Family & Parents

Now that my student is at MSUM: FAQ and Tips

What should I do if my student is homesick?

The first few weeks of school are full of new experiences – activities, adjustments, new friends. Your student probably will be too busy to be homesick. (But don’t ask; the power of suggestion can be dangerous!) Instead, call regularly (not too regularly!), write frequently (don’t expect too many replies), and send occasional “survival kits” (homemade goodies, money, homemade goodies, news from home, homemade goodies). Also, listen carefully and be supportive. Encourage them to remain on campus during some weekends so they can participate in activities and spend time with potential friends. Making friends, joining a study group, becoming involved in their residence halls or joining a student organization are just a few ways to help the student feel connected to MSUM.

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What if my child does not get along with his/her roommate?

Getting used to a roommate can be traumatic for a new student. Because of the newness of the situation and their desire to get along, some students may not confront their roommate about a problem until it has festered and been compounded with other problems. In that situation, even the smallest of disagreements can be blown out of proportion. Encourage your student to establish honest and open communication with their roommate. Encourage your child to talk with his/her roommate, and if necessary go together to the resident assistant to work out a living plan. If there appears to be a problem involving safety or drugs, encourage your student to report it to the resident assistant.

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Will my relationship with my child change after he/she goes off to college?

You shouldn’t expect your relationship with your child to be frozen in time from when they leave for college to when they come home to visit. They probably will change and become more independent in their first few months of school, and expect to be treated differently. They may want to test parental reaction to their growing sense of independence. Sometimes students also are rethinking views on religion, morals, and politics. Listening patiently to ideas will help. Feel free to disagree, but do it in a way that acknowledges that you take his viewpoint seriously.

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What is the secret to managing college life academically and socially?

Some families are concerned that their student’s involvement in non-academic activities will result in lower grades, while others worry because their student may not do anything but go to class. As a general rule, becoming involved in campus activities tends to improve a student’s experiences at MSUM. Not only will it provide opportunities to meet people with similar interests, it will also help students take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to real world situations. Students who are active in campus life develop time management, communication, leadership, and organizational skills that will help them in a wide variety of experiences throughout their lives. While some students become over-involved, a healthy balance of study and co-curricular activity can add a dimension to the University experience that has rewards now and in the students’ future careers.

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Should my student work while going to school?

Ideally students who are enrolled full-time should not work. Going to school full-time and studying enough to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA, or the 3.0 GPA that is needed to maintain most scholarships, is a full-time job. However, many students in this area do have jobs. It is recommended that they wait until after their first year of college, because it takes a while to get used to the different freedoms and pressures of college life.

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How many credit hours does the average student take in a semester?

The average number of hours the typical new student takes is 12-15 during his or her first semester. The number of hours a student should take depends on individual circumstances—high school preparation, whether he or she works, activities in which he or she is involved, and other obligation on campus. There is no minimum number of credit hours that a student must take, but to be classified as full-time, he or she must be enrolled in at least 12 hours.

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How much time should be devoted to study?

Most students learn quickly that college courses require considerably more study time than was required in high school. It is suggested that students study approximately two hours for every hour in class. For example, if a student is carrying fifteen credit hours, he or she should spend thirty hours a week studying, for a total of forty-five hours. As you can see, college is a full-time job.

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How much spending money do students need?

You know your student’s spending habits better than anyone else does. It is best to sit down with your student and prepare a budget before he or she comes to MSUM. The Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid has a booklet with good suggestions about spending money.

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Should my student open a local checking account?

Many local business will accept out-of-town checks for purchases, but most require a driver’s license. If your student wants to open a local checking account, there are several banks located within a few miles of the campus. An ATM is located in the CMU. On the other hand, you may want to keep an account in your student’s name at your local bank where you can easily deposit funds.

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What can I do if my student is coming home every weekend?

It’s a mistake to believe that all college students get good grades, are certain of their futures, have activity-packed weekends, have hundreds of close friends and lead care-free, worry-free lives. These are not necessarily the best years of your student’s life. Don’t believe that it is and don’t tell you student it is. Simply accept and understand these ups and downs and provide support and encouragement when needed.

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How can I keep involved in my student's life without being intrusive?

Typically, new students are eager to experience the freedom and independence of being away from home. Don’t misinterpret this surge of independence as rejection-it’s a healthy sign of growth and development! Instead, ask honest questions (although not too many!). Try not to appear nosey, intrusive, nagging or have the “right to know” attitude.

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What if my student isn't doing as well as expected?

