It is not too late to order your student a Happy Pack from the Office of Parent & Family Services. Orders must be placed by Friday,  August 7  (at the very latest) and they go quickly. (Due to customization, we have limited Happy Packs available so order soon.) 

 
All packs will be delivered to the residence halls a couple days  before  the first day of class. It may take the housing staff a day or two to deliver packs individually to each room.
Dearest Friends,

Lately, time has gone by both slower than ever and quicker than ever, if that's possible. So many moving parts... it's tough to keep track of everything. We are going to try to pull together a plethora of information for you here.

One thing is for certain, we are beyond excited to welcome your student to campus! While it may look very different, it is still going to be GREAT! I spoke to a parent recently who was concerned about the "different" environment this fall. By the time we hung up, he was convinced his daughter was going to have an amazing (albeit different) year and couldn't wait to talk to her about embracing it with a positive attitude. Sometimes life is more about the lens we are looking through than what we are looking at.

As we continue to navigate into the fall semester, please know that we are here for you and your student. We will provide you with information as it becomes available. And as always, reach out if you have any questions. We will do our best to help! If it can’t wait until Monday, you can call or text me (Cat) on my cell. 662.418.2441

Hail State, y'all!

Dr. Cat Walker & Becky Faulk
Office of Parent & Family Services
662.325.3611 | family@msstate.edu
August 1
Deadline for payment in full or enrollment in payment plan.

August 15 - 30
Dawg Days
A full schedule of events can be found at dawgdays.msstate.edu .
Students are required to RSVP on Cowbell Connect .

August 17
Classes begin

August 21
Last day to drop a course without a grade (5th class day) 11:59 p.m.
Classes begin August 17 and our semester will end November 16 with final exams scheduled from November 18 to 24. We’ll celebrate commencement on Wednesday, November 25. There will be no fall break this semester.
We are in constant consultation with medical experts as we continue to plan for the fall semester. Recently we had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Thomas Dobbs from the MS Department of Health, and Dr. Allen Sills, an MSU alum who is the Chief Medical Officer for the National Football League. 

A few take-aways from those conversations:

  • We must view this through the lens of a long-term strategy, not just for the fall. The statement that struck me the most is that we must learn how to co-exist with COVID-19. Hoping for a vaccine is not a plan, it’s a wish. This can markedly change our thought process and strategy if we are thinking beyond just the start of the fall semester.

  • We should be focused on risk mitigation, not risk elimination. For all the reasons mentioned in last week’s message, it is very important for our students to have a combination of a safe and healthy environment, but in the context of an on-campus experience.

  • We should strongly encourage our incoming students to self-quarantine for two weeks prior to coming to Starkville and campus. This can greatly reduce the number of infected individuals who bring the virus to campus initially. As a result of this recommendation, Regina Hyatt sent the following message out to all students late last week.

Importantly, for all students who plan to return to campus this fall, we are asking you to self-quarantine at your home for the 2 weeks immediately prior to your move to campus and/or Starkville. This recommendation comes from our Mississippi Department of Health Director, Dr. Thomas Dobbs. If you will self-quarantine for this period, it will greatly reduce the possibility of your being infected with COVID-19 and therefore, reduce the possibility of your spreading it to your fellow students. We understand this is a big request but ask that you please do this to help ensure our ability to have a safe return to campus.

By far the most important efforts we should promote:

  • Sick people need to stay home! This points to why we are doing daily screens and making sure that students know that it is ok to miss class and watch online when they have any symptoms at all. For the foreseeable future, we must assume precaution for any COVID-19 symptom and self-quarantine if anyone, employee or student, experiences any one of the symptoms.

  • Face coverings are critical. We now have clear medical evidence of the importance of face coverings and will be emphasizing them as strongly as possible.

  • Ventilation is important. As a result, we have revisited all ventilation systems to maximize airflow, ensure filtering systems are working at their best, and installing UV light sterilization systems in as many of them as possible.

  • Dr. Dobbs suggested we think about a 2 week online-only/self-isolation in response to a COVID outbreak on campus versus moving completely online for the rest of the semester.

Our entire team is tirelessly gathering information so that we can make the best plans possible for the fall and beyond. We appreciate the countless hours so many of our faculty and staff are spending in ensuring the safest return possible for our students.
Stay Healthy and Hail State!

David R. Shaw, Provost and Executive Vice President
Your safety and your student's safety and well-being are of upmost importance! As the MSU community comes together for a fall semester that will be unlike others in the past, we are asking everyone to practice healthy behaviors to reduce the spread of COVID-19 .

We have identified 7 Cowbell Well practices we expect all our students (and visitors) to participate in:

Wear a face covering . This is always required inside campus buildings and outside whenever you are not physically distanced.

Complete a daily self-screening . Instructions will soon be provided about our new app, Everbridge SAFETY CONNECTION . This app will facilitate daily self-screening and contact tracing. (More information on this will be available the first week of August. The updated app is not available right now.)

Observe physical distancing . Staying 6 feet apart, even with your mask on, is a good practice. Without a mask, a minimum of 6 feet is required. Avoid large gatherings.

