communication preferences; and grade based on content, not grammar (unless grammar is the focus of your class). Grammar-based grading privileges native-English speakers and students from certain educational backgrounds.


Recognize linguistic diversity as a resource. Some assume classrooms should run under cultural norms expected by a given region, country, or community. However, as sociolinguist Carmen Fought (2006) points out, “…interactional patterns from different ethnic groups might enhance learning and ultimately provide all participants with a wide range of skills.” Seek to understand ways the inclusion of several different interactional norms and behaviors might benefit learning environments. Some communities, for instance, encourage a “collective orientation […] group harmony, and the avoidance of conflict” in classrooms. Though inclusion of this orientation can be viewed as problematic, it could also be used to teach concern for others, humility, and an ability to work cooperatively (pp. 193-4).

If we aim to make students feel seen and heard, we must question what we really listen to when students communicate. We have an opportunity to co-construct an inclusive curriculum, classroom, and community built out of diverse linguistic resources.
 

There are a variety of considerations when it comes to course content. Now, if you’re close to the start of the semester, it is likely that you have already chosen (and submitted to the Registrar Office) your textbook and/or required materials for student purchase. Please consider the following when selecting your supplemental course content (additional materials, case studies, scenarios, etc.)... and for your primary texts next term. 
Diversifying voice - who is represented?
“Does your syllabus demonstrate to students that everyone has a place in your field of study? … Pedagogically, we might find it challenging to create a sense of belonging in a course when some students cannot imagine themselves as part of the community of scholarship and practice” (Marcella Addy et al., 2021, p. 52). Wow, that statement is really powerful, especially considering some recent scholarship. Schucan Bird and Pitman (2020) found, after an analysis of reading lists, that the reading lists did not represent the diverse local student body but came closer to representing the demographic profile of academic staff (dominated by white, male, and Eurocentric authors). Despite challenges across disciplines and settings, educators should make every effort to center students in their course design and make course materials a descriptive representation of the student body itself (Schucan Bird & Pitman, 2020). This shift can include showcasing the contributions of marginalized groups (Blackburn, 2017) with greater representation of perspectives, histories and approaches of scholars (Le Grange, 2016), along with adopting efforts to decolonialize teaching and learning (Phillips & Archer-Lean 2018). 
Looking for ways to get started? Colleagues at Tufts University Libraries (according to this Inside Higher Ed article) have noted that diversifying your course materials to include content about and by marginalized scholars (groups whose characteristics result in the systematic denial of equal rights and opportunities within a community or society including but not limited to race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation)  helps to “foster an environment that includes knowledge that has been systematically excluded from academia.” You might…

Considering diverse authorship of readings (ethnicity, gender, geographic location)
Inviting guest speakers who bring different perspectives
Using diverse audio and visual materials, such as films, interviews and TED talks
Incorporating readings that challenge standard approaches
Using primary research with authorship that reflects local collaborators
Offering multiple perspectives in assigned readings and letting students choose what to read or discuss at times.

Faculty members “can identify resources that highlight historically underrepresented researchers and activists in our fields,” she suggests. “We can include statements and topics in syllabi to decode our courses, structures and expectations. We can work to decolonize the power dynamics of our classrooms so what students already know and experience is also seen as a valuable contribution to the learning environment,” said Bridget Trogden (presently serving as Dean of Undergraduate Education at American University). Improving diversity and inclusion of voices in educational materials isn’t necessarily difficult, educators just need to be intentional. Fuentes et al. (2021) go beyond centering authors of mariginalized backgrounds, and recommend educators transparently acknowledge their intentional material selections. The example they provide in their article Rethinking the Course Syllabus: Considerations for Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is, "The following text/articles for the course have been chosen in efforts to highlight the important work of historically underrepresented and marginalized scholars in the field" (Fuentes et al., 2021, p.75).
“The proof is in the data: children are more likely to have a more productive learning experience and thrive in the classroom, throughout the school and in their communities when they see themselves represented in curriculum and library materials,” said Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada, President of the American Library Association. If data supports diversifying reading may boost a student’s development and well-being, WHILE ALSO increasing a sense of belonging and breaking down barriers to collegiate success… what reasons do we have not to reimagine our course materials?
Accessibility of digital content
The experts at MSU IT who manage the Digital Accessibility page recommend that educators ask the following questions before adopting digital content (adapted with permission from UC-Boulder’s Digital Accessibility Program):

