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Hello Sweet Bulldogs,
We cannot believe that April is already here! Where has the semester gone? We hope your student is hanging in there and working hard to wrap things up. The last few weeks of each semester are typically filled with projects, exams, and paper deadlines, so studying for finals may get pushed back unintentionally.
Take time to ask your students about their final exam schedule and how they plan to prepare. It is important that they know when their final exams will be. The Spring 2022 final exam schedule is located on the University's Registrar website. Students should double check exam schedules and compare them to each class syllabus. Conflicts should be addressed early with professors.
Pre-advising is in full swing and all students planning to take classes during the summer or fall semesters should have made contact with their academic advisor to prepare for enrollment. If available, students can locate academic advisor information on their myState page.
Finally, if you and your family are planning to attend Commencement, please take a moment to view the details below. (And Congratulations!)
Cat Walker and Becky Faulk
Office of Parent & Family Services
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April 1
Second progress grade reporting deadline
April 4 to April 14
Pre-registration period for
summer and fall semesters
April 15
Holiday
Classes will not meet; University offices closed
April 18
Holiday
Classes will not meet; University offices open
April 19
Last day to withdraw from the semester
April 20
Progress grade reporting closes
April 25
Deadline (last day) to apply for
May 2022 graduation via myState with $50 fee plus $100 late application fee
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May 2
Classes end
May 3
Deadline for graduate students
receiving incomplete grades in a previous semester to submit the coursework
Additional Class Day:
Monday-only classes
Optional class day for
Monday-Wednesday and
Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes
May 4
Reading Day
No mandatory class assignments,
requirements, and meetings
May 5, 6, 9, 10, 11
Final examinations
Additional details related
to finals exams provided below
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We are excited to announce the dates of our Bulldog Family Weekend fall event. Bulldog Family Weekend will be held October 21-23, 2022. MSU football will take on Alabama's Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, AL and we will host a tailgate and watch party here in Stark Vegas. We are working out the details, but we sure hope you will make plans to join us. It will also be an opportunity to highlight some (other) wonderful things on and off campus.
Registration will open in June.
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Students planning to graduate in May have until April 25 to apply for their degree.
Wednesday, May 11 - invitation only
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Commencement - 11:30 a.m.
(Humphrey Coliseum)
DVM Awards Ceremony (10 a.m. - 11 a.m.)
Doctoral Graduation and Hooding Ceremony (Ph.D. & Ed.D.) - 3:00 p.m.
(Bettersworth Auditorium, Lee Hall)
Thursday, May 12 - 3:30 p.m.
College of Education
College of Business
ACCESS
Friday, May 13 - 9:30 a.m.
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Architecture, Art & Design
Friday, May 13 - 3:30 p.m.
Academic Affairs
Bagley College of Engineering
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Forest Resources
College of Veterinary Medicine
Livestreams of Ceremonies
If you wish to watch the Starkville Campus Commencement Ceremonies but are unable to attend, you can watch them live online! The following links may be used to access the livestream that will broadcast the live ceremonies:
More details and updates related to the ceremonies can be found later next week on the Office of the Registrar website.
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CELEBRATE THE LITTLE VICTORIES |
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Do you remember the time when you would celebrate the smallest of victories with your child? From going down a slide by themselves to putting their shoes on the correct feet? Every small victory that was celebrated led to a bigger victory.
The same is true for your college student. While the joy of being a child, who is cared for and celebrated for everything seems to almost vanish in college — and adulthood, your support from home can make a world of a difference. Students easily get bogged down by work, academic and personal responsibilities, and the stress from it all. Your student might be feeling a lot of pressure about whether or not they're heading in the right direction toward success. With finals week approaching at the end of this month, those stressors and pressures of succeeding can become quite overwhelming.
You can relieve some of that pressure and stress by validating what they're already doing right now: taking care of themselves, making new friends, learning to take care of a budget, managing their time, preparing for the next big or small assignment, etc. As we continue to finish out this spring semester, we would like to challenge you to encourage your student to think about their tasks as small achievements, not boring necessities for living or large unreachable tasks. Remind them of the small victories that got them to where they are to help them push through those difficult moments.
