From missed sessions to a seat at the table: My Envision Green journey

By Nicole Wadkins
Staff Reporter

The first time I ever heard about Envision Green was during the spring of my senior year of high school in 2024. It was during the stressful season where everyone was finalizing college decisions while also balancing AP exams.

During that time, my high school advisor, Rachel Zemla, mentioned that Envision Green was something I should look into. I had told her that my goal was to earn a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, and Michigan State University felt like the most realistic option for me as the campus is close to home and has the program I want. I also knew I wanted to complete most of my general education requirements first, so I was always going to start at Lansing Community College before transferring. With that in mind, Zemla recommended that I attend an Envision Green session.

At the time, I honestly had no idea what Envision Green was. It seemed like the program was not very clearly defined yet. Information about the program was still limited, and I had difficulty finding clear answers when I first asked about it. After speaking with the LCC staff, I was able to confirm that it was a real opportunity, but was still unsure of what to expect. Based on the advice from Zemla and LCC faculty, I decided to focus on graduating high school first before worrying about the transfer process.

When I did start attending LCC, I was mainly focused on getting my footing. Like many students, I was mostly worried about classes and learning how to manage my time and finances. It was not until October that I finally had time to attend an Envision Green Transfer Success session.

That session was my first-ever introduction to what Envision Green could offer. I learned that it was meant to help students make the most of their time at LCC while also preparing early on for MSU. What stood out to me was how many people were there to help. The Envision Green team went over transfer timelines, majors, admission, the Michigan Transfer Agreement, scholarships and other campus resources—all of which addressed many of the questions I had originally been trying to figure out on my own.

Afterwards, I was able to connect with Envision Green Transfer Advisor Coordinator Erika Espinoza through walk-in academic advising. She helped me answer questions I had and gave me suggestions about which classes to take. As someone who likes planning ahead, I found that guidance helpful.

I wanted to attend more sessions and events after that, but life had other plans. After the fall semester, my schedule became much heavier. Beforehand, I was only on campus a few days a week. But this year, I have been on campus Monday through Thursday in the basement of the Gannon Building, barely seeing the outdoors, as my classes start early in the morning and I did not get out until later in the evening.

With that kind of schedule, a lot of the events flew over my head. I also started working for The Lookout, and the workload of being a staff reporter as well as studying for classes made it challenging to keep up with the events. Even though I could not attend many of the events, I checked on Envision Green’s Instagram page to keep up with announcements. Through those updates, I learned more about the growing partnership between LCC and MSU as the two schools renewed their agreement to support transfer students and expanded on transfer resources. Strangely enough, it was my reporting job that brought me back into the orbit of Envision Green. I wrote an earlier article, “Envision Green guides students to MSU,” where I interviewed Program Director Laura Wise and Espinoza about how the program supports students transferring from LCC to MSU.

During that interview, I learned that Envision Green was creating its first student advisory group. At the time, applications had already closed, so I did not think much more about it. Then, about a week later, I received an email from Espinoza inviting me to join the inaugural Envision Green Student Advisory Group. I was surprised to get that invitation and filled out the application quickly afterwards, which became one of the best decisions I made.

The advisory group was the first of its kind. We were a group of LCC students helping improve the transfer experience between LCC and MSU. As the first members, we were basically building it from the ground up. We heard about upcoming plans before they were publicly announced and gave feedback from a student perspective.

Joining the advisory group gave me opportunities I never expected, and it was nice to meet other students who were transferring to MSU. One of my most memorable experiences was attending The Wiz at the Wharton Center, as the program offered tickets to interested students. I was able to experience some of MSU’s performing arts culture; I had no idea MSU had such amazing performances right on campus. I enjoyed myself so much that I’m already planning to take advantage of the student ticket prices at future Wharton Center Productions.

Another meaningful event that Envision Green hosts is the Stars to Spartans celebration, which recognizes LCC students who have been admitted to MSU. There was food and many representatives from several colleges and support offices there, including financial aid, TRIO Student Support Services and the Transfer Student Success Center. Their presence was valuable, since students could ask questions directly to the people who handle those departments. If those questions involve anything from scholarships, campus support services, or even about the college or department you were going into, someone was there to answer. Having all of these resources available in one place made the transition feel more manageable.

One of the messages that the program emphasizes, both on Instagram and at the Stars to Spartans celebration, is that support from Envision Green does not stop once you’re admitted. If there are questions, help is still available, and students can continue reaching out to Wise.

But if I’m being honest, the best part of Envision Green was joining the advisory group.

I am still very much a busy student. I miss a lot of the events. I do not always have time to attend walk-in advising hours. But being in the advisory group, which meets every two weeks, gave me a way to stay connected with MSU staff and other students who were also preparing to transfer. I could easily ask questions about transferring, MSU programs and other things much faster. During those meetings, MSU staff also gave us insight about certain events that LCC students can participate in, such as the Undergraduate Research & Arts Forum (UURAF) and the All Majors Career Fair.

It was also nice getting to meet people from different backgrounds who were all on their own paths but still working toward a similar goal. With how busy my schedule usually is, I do not have many chances to slow down and build those types of connections, so it was a space I appreciated. All in all, it meant a lot to me knowing that while I was still navigating my own transfer journey, we were helping to make the process less confusing for someone else.

I first found Envision Green while planning my future. I did not expect the program would also help shape it. For students considering the same path, it may become part of yours too.