Wash your hands often . The Hail State Fight Song works well to sing as you are washing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Use of hand sanitizer is a good substitute. 

Stay home if you feel sick . It is very, very important that you stay in your room/apartment/home if you have any COVID-19 related symptoms. Monitor your symptoms and if they continue, contact the Longest Student Health Center.

Practice self-care . This is a difficult time for many reasons. We understand the regular pressure that comes from being a student along with the added stressors of COVID-19, ongoing concerns around racial injustice, and the expectations for keeping yourself and others safe. Exercise, eat healthy, talk to your friends & family, and use our many campus resources.

Sanitize surfaces . When you enter class, grab a sanitizing wipe, and wipe down your desk and surrounding area. In your residence hall, regularly clean surfaces you and your roommate touch frequently. 
The fall class schedules have been updated to reflect the adjustments made to the method of delivery.

When viewing the schedules, please look at the delivery method column for one of the following codes:

  • F - Face to Face
  • O - Online with no set meeting days/times
  • Q - Hyflex
  • Z - Synchronous online with set meeting days/times

Also, in order to provide enough time for travel between classes in the fall, the time between classes has been expanded to 20 minutes. Schedules should now reflect these new times. Students are encouraged to view their schedule for possible conflicts and work with their advisor to make any necessary adjustments.

If your student has questions or needs assistance, contact registrar@registrar.msstate.edu .
All faculty, staff, students, and visitors are required to wear face coverings. Acceptable face coverings include surgical masks, N95 masks, cloth masks, or face shields and are required inside campus buildings when physical distancing (6 feet or more) cannot be achieved.

MSU released its Fall 2020 Comprehensive Health and Safety Return Plan recently. Lots of helpful information can be found in this safe return guide.
SAVE THE DATE
Feeling a bit overwhelmed with ALL the information? Let us help you with the transition.

Join Dr. Thomas Bourgeois, Dean of Students, and Dr. Cat Walker, Director of Parent & Family Services, for  FAMILY COFFEE TALK  on August 4 at noon C.S.T.
Web
https://msstate.webex.com/meet/tb2
Call
415.655.0001
Access Code (Enter Twice) - 805 166 248
MSU Fall Primary Recruitment 2020 Update

Due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19, the MSU Panhellenic Council Executive Board and 8 Panhellenic chapters have decided to implement a structured virtual model for Recruitment 2020. Per this plan, all Recruitment rounds will take place virtually which will include live conversations and prerecorded videos.

Move-in, Recruitment, and Bid Day dates have been slightly adjusted according to this updated structure (see below). We feel that this is the safest way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community while simultaneously ensuring a positive Recruitment experience for all participants.

 More information will be emailed to students throughout July and August.

August 5
Virtual Parent Informational Session at 5 p.m.

August 11
On-campus t-shirt pick up at 5 p.m. followed by Virtual Student Orientation at 6 p.m.

August 12 (morning)
Virtual Go Greek Round at 8:30 a.m.
(Students will view pre-recorded videos from each chapter)

August 12 ( afternoon) - August 13
Virtual Philanthropy Round (attended on Zoom)

August 14
Virtual Sisterhood Round (attended on Zoom)

August 15
Virtual Preference Round (attended on Zoom)

August 16
Bid Day
Students will receive a digital bid to their new organization and attend individual bid day celebrations in accordance with University Policy.

If you have any further questions, you may reach out to your Gamma Chi or email Lindsey Jenkins, Director of Recruitment, at panrecruitment@saffairs.msstate.edu.
MSU boasts over 400 student organizations, providing many ways for your students to get involved, meet other people, and make the most of their college experience. The best way to view these student organizations is by visiting the Cowbell Connect website at cowbellconnect.msstate.edu which houses our student organization database, where your student has a profile and can search organizations to get involved, find events and service opportunities.

Students can also download the CORQ app where they can discover amazing events and groups around campus from their mobile deice. In addition to being your student’s hub for getting involved, the Center for Student Activities is also home to the Student Association (SA), Music Maker Productions (MMP), Lyceum Series, Involvement Ambassadors, Dance Marathon (DM) and pageants. 
Funding is available to subsidize the rental of books or the purchase of needed technology. Requests for assistance will be made available beginning August 10 via a webform entitled "Book Voucher Request" at students.msstate.edu.

For any other requests related to COVID-19, please email tsl57@msstate.edu along with documentation of your need(s).

Regretfully, we do not have funding available to assist with lost wages, rent, or tuition costs.
Our MVNU2MSU 2020 plans have expanded from our traditional, intense one-day event to span across 8 days in order to screen and support physical distancing needs. The move-in overview plan can be viewed at Housing and Residence Life along with a list of recommended items to bring . To make your MVNU2MSU experience run as smoothly as possible, we recommend connecting to the MVNU2MSU Guidebook. Download the "Guidebook" app through the App Store or Google Play and search " MVNU2MSU " .
Students are encouraged to continue to check their email and housing portal for updated information regarding their move-in date/time. Should you have questions about your students housing experience, please contact Housing and Residence Life at 662.325.3555.
All students residing in on-campus residence halls are highly encouraged to obtain a P.O. Box to receive USPS mail. To obtain a P.O. Box, a student must complete an application (applications are available at the MSU Post Office) and turn it in to USPS staff. Two forms of identification are required to apply. Fees begin at $20, depending on the box size. Two keys are provided to each box holder. 