Letters or texts can go a long way, especially when your student lives out of state. When your students tell you about how they survived a tough week, send them a message letting them know you're proud of their strength and dedication. Keep reaching out, celebrating, and supporting your student as they grow into an independent adult...remember, small victories lead to bigger victories!
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FINAL EXAM TIPS AND REMINDERS |
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As students prepare for finals, remind them to...
- Touch every subject every day! Daily study is better than saving it up for longer study sessions a couple of times a week. Break homework down into small steps that are well-defined and practice active studying.
- Make flashcards, quiz yourself, or make a graphic organizer/mind-map. Create mnemonic devices, such as acrostics, rhymes or acronyms, to help remember information and then quiz yourself.
- Keep a running to-do list. Pick out your top 3 priorities on your list each day - and do them!
- Make the place you study a pleasant spot to be. Get rid of distractions and make it cozy!
- Take short breaks and take care of yourself. Brains can only process a limited amount of information and will benefit from some rest. Remind your students to eat healthy, exercise, drink water, and get plenty of sleep.
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HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE |
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CHECKING OUT
On-campus residents need to plan to check out no later than 24 hours after their last final exam for the Spring 2022 term. In order to officially check-out, students will need to complete the checklist and checkout process that will be provided by their Resident Advisor. Once your student checks out, they will no longer have access to their residence hall/room.
Residence Halls will close Saturday, May 14 at 12:00 p.m.
Note for students:
- Empty, defrost, and clean refrigerator and microwave.
- Thoroughly clean the room.
- Remove ALL personal belongings.
- Return all hard keys.
- Set up and complete check-out with RA, RD, or CD.
All residents must properly clean the room and complete the list of action items. Failure to properly clean the room and complete the list of action items will result in penalties and cleaning charges. By failing to properly check out, a student is waiving their right to appeal charges, so please encourage your students to check out with a staff member before leaving campus.
Any damages to the room will be charged to the MSU account of each resident in the room. Repair requests must be submitted through a Fix-It Ticket prior to checking out.
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March Issue of our e-Newsletter
In our March e-Newsletter, we provided information related to Online Education, which included sections that covered:
- Online Readiness
- What to Expect
- Benefits of Distance Education
If you would like to view the March e-Newsletter, please visit Get Connected.
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Super Bulldog Weekend
April 14, 15, & 16
Super Bulldog Weekend, spring semester’s version of fall homecoming, includes baseball games at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium, the maroon-white football scrimmage at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, Old Main Music and Cotton Districts Arts festivals, and much more.
National Coach of the Year Chris Lemonis and his defending National Champion Diamond Dawgs will host Auburn at Dudy Noble Field for a three-game SEC series beginning Thursday, April 14 through Saturday, April 16. Admission required.
Head football coach Mike Leach's 2022 Bulldogs will play the Maroon and White Game on April 16 (Saturday) in Davis Wade Stadium. Admission is free.
Game times and television information will be announced later.
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International Fiesta
Saturday, April 2 | 11:00 a.m.
Drill Field
The annual International Fiesta is a day of cultural exchange and entertainment at Mississippi State. Student organizations, departments and other groups on campus and in Starkville will have booths set up to showcase their cultures through displays and homemade dishes. On the main stage, there will be various performances, including dancing, music and singing. Traditional clothing also will be modeled. Inflatables and unique cultural activities will be available for children.
Dugout in the District
Saturday, April 2 | 12:00 p.m.
College View Apartments
A watch party event for the MSU v. Arkansas away baseball game consisting of vendors, live music, and food open to the public.
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2022 Spirit of State Awards
Friday, April 8 | 3:00 p.m.
The university's premier student award, the Spirit of State Award, recognizes exceptional personal contributions to student life at Mississippi State University. Students from all MSU campuses, freshmen to graduate, may be nominated for this Student Affairs recognition.
