Fireside Chats

For several years the Honors College has organized a series of faculty-hosted dinners called "Fireside Chats" for new Honors freshmen. In addition to providing a venue for informal interaction between faculty and new Honors students, the Fireside Chats serve to welcome Honors students to MSU and promote their participation in our learning community.   

Discussion topics for Fireside Chats are at the discretion of the hosts. Many events are hosted in the homes of faculty members or at campus facilities. In some instances hosts invite colleagues or upper-level students to share their experiences as well. 

Incoming Honors College freshmen may sign up for Fireside Chats during Fall Welcome in August. The events traditionally occur on Sunday afternoons and evenings in September and October.

For more information on the Fireside Chats program, please contact Dr. Bess German at germanr@msu.edu.  

Fireside Chat participants visit the Student Organic Farm

"I had a wonderful evening filled with delicious food and fantastic conversation. The [hosts] both offered insight from their fields and about life in general. Overall, I am very pleased with my experience. Thank you for organizing the Chats."
    -Psychology freshman

"We really enjoyed our bunch of seven students. We appreciated the opportunity. Our chat wandered back and forth between serious academic topics and social/personal topics. We hope that it was of benefit to the students. Several of them feel that they are firmly on a set career track and others are still trying to find their way. particularly with respect to major. Study Abroad is a big interest for this group. We invited them all back if they felt a need for advice or to just get off campus to relax."
    -Computer Science professor

"I just wanted to let you know what an amazing program the Fireside Chat is. We all had a truly memorable evening, not to mention amazing food! Thank you so much for your time and effort!"
   -Hospitality Business freshman

"I spent a very enjoyable two hours with my group of students. We had discussions primarily focused on topics and opportunities in mathematics, but we also had conversations about football, baseball, and international clubs at MSU. It was indeed a very rewarding experience for me. Thank you for making me aware of this event."
    -Statistics professor

"I thought this chat was wonderful. It was very laid back and an all around good time. Plus, it was great to get away from the dorms for a little bit."
    -Education freshman

"Dinner was AMAZING! We played Scattergories after which was a lot of fun as well and I made some new friends within the group. It was a lovely evening! I dropped a thank you in the mail yesterday. Thanks for the opportunity!"
    -Animal Science freshman