CONNECTIONS Summer 2024
Dear Bulldog Family,
Fall semester is just around the corner, and your student is probably getting excited (and maybe a little nervous) about starting a new chapter at Mississippi State University. We are ready to welcome each student with open arms!
While leaving home for college is super exciting, it can also be a bit scary and overwhelming. Keep the lines of communication open with your student and make sure you set expectations. To help with student success, we have developed a checklist and the Parent Portal. Please sit down and review the checklist provided during Orientation with your student, and make sure your student has given you access to the Parent Portal.
If you see that your student needs help, offer encouragement and a nudge in the right direction. If you do not know where to send your student, please call or e-mail us. Our office is available to help you through any situation. We also provide a variety of resources through our Parent and Family website to help you navigate helping your student.
Welcome to the Bulldog family, and please stop by for a visit the next time you are on our beautiful campus. We are located on the first floor of the YMCA Building in front of the Colvard Student Union.
@msstatefamily!
HAPPY PACKS
The Office of Parent and Family Services creates and distributes “Happys” for students from families during the school year. You can purchase three happy packs (First Day of Class [large], Winter Finals and Spring Finals) for only $115. Halloween and Valentine’s Day packages can be added on to the order separately. Orders must be placed online by Monday, July 15. We will deliver the First Day of Class “Happys” by the first day of class. Purchase your student a Happy Pack today!
MVNU2MSU
MVNU2MSU (Movin’ You to MSU) is on Saturday, August 17. Students can sign up for move-in time slots in late July. Early move-in details for specific groups will be provided by each organization. Students should check their Mississippi State email for more information.
On move-in day, turn off your GPS upon arrival, as some roads will be closed. Volunteers and signs will direct you. Please do not go straight to the residence hall. Students must first check in at the Humphrey Coliseum for north campus and the Animal and Dairy Sciences building for south campus.
Students who are unable to arrive on their specific day and time slot will be able to check in at their residence hall beginning Sunday, August 18, during traditional business hours.
To check-in, students must have their Mississippi State ID card and must have paid or enrolled in a payment plan for fall expenses.
Visit MVNU2MSU for more information. We are excited to welcome your student HOME!
Housing and Residence Life | Dogwood Hall | 662.325.3555 | housing.msstate.edu/move-in
RX PACKING LIST
Most students and parents will always remember the necessities when coming to college — toiletries, bedding and computers. However, a first aid/medicine kit is often overlooked, yet critical. Here is a list of suggestions to send with your student:
Thermometer
Pain reliever
Stomach medicine
Cold/flu medicine
Allergy medicine
DAWG DAYS
Cough medicine
Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide
Antibiotic ointment
Band-aids
Ice pack/heating pad
If you are wondering what happens on campus between the moment residence halls open until classes begin, the answer is Dawg Days! Dawg Days, an exciting collection of activities and events held to welcome new freshmen and transfer students to Mississippi State, will be held Friday, August 16, through Sunday, August 25. Dawg Days helps incoming students “find their people” by providing them with 10 days of programming, including movie nights, trivia, game nights, arts and crafts, live entertainers, service opportunities, free food and giveaways. This annual event also gives student organizations and campus departments an opportunity to spread the word about what they do. For more information visit dawgdays.msstate.edu
BULLDOG BUNDLE
Bulldog Bundle gives undergraduate students access to all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and electronic book versions in a convenient bundle before the first day of class, in most cases, at discounted prices. Through a partnership with Barnes & Noble, Bulldog Bundle allows students to receive required course materials for all classes for a flat fee, regardless of how much each individual textbook/digital access would cost to rent or purchase separately.
Instead of purchasing materials a la carte, the cost is applied to the student’s account at the same time tuition is charged. The Mississippi State bookstore provides each student with a convenient package for physical books, and digital materials are automatically populated to students’ courses in Canvas.
Reduce the cost of traditional textbooks by up to 50% with Bulldog Bundle! Program Price — $20 per credit hour. Visit Bulldog Bundle to learn more.
DINING SERVICES
Mississippi State offers 20 on-campus dining locations, including Fresh Food Company — our all-you-careto-eat dining hall — Perry-To-Go, Perry Food Truck, and McArthur Café, which serve unique menus daily. Fresh Food Company features a True Balance Station, addressing all nine common food allergens, and a Planted Station with daily vegetarian meals. Food is available daily on campus from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; individual hours of operation vary by location.
MSU Dining strives to accommodate all students’ dietary needs on campus. If your student has an allergy, please reach out to MSU Dining Registered Dietitian Jill Hamilton at hamilton-jill1@aramark.com to schedule a one-on-one consultation for help accommodating any dietary restrictions.