Ask for Publisher Information: Contact the publisher to ask them for details about the accessibility of your particular textbook and/or digital content. This should include all known accessibility issues, any workarounds that the student can use, a named point of contact, and any guidance on how to ensure any content you create within the platform is accessible.
Review your Assessments: If you use digital online quizzes, ask the publisher for a list of quiz question types that are accessible. Review your own quiz content to ensure that none of your questions rely on drag-and-drop actions, images without alt text, or other inaccessible mechanisms.
Consult with Digital Accessibility Specialists: Contact your local Accessibility Policy Liaison for support and reach out to the MSU IT Digital Experience (DigitalX) team for help evaluating your digital content at webaccess@msu.edu or call the IT Help Desk at 517-432-6200.
Notify your Students: If the digital content (including texts, assignments, tests, or online homework systems) used in your course are not fully accessible, please notify your students in your syllabus with the following statement: “This course requires the use of [name of software or service], which is currently not accessible. Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities, with documentation from the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, may be requested by contacting [insert Professor name or "me"] at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc). Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible. For questions, contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517.884.7273”

For more information on Digital Accessibility check out the “Course Accessibility: Commitments, Support, and Resources” article, visit the Accessibility Evaluation Questions for Digital Content page, or contact your college/department’s Web Accessibility Policy Liaison. 
Cost as a barrier to access
Buying school materials can cost a lot, creating a barrier for students and impacting their collegiate success. Taking measures to curtail expenses on mandatory learning resources is not only a stride towards rendering college more cost-effective and attainable but also promotes equity. Embedding no-cost course materials into a syllabus provides the avenue to diminish financial burdens on students, foster more inclusive access to education, and enables the repurposing, blending, and creation of course content specifically tailored to each class. According to MSU Libraries Open Educational Resources (OER) Program, OER are “teaching, learning, and research resources that are copyright-free (public domain) or have been released under an open license that permits others to reuse, revise, remix, retain, and redistribute them. Examples of OER include open textbooks, videos, images, course modules, lectures, homework assignments, quizzes, lab and classroom activities, games, simulations, and other resources contained in digital media collections from around the world.” 
Diversifying Course Materials: A How-To Guide on Inside Higher Ed (previously linked) shared four additional considerations for instructors when considering their course materials.

Accessibility, affordability and adaptation
Relatability and reflection
Clarity and intentionality
Alternative perspectives

Read more about each of these four considerations at the link above and check out the resources below for more in depth from authors cited throughout this article. 
Resources

Marcella Addy, Dube, Mitchell & SoRelle (2021) What Inclusive Instructors Do. Stylus Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003448655
Schucan Bird, K. & Pitman, L. (2020) How diverse is your reading list? Exploring issues of representation and decolonisation in the UK. Higher Education, 79, 903–920. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-019-00446-9. 
Le Grange, L. (2016). Decolonising the university curriculum. South African Journal of Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.20853/30-2-709.
Blackburn, H. (2017). The status of women in STEM in higher education: a review of the literature 2007–2017. Science & Technology Libraries. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2017.1371658.
Phillips, S. R., & Archer-Lean, C. (2018). Decolonising the reading of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writing: reflection as transformative practice. Higher Education Research & Development, 38(1), 24–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2018.1539956.
Fuentes, M. A., Zelaya, D. G., & Madsen, J. W. (2021). Rethinking the Course Syllabus: Considerations for Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Teaching of Psychology, 48(1), 69-79. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628320959979


Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

***This is part of a series of articles compiling useful resources and information for new graduate students. Some of the information in this series will be relevant for anybody new to MSU, including undergraduates, postdocs, faculty and staff. The topical areas range from settling into East Lansing and Michigan, getting to know which services can be found on campus to administrative steps and information needed throughout a graduate program at MSU. For the full series, see this playlist dedicated to (international) graduate students.***
 
