October 15 - 26
Faculty advising for pre-registration (Some departments begin advising earlier.)
October 15
Last day to drop a course with a W grade (36
th
class day) 5 p.m.
October 19
Last day to apply for December 2018 degree via myState - $50 fee.
October 20 - December 5
Late December 2018 degree application via myState - $50 fee plus $100 late fee.
October 26
Second progress grade reporting deadline (end of week 10.)
October 26 - November 9
Pre-registration period for spring semester.
Reminder: Student accounts must be paid in full. If not, the account will be placed on HOLD and the student will be unable to
register for subsequent terms until the account is paid in full.
November 2 - 4
Bulldog Family Weekend - join us!
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We are just 1 month away from our Fall Bulldog Family Weekend! Registration will close October 19.
We hope you will join us
November 2 - 4, 2018
for a weekend with your student as the MSU Foundation and Alumni Association joins the Office of Parent and Family Services to host our first Fall Bulldog Family Weekend. Registration will include an opportunity to purchase discounted football tickets to watch our MSU Bulldogs take on Louisiana Tech.
Tickets will be located in the upper level of the stadium on the west side.
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We are approaching the mid-point of the semester and the first round of progress grades are scheduled to post for your student. The success of our students is very important to the MSU community. The Office of Parent and Family Services wants to be sure you are provided with the tools needed to help guide them.
As a parent or family member of an MSU student, we know you want to be helpful.
Our goal is to provide you with guidance and
the resources available so you can share them with your student.
Knowledge is power! If you know it exists, they should, too. Partnering together can help ease your student's stress and anxiety.
When you need someone to talk to or have no idea what to do, please reach out to us. We are
always
here to lend an ear and point you in the right direction.
Hail State!
Cat Walker and Becky Faulk
Office of Parent & Family Services
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You've all heard the song that captivated our ears a few years ago from the hit movie Frozen, "Let It Go." We've taken those three words and turned them into something more fitting regarding college students today; let's talk about "Let Them Grow!"
Has your student had a bad day in class and called to tell you all about it recently? Did you listen, encourage, and sit back? Or did you take control and jump in to save the day? Sometimes it's easy (and instinctual) to want to be your student's super hero. Our office encourages you to reach out to us when you need assistance in
guiding
your student.
"Adulting" is hard; especially when you're a student who's still maturing, figuring out life, learning how to communicate with older peers or professors, and juggling the day-to-day responsibilities of life. However, we want you and your student to know that when an academic concern arises there are a few steps your student can take to help resolve the issue.
Where should your student start with an academic concern?
Professors
Encourage your student to speak directly to his/her professor. Learning how to communicate with other adults (i.e. professors) is awkward, hard, and sometimes intimidating. Students are in the best place to learn these communication skills. It will definitely benefit them in future opportunities, putting tools in their toolboxes; i.e. job interviews, on the job experiences, networking, etc.
Academic Advisors
Each student is assigned an academic advisor. These individuals are a great resource for your student. Advisors can do more than help with course selections. They can also help when students feel overwhelmed, a sense of doubt, or the urge to throw in the towel and withdraw. Advisors can provide valuable information about out of classroom experiences. They can also serve as some of the best recommendations when students are applying for future positions - whether an internship, undergraduate research opportunity, graduate program or professional school.
Dean of Students' Office
The Deans of Students' Office is here to serve all MSU students. College absolutely can be hard and stressful (so can life!) and we want students to feel comfortable using us as a resource. Encourage your student to visit the Dean of Students' Office for academic or personal support.
Before strapping on that super hero cape and swooping in to save the day for your student, take a moment to offer guidance. Put yourself in your student's shoes and ask yourself, "would I want my mom or dad fixing this for me?" Probably not. It's such a
gray area
, please reach out to us if you're on the fence about jumping in or not.
Let Them Grow!
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GUIDANCE FOR YOUR STUDENT
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"I haven't missed any classes, I studied my notes thoroughly the night before, and even read the chapters. I don't understand why I am not doing well in my classes."
As the mid-point of the semester rolls around and tests approach, you may start to hear less and less from your student. If you're lucky to hear from your student, they may sound a bit more stressed than usual.
Students tend to think that picking up their notes a few times during the week and reading their chapters once is the best way to prepare for exams. Some students expect professors to provide every bit of information for their tests.
Both are incorrect.
Passing a class takes hard work. Engaging in a course and grasping the lesson can be easier if there is a familiarity about the topic. Students are responsible for all materials, including class readings and lectures. Empowering students to take "ownership" of their education is an amazing tool for their toolbox.
