November 30, 2018

Cowbell Connections

DATES TO REMEMBER

December 5 Deadline to apply for December 2018 degree via myState - $50 fee plus $100 late fee & Classes End December 6 Reading Day (No mandatory class assignments, requirements, meetings) December 7 to 13 Final Exams December 13 MSU-Meridian Commencement at 11 a.m. December 14 Starkville Commencement at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (See below for more information.) December 17 Final Grades Due by 10 a.m. December 21 - January 1 Winter Holidays - All offices closed. (Staff returns January 2.) January 1 Deadline for payment in full or enrollment in payment plan. Class schedules will be subject to cancellation if full payment is not made or the student is not enrolled in a payment plan. January 7 Classes Begin

Academic Calendar

The Bulldog Family Weekend event was so much fun. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting each of you and hope you loved being with your student. If you didn't get a chance to join us for our fall event, no worries, we will be hosting a one day Tailgate and Tees event on Saturday, February 23, 2019. We are working out the details now; information and registration will be available soon at family.msstate.edu.

HELLO BULLDOG FAMILY,

Each fall semester goes by a little bit faster. Final exams start next week and we hope your students are buckled down, doing well, and finishing strong. Honestly, as you can imagine, 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. (Or maybe even some homemade yummies.) Your student can expect their final grades to be posted by 10:00 a.m on December 17. Remember, if your student has granted you access to the Parent Portal then you will be able to view the final grades as they are 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 a little tough!) The Center for Student Success  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. As always, remember you can give us a ring if you need anything, even over the break. We leave a little later (December 20) and come back a little earlier (January 2). Plus, you can always call my cell if it just can't wait. (Cat 662.418.2441) Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and Hail State! Cat Walker & Becky Faulk Office of Parent & Family Services 662.325.3611/  family@ msstate.edu

THE CAREER CENTER

Greetings from the MSU Career Center, It is our sincere hope your fall semester as part of the Bulldog Family has been an exciting and fun adventure for your student and you. Each semester students face challenges prompting questions and family discussions. As you gear up to enjoy your student returning home for the winter break, we hope this information will help you gear up for late night talks over cocoa. Find the time to discuss majors, career plans, and how your student can best prepare for graduation and future career success.   The Career Center wants to be a part of assisting your students with developing the skills necessary to achieve a lifetime of career satisfaction. Whether your student is a first semester freshman exploring majors or a senior preparing for graduate school, the Career Center can offer a wealth of information and resources to provide the guidance needed as they make those important decisions about their future.   The December newsletter will hopefully give you a glimpse of how we can assist your student. Topics highlighted include a Career Center overview, career planning classes, the 4-year college to career plan, experiential learning opportunities such as Cooperative Education and Internships, and the upcoming spring events.   As the parent of a college student, I know all too well the range of emotions you can experience as you watch your student chase their dreams. Most of us have invested in our student emotionally and financially. We want to be there when they celebrate their successes by securing that co-op or internship, completing that degree, opening the acceptance letter from graduate school, or landing that first job. Continue the investment, share with them the knowledge you are gaining today about the Career Center, and encourage them to utilize our services.   Be ALL IN for your student…we sure are!   Angie Chrestman Director, Career Center Mississippi State University

