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General Information, Policies, Procedures and Regulations

Housing and Dining

Living on campus at Michigan State University is an integral part of the Spartan experience. The shared experience of living on-campus is not only a rich tradition at MSU; it also comes with countless options and benefits.

Michigan State University offers a variety of on-campus housing options for undergraduate and graduate students. There are 27 residence halls and two apartment communities, including the 1855 Place student housing complex with apartments and townhouses for students and students with families. Students who live on campus are at the center of all that MSU has to offer.

On-campus living at MSU is all about providing students with a safe, secure and hassle-free living environment that will allow them to focus on being academically successful and making the most of their Spartan experience. On campus, everything from utilities and laundry to internet is included. On-campus living also provides Spartans access to our award-winning Culinary Services venues.

Each of MSU’s five neighborhoods offers a wide range of programs, activities and support services. They create smaller, more manageable communities within the greater MSU campus community. Each neighborhood is comprised of several residence halls, renovated dining hall(s), Sparty’s mini-markets, support services and more.

Safety on campus is our top priority and MSU takes the safety and security of our residents very seriously. Many of our residence halls are unique in that they house residential space, dining halls, offices and academic spaces such as labs and classrooms. An electronic door access system is in place in our residence halls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, requiring students to scan their MSU ID cards to enter through exterior doors (other than main entrances) and interior doors that lead to living wings. The elevators are restricted with electronic access to residents only. Exterior entrances that lead to living wings remain locked 24 hours a day. More information about on-campus housing options and rates is available at liveon.msu.edu.

Residence Education Staff

Each residence hall has a team comprised of a community director, community support staff, residence directors or assistant community directors, resident assistants, facilities supervisors and building workers, neighborhood administrative coordinators, and service center representatives. These staff members are responsible for community building, connecting students to support services across campus, and responding to emergencies that may arise in the building.

Residence Halls Association

Residence Halls Association (RHA) is MSU’s on-campus student government for students living in the residence halls. RHA serves as a bridge between residents, the university community, and university administration, including Residence Education and Housing Services (REHS), by elevating the experiences, concerns, and priorities of on-campus residents. Through the General Assembly (GA), representatives from hall governments, recognized neighborhood and campus-wide caucuses, and other registered student organizations bring forward issues affecting residential life on campus.

RHA supports residents through advocacy, funding, leadership development, free services, programs, and events. RHA also provides sponsorship and funding opportunities to registered student organizations that contribute to the broader MSU campus community, including CORES and CAMS groups, many of which participate in or hold seats in the General Assembly. Available services may include free equipment rentals such as projectors, karaoke equipment, Xboxes, and Nintendo Switches.

Students living in MSU residence halls who pay the semester RHA tax are RHA constituents. Constituents may participate through their hall government or caucus, attend open GA meetings, make public comment, petition RHA, and access RHA’s services and programming.

Living-Learning and Residential College Program

Michigan State University’s living-learning, academic and special interest programs allow students who share similar academic or identity-based interests to live together in a designated residence hall or on a particular residence hall floor. Many of the living-learning options allow students to attend class with the same group of peers in their residence hall, which enhances friendships, networking and facilitated ease of gatherings and study time. For more information on living-learning communities at MSU, visit liveon.msu.edu.

Residence Halls and Apartment Application Procedure

New students, including transfers and graduate students, receive housing application information after being admitted to the university. Applications and contacts for housing at MSU are completed online through the My Housing portal, which is accessible via liveon.msu.edu. Any questions regarding the housing application process should be directed to the Housing Assignments Office at 1-517-884-5483, 1-877-954-8366 or liveon@msu.edu.

Summer Housing - Residence Halls

Housing is available for summer session, although reservations are handled separately from those for the regular academic year. Students taking summer classes can apply for summer session housing in the middle of the spring semester through My Housing. At the end of summer session, students must move out of their summer residence hall and move to their fall placement. Visit liveon.msu.edu to learn more.

Off-Campus Housing

Staff members in the office provide general advice and information to persons with problems arising from off-campus housing situations. Students are also encouraged to visit offcampushousing.msu.edu for local listings and general information. Off-campus dining plans are available for purchase.

Fraternity and Sorority Community

Many of Michigan State University's 61 nationally and internationally affiliated fraternities and sororities offer chapter houses in which their members may live in accordance with the Group Housing program. Chapter members are responsible for the business aspects of managing a chapter house, as well as providing activities addressing leadership development, community service, sports and recreation, social life, alumni relations, accountability and responsibility for their members. For more information on this collegiate living experience, contact Fraternity and Sorority Life at 1-517-355-8286.

Cooperative Living Units

A unique type of living experience for Michigan State University students is provided in student housing cooperatives. Students own and operate their own houses and are responsible for governance, maintenance, budgeting and meal planning. Cooperative principles affirm democratic control and open membership to any interested student. The housing cooperatives are all located near the campus and vary in size from 12 to 50 members. Additional information about cooperative housing may be obtained from at www.spartan.coop.

Eat At State

MSU provides dining options that support students’ active lifestyle. Silver, Gold and Platinum dining plans offer unlimited access to all-you-care-to-eat dining halls, plus 12 Combo-X-Change meals per week. Gold and Platinum also have varying levels of guest passes and Spartan Cash included.

