LBC Points of Distinction - Lyman Briggs College Alumni Development

Be a Briggs Ambassador!

The information contained on this page is meant to assist you in telling others about the excellent undergraduate education that Briggs offers. Share this information with you colleagues, high school counselors and those who might like to support Lyman Briggs College. LBC and the MSU residential colleges, study abroad, and service-learning programs have been listed among U.S. News & World Report's "Programs to Look For" in the magazine's rankings of America's Best Colleges in both 2008 & 2009. The programs are noted as "outstanding examples" of programs linked to student success.

Lyman Briggs College (LBC) is an intellectually stimulating residential academic community for the study of science at Michigan State University (MSU). Students take advantage of the wealth of opportunities Michigan State has to offer while living and studying together in a focused and supportive environment.

· EXCELLENCE-- Since 2005, Lyman Briggs has been cited by U.S. News & World Report among “Best Colleges” as an outstanding example of an academic program that fosters student success. Lyman Briggs graduate have an outstanding reputation with professional and graduate science programs throughout the country.

· A NATIONAL MODEL – Lyman Briggs is a unique example of a 4-year degree-granting residential science college within a major research university. Institutions considering establishing living-learning communities frequently consult LBC for advice.

· A SCHOLARLY APPROACH TO TEACHING— LBC faculty use research-validated best practices, like clickers, in-class group projects, and inquiry-based labs, to help students engage with the material. Smaller course sizes provide greater personal attention and promote opportunities for experiential learning, including faculty-led study-abroad and study-away classes.

· HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY & SOCIOLOGY OF SCIENCE (HPS) – A unique component of the Lyman Briggs science curriculum, the writing-intensive HPS courses help students’ appreciate the historical and social context of scientists’ work and the ethical and policy implications of scientific results.

· CURRICULUM INTEGRATION—With the support of an NSF CCLI grant, Lyman Briggs is braiding the separate biology, chemistry, math, physics, and HPS disciplines into an integrated curriculum with linked courses and overlapping assignments. This collaborative project is made possible by the existence of a multi-disciplinary faculty whose permanent academic home is within the college. Students gain a deeper understanding of individual scientific fields and the connections between them.

· RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES-- LBC students participate in research with faculty mentors through inquiry-based course laboratories, honors seminars, and undergraduate research grants. Results are presented to the community at the annual LBC Research Symposium.

· INCLUSION – Supported by over $600k in NSF and internal grants, Lyman Briggs is pioneering curricular and scholarship programs that support academic success and degree completion by students from under-served populations who are traditionally under-represented in science careers.

· COMMUNITY—With classrooms, laboratories, faculty & adviser offices, suite-style residences, dining facilities, study & social lounges, and a coffee house all under one roof, LBC students quickly develop lasting bonds with fellow classmates, faculty, and staff.

Quick Facts

Average Freshman Class Size: 625
Average Total Enrollment: 1800
Established in 1967, became a school under the College of Natural Science in 1981, regained college status in June, 2007 (MSU's 17th college)
MSU's second residential college after Justin Morrill
Approximately 30% of students also in Honors College
Approximately 25% of students on Dean's List (3.5 or better grade-point average)
3rd largest college for admitting freshmen to MSU
Offering 36 majors in 5 areas of concentration: Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematics & Computational Sciences, Environmental sciences, Social Science & Humanities (HPS)
40% of graduates go on to graduate programs; 20% enter the workforce; 40% enter professional schools
Since its founding LBC has graduated a Marshall Scholar, a Truman Scholar, five Goldwater Scholars, Two Udall Scholars, on Phi Kappa Phi and a recipient of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security scholarship.
Named after Lyman J. Briggs (1874-1963) who entered Michigan Agricultural College (now MSU) by examination in 1889 at the age of 15. Dr. Briggs received his B.S. degree in 1893.
Located in Holmes Hall (MSU's largest residence hall)

The Residential College Story

“The research university’s ability to create such an integrated education will produce a particular kind of individual, one equipped with a spirit of inquiry and a zest for problem solving; one possessed of the skill in communication that is the hallmark of clear thinking as well as mastery of language; one informed by a rich and diverse experience. It is that kind of individual that will provide the scientific, technological, academic, political, and creative leadership for the next century.” - Boyer Commission (Reinventing Undergraduate Education: A Blueprint for America's Research Universities), 1998.

It could be said that Dr. Frederic Dutton and those involved in the creation of Lyman Briggs College were slightly ahead of their time—31 years ahead. The time was right for change. There was a concern that, although excellent instruction in the sciences was being provided, little attention was being given to the impact of science on society; and, there was a desire to respond to the challenges that were then facing undergraduate education at a large research university, A residential college with a science based curriculum provided a unique opportunity for experimentation with innovations that were difficult to achieve in the complex university structure. Thus a new model of undergraduate education was created. The close parallels between Lyman Briggs College, and the recommendations of the Boyer Commission and other recent studies, affirm the founding principles and have provided additional direction for new opportunities.

In its most recent strategic plan Briggs is strengthening several elements of its program. Several of the key ingredients are already in place: a multi-disciplinary faculty in a single building, a common core of science and History, Philosophy and Sociology (HPS) courses, and a tradition of taking a scholarly approach to teaching. Other important elements are:

The BRAID Project (Bridging the Disciplines with Authentic Inquiry & Discourse)—LBC faculty are braiding the separate disciplinary strands of the Briggs Curriculum into a more coherent whole through cross-disciplinary projects, dual-course lab exercises, and linked courses.
STEPPS Major (science, technology, environment and public policy)—James Madison College and Lyman Briggs are designing new parallel majors in science policy that draw on the cross-disciplinary strengths of the two units.
Integrating Research with education—LBC now has one of the largest HPS faculties in the country-with every member active in research.20th Century Chautauqua—Created by the three MSU residential colleges to support individual, social and institutional responsibility, including service-learning and civic engagement.
Linking undergraduates with faculty and international scholars through a partnership with the Honors College and the International Scholars Program.

From our Graduates:

“Lyman Briggs is like a small town dedicated to science and neatly organized into a college dormitory. All my classes are nearby, along with most of my professors’ offices. The convenience of this community is everything I ever could have hoped for. Lyman Briggs is dedicated to excellence in education, and I am proud to be a part of this distinguished college.” Shannon Merritt (Class of 2009)

“As a Briggs student, not only am I a part of a diverse and interactive community, I also have the opportunity to help shape it by being an active member and leader. I am confident about my future considering the quality of education I’ve received from Lyman Briggs College. We have motivated students, small class sizes, and professors who genuinely care about the well-being of their students. Briggs is truly the best of both worlds, and I’m fortunate to be a part of it.” Aditi Mitra (Class of 2009)

“Briggs was a wonderful experience for me; I never felt lost or unprepared at MSU because of the residential college environment and support. I was able to work as an undergrad teaching assistant in the Briggs biology labs, and then as a research assistant in a world-class lab in the Botany department. That opened the doors to fellowships for graduate school, and a rewarding career first as a researcher and now as a bioinformatics specialist. I really had the best of both worlds at Briggs: the resources of Michigan State and the support of a small learning community that supported just about anything I wanted to try. I'm delighted to see that Briggs has regained college status and that the value of the residential college within the university is being valued for the great benefits it provides to students.” -- Carol Hendrick (Class of 1977)

“I loved Lyman Briggs! Having labs right downstairs from where we lived in the dorms made it feel like we could live with our research. Really made it come alive. Smaller class sizes led to deeper learning. I can't say enough good things about Briggs.” Susan McEachern (Class of 1982)

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