The Spirit of State Award formally honors those students who have excelled in campus involvement, service to the university, and have made an impact on their peers and the broader campus community. Winners will be recognized for their outstanding Spirit of State contributions at a socially distanced ceremony.
Running Without Borders 5k
Saturday, April 9 | 9:00 a.m.
Drill Field
Come run in the 5k hosted by Engineers Without Borders at MSU! This 5k is free to the public, and there will be prizes awarded to the top finishers. Donations are completely optional but greatly appreciated! All proceeds go to our organization's global engineering project in Santa Teresita, Ecuador, and donating will also put you in the running for more prizes from Starkville vendors.
Drunk Feminist with Dr. Lori Hart
Monday, April 11 | 7:00 p.m.
Humphrey Coliseum
MSU's Health Promotion and Wellness, Phi Mu Sorority, and Pi Beta Phi are hosting Dr. Lori Hart on campus for an intersectional program. A champion of promoting health and safety on college campuses for over two decades, Dr. Lori Hart approaches difficult conversations with science and human behavior along with dignity and respect — and a whole lot of humor! This program will be looking at the history of women, the history of feminism, alcohol education around the female body and the important elements of prevention, healthy relationships, and respect.
Denim Day & Donuts
Tuesday, April 26 | 1:00 p.m.
Drill Field
Denim donations will be collected to benefit Safe Haven, Inc., a local shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Bias, Behaviors, & Beliefs
Thursday, April 28 | 6:00 p.m.
Colvard Student Union, Room 328
This 90-minute workshop, led by a diversity, equity, and inclusion facilitator prepares participants to identify their sphere of influence and how bias impacts society.
- Participants will be able to identify the basic concepts of bias and microaggressions and identify how they influence our experiences.
- Participants will be able to identify the basic concepts of implicit bias and microaggressions and identify how they influence our experiences.
- Participants will make action plans to apply knowledge and practices from the training to their own environments and communities to enhance inclusion.
Finals Break for Breakfast
Monday, May 9 | 9:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fresh Food Company
MSU's Fresh Food Company will host an end of the semester celebration with a midnight finals breakfast. Final's week is stressful for everyone. Luckily, with a midnight breakfast can help students destress, relax, and connect with their peers before the semester ends.
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Student Counseling Services - Group Services
scsgroups@saffairs.msstate.edu
662.325.2091
What is Group Therapy? is a free service provided by the Student Counseling Services (SCS). It is a form of psychotherapy in which individuals share and grow amongst others with similar concerns. For many presenting concerns, research has shown that group therapy can be as effective as individual therapy. Group therapy also offers a key component that is not available in individual therapy, social support. Group therapy can help reduce stigma, isolation, and feelings of alienation.
Each group has a different meeting schedule, but typically groups meet once weekly for between 6 and 14 weeks. This schedule will be shared with you by the group facilitator at the time of or after group screening. All groups will meet virtual during the spring 2022 semester due to COVID 19.
What types of groups area offered? SCS has a different menu of groups each semester, and we are open to creating new groups to meet student need and interest. Groups offered this semester are listed below:
- Dealing with Distress - Manage chronic negative emotions and/or behaviors through distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and mindfulness skills.
- Journey to Wholeness - This is a skills-based group that will help survivors of sexual assault or abuse cope with symptoms of trauma, feel empowered in their relationships and receive support from fellow survivors.
- ACT UP - A group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, questioning, or other students coping with coming out, adjusting to campus, relationships, or other concerns.
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RISE - Respect, Inspire, Support, and Empower. This group will assist survivors of emotional, physical, and/ or verbal abuse to cope with their experiences by learning coping skills and connect with a community of other survivors.
- Tabletop Talks - Travel to strange places. Meet interesting people. Fight unspeakable horrors together. Members of this group will engage in weekly installments of the tabletop role play game “Monster of the Week”, followed by a process discussion regarding their interactions in the game setting.