CAREER CENTER OVERVIEW

The Career Center understands the important role a student’s career choice plays in his/her overall happiness. Because of this understanding, we offer services that align with the career and professional development of each student. Appointments The Career Center is a team of professional liaisons serving each college, department, and program here at MSU. He or she will listen, ask questions, give feedback, help identify obstacles, and teach strategies so students can determine their next steps toward their career goal.   Assessments It’s hard for students to figure out what they’re supposed to do with the rest of their life . No one thing or person can tell them what to major in or what career path they should take, but career assessments can provide direction... so students can make the best decision for themselves.   Strong Interest Inventory Online interest assessment that compares a student’s interests to people who are satisfied with their work. Helpful if students are choosing or changing their major or wondering what types of career options might fit their interests. Students will receive results during a 1-hour interpretation with a Career Center staff member. TypeFocus Online personality assessment that instantly provides you with a Myers-Briggs 4-letter type. Good way to see how personality impacts your career choices and interactions with others. Events After graduation, opportunities to engage with a large numbers of employers during one event will be rare. Therefore, the Career Center hosts several events throughout the year to help students explore careers and connect with professionals in various fields. These events are great opportunities to discuss career interests and skill sets with potential employers, collect company information, and network.   Mock Interviews Preparation is the key to being successful in almost anything in life but definitely in an interview. Students can come practice their interview skills with trained professionals at our office.   On-Campus Interviews Each fall and spring semester, the MSU Career Center provides the opportunity for employers to meet their hiring needs by engaging with MSU students and alumni right here on our campus.   Résumés Résumés are a major marketing tool during the career search process. To ensure it's as professional as possible, students are encouraged to allow our professional staff to review and offer feedback on their résumé before submitting it to a potential employer.   COE 1323 – Academic and Career Planning Students choosing/changing their major may want to enroll in COE 1323. Our Academic and Career Planning course will provide students with information, tools, and skills to make career decisions that coincide with their career goals. Over the course of the semester, students: Take assessments to gauge their interests, personality, values, etc. Learn more about all the majors offered at MSU Research majors and careers of interest in-depth Begin career planning in terms of résumé development, interview skills, job search strategies, etc.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Cooperative Education (Co-op) and Internship Program After graduation, the ultimate goal is to land that perfect job, right? Studying and making the grade is no longer enough in today’s economy. Practical work experience related to a student’s major is the competitive edge that can make the difference in a job search after graduation. The Cooperative Education and Internship Program is designed to give students a total educational experience. It’s important to understand what experiential learning is and which opportunity best meets the needs of your student.   Experiential Learning What is Experiential Learning? It’s learning by doing! The Cooperative Education (Co-op) and Internship Office is dedicated to helping students gain practical work experience in their field BEFORE they graduate.   Why is it important? Sets students apart from other candidates (even those with better GPAs) Helps students earn money during college Boosts full-time salary upon graduation Contributes to the choice of proper major based on student’s interests and skills Provides a great opportunity to network with others in their field of choice Cooperative Education A co-op is a paid full-time position with a company for three alternating semesters (a total of one year of work experience upon graduation) that allows a student to have increasing responsibility as time passes.   Co-op Requirements 2.5/4.0 GPA Entering freshmen must complete one academic year before going to work (Student can interview DURING their freshman year!) Transfer students must complete one academic semester (Student can interview DURING their first semester on the MSU campus) Internships An internship can be paid or unpaid and is a full-time practical work experience for one semester only, usually during the summer, and is normally a specific project based on company need.   Internship Requirement Students must have Full-Time Student Status and be in Good Academic Standing with the university How to Sign-up If your student is interested in experiential learning opportunities, they should attend one of our information sessions that we have each semester, or visit the Co-op and Internship Office in 335 McCain Engineering.  Spring 2019 Dates to Remember Career Days | January 29 & 30 | Noon - 4:00 p.m. | Humphrey Coliseum Co-op Interview Days | February 26 & 27 | Colvard Student Union

4-YEAR COLLEGE TO CAREER PLAN

College, graduation, and job searching can all seem overwhelming and far away when your student is just starting college. However, our goal at the Career Center is to assist in a smooth transition from being an MSU student to a Career Ready professional. Although everyone’s journey will be different, the 4-Year Plan below will assist students in their efforts along the way.   FRESHMAN YEAR: ADJUST TO COLLEGE Explore extracurricular clubs and organizations Attend Fall and Spring Career Days Identify possible career choices Take COE 1323 - Career Planning Expand options and explore potential academic concentrations Register with Connections to access part-time job listings and internships Explore Cooperative Education Create your resume Conduct informational interviews Focus on exploring interests, values, and skills Visit the Career Center SOPHOMORE YEAR: EXPLORE CAREER POSSIBILITIES Narrow educational/occupational options Meet with your Career Center liaison Join career-related organizations and extracurricular clubs Start building a “network” of contacts Create/update your resume Decide on an academic concentration Update your Connections profile and access internships and job listings Attend the Fall and Spring Career Days Begin to co-op or obtain a summer internship JUNIOR YEAR: EXPERIENCE CAREER OPTIONS Set and test career goals Attend Fall and Spring Career Days Conduct informational interviews Review graduate school catalogs Join career-related organizations Meet with a Career Center Liaison Get a peer counselor to review your resume Narrow your career options Keep your Connections account updated to access internships and job postings Obtain a summer internship SENIOR YEAR: TRANSITION TO LIFE AFTER COLLEGE Develop strategies for finding a job or getting accepted to graduate or professional school Attend Fall and Spring Career Days Meet with a Career Center Liaison Update your resume and register with connections Sign up for On-Campus interviews via Connections Review graduate/professional school programs Establish references Begin to make the transition from college to the next stage of your life Just remember, no matter the year, students can use the resources of the Career Center!

FROM A BULLDOG

Co-op and Internship Student Testimonials The Career Center believes in the powerful impact of the Cooperation Education and Internship Program for our students. Maybe you should hear for yourself what current and former co-op students had to say about their experiences: It shows me that MSU does indeed provide you with the tools you need to succeed in the workforce.  Co-op teaches you the meaning of “life-long learning” which is crucial for all engineers to pursue. This co-op experience has taught me the value of building connections and relationships in the workplace, improving quality of work, and building the bridge between school work and real manufacturing engineering that affects people and their own jobs. The co-op experience has also made me a more confident student, a more confident entrepreneur, and taught me not to be afraid of chasing my dreams and the importance of completing my ambitions. This co-op has changed my life in a very positive way. I finally understand the importance of lifetime learning and always humbling myself when I do not know the answer to a question and asking someone who does. Most importantly, I have learned to fully commit myself to creating new relationships with different people from different backgrounds and keep hold of my past relationships by being a better friend and person each and every day. As I mentioned before, this Co-op experience was more than just a job. [It] was an experience that changed my life. I had great supervisors that were like my father. He was a teacher and a friend. It has been a great source of on the job training and has provided much clarity about some practices that have been perplexing at times in the past. Having the ability to apply some of what I’ve learned in the classroom in a real-life setting has been truly gratifying. It has heightened my level of confidence on the job and in the classroom as well. In the end, I think the most valuable advantage my co-op gave me was a new perspective on how to approach my career path. Now in class, teachers lecture on things I’ve seen or have some previous knowledge in. It’s given me the confidence and ability to add to what’s being said and get more excited about what I’m learning. Yet perhaps the most crucial outcome is how it changed my self-image. My time cooping has opened many doors for my college career as well as my future career. Hands down, there is nothing that I would recommend more to an incoming student then to co-op. The benefits have positively impacted my education and future career. I better understand the concepts discussed in my classes, and I have shaped my career aspirations around the company that took a chance on me.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS

