Early Start Program (Troy Calkins Student Success Fund)

The Early Start Program helps first-generation college students acclimate to life on campus, nurturing a sense of belonging and equipping participants with the tools they need to thrive at MSU.

Give to JMC’s Early Start Program and help first-generation students succeed at MSU.

Before the fall semester begins, Early Start students move into Case Hall at JMC a week early and participate in a series of activities designed to support first-gen student success. Students take introductory classes with JMC professors, tour campus and East Lansing, and connect with fellow Madison students and faculty. Programming and mentoring continue throughout the academic year, ensuring students have the resources and skills they need to succeed.

“As a participant of the Early Start Program, I never felt alone,” says Jai P. (PTCD ’27). “I was surrounded by other first-generation students who shared the same concerns, questions and feelings I had. We learned so much about the campus, JMC, and the East Lansing and Lansing community that we already felt acclimated within a couple of days and could call this place our home.”