HC IMPACT Week of Service
HC IMPACT is an annual opportunity for incoming first-year Honors College and Academic Scholars Program (ASP) students to experience their new community through service with various community organizations.
Benefits
Participating in the HC IMPACT program helps incoming first-year Honors and ASP students:
- Develop an MSU community before the semester starts
- Connect with local service organizations and make a difference
- Work closely with Honors College faculty, staff, and classmates
- Earn two credits with a connected fall semester course
- Get acquainted to campus with an early move-in date
Field Experience
Classroom Experience
The program will extend into the academic year with an Honors first-year seminar course (UGS 201H) and an Honors Writing course (WRA 291H). The first-year seminar is a two-credit course in the fall semester focusing on topics covered during the summer program. Students will be provided that change to continue the service experience with a community organization of their choice that addresses social inequity in the city of Lansing.
For HC members, the Writing class may serve as an Arts & Humanities (IAH) substitution. For ASP members, UGS 201H and WRA 291H are eligible to serve toward the first-year experience requirement and the two Honors experiences required by the end of the academic year.
While enrollment in both courses is strongly encouraged, participants will work with an ASP/HC academic advisor during New Student Orientation to determine if WRA 291H is needed based upon AP/IB/dual-enrollment credits.
Participant Eligibility & Timeline
The 2025 application deadline was Sunday, May 11. 2026 HC IMPACT is open to any first-year student whose first semester in the Honors College or ASP is Fall 2026. Please note, any student needing to participate in New Student Orientation activities from August 17-19, 2026 cannot participate in HC IMPACT due to schedule conflicts; for students who pay their acceptance fee to MSU by July 1, there should be no orientation conflicts with HC IMPACT.
- March 1, 2026: Applications open (applications must be submitted via the Google Form)
- May 10, 2026: Applications close
- June 2026: Applicants will be notified of their status via their MSU e-mail account
Download the 2025 HC IMPACT Participant Application Preview for a preview of the application.
Mentor Eligibility & Timeline
Mentor applicants for the 2026 program must be planning to enroll for classes at MSU at least through Fall 2026.
- December 2025: Applications open (must be submitted via Google Form)
- January 25, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. ET: Applications close and résumés due
- February 9-13, 2026: Interviews
- Late February/early March 2026: Mentor candidates notified of selection
As a mentor, it’s been so rewarding to guide all these other students to seeing those connections and having that service-learning experience where they really integrate themselves with these incredible organizations and non-profits that are doing such incredible work.
ELI FLIKKEMA, FORMER HC IMPACT PARTICIPANT AND MENTOR
Event Coverage
2024
2023
2022
- Photo album (comprehensive)
- Photo album (highlights)
- Honors service program addresses equity issues in Lansing
2019-2021
Please direct any questions about HC IMPACT to Program Coordinator Erika Crews.