All first-year freshmen in housing are automatically enrolled in the Weekly 21 Meal Plan and $300 Dawg Dollars. The Meal Plan includes 21 meals per week, which breaks down to 3 meals per day, 7 days a week. It is the most convenient Meal Plan for our on-campus students, assuring that all of their meals are covered. View the Freshman Dining Guide for a breakdown of the Weekly 21 Meal Plan.
Students enrolled in the Weekly 21 Meal Plan will also receive a free Weekly 21 Eco Kit! The Eco Kit comes with a reusable tumbler that students can use for free drinks (includes fountain drinks and drip coffee), a reusable to-go container, and a thermal reusable bag. Students can pick up their Eco Kit in the Dining Office (now located at Fresh Food Company).
MSU Dining Services | 662.325.7120 | dining.msstate.edu
DAWG DOLLARS
This fall, Mississippi State is launching Dawg Dollars, a prepaid debit account designed to supplement your student’s campus experience. Dawg Dollars can be used at on-campus dining venues, select vending machines, coffee shops, Maroon Markets, P.O.D. Markets and Express locations, the MSU Bookstore Café, select football and basketball concession stands and residence hall laundry machines.
Dawg Dollars are billed directly to your student’s university account and are not part of their meal plan. All Dawg Dollar balances carry over from semester to semester and year to year.
learn more, visit dawgdollars.msstate.edu
MISSISSIPPI STATE® FAMILY HUB
The Mississippi State® Family Hub is designed to enhance your Bulldog family experience by providing you with customized newsletters and 24/7 access to campus-related news, academic resources, tips for parenting college students, financial guidance and more. Parents and family members can register by visiting the Mississippi State® Family Hub
FALL CONVOCATION
Freshmen, new transfer students and family members are invited to attend Mississippi State’s 2024 Fall Convocation on Tuesday, August 27, at Humphrey Coliseum. The event begins at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m.
FRESHMAN YEAR NAVIGATORS
Every new freshman student has a Freshman Year Navigator, a Mississippi State student who emails, texts, calls and meets their assigned freshmen faceto-face to provide them with valuable information and answer questions throughout the year. Navigators are focused on helping freshmen achieve academic success and avoid common pitfalls.
Center for Academic Excellence | YMCA Building 1st Floor | 662.325.2957 | studentsuccess.msstate.edu
AN INVOLVED STUDENT, IS A HAPPY STUDENT
Mississippi State boasts more than 300 student organizations, providing many ways for your students to get involved, “find their people” and make the most of their college experience. Students can view these organizations on Cowbell Connect, which houses student organization information, service opportunities and scheduled events. The Center for Student Activities also houses the Student Association, Music Maker Productions, Lyceum Series, Involvement Ambassadors, Dance Marathon, New Maroon Camp and the Miss MSU scholarship pageant.
Center for Student Activities | Colvard Student Union, Suite 314 | 662.325.2930 | union.msstate.edu
FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE
For more than 130 years, Fraternity and Sorority Life has been one of Mississippi State’s greatest traditions. Mississippi State’s 37 fraternity and sorority chapters are nationally recognized organizations and promote a balance of academics, leadership, community service/philanthropy and social events. Members of Greek organizations are expected to maintain high grades, volunteer in the local community and get involved and be leaders in other campus organizations. Membership is a lifetime commitment and in return, members can expect to make lasting memories and lifelong connections.
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life | Colvard Student Union, Suite 314 |
SERVICE DAWGS DAY
| greeks.msstate.edu
Students are invited to volunteer during Dawg Days from Sunday, August 18, to Wednesday, August 21, ending with Service Dawgs Day. They can participate in community service and enjoy the Celebration of Service on Thursday, August 22. Student Leadership and Community Engagement and the Maroon Volunteer Center will provide T-shirts, food and fun. Students can learn how they can make a difference in the Starkville community by visiting the Maroon Volunteer Center
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PARKING SERVICES
Student parking permits go on sale through their myState account on Wednesday, July 17, at 8 a.m. for Residential and Greek students and Wednesday, July 24, at 8 a.m. for Commuter students and Graduate Assistants. Residential permits are guaranteed for the residential zone where the student is housed. Commuter and Maroon Permit zones are first come, first served. If the initial choice is not available, a waitlist option will be available at myparking.msstate.edu
Your student’s license plate serves as their digital permit, so please ensure the correct vehicle and license plate is linked to their purchased digital permit. Residential and Greek students will receive a mailed permit that must be displayed to enter their permitted zone on game days. ADA and Electric Vehicle digital permits are available with correct documentation. For more information, contact the Transportation office.
All vehicles on campus must have a digital permit or be registered in a timed/metered area using the ParkMobile app. Daily permits, valid in any commuter, staff or residential area, can be purchased at the Transportation office, located in the Roberts Building.
