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.

HC IMPACT logo; text reads HC IMPACT Honors College Week of Service. In the logo, HC is bold and ACT from 'HC IMPACT' is bold and within a green circle for emphasis on taking action.

I loved the variety of service projects we were able to do through HC IMPACT and the variety of lessons we could pull from them. Between the people and the experiences, I was reassured I made the right choice to leave my home state and come to MSU. 

MAURA CULLER, FORMER HC IMPACT PARTICIPANT AND MENTOR

Benefits

Green and white Honors College Week of Service impact graphic titled “HC IMPACT.” Highlights include 62 students and 7 faculty and community educators participating, 14 colleges represented, 11 states represented, and 6 community partners: Allen Neighborhood Center, Edgewood Village Network Center, Greater Lansing Food Bank’s Garden Project, Homeless Angels, Pattengill Biotechnical Magnet School and Refugee Development Center. Graphic also notes 975 service week hours and 1,272 hours to be completed in fall 2025. A small photo shows a group of smiling people standing together. Major sponsors listed include Michigan State University units, MSU Federal Credit Union and Kim and Judith Swanson.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

HC IMPACT (August 22-26, 2026), the Honors College’s service week, is open to 50 incoming Honors College members and 10 incoming ASP members. They will be introduced to a variety of focus areas related to social inequity and inequality (such as poverty, health, education, and environment) through service with various community organizations in the Greater Lansing area. Each day will conclude with engaging reflective discussions to connect the day’s materials, as well as social activities to connect with your new community.

Classroom Experience

A large group of students stand smiling in front of Eustace Cole Hall.

The program will extend into the academic year with an Honors first-year seminar course (UGS 201H). 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 UGS 201H course may count toward the eight total Honors experiences required by graduation. For ASP members, UGS 201H is eligible to serve toward the first-year experience requirement and one of the two Honors experiences required by the end of the academic year.

While enrollment is strongly encouraged, participants will work with an ASP/HC academic advisor during New Student Orientation to determine how best the course may fit their schedule.

Participant Eligibility & Timeline

2026 applications have closed. 2027 HC IMPACT is open to any first-year student whose first semester in the Honors College or ASP is Fall 2027. Please note, any student needing to participate in New Student Orientation activities in late August 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, 2027: Applications open (applications must be submitted via the Google Form)
  • May 9, 2027: Applications close
  • June 2027: 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 2027 program must be planning to enroll for classes at MSU at least through Fall 2027.

  • December 2026: Applications open (must be submitted via Google Form)
  • January 27, 2027 @ 11:59 p.m. ET: Applications close and résumés due
  • February 9-18, 2027: Interviews
  • Late February/early March 2027: 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, MENTOR, AND PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Event Coverage

2025

2024

2023

2022

2019-2021

Please direct any questions about HC IMPACT to Program Coordinator Erika Crews.

 

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