March 7 , 2018
Cowbell Connections
Dear MSU Parents and Families,

Happy Spring to our favorite Bulldogs!

The flowers (lots of tulips and daffodils) are blooming here on campus, which makes for a lovely time to be outside - even though it is a bit chilly today with the wind. Spring is definitely on its way and it feels good to put some of our colder days behind us.

We had a wonderful 2018 Bulldog Family Weekend and can't wait until our next big event during Homecoming weekend, November 3rd . Stay tuned for details. Hope to see you there!

We have reached our halfway mark in the semester. Students should have a good idea of where they stand academically. If your student has progress grades that need a bit of improvement, be sure to encourage them to take advantage of campus resources NOW . It is definitely not too late to salvage a grade with some extra focus and determination.

Spring Break is quickly approaching and we bet students will be eager to take a breather. Take a moment to remind students about self-awareness, safety when traveling, smart spending habits, and please don't forget to encourage R&R. Students should recharge their batteries for the final stretch. (It is also a good time to review your expectations and make sure y'all are on the same page.)

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]
March 9
Final Bills are Due
&
Last day to apply for
May 2018 degree via myState with $50 fee

March 12 - 16
Spring Break; No Classes

March 19 - 30
Faculty advising for
pre-registration for
Summer and Fall

March 23
Second progress grade reporting deadline

March 30
Holiday; Campus Closed

April 2 - 13
Pre-registration for
Summer and Fall

April 11
Last day to withdraw
from the University

Click  here  for a full academic calendar
BULLDOG FAMILY WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS
The Center for America's Veterans hosted a pre-game open house for all our families. Insomnia Cookies were a big hit!
Parents and family members enjoyed a one of a kind classroom experience, led by Dr. Tom Carskadon (Dr. C.), in the beautiful new Old Main Academic Center.
MAY 2018 COMMENCEMENT
Has your senior applied to graduate?

Seniors planning to graduate in May must go online and apply for their degree in myState . The deadline to apply for graduation with no late fees is Friday, March 9 . Remind your student to apply before leaving campus for Spring Break. Students not attending the ceremony will need to apply, too.
 
Students planning to walk in the ceremony need to contact the campus Barnes & Noble
to order a cap and gown . Barnes & Noble Campus Bookstore will hold a spring grad fair soon - look for an announcement!

Commencement ceremonies will be held on May 3 and 4. Click  here to check the date and time of your student's ceremony. Tickets and invitations are not required for guests to attend the ceremonies. Click   here  for commencement details. Updates should take place in the next few weeks.
 
For students who will complete degree requirements in the summer term, they should apply for a degree in the summer term and plan to walk in the December 2018 ceremony.  
ACADEMIC ADVISING
Summer and Fall classes are now available to view on the MASTER CLASS SCHEDULE . 

Students need to be familiar with class options prior to meeting with their advisor between March 19 - 30 . Students should contact their advisor to schedule a meeting.

Your student should also make sure there are no HOLDS on his/her account. Having a hold on an account will prevent a student from early registration and possibly impact the availability of necessary classes.

Pre-registration for the summer and fall terms will begin April 2 and we want all our students ready to register! 
DON'T GIVE UP - THERE IS STILL TIME
By now, students should have a good idea where they stand academically. If you have a student who is not performing very well, we have a ton of resources in place to help. Please encourage your student to visit the following departments if you see they need a little extra guidance.
Center for Student Success
126 Magruder Street

The Learning Center
Allen Hall, Room 267

The Writing Center
94 President's Circle

The Math Domain
175 President's Circle

Academic Department

Students should also visit with their professors either
before/after class or during scheduled office hours.

Encourage your student to get creative with studying. A few additional suggestions would be to form a study group, reach out to someone that has successfully completed the course in question and ask for help, and/or visit Khan Academy for additional study tools. It's always a good rule of thumb to prepare for class. Sometimes a student will get a bit complacent and expect all the learning to take place in the classroom. Remind your student to prepare and be an active learner - be present and participate - follow up and review.
HELPFUL REMINDERS
Housing & Residence Life
University student housing is available for current MSU students enrolled during summer. Students can log into their housing application portal to access the Summer School Housing application following the spring break holiday.

MSU Dining - Flex Dollars
From March 6 – March 19 : Get $15 for every $100 you add to your dining card.
Click here to reload today.

Withdrawing?
Before your student withdraws, they need to check on the following:

  • Scholarships: Students can check scholarship eligibility/requirements in their scholarship award letters (scholarship portal) or by calling 662-325-2224 to speak with a scholarship coordinator.

  • Financial Aid: Completing 15 hours is required for aid from the State of Mississippi (MTAG, HELP, etc.). Dropping below 12 hours could reduce or cause the loss of federal financial aid. To find out more, students should speak with a financial aid counselor by visiting Garner Hall or calling 662-325-2450.

  • Account Services: An unpaid balance will result in an inability to have your students' transcripts released and to graduate. Students with an unpaid balance are also subject to further collection efforts and additional costs.

  • Post Office: Students with a campus PO Box will need to complete a change of address form and return their PO Box key in the Rogers Building - Parking Services.

  • Housing & Residence Life: Students withdrawing must visit the Department of Housing and Residence Life located in Dogwood to discuss financial implications and the proper checkout procedures.

  • Dining Services: Students with a meal plan should call Dining Services for cancellations. 662-325-7120.

  • On-time Graduation - Withdrawing might keep your student in school an extra semester. Extra semester = Extra costs
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] |