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EMERGE - Experiencing, Making sense, Equipping, and Reinvesting after your Grief Exposure. This group will provide a place to explore, along with others, your grief experience as you work toward acceptance, healing, and wholeness after the loss of a significant person in your life.
Is group therapy confidential?
Group facilitators guarantee their own confidentiality, with an exception if the facilitator has sufficient reason to believe that someone is in danger. In this case, the facilitator has a professional obligation to take direct action in order to keep everyone safe. Each group has its own rules and guidelines, but all groups have the rules that group members will keep what is shared in the group by other group members and the identities of other group members confidential.
To speak to a clinician about your interest in group therapy, please visit our website counseling.msstate.edu and click on Mississippi State Virtual Waiting Room, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 4 pm. Group screening with the group facilitator(s) is required before group involvement can begin, to ensure that the group is a good fit for your concerns.
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Scholarship Reminders
Students with scholarships are encouraged to review the guidelines of their scholarship to maintain their awards by logging into their MSU Scholarship Portal.
The scholarship applications for the 2022-2023 Academic Year opened on October 1, 2021. Current students may apply for competitive, private, and departmental scholarships by completing the General Scholarship Application. The departmental scholarship application and other applications can be found under their Recommended Opportunities. The priority date for submitting these applications is March 1, 2022.
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Money Matter$
As a reminder, on October 1 the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) became available to complete. Students can complete the FAFSA online. The FAFSA will ask for income data from the 2019 tax year. Some federal aid has limited funding. Therefore, to receive maximum consideration for all aid types we encourage your student to complete the FAFSA today.
Students who are receiving Title IV federal financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress. For details on the satisfactory academic progress policy as it applies to Mississippi State University, please visit Mississippi State Student Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines.
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Graduation Trip
For 2022, the MSU Alumni Association is offering graduating seniors the opportunity to go on a grad trip to Europe! This excursion lasts from May 23 to June 7 and will take the new grads to some of Europe’s must-see destinations. Guided by a professional Tour Director and surrounded by their peers, graduates can travel safely with flexible and informal programming. For more information, please visit MSU's Young Alumni Travel Program or contact our staff at the MSU Alumni Association at 662.325.7000.
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MSU Food Security Network
The Mississippi State University Food Security Network (FSN) connects students in need to food resources within the community through various avenues.
Block By Block
The Block by Block Program is a partnership between Aramark, the Dean of Students' Office, and the Student Association. It serves to provide short-term assistance by allocating meals to students in need.
Maroon Meals: Campus Food Alert
Maroon Meals is a program that informs current Mississippi State students about the availability of food on campus, including its location and how long it will be available.
Bully's Pantry
As part of the MSU Food Security Network, a broader initiative to meet the basic needs of students, Bully's Closet and Pantry provides nutritious food, toiletries, school supplies, and other necessary items to current MSU students free of charge.
Local Food Pantries
The following are local food pantries that are a resource to provide food to students, faculty, staff and community members who are in need. They are also in need of volunteers for packing and distribution.
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Would you like to make an impact on your student's Mississippi State experience and represent Bulldog Families just like you?
We would like to personally invite you to become an inaugural member of our Maroon Family Alliance. The Maroon Family Alliance will financially support programs and events that enhance your student's experience and our campus community as a whole.
The Maroon Family Alliance will meet on a Friday afternoon in both the fall and spring semesters. During these meetings, members will tour some of Mississippi State’s top facilities, learn about innovative programs, hear from dynamic faculty and administrators. Most importantly, members will decide as a group how Maroon Family Alliance funds will be used to strengthen Mississippi State University and its Division of Student Affairs. It is a special way for parents and families to become connected with key University members and other Bulldog families.
You can be a part of the Maroon Family Alliance by following the “JOIN NOW” link below to make your annual contribution of $2,500. You may also call Jana Berkery, Director of Development, at 662.325.9129 to make your contribution by phone.
Visit MFA.MSSTATE.EDU for more information and we look forward to working with the new Mississippi State Maroon Family Alliance!
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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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