January 8, 2018
Cowbell Connections
January 8
Classes Begin Today!

January 12
Last day to drop a course without a grade; by 5:00 pm

January 15
Holiday - Campus Closed

January 16
Last day to register or add a course; by 8:00 am
&
Last day to request undergraduate academic forgiveness; by 5:00 pm

Click  here  for a full calendar of events
Dear MSU Parents and Families,

Happy New Year, friends!

It has been quite chilly around here as we anxiously wait to welcome your students back to campus for another amazing semester and today is the day!

We hope you had a safe and enjoyable holiday season with your student. It's always exciting to enter a New Year with a refreshed soul and renewed goals. We hope you and your student had some time to sit down over the break and discuss what worked and what didn't work for them last semester. Hopefully everyone had a successful fall semester, but if your student happened to struggle academically or otherwise, please encourage them to access campus resources (early) during the spring semester. As always, we are available to help you navigate through available resources.

It also may be a good time to go over a few organizational skills that would benefit your student. Make a simple suggestion for them to track their assignment due dates, test schedules, end-of-semester projects, and finals on their phone or computer. Or they can always go old school and purchase a physical planner or calendar. Yes, they still exist and are great tools for staying on task and organized. Doing a little prep work upfront may save some stress and heartache down the road. (Check and double check dates.)

As we finalize the event details for the 2018 Bulldog Family Weekend we would love to have you go ahead and register now if you plan to attend. Expect to see a final schedule published on our website sometime next week. We look forward to hosting you on our beautiful campus during this annual event. REGISTER HERE

Please do not hesitate to call or email us with any questions or concerns.

Cat Walker and Becky Faulk
Office of Parent Services
662.325.3611 / [email protected]
REGISTER NOW!
February 23 - 25, 2018

Visit parents.msstate.edu/familyweekend to register today.
Registration will close February 9.

Registration will include an opportunity to purchase Men's Basketball tickets v. the University of South Carolina at a discounted rate. Students may want to purchase a basketball ticket if y'all want to plan to sit together. Outside of the basketball ticket and any additional cost events, students attend family weekend events for free.

We can't wait to see you in February! If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] .
MONEY MATTER$
It's not too early to plan for Fall 2018.
 
  • File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) now for 2018-2019. Students (and parents, as appropriate) will report their 2016 income. Don't forget to transfer the tax information directly from the IRS to your FAFSA. Doing this will minimize the documents you are requested to submit.

  • Mississippi Residents can Apply Now for Aid From the State of Mississippi for 2018-2019 at RiseUp! Mississippi. Students must apply each year and be enrolled in and complete 15 hours.   

  • Visit Bulldog Budgets to find simple and free budget tools to help you reach your goals. 
SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS
Students who did not receive a scholarship(s) for the 2017-2018 academic should not be deterred from applying for scholarships for the upcoming 2018-2019 academic year.

Now is the time to apply!

Students must maintain an overall GPA of a 3.0 or higher and complete their General Scholarship Application located in the student Banner account in order to maintain scholarship eligibility. Encourage your student to speak with the department they are majoring in regarding departmental scholarship opportunities.

IMPORTANT SCHOLARSHIP DATES
December 1
Priority application date for entering freshmen departmental and competitive scholarships

February 1
Departmental entering freshmen only scholarship awards are made

March 1
Priority application date for entering transfer and current students

April 15
Departmental scholarship awards are made for all students

August 1
Priority application date for leadership and service scholarships

Don't Forget: Students must submit their General Scholarship Application and departmental scholarship application each year to be considered for additional scholarship opportunities. We recommend all students submit their FAFSA every year.

If you have questions, contact the Office of Admissions and Scholarships at [email protected] or have your student visit them in 101 Montgomery Hall.
HELPFUL REMINDERS
Parking and Transit Services
Help your student reduce the risk of receiving a parking ticket by making sure they have an updated parking decal and park in the lot(s) associated with their decal.

  • Anyone parking on campus must have an official Mississippi State University parking permit. Visitor permits can be obtained online or in the Parking and Transit Services office in the Roberts Building. Commuter and Residential Permits must be obtained online through the student’s Banner Account. Visit Parking Services for detailed permit, parking zone, and other pertinent parking information.

  • Starkville MSU Area Rapid Transit (S.M.A.R.T) provides free daily transit services throughout Starkville and the MSU campus. Visit S.M.A.R.T today to view route and stop information. Live bus tracking is also available through Doublemap or via the Doublemap App that is available for all smartphones. 

Housing & Residence Life
Current residents who wish to continue living in University Student Housing can apply through the Renewal Selection Verification Process (RSVP). RSVP dates for the 2018-2019 school year are January 29 – February 12, 2018 , and students will receive an email notification when the application opens. Prior to the RSVP, the department will host an Open House at Dogwood Hall for all students to attend on January 24 and 25 from 6 – 9 P.M.

MSU Dining
If your student needs to adjust their meal plan, please remind them to visit the MSU Dining office located between Moe’s and Subway during the first 2 weeks of the Spring semester . No changes can be made after this time.

Account Services
How can I check my student's account?

  • QuikPAY allows students to authorize a payer to access account information and make payments on the student's behalf. Students must initiate this process through their myState portal. Once the student establishes authorization, the payer/parent is sent a confirmation e-mail. For more details, please visit the Office of Controller and Treasurer.

  • The Parent Portal allows parents access to a quick overview of their student’s academic and financial records. Students must initiate this process through their own myState portal. For more information, please visit the Office of the Registrar.

Refunds – In order to receive refunds by direct deposit your student must keep updated banking information in their myState portal.

2018 May Commencement Ceremonies
The commencement ceremony dates for May 2018 are scheduled; be sure to make your travel plans now.

Ceremony times have not been determined.

May 3

  • Meridian Campus Ceremony

  • Starkville Campus Ceremony for the College of Education, Business and Accountancy

May 4

  • Starkville Campus Commencement Ceremony (2) for the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Architecture, Art and Design, and Veterinary Medicine

  • Starkville Campus Commencement Ceremony (3) for the Colleges of Engineering, Agriculture and Life Sciences and Forest Resources
Don't forget to visit us on social media and at parents.msstate.edu !
Make sure you mention #MSStateFamily when you post on social media.
Office of Parent Services | 662.325.3611 | [email protected] |