Combo-X-Change (CX) is an additional meal swipe that dining plan holders can use for a meal on the go at participating locations.

CX locations include Sparty’s mini-markets, Sparty’s Markets, The Workshop at STEM, The Sandbox at Holden, Nucleus at Holmes, Starbucks, Strange Matter at MSU Union, Panera Bread at Minskoff Pavilion, all venues at the International Center food court, State Room Restaurant in the Kellogg Center for lunch, as well as mobile ordering pickup and grab and go locations.

Wherever you dine on campus, your health and safety are our top priority. Each campus neighborhood has an executive chef overseeing the creation of daily menus, including selections to support ovo-lacto vegetarianism, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free diets as well as kosher and halal dining options.

If you have a food allergy or intolerance, we encourage you to reach out to our registered dietitian at dietitians@rhs.msu.edu prior to coming to campus. The dietitian is available to provide expertise and collaborate with the chefs and dining hall managers to identify safe menu options that fit your needs. You’ll also want to check out Thrive at Owen Hall. This unique location is Certified Free From™ the Big 8 allergens (eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat) plus gluten. Menu signs also track alcohol, beef, coconut, gelatin, pork, and sesame as well as vegan/vegetarian options. Our nationally-recognized and award-winning food allergy program creates a personalized experience for diners.

For Further Housing Information

University Housing Assignments Office

Housing Assignments Office
1855 Place
550 S. Harrison Road
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48823
Telephone: 1-517-884-LIVE (5483) or
877-9 LIVE ON (954-8366)
E-mail: liveon@msu.edu
Web: liveon.msu.edu

Culinary Services

Culinary Services Office
1855 Place
550 S. Harrison Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
Telephone: 1-517-884-0660
E-mail: info@eatatstate.com
Web: eatatstate.com

Off-Campus Housing

Student and Community Relations
555 E. Circle Drive, Room 169
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1113
Telephone: 1-517-432-7527

University Housing Policy

Michigan State University's housing system seeks to provide an educational environment which is maximally conducive to the learning process of students. Consistent with this philosophy, a variety of living options supported by student fees, is made available in university housing. The university has requirements for on-campus residence to promote an optimal learning environment for students. Any undergraduate student enrolled for seven or more credits at Michigan State University for a semester, summer session excluded, is subject to the university's housing regulations. Compliance with the university housing policy is a condition of enrollment.

Administrative Ruling-University Housing Requirements and Procedures

In accordance with the University Housing Policy, the following stipulations apply:

On-Campus Housing Requirement. Subject to the exceptions below, as a condition of enrollment, first year and second year students must live in on-campus housing for the first four semesters they are enrolled, summer term excluded. Failure to adhere to the on-campus housing requirement may result in termination of enrollment.

Exceptions to On-Campus Housing Requirement. The on-campus housing requirement above is subject to the following exceptions:

Married students.
Students who will be at least twenty years old by December 31 of the applicable academic year.
Veterans with one or more years of active service.
Students living with a family member.
Students taking 6 or less credits during the semester in question.
MSU-approved group housing, but only for those students in their second year of enrollment.

Any student seeking an exception to the on-campus housing requirement, must apply for the exception prior to moving into university housing. The most current housing exceptions and procedures for an exception can be obtained by contacting Residence Education and Housing Services at 517-884-5483 or liveon@msu.edu, or visiting liveon.msu.edu.

Enforcement

Those students for whom the housing requirement is a condition of enrollment will be asked to verify their adherence to it. Failure to maintain the required residency could result in termination of enrollment. Enforcement of the housing regulations is the responsibility of the Division of Residential and Hospitality Services. The housing requirement does not apply to students during a semester in which they are enrolled for 6 or fewer credits or during the summer. In any subsequent semester during which the student carries 7 or more credits, the requirement will again become applicable.

Current/Permanent Address and Emergency Contact

Every student without an active housing address must provide their current and permanent addresses and emergency contact by the first day of semester classes and provide any changes thereafter. Failure to provide addresses, an emergency contact or to update as required within five class days after the change becomes effective, will be considered a falsification of university records.

Housing Contract

The Residence Education and Housing Services Housing Contracts is in effect for the period stated in the terms of the Contract. Any student, regardless of class standing, is obligated to fulfill the duration of the Housing Contract unless an authorized release is obtained. (Note: Application for release may be made through Residence Education and Housing Services.) This regulation applies to all students (freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, special and graduate) who enter into a contract for on-campus housing.

Assignment

Only those persons who have received official housing assignments may live in university housing.

Special Permission

Special Permission
Prior to moving into university housing, any new student may apply for an exception to the housing requirements. Information on the housing exception
procedure and extenuating circumstances criteria for exceptions can be obtained at liveon.msu.edu.

Off-campus
Living units that were recognized by the university as ‘supervised’ housing units in the spring of 1983 will continue to be eligible to house students consistent with past practice. Specific conditions that will ensure this eligibility will be developed by the Associate Vice President for Residential and Hospitality Services or designee and in consultation with appropriate off campus representatives (such as city or township people, landlords, etc.) The residents of these units must be advised that the unit is neither supervised by nor under the jurisdiction of the university and that the university assumes no responsibility for the program, the facility, or persons associated with the unit.