December 4, 2017
Cowbell Connections
Dear MSU Parents and Families,

We can hardly believe the end of the fall semester is here! Final exams began on December 1st; we hope your students are buckled down and doing well and finishing strong.

The end of the semester can be a particularly stressful period for many students. Supporting them during this time with positive encouragement and understanding is important.

Your student can expect their final grades to be posted by the end of the business day on December 11 th . Remember, if your student has granted you access to the Parent Portal then you will be able to view the final grades once they have been published.

If your student is a first-year student and their first semester grades are lower than expected, please keep in mind that grades will often improve moving forward as students adjust to their new life away from home. (Sometimes the transition can be tough!) The  Student Success Center  is a great resource for assistance. Also, it's a good time to sit down with your student and discuss what went right, what went wrong, and what adjustments need to be made for the spring semester. Establishing new expectations is super important to your student's success.

We hope that these weeks of rest and renewal prepare your student to tackle all the work ahead in 2018. Enjoy having your student home with you over the break and be sure to make some special memories.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Cat Walker and Becky Faulk
Office of Parent Services
662.325.3611 / [email protected]

Important Dates:

December 1–7  
Final Exams 

December 8
Winter Commencement

December 11
Final Grades Due

Dec. 21–Jan. 1 Facebook
University Suspends Normal Operations
for Winter Break

January 2, 2018
University Reopens

January 8
Classes Begin

Click  here  for a full calendar of events
SAVE THE DATE
February 23-25, 2018
Registration is live! 
Visit parents.msstate.edu/familyweekend to register today.

Registration will include an opportunity to purchase Men's Basketball tickets v. the University of South Carolina at a discounted rate. More details coming soon but you may want to go ahead and make lodging arrangements if you plan to join us. We can't wait to see you in February!

If you have any suggestions for the weekend's events, please email us at [email protected] .
COMMENCEMENT RECAP

Friday, December 8 – Morning ceremony

Architecture, Art & Design
Arts & Sciences
Education

Students arrive to Humphrey Coliseum no later than 8:30 a.m.
March in at 9:00 a.m.; Ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, December 8 – Afternoon ceremony

Ag & Life Sciences/Human Sciences
Business/Accountancy
Engineering
Forest Resources
Veterinary Medicine (Master and PhD only)

Students arrive to Humphrey Coliseum no later than 3:00 p.m.
March in at 3:30 p.m.; Ceremony begins at 4:00 p.m.
HELPFUL REMINDERS

Barnes and Noble
  • The last day to return rental textbooks is Friday, December 8th by 7 pm.

Housing & Residence Life
  • Students need to be out of their rooms 24 hours after their last exam. All students must be out of housing by Saturday, December 9th at 6 pm.
  • Students do not need to move out all of their belongings; just what they need/want to take with them for the break. They will not be able to access their residence hall during the break.
  • Students are required to clean out, defrost, and unplug their refrigerators for the entirety of the break. For a full list of Check Out instructions click here.
  • Students who need housing over the winter break should apply here.

MSU Dining
  • Students are only allowed to change their meal plan during the first 2 weeks of the Spring semester in the MSU Dining office located between Moe’s and Subway.
  • Students graduating in December or leaving due to internship, co-op, or withdrawal, should visit the MSU Dining office or call 662-325-7120 to fill out a cancellation form.  
Don't forget to visit us on social media and at parents.msstate.edu!
Make sure you #MSStateFamily when you post on social media.

#MSStateFamily
Office of Parent Services | 662.325.3611 | [email protected] |