Here are a few things you can do to help put you and your student at ease.
Allow your student time to reach out.
- Studying and preparing for classes is exhausting. Students forget (more often than you'd think) that they got a text or call from home while sitting in class or walking to/from class. Your student may be too busy to answer.
- If it's been 24 hours and you haven't heard back from your student, check the Parent Portal for absences. If there are no recent absences, your student could easily be swept up in a busy schedule (or being involved with campus activities.)
- Consider emailing your student since that's one tool they should be checking daily!
Send a personalized care package from home.
- Packages can include anything from a photo of the family pet wishing your student good luck to a t-shirt from home with that "at home smell."
- Students love anything homemade. Consider baking cookies and popping them in the mail.
How can you help?
- Have a conversation with your student about organization skills and test preparation.
Time management is key to any task that must be completed. Encourage your student to create a calendar with time schedules. When asked to do this, students quickly realize they are not taking advantage of free blocks on time, i.e. time between classes, free afternoons, etc. A good visual of available time goes a long way.
- Stop thinking of yourself as the Mr./Mrs. Fix-It.
Listen to your student. Encourage your student to utilize campus resources, to reach out to an RA, director, friend, or visit with a member of the Office of Parent and Family Services. Students should not be afraid to ask for help.
- Trust that your student can make good decisions.
Be sympathetic but careful not to provide too many suggestions on how to "fix" a problem. Convey confidence in your student's own ability to navigate this new environment.
- Encourage your student (and yourself) to be okay with something less than they are used to.
A grade of less than a B is not the end of the world. Truly. Lower grades than expected are a great opportunity to re-access priorities and study habits. Each student will have a different experience and will need an individual plan.
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Has your student found their fit?
Class attendance, homework assignments, and tests preparations are a priority for students (at least we hope), but it's important to not stay cooped up and totally immersed in studies. A student may feel overwhelmed, if so, and wonder "
is this really supposed to be the best years of my life?
"
It's important to get involved, try something new, or take up old interests. Taking time away from studies is important for the mind, body, and spirit. Not only does getting involved help rejuvenate a student, but it can also open up a world of new opportunities - meeting new people, discovering new talents, enhancing learning skills, establishing connections with the university, and providing lasting memories for years to come... just to name a few.
Students still trying to find their FIT should visit:
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"Don't forget to look at your parent portal. This was such a life saver when I had not heard from my student and knew I could look at absences to determine if she had been in class or not. It helped ease my concerns and also kept me informed with her academics when progress grades (if any) were updated."
H. Cooke
"Stay in touch with your student, no matter what, no matter how. Empty nest is not so bad, it’s the fear of your student making his/her own life changing decisions and them having to live with the consequences."
J. Mayatt
"Connecting with the Office of Parent and Family Services has been a great resource for us as we learn how to help our student become his own decision maker. Don't go at this college thing alone. Reach out to OPFS - it helped me just think through some of the stressful moments we encountered."
S. Flynt
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"Being a college student is not easy. It is a difficult time in most people’s lives. Not only that, it’s a real time of struggle and uncertainty. It's literally the time many people begin establishing their own independence for the first time. Students are (for the first time most likely) finding out who they want to be and what they want to do for the rest of their life.
It’s a pretty big deal and a very powerful moment. I have never met a college student who had it all together, literally never. I can speak personally on the matter, as there were times where I struggled financially, emotionally, academically and spiritually. It’s a real area of development. College will show you who you really are; your strengths, weaknesses, hallelujah moments, and moments of failure.
My hope is that students (and family members of a college students) who find themselves struggling to figure things out will know that it's okay. It’s okay if life isn’t together. That’s why there are all these amazing people here to help, assist, counsel, advise, encourage, and even challenge each student; to help foster success for the future. Students, be bold in pursuit of your future and don’t worry about the struggles you face because in the end, you’ll be more prepared for the realities of life."
Hayley Thomas - 2018 MSU Alumni
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THE SECRET TO STUDENT SUCCESS
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Arel Moodie is one of the leading voices on helping young students get to and get through college. Arel has worked with hundreds of schools and teaches students how to succeed in the college environment by becoming a student leader that actually learns real world skills.
Click the button below and take a moment to hear what he has to say about the secret to student success.
Share with your student!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS
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Career Center
Students in the Landscape Architecture and Landscape Contracting programs and graduating student teachers in the education field
are invited to join MSU's Career Center for its fall events.