Welcome to East Lansing! Here are a few resources and tips on good places to eat, drink, shop and visit. Some things that will help make settling into your new hometown easier. These suggestions don’t represent any official endorsements but are rather some favourites from your fellow graduate students. There are always new shops and restaurants opening up, so keep exploring.
Housing
On campus
There are a few on campus housing options available for graduate students. Please see this website for an overview. Make sure they are open to graduate students! Common choices are Spartan Village, Owen Hall and 1855 Place. Spartan Village is a little older and a little further from main campus than the newer 1855 Place for example. Be aware that due to demand, you may be placed on a waiting list and not get an apartment immediately.
Off-campus
There are many options to live off campus, in apartments or houses, individually or shared with others, depending on budget and location. Some help to get started can be found here. Other common websites to use are Zillow and this Facebook page specific to MSU students. Again, this is just to name a few, you will find more options googling for housing in (East) Lansing. You can also ask around in your department.
Note that MSU offers legal support services to have lease agreements and such checked for you.
Grocery shopping
The big grocery chains in this area are Kroger and Meijer. They both have several stores around East Lansing and Lansing and are reachable by bus in case you don’t have a car.
On the west side of campus is a nice “farmer’s market” type supermarket called Fresh Thyme that is really good.
For organic, nice but a little expensive groceries, check out Whole Foods and Foods for Living.
For Asian and other ethnic foods try out Fresh International Market. Specifically Indian food can be found at Swagath Foods, next to Swagath Indian restaurant (near Fresh Thyme market).
There is an Aldi in Okemos (east of East Lansing), near Meridian Mall that is a great cheap option.
Horrocks on the west side of Lansing is a little far away but definitely worth the drive! Fantastic produce, cheese and beer/ wine section and you can grab a coffee while you’re shopping.
A word on groceries…
Many stores have rewards programs or special days on which you can save money. They can definitely be worth it! Just ask!
Restaurants
I thought about listing restaurants that have become favourites, however, everybody enjoys something different. So instead, I would like to point you to some areas (East) Lansing where there is a variety of dining options. This is by no means a comprehensive overview, so please google for restaurants serving your favourite cuisine!
Just north of campus in downtown East Lansing you can find several of the bigger chain restaurants but also some smaller businesses.
There are a few places near Hanna Plaza on Hagadorn Road just east of campus.
A few are dotted around Frandor Shopping Center just west of campus.
In Lansing, look at restaurants in ReoTown (southern Washington Avenue), in downtown (on Washington Avenue and Michigan Avenue) as well as Old Town (around César E. Chávez Avenue and Center Street).
Breweries
If you like to try new beers, check out the following local breweries:

Lansing Brewing Company
Midtown Brewing Company
Ellison Brewing (great Pizza food truck outside)
EagleMonk Pub and Brewery
Old Nation Brewing (outside of East Lansing, towards Williamston)

