Spartan Resolutions for 2024

January 9, 2024

As we enter a new year, it's a universal tradition to set resolutions — whether you jot down a few goals or complete a full vision board, it’s ambition and habits that fuel the months ahead.

What do you hope to accomplish in 2024? Are you looking to connect with your community or with campus? Here are four ways our office can help you reach your goals in 2024.

Travel

Whether you’re looking to travel far across the globe or stay close to home, the Spartan Pathways Travel program can help you accomplish your goals in 2024. Explore new destinations, immerse yourself in different cultures and check off your dream vacation from the bucket list with our wide variety of high-end trips this year. We have 50+ trips with every detail planned for you, so all you have to do is enjoy the new sites and experiences with your fellow Spartans. Whether your dream vacation involves hiking and exploring, relaxing on a tropical beach, visiting historical sites and hearing from expert guides, we have the perfect trip. For our young alumni, ages 21-35, we have specific trips to explore new lands while you connect with your peers. Check out our 2024 travel catalog to plan your next adventure.

Learn

Are you a life-long learner? Welcome to the club! We have several programs focused on providing educational experiences for our alumni. One of our long-standing programs, Coffee with the Profs, highlights research and work done by some of MSU’s finest faculty and staff, presented in fun and educational virtual presentations in the fall and spring each year. Our spring presentation topics will be announced on our website.

Looking to read more in 2024? Join our Spartan Book Club, where alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends can virtually connect with each other to read and discuss books on a range of topics. We select a new book approximately every two months. You can join at any time and participation in the online forum is completely voluntary. Join us for our January read.

Check off “travel more” and “learn more” from your resolution list with our Odyssey to Oxford and Sojourn in St. Andrews programs. These adult study-abroad programs pair exploration and lifelong learning with the opportunity to study at the famous University of Oxford and University of St. Andrews as you absorb the region's history right on site. The Odyssey to Oxford application is scheduled to open in late January/early February on our website.

Give Back

We know how important it is to give back to our community — if you’re looking to do more in 2024, we have several ways you can accomplish this. Volunteer at community projects through our Spartan Serve initiative, where new projects are always being added. Whether volunteering at the Greater Lansing Food Bank or helping with spring cleanup at a local nature center, you can help your community while checking a resolution off your list. Check out our upcoming volunteer opportunities.  

Looking to involve the whole family in giving back? Sparty’s Kind Kids connects the kindness and creativity of today’s kids with Spartan service across the community to use our imagination and make our community a better place. Kids dream it, Spartans do it. Together, we help serve our communities, connect with one another and make people smile. Download the Sparty’s Kind Kids worksheet to get started.

Want to help your community fiscally? Many established initiatives allow you to directly support MSU in areas that you are passionate about. Whether you want to support student success, an MSU college that impacted you during your time on campus, a club or sports team, arts and humanities, sustainability or more, we have an initiative for you.

Connect

Is your resolution to meet more people this year? We have several ways to connect you with fellow Spartans in your community, whether you’re close to campus or have journeyed far away. More than 100 alumni clubs worldwide bring Spartans together for local events, activities and service opportunities, as well as affinity groups, alumni from across the world that connect with MSU based on a shared experience. Locate affinity groups and your local alumni club today.

MSU’s Homecoming is an honored Spartan tradition and a great opportunity to meet new people as alumni near and far return to campus during a week-long celebration to gather, reminisce and show their Spartan spirit. Check for updates on the 2024 Homecoming date, Grand Marshal and Court selections posted on our website.

Grandparents University is an excellent way to connect and meet peers. Every summer, MSU welcomes Spartan grandparents and their grandchildren, ages 8-13, to campus for a unique inter-generational learning experience. As you meet other Spartans, enjoy three days of MSU academics while creating lasting family memories. Grandchildren and grandparents participate in classes and evening programming and experience college life by living and dining in an MSU residence hall. Registration is scheduled to open on March 20.  

Connect with more Spartans in 2024 at our many events throughout the year. Whether it’s a happy hour, volunteer event or game watch, Spartans will gather all year long. Check out our events calendar to plan your next meet-up.

 

Whatever your goals or plans are for this upcoming year, we hope you find meaningful ways to engage with the community around you. Happy New Year, Spartans!

 

Author: Megan Cunningham