Starkville 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 9:00 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 3:00 p.m. March in at 3:30 p.m.; Ceremony begins at 4:00 p.m.

Invitations are not required for attendance. Family and friends are all welcome!

Housing and 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 15 at 6:00 p.m. Students do not need to move all of their belongings out; 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 visit the office of Housing and Residence Life in Dogwood Hall. RSVP dates RSVP will be a one-step ‘apply/sign/select’ process for current residents to live in the residence halls for Fall 2019/Spring 2020.   RSVP Opens Monday, November 26 at 10 am and closes December 20, at 12 noon for current residents.     Housing and Residence Life E:  housing@saffairs.msstate.edu P: 662.325.3555

Encourage your student to join Off-Campus Student Services for its annual Housing Fair. Students will have the opportunity to meet with local off-campus housing partners, ask questions, view floors plans, and much more!

Scholarship Reminders Students with scholarships are encouraged to review the guidelines to maintaining their awards by logging into their MSU Scholarship Portal. As a reminder, t he overall GPA  may be defined as an  average  of all  cumulative GPA's  a student has secured in all  semesters  and all the courses in an academic term.

Final Grades Finals grades are expected to post by 10 a.m. on December 17. As a reminder, the Parent Portal is expected to update within 24 hours of the posting date. Students will receive a more real-time update in their student Banner page. Students can select "view class schedule and grades" on the myBanner for Students page.

1098-T Form Form 1098-T is an information tax document to aid taxpayers in determining whether they are eligible to claim a tax deduction or one of the education tax credits. The IRS requires the University to issue Form 1098-T to each student by January 31. Forms are mailed to the student’s address on file. Students may also access this information using their  myState  portal account. After logging into the portal, go to the Account Information menu, select Tax Relief Act Information, and enter the appropriate year.

Letter of Good Standing Students enrolled in a university may need to provide proof of their academic standing. The letter of good standing is an official document prepared and signed by the university a student is enrolled in confirming the academic standing of a student's performance within each semester. Students may obtain a letter of good standing information by logging into their myState account, click on the “Banner” tab, and select Letter of Good Standing under the “Enrollment Verification” tab. This information is available to students on all campuses, as well as all off-campus students at any time. If you have access to the Parent Portal, you are also able to obtain this document under the General Information tab.

DUO Due to increasing security risks Mississippi State University students encounter on a daily basis regarding the loss of personal identifiable information, all students will be required to use two-factor authentication (2FA) effective 2019 Spring. Two-factor authentication adds another layer of security when logging into MSU systems and resources. The first factor required is something the students know, i.e. their NetID/NetPassword. The second factor is something the students have, typically their smartphone or tablet. Therefore, even if a hacker is able to obtain a student’s NetID/NetPassword, he should not be able to log in to the student’s account, because the hacker does not have the student’s second factor of authentication.  MSU uses a two-factor product called Duo. When students enroll in Duo, they will download and install the free Duo mobile app on their smartphone or tablet. During the enrollment process, they will register their smartphone or tablet as their second-factor device, which associates it with their NetID/NetPassword. After students enroll in Duo, when they log in to a MSU system such as myState, they will enter their NetID/NetPassword as always, and then provide their second factor, typically by tapping a “confirm” or “approve” button on the Duo app of their registered mobile device. If a student uses their mobile device for two-factor authentication and is temporarily without their smartphone or tablet, a passcode can be generated that can be used for 24 hours in lieu of their second-factor device. If a student obtains a new smartphone or tablet, the new device must be registered in Duo before it will work properly.  This Duo registration process is required for a new smartphone even if the number did not change. Encourage your student to enroll in Duo now to take advantage of the additional layer of security. If a student does not have access to a smartphone or tablet, the student should contact the ITS Service Desk before enrolling in Duo for instructions on how to obtain a second-factor device. The ITS Service Desk is located in Allen Hall room 108. Hours of operation for the ITS Service Desk are as follows: Monday – Thursday 8:00 am – 10:00 pm Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Sunday 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm    For more information go to the ITS Website, its.msstate.edu and click on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) under “Quick Links” on the right side of the page.

Don't forget to visit us on social media and at family.msstate.edu. Make sure you mention #MSStateFamily when you make a post.

Office of Parent and Family Services | 662.325.3611 | family@msstate.edu

‌ ‌ ‌