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.
Remember, follow @msstatefamily to stay connected with us on social media.
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 14. 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) runs Wednesday, August 13, through Friday, August 15. 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 Saturday, August 16, 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 15, through Sunday, August 24. 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. Students may opt out by the last day to add/drop classes each semester.
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 over 20 on-campus dining locations. Block meals can be used at Fresh Food Company — our all-you-care-to-eat dining hall — as well as the newly renovated Perry Food Hall and, new this fall, Azalea Marketplace. Fresh Food Company features a True Balance Station, addressing all nine common food allergens, and a Planted Station with daily vegan meals. Block meals may also be used as a meal equivalency once daily ($8 value) at several of Mississippi State’s retail locations. Food is available daily on campus from 7 a.m.-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 Food Service Director Dwight Turner at turner-dwight2@aramark.com to schedule a one-on-one consultation for help accommodating any dietary restrictions.
All first-year freshmen are automatically enrolled in the Weekly 21 Meal Plan. This meal plan includes 21 meals per week, which breaks down to 3 meals per day, 7 days a week, but block meals can be used whenever you want throughout the week. It is the most convenient meal plan for our on-campus students, assuring that all their meals are covered. View the Freshman Dining Guide for a breakdown of the Weekly 21 Meal Plan. All undergraduates are also automatically enrolled in the $300 Dawg Dollars.
Students enrolled in the Weekly 21 Meal Plan will receive a free Weekly 21 Eco Kit that includes 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, located next to Moe’s and Subway.
Dawg Dollars is a prepaid debit account your student can use at on-campus dining venues, select vending machines, coffee shops, Maroon Markets, P.O.D. Markets and Express locations, the Barnes & Noble Café, select football and basketball concession stands and District Nutrition in College View.
All full-time undergraduate students 25 and under on the Starkville campus are automatically enrolled in $300 Dawg Dollars each fall and spring semester. 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. Unused balances at graduation will be refunded to the student’s MSU account.
To 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 2025 Fall Convocation on Tuesday, August 26, 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 face-to-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 | cae.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, Transfer Student Association, New Maroon Camp and the Miss MSU scholarship pageant.
Center for Student Activities | Colvard Student Union, Suite 314 | 662.325.2930 | studentactivities.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 38 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 | 662.325.2930 | greeks.msstate.edu
Panhellenic Recruitment Registration Deadline July 20, 2025 IFC Recruitment Registration Deadline August 20, 2025
NPHC & MGC Going Greek 101 August 24, 2025
DAWGS SERVE: REAL DAWGS DO REAL GOOD
Good Dawgs do more than bark — they serve communities and make their mark!
From Sunday, August 17, to Tuesday, August 19, students can participate in service projects during Dawg Days, then celebrate their great deeds with Student Leadership and Community Engagement!
Student Leadership and Community Engagement | Moseley Hall, Suite C313 (3rd Floor) | 662.325.0244 | slce.msstate.edu
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
UNIVERSITY RECREATION
University Recreation’s 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
Conveniently located across the street from the Mitchell Memorial Library, the Longest Student Health Center offers comprehensive care to meet your healthcare needs. The clinical staff includes three physicians and four nurse practitioners.
Students enrolled at the Starkville campus and the Vet School can enjoy free office visits, as these are covered by their tuition. Charges for services such as lab tests, X-rays and medications will be billed to your health insurance. Prescriptions from outside providers can be filled, and those from other pharmacies can be transferred to the Health Center pharmacy. Online scheduling is available.
Longest Student Health Center | 662.325.2431 healthcenter.msstate.edu
STUDENT COUNSELING SERVICES
Student Counseling Services offers a variety of free, confidential services to students, including individual and group counseling, embedded services, preventative psycho-educational programming, crisis response and referrals.
We encourage your student to download the Telus Health Student Support app, which offers 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.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PARKING SERVICES
All vehicles on campus must have a digital permit or use the ParkMobile app for timed/metered areas. Student parking permits go on sale through the parking portal at myparking.msstate.edu
Student Parking Permit Sales Dates
• Wednesday, July 16, 2025 — 8 a.m.
Graduate assistant students, residential students and Greek students (living on campus)
• Wednesday, July 23, 2025 — 8 a.m.
Commuter students
All parking zones are first come first served, with waitlist options available if the preferred parking zone is unavailable. License plates serve as the digital permit. It’s important to verify the correct vehicle and license plate information are entered correctly and linked to the parking permit.
Residential and Greek students will need to purchase a gameday access credential to park in designated residential parking zones during football gamedays. This credential can be purchased, for $5 at the Robert’s Building (412 Lee Boulevard). ADA permits and Electric Vehicle Charging permits are available with proper documentation and must be registered via the parking portal at myparking.msstate.edu. Every vehicle must be parked in their designated zone Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Parking permits are zone specific and are not valid in any other parking zones unless the parking zone allows multiple permits in that designated zone. Students are encouraged to download the Bully Park App to locate available parking on campus and to manage their parking account/ vehicle information.
Residential and Greek students will receive a mailed permit that must be displayed for gameday access to their zone. ADA and Electric Vehicle digital permits are available with proper documentation and must be registered via the parking portal at myparking.msstate.edu. Every vehicle must be parked in their designated zone Monday–Friday from 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Permits are zone specific, not lot specific. Students are encouraged to download the Bully Park App to locate available parking on campus.
All bicycles and scooters — electric and non-electric — must have a permit. These permits can be purchased for $10 annually at the Roberts Building.
Daily permits, valid in commuter, staff or residential areas, can be purchased at the Office of Transportation in the Roberts Building. For more details, contact the Office of Transportation.
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.
Beginning fall 2025, MSU will begin assessing Overload Tuition, as follows:
Undergraduate full-time status will remain at 12 credit hours; however, students may take an additional 4 credit hours (up to 16 credit hours) for the same full-time rate. These “free” hours will allow students to graduate ontime, or even early, thus reducing their overall cost of attendance and statistically increasing student success. Students will be assessed the per-credit-hour tuition rate for overload hours (17+) in the same manner and at the same rate as part-time students (taking one to 11 hours) are assessed.
In addition to the change in tuition structure, new College Fees will be introduced for certain undergraduate academic programs. These fees apply to sophomore, junior, and senior students enrolled in select colleges across all campuses.
• Full-time students will be assessed a full-time College Fee.
• Part-time students will be charged a prorated amount based on the number of enrolled credit hours.
Fee amounts will vary based on your academic college. These changes reflect the differing instructional costs across disciplines and course levels. Revenue from College Fees will support enhanced student services, allow for smaller class sizes, expanded course offerings, and enriched academic support.
We encourage all students and families to review the full details and Frequently Asked Questions found in the Tuition section at paymybill.msstate.edu. For questions about how these changes may affect your financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at financialaid@msstate.edu For questions regarding course planning, please contact your academic advisor.
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 Monday, July 14. 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 full for them to be able 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, reviews each month’s billing statement and makes timely payments.
Did you know Mississippi State offers multiple housing options at various price points? 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, saving them money both semesters. 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. 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. (Students must opt out of Bulldog Bundle by the last day to add/drop classes each semester to have the charge removed from their student account.)
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.