Coffee Shops
For local coffee shops, try Blue Owl Coffee and Foster Coffee in downtown East Lansing. Hooked (coffee, books, and wine) and Strange Matter are other local favourites. Find coffee, fantastic pastries and breads at Mitten Raised. For a little French flair, amazing pastries and desserts visit Chapelure east of campus.
Besides those, (East) Lansing is home to many bigger coffee shop chains such as Starbucks and Biggby Coffee with locations on and near campus.
Shopping
There are a few malls close by: Meridian Mall, Eastwood Towne Center and Lansing Mall (a little further away in west Lansing). Outlet malls are further away but can be great for finding bargains, e.g. Tanger Outlets.
(East) Lansing also has several second-hand shops, including Plato’s Closet, 2nd Time Around (both east of campus towards Okemos), St. Vincent and Paul Thrift Store (and more in ReoTown Marketplace) or Metro Retro (in Old Town).
Big “supermarkets” like Meijer, Walmart and Target also have a selection of clothing, as well as selling household products, electronics and even gardening supplies and furniture. Good to get some basics.
There are a few places that sell second-hand furniture (and used bicycles) like the MSU Surplus store and for example Dicker and Deal and many more. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist can also be helpful for finding cheap second-hand stuff online.
A word on shopping…
There are many different stores, both big department stores that offer lots of different things as well as designated furniture/ gardening/ clothing/ etc. stores around. Too many to list here. They are often NOT located in the downtown areas but on the outskirts of the city. The closest place with a collection of stores is east of MSU campus towards and around Meridian Mall (can be reached by taking bus #1).
Cultural attractions
(East) Lansing has many cultural attractions and activities. Sometimes you just need to look a bit harder than in other places 😊 Many events use Facebook for advertising.
Directly on campus is the Wharton Center for Performing Arts that shows anything from orchestra and opera to musicals and Broadway shows. They have student discounts!
The Broad Art Museum is home to changing art exhibits and can be visited for free! There is also a Starbucks in there and sometimes free Yoga classes are hosted in the lobby.
Another great thing to do on campus is seeing a show at the Abrams Planetarium. They sometimes offer free lunch time Relaxing under the Stars or Rest with Music sessions, in cooperation with Health4You.
Old Town (a district in Lansing) is hosting different types of festivals throughout the year, including Art’s Night Out and Jazz Fest, etc. The same goes for Reo Town that regularly hosts pop-up (and thrift) stores and is home to the cute little Robin Theatre.
For a glimpse at historic Michigan, check out Meridian Historical Village.
A lot of bars have Live Music nights. I usually find out about those by “liking” events on Facebook and then getting suggestions for similar events. Again, you might have to look a little to find events but they do exist!
Nature/ Outdoors Activities
You might be wondering if there are things to do outdoors in “cold” Michigan. Of course! It actually gets pretty hot during the summer. In my experience, Michigan has very short Spring and Fall seasons, a pretty long winter with snow and cold temperatures below freezing, and hot humid summers. There is plenty to explore at any time of year. You might just have to layer up 😊 In the summer, don’t forget your sunscreen (if you’re as pale as me) and mosquito spray!
On Campus:
For a walk in the woods right on MSU’s campus, go to Baker Woodlot/ Rachana Rajendra Neotropical Bird Sanctuary. It’s beautiful any time of year. Beware the muddy pathways though!
Want to explore all sorts of plants and flowers? Check out the Beal Botanical Gardens, Horticultural Gardens and Arboretum.
Need some peace and quiet? Try the MSU Radiology Healing Gardens.
Near campus:
THE nature thing to do in Lansing in my opinion is to walk, run or cycle the Lansing River Trail. Check out the different parks along the way – Crego Park, Potter Park, Hawk Island – and follow its extensions trails further south and west. It’s a beautiful way to cycle from campus to ReoTown or all the way into Old Town for instance. There’s swimming at Crego Park and Hawk Island Park where you can also go tubing (think sliding down a snowy hill in a big rubber donut) in the winter.
Just slightly off the River Trail is Fenner Nature Center, good for a stroll and to learn more about specific vegetation and landscapes.
Missing a trip to the Zoo but don’t want to go all the way to Detroit or Chicago? Lansing has its own Zoo that also does a lot of conservation work! Visit Potter Park Zoo and maybe combine it with a walk down the River Trail.
If you’re into water sports, you can kayak on the Grand River. A rental company right in downtown Lansing is Rivertown Adventures. Though there are many more rental companies around, e.g. it’s very pretty heading towards Grand Ledge. Also make sure to check out the MSU Sailing Center for sailing boat, kayak and paddle board rentals on Lake Lansing (student discounts!).
Further afield:
Try Woldumar Nature Center for trail running and walking.
There is outdoor rock climbing at Grand Ledge.
Michigan has a decent network of hiking trails and even longer distance biking trails (e.g. the Great Lake-to-Lake Trail that crosses Michigan from east to west)
And of course so much more in other parts of Michigan, the further North you go, the more diverse the landscape 😊 Pure Michigan is a good website to use as a starting point. Definitely try to get to the Upper Peninsula while you are here. It is gorgeous up there.
 
Beauty/ Fitness
Besides the opportunities to stay fit on campus (see “Campus Services”), (East) Lansing has a multitude of gyms and fitness options to offer. From general gyms to dedicated Yoga studios, there is something for everybody. I won’t try to list them here. Please google for your most convenient location and check whether they have student specials.
In terms of hair and beauty salons, again, there are many different ones catering to all sorts of needs. Conveniently located and with good prices is Aveda Institute on Grand River Avenue, just across from campus. Be aware that this is a school, hence, students cut hair and provide the services – supervised by experienced staff.
When looking for things like beauty services or massages, it can be worth checking Groupon or other sites that offer special deals in local shops.
 
Other essentials
Postal Services
There are two post offices close to campus, one on Abbot Road and one on Collins Road. You can buy stamps and envelopes also online from USPS (United States Postal Services). Other common carriers include UPS and FedEx, especially when sending larger things. Make sure to compare prices!
A word on the postal service…
The mail is delivered every day. If you are expecting a package but weren’t home when a delivery attempt was made, THEY WILL NOT TRY AGAIN. They will leave a little note for you to know either where to pick up the package or to fill out, place in the outgoing mail box and have them try another time (according to a date you specified).
Phone plans
When choosing a phone plan, make sure you “shop around” for the best offers. The big companies here are AT&T, xfinity, Verizon, and T-mobile. But there are others too.