Transportation | 662.325.3526 | transportation.msstate.edu
TRANSIT SERVICES
Transit Services offers a range of transportation services for campus, Starkville and the Golden Triangle region. The Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit (SMART) system is a free public transit system with daily routes. Our shuttles are equipped with wheelchair lifts, and service animals are welcome. Shuttle routes can be tracked in real-time by downloading the TransLoc app.
Transit Services | 662.325.7594 | smart.msstate.edu
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
UNIVERSITY RECREATION
University Recreation supports the total educational development of students through programs, services and facilities. On-campus recreation facilities include the newly renovated Sanderson Recreation Center, the Sawyer tennis courts, the RecPlex outdoor field complex and the Chadwick Lake disc golf course.
There is no fee for full-time Mississippi State students to utilize the Sanderson Center’s amenities, which include multiple strength and cardio training spaces, free group exercise classes, an indoor track, a climbing wall, a bouldering cave, a swimming pool and two gymnasia. Students also have access to outdoor adventure trips, adventure gear rental, adult swim lessons, team-building courses and personal training and fitness assessments.
University Recreation | 662.325.7529 | urec.msstate.edu
LONGEST STUDENT HEALTH CENTER
The Longest Student Health Center provides students with comprehensive medical care, a full-service pharmacy, allergy shots, immunizations, X-rays and more. Your student’s tuition covers their office visit. Fees that transfer to a student’s account include laboratory work, X-rays and pharmacy services. Insurance will be filed, and your student account will be credited with any payments/adjustments received from the insurance company.
Longest Student Health Center | 662.325.2431 | healthcenter.msstate.edu
STUDENT COUNSELING SERVICES
Student Counseling Services offers a variety of free and confidential services to students, including individual counseling, group counseling, preventative psycho-educational programming, crisis response and referrals.
Student Counseling Services | 662.325.2091 | counseling.msstate.edu
TELUS HEALTH STUDENT SUPPORT APP
The Telus Health Student Support app provides students with free, 24/7 access to a licensed professional counselor and well-being resources. Students can scan the QR code or visit the Telus Health Student Support download page to access the app.
MONEY MATTERS Account Services Information
AUTHORIZED PAYER ACCESS
Mississippi State’s QuikPAY® system allows students to authorize a payer (usually a parent or guardian) to access account information and make payments on the student’s behalf. To have your student set you up as an authorized payer, visit paymybill.msstate.edu, click on “Tips for Managing Your Account” then “Authorized Payer” and have your student follow the instructions.
IMPORTANT DATES AND PAYMENT INFORMATION
• Electronic billing statements are issued monthly around the 15th, with payment due on the 1st of the following month. Email notifications are sent to the student’s Mississippi State email and to authorized payers when a new statement is available.
• Mississippi State offers monthly payment plans for tuition, residence halls, meal plans and other expenses. Enrollment for fall and annual plans opens Saturday, July 13. Learn more at paymybill.msstate.edu
• Pay the full balance or enroll in a payment plan by Thursday, August 1, to avoid class schedule cancellation.
• Card payments incur a 2.8% convenience fee and can only be made online via QuikPAY®, but e-Checks are free. Avoid the fee by choosing the e-Check option if using a debit card.
As your student continues their academic career at Mississippi State, it is important to remember that account balances must be paid in order to register for a new semester or make changes to an existing class schedule. To avoid unnecessary late fees or registration holds, please make sure your student actively monitors their account and makes timely payments.
Account Services | 662.325.2071 | paymybill.msstate.edu | studentaccounts@msstate.edu
COST-SAVING TIPS
HOUSING
Did you know Mississippi State offers multiple housing options? Costs for a standard double occupancy range from $2,611 to $4,008, potentially saving a student $1,397 per semester. A comprehensive list of housing choices and costs are available at housing.msstate.edu
DINING
All freshmen living in on-campus residence halls will automatically be enrolled in the Weekly 21 Meal Plan. Freshman students have the option to change to the Weekly 14 Plan within the first two weeks of each semester, a difference of $337 per semester. Check out dining.msstate.edu to explore which meal plan works best for your student. (Utilize your meal plan to the fullest and limit eating out.)
VEHICLES
Do not bring a car. Parking permits are $200 for commuter students and $250 for students living on-campus. The Department of Transportation offers a robust transportation system that is free and accessible, not to mention Mississippi State is a very walkable campus. Carpool home with friends.
TEXTBOOKS
Do not buy new textbooks. Encourage your student to access Bulldog Bundle or research other options, including used, borrowed or electronic. Visit Bulldog Bundle to learn more.
COMPUTERS
Many majors do not require you to have a personal computer. Students can visit the Mitchell Memorial Library’s fully-featured computer lab, the Computer Commons, which offers both PCs and Macs.
BUDGET
Create a budget. Do not abuse credit cards. Take advantage of amenities on-campus. Study more, spend less = win, win.