Please note:

  • Most online shopping is delivered by the Post Office and is dropped off by FedEx and UPS to the Post Office, so it is very important that your student has their own P.O. Box.

  • The MSU Post Office will also accept packages from UPS, FedEx and DHL addressed to a student’s P.O. Box. All packages are held at the Post Office until the student comes by to pick up.

NOTE : Students without a P.O. Box are not guaranteed the delivery of their package(s) to their residence hall. Providers such as DSL, Fed Ex, or UPS do have national contracts with USPS. Often times these providers will have USPS deliver these packages on their behalf. With that being said, sometimes even if a package is from DSL, Fed Ex, or USP, it will be delivered to the Post Office (USPS) and the Post Office (USPS) will then become responsible for the delivery/pick-up of that package. It’s best for students to have a P.O. Box while on campus for this reason.
MSU students are treated as adults and the university complies fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, typically referred to as F.E.R.P.A., which protects student records.

Students may view their grades by logging into their personal account via the campus intranet. While parents should encourage their student to share the grades, federal law makes records distribution illegal to any person other than the recipient. Although a student may access his or her own university records, with limited exception, the university will not disclose, without prior consent, record information to anyone, including parents.

However, students may authorize MSU to grant a parent or family member access to certain educational records through the University’s Parent Portal online system. Learn how you can get Parent Portal access by clicking the button below.
In an effort to foster responsible financial management and reduce student debt, we would like to remind you about important payment requirements related to student accounts.
 
Payment plans are available 
MSU is pleased to offer payment plans that will allow you to pay tuition, residence halls, meal plans and other expenses through monthly installments. Learn more at paymybill.msstate.edu.
 
Payment due dates are the 1 st of each month.
Your monthly billing statement will be available around the 15th of each month, and the due date is the 1st of the following month. For example, a July 15 billing statement will have a due date of August 1st.

Bills must be paid before the semester begins or your student’s schedule will be subject to cancellation.
Before classes begin, you must pay the full balance on your student’s account (net of aid) or be enrolled in a payment plan. Otherwise, your student’s schedule will be subject to cancellation, and if they are living in campus housing, they will not be permitted to move into their residence hall.

PLEASE NOTE: If your account balance is displayed in (parentheses), it means you have a (credit balance), and MSU owes you a refund. A (credit balance) means you do not need to make a payment or enroll in a payment plan. Learn how refunds are issued by visiting Account Services.

For questions concerning billing statements or tuition and fees call us at 662.325.2071 between 8:00 and 5:00 Monday through Friday or email studentaccounts@msstate.edu.

For questions concerning financial aid call us at 662.325.2450 between 8:00-5:00 Monday through Friday or email financialaid@msstate.edu.
  • Student accounts must be paid in full by August 1 or a payment plan must be set-up in MSU QuikPAY. Visit paymybill.msstate.edu for all the details.

  • Remind students to check their MSU Student Email - Microsoft O365 daily.

  • MSU QuikPAY and the MSU Parent Portal are two different systems, requiring two different logins. 

  • Students can walk to any academic building on campus in less than 10 minutes. Another option is our free shuttle system. Students should not expect to get a parking spot in front of class. This will cause unnecessary stress and likely result in a parking ticket. Students will want to keep their vehicles parked and enjoy our beautiful campus!

  • Don't fall for "There is nothing to eat on campus and I need money to go out to eat." With over twenty options, there is something for everyone. Check out MSU Dining to learn more. (A budget will help.)

  • It's not too late to set (realistic) expectations for the 2020/21 academic year. Students tend to rise to (and exceed!) expectations. Having these important conversations may save y'all from scrambling at the end of a semester. We love a good if/then statement. i.e. If you get a parking ticket, then you will pay for it. 

Check out our student checklist at  family.msstate.edu   for some conversation starters.

  • All buses will be operating at 50% capacity.

  • Larger buses with two doors will load and unload at different doors in an effort to maximize social distancing.

  • All bus occupants must wear a mask.

  • Those who are sick should not enter the bus.

  • Buses will be cleaned twice a day.

  • Due to capacity limitations, riders on high-demand routes should plan their travel times accordingly.

Students and parents should visit parkingservices.msstate.edu for up-to-date information and links to our social media.
Do you have an incoming Freshman or Transfer student? All students are required to have an MSU ID card. If you have a new student in need of an ID card or a returning student who needs a replacement ID card, encourage your student to upload an ID card picture now! Visit the Service Desk for directions .
NOTE: We will continue to update you with more information as it becomes available during this extremely fluid situation and as every situation is reviewed.
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