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Dear Bobcat parent and family members,
Even though I've worked at MSU for over a decade, it always surprises me how quiet our campus becomes over Winter Break. But I'm glad to report that is no longer the case, as spring semester is in full swing. Now that the new term is rolling, here is some information about upcoming events and deadlines students face. You might remind your student to keep these deadlines in mind, as they can come up quicker than expected.
- If your student wants to add a course, they may do so until Jan. 30 with the approval of the instructor.
- If your student needs to drop a course, they can do so online until Jan. 30. After that date, students have until Feb. 6 to drop without receiving a "W" (withdrawal) grade but will need approval from their advisor.
- After Feb. 6, your student may still withdraw from a course through April 17, but they need approval from their advisor and will receive a "W" grade.
- Students dropping a course after April 17 must have extraordinary reasons for doing so and will need the approval of the instructor, their advisor and the assistant dean of their college.
All deadlines are published on the Office of the Registrar website, and step-by-step instructions for adding or dropping can be found on their add/drop page. If you feel your student may need support, encourage them to email their advisor or visit MSU's Academic Advising Center, which is open for drop-in appointments during the work week.
It's not too soon to start asking questions about where your student is planning to live in the fall. A deadline (not related to registration) is approaching for on-campus housing selection in the 2024-25 academic year. The application launches Jan. 29, and students have until Feb. 9 to complete it and participate in priority room selection for next year. After Feb. 9, applications will be assigned after March 1, along with new incoming students. More information can be found on the Housing Priority Selection webpage.
In a few weeks, I'll send out additional information and resources for students looking for a place to live off-campus. Stay tuned for that.
Is your student new or a recent transfer to MSU? We have recently rolled out a brand-new website of resources for transfer students, which we hope will provide all the information they need to engage with the MSU community. And please encourage them to attend MSU Debut events designed for our entire student body to help them make MSU home!
The Office of Student Engagement has organized a full slate of MSU Debut events to welcome students back and offers fun (and free!) ways for students to connect. Upcoming events include a silent disco party tomorrow, Jan. 26, standup comedy by Preacher Lawson on Jan. 31 and our third annual campus Rail Jam on Feb. 3, featuring some spectacular skiers and snowboarders.
Warm regards,
Matthew R. Caires
Dean of Students
P.S. While the semester is just beginning, it's not too early to start planning Spring Break travels. MSU's BreaksAway program offers students the opportunity for travel and service in communities around the country. Spring Break is March 11-15, and more information can be found on the BreaksAway website.