September was busy with events and activities – here’s a look at the highlights from Access and Success Programs: 

Programming

Meet Your Major

One of the biggest events this month was our combined monthly meeting, “Meet Your Major.” We were thrilled to welcome around 40 faculty and staff members from across Missouri State’s different colleges to join our first- and second-year students for dinner, conversation, and connection. This was a great opportunity for students to meet professors and staff in their academic areas and begin building meaningful relationships that will support their academic journeys. 

Study Sessions 

Our bi-weekly study sessions continued strong, giving students a supportive space every other Thursday to prepare for classes, study together, and stay on track academically. 

Field Day at the Rec

Students enjoyed field day at the rec center with a variety of activities, including table tennis, cornhole, basketball, and giant volleyball.  

Bears in Mexico – Study Abroad Info Session 

We also hosted a virtual information session about the upcoming Bears in Mexico study abroad trip, planned for Summer 2026. Students had the chance to learn about this exciting international opportunity and start thinking ahead about how to get involved. 

Family Weekend Tailgate

During Family Weekend, we co-hosted a tent at the football tailgate with the Global Education & Engagement team. This was a fun opportunity to connect with our Bears Lead families! 

Bears Lead Intramural Volleyball 

We are also proud sponsors of a Bears Lead intramural sand volleyball team. They’ve had a strong season so far and are headed into the playoffs – Go Bears! 

First-Year and Second-Year Monthly Meetings

Our monthly meetings provided practical skills for student success: 

First-Year Meeting: We tackled budgeting with an interactive “Price Is Right: College Edition” activity, helping students understand how to stretch their dollars and manage expenses.

Second-Year Meeting: We focused on credit with a session led by guest speaker Rebecca Greene from Central Bank’s ProsperU, who shared insights on building and maintaining healthy credit. 

Access Programs 

Boys & Girls Club Teen Center 

In August, our partner – The Boys & Girls Club of Springfield – celebrated the opening of their new Teen Center. This incredible resource gives teens free access to counseling, food, clothes, medical visits, and haircuts. There is also a gym, library, art studio, and an e-sports lounge. 

KC Scholars Vision Board Event 

We partnered with KC Scholars to host a vision board event on campus. Scholars had the chance to set goals for the academic year by building vision boards while also enjoying Raising Cane’s. It was a great way to build community and set intentions for the months ahead.

Join the Access and Success Programs Community    

Whether you are a campus or community partner, current or former Bears Lead student, or simply interested in learning more about Access and Success Programs, we invite you to join our community. Together, we are committed to empowering students, celebrating achievements, and creating pathways to success. Sign up for our blog for monthly updates on Access and Success Programs.      

Support Bears Lead   

Want to contribute to the work our department is doing to support students through Bears Lead? You can donate to our MSU Foundation fund! To do so, complete the MSU Foundation gift form and select Bears Lead from the options listed when you select “Click here to search or choose multiple designations.” Thank you for your support!  

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