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Landscape Architecture/Landscape Contracting Interview Days
Tuesday, October 9
9 a.m - 4 p.m.
Educational Career Fair and Interview Day
Tuesday, October 23
Career Fair Day 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Interview Day 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
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Where?
Bost Extension Center
Where?
Humphrey Coliseum
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The Mississippi State University Alumni Delegates will hold its 10
th
Tuition Drawing in
November
to give one student the opportunity to
win a free semester (spring) of tuition
.
Current in-state students
returning for the spring semester are eligible to enter.
The parents of each eligible participant will receive six tickets as well as specific instructions in the mail. Parents can mail back tickets for the cost of $5 each or $25 for 6 tickets. Additional tickets can be requested from the Alumni Association.
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Barnes and Noble Fair
Barnes & Noble at Mississippi State would like to invite all December graduates to the Fall Graduation Fair.
Tuesday, October 23
&
Wednesday, October 24
10 a.m. - 6 p.m
.
During the Graduation Fair, students will be able to place reservations for commencement regalia. Information concerning graduation announcements and diploma frames will also be available. As a reminder, graduation fees paid to MSU do not include the cost of the regalia rental. All regalia orders and payments must be done through the bookstore. Students unable to attend should contact the bookstore at 662.325.8361.
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Graduation Details
Students planning to graduate in December have until
October 19
to apply for their degree. Applications submitted after this date will be charged a late fee.
Commencement Schedule
Friday, December 14 - Morning Ceremony
College of Architecture, Art and Design
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Education
University Studies
Students arrive to the Humphrey Coliseum no later than 8:30 a.m.
March in at 9 a.m.; Ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, December 14 - Afternoon Ceremony
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences & School of Human Sciences
College of Business & Adkerson School of Accountancy
Bagley College of Engineering & Swalm School of Chemical Engineering
College of Forest Resources
College of Veterinary Medicine
(Masters & PhDs)
Students arrive to the Humphrey Coliseum no later than 3 p.m.
March in at 3:30 p.m.; Ceremony begins at 4 p.m.
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Invitations are not required for attendance. Family and friends are all welcome!
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Office of the Registrar
The master class schedule will be available later this month. Students will be notified via email when it has been released. Students should have an idea about what type of classes they want/need to take prior to meeting with their academic advisor.
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Student Events
University Recreation will be hosting its Unified Sports Flag Football Games beginning Thursday, October 4. Games will start at 7 p.m. at the RecPlex softball fields. Students seeking to find something fun to get involved with can contact the Competitive Sports Office for more information by calling
662.325.0349
.
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Housing and Residence Life
Information Assistants (IAs)
are students what have been selected and trained to provide quality assistance and services to our guests and residents in our residence halls. IAs work an average of 15-20 hours per week. The application will close
October 15 at 8 a.m
.
Resident Advisors (RAs)
are students who have been selected and trained to work with other students within the Residence Halls. RAs serve as role models in the following areas: team member, community builder, crisis manager, administrator, counselor, and educator. The application will close
October 22
.
Students interested in serving MSU by joining the Housing and Residence Life team can complete an application by clicking the button below.
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Flu Shots Available on Campus
The Longest Student Health Center is now offering students the opportunity to receive a flu shot. Students
with insurance can walk-in and receive a flu shot at the clinic each Tuesday during
October from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Students
without insurance can visit Mitchell Memorial Library on
October 8 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive their flu shot for a $25 fee at the pop-up clinic.
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Good Student Discount
Do you need to provide proof of your student's academic achievements at MSU? Be sure to check out your Parent Portal under General Information for the "Good Student Discount" printable form.
Your student can also retrieve it by visiting their myBanner for students and selecting "Good Student Discount" located to the far right of the page. This may come in handy at the end of every semester when final grades are posted.
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In the Community
New South Weekends
get their spook on at Starkville’s annual harvest festival,
PUMPKINPALOOZA
— held in conjunction with a MSU Pep Rally on
October 26
.
Main Street retailers will be vying for bragging rights in the Harvest Window Display decorating contest as live models from MSU’s Fashion Board add flair to boutique windows with their spooked out styling. Students can enjoy late night shopping and dining with our Main Street shops and restaurants!
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Don't forget to visit us on social media and at
family.msstate.edu.
Make sure you mention
#MSStateFamily
when you make a post.
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Office of Parent and Family Services | 662.325.3611 | family@msstate.edu
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