Many students come to college expecting to perform as well as they did in high school, but that is often not the case. Some high school students find it easy to succeed with little or no studying, and therefore lack good study skills and effective time management skills. But college is different. Classes are tougher. Competition is greater. Homework is a constant. And distractions are abundant. You support and encouragement are important. Remind your student of the resources available to him/her to help him/her succeed. Encourage him/her to use these resources.

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What if my student wants to quit?

Your student’ first year at college will be like a roller coaster ride, with plenty of highs and lows. It may surprise you how what may seem to you to be a minor incident can set off a bout of depression. (A shrunken sweater after a week of tests, papers and little sleep could set him/her off!) Be patient with those “nothing-is-going-right-I-hate-this-place” phone calls or letters. Try to listen with a sympathetic ear, and offer encouragement as you would a colleague. A few people will not succeed in their first attempt at college, and they may fail or choose to leave. This does not necessarily mean college is not the “right” thing for the student. They may need a chance to mature and reassess their goals. Often, a little time will lead to a second and more successful attempt at college.

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Can I get information about my student

MSUM complies with the Family Educations Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which protects each student’s educational records. Under FERPA, students and their designee have access to their records. Usually students provide access to their parents or spouse. The Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid asks students to complete an Information Release from indicating to whom information may be released. If no one is designated, information will only be released to the student. Details on MSUM’s FERPA policy are available on request.

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How can my student get a job?

The MSUM Job Shop carries listings of on-campus College Work funded positions (formerly called Work-Study), on-campus Regular Funds positions and off-campus job. You can access the MSUM Dragon Job Shop at: http://www.mnstate.edu/dragonjobs

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What happens if my student gets sick or hurt during the year?

The services of Hendrix Health Center integrate health promotion, education for prevention of disease and clinical treatment of illness. All currently enrolled students who have paid an activity fee are eligible to receive medical treatment which includes unlimited visits to a physician or nurse practitioner for no additional charge. On-site specialists include a psychiatrist, chemical dependency counselor and rape and abuse/dating violence counselor.

Hospitals

Meritcare Medical Center
720 4 St. N. Fargo, ND
234-2000
Emergency/Trauma Center
234-5121
Health Line – 24 hour nurse phone line
234-5000

Innovis Health Center
3000 32nd Ave. SW Fargo, ND
364-8000
Emergency/Urgent Care
364-8400

Prairie Psychiatric Center
510 4th St. S. Fargo, ND
476-7216
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Will my son or daughter be safe on campus?

Campus security provides safety and security services for students, faculty and staff, and protection of property located on the campus. The Security office is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7 a.m., roving staff members regularly tour university parking lots, academic buildings, residence halls and the campus grounds. The dispatch center is staffed on a 24-hour basis (2449). Security escorts are normally available from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Calls for escorts should be made to Campus Security (2449). Students living on-campus need to be informed that false fire alarms do happen. Students need to treat these and all fire alarms as actual warnings and respond immediately. Moorhead Fire and Police Departments are minutes away from campus. Problems, question, concerns or suggestions relating to campus security should be directed to the Director of Campus Security.

http://www.mnstate.edu/security
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What kind of scholarships are available?

The MSUM Foundation offers scholarships recognizing outstanding abilities in the following areas: academics, special talent, achievement-leadership and athletics. There are also special scholarships available for minority students. Application forms are available from the Scholarship Office. Awards for special talent in art, music, theatre and athletics have separate applications and awarding criteria. These departments should be contacted directly. Scholarships are awarded in the spring and applied to tuition and fee statements the following academic year. Students must meet the University’s admission standards and deadlines. Any scholarship dollars awarded to students who are receiving financial aid will become a part of the financial aid package. For more information visit the MSUM website at http://www.mnstate.edu/finaid/

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How do I contact my student at school?

By letter:

Mail is delivered to the Residence Halls daily, except Sundays and holidays. Each student is assigned a mailbox number. Correspondence to your student should be addressed accordingly:
     Students name
     Residence Hall
     MSUM
     1104 7th Ave. S.
     Moorhead, MN 56563

By phone:

All residence hall rooms are equipped with private touchtone telephones. Local telephone directories are given to each student. Answering machines may be connected to the room phones. Long distance service is provided by AT&T ACUS Service. Each resident is provided with an account and personal access code. A monthly bill is sent to each student’s residence hall address. Each student must use a phone card for all long distance calls. AT&T ACUS offers a card to students at their option. Question related to long distance billing and service should be directed to AT&T at 1-800-445-6063.

Emergencies:

In case of emergency the Campus Security Office can be reached 24 hours a day by calling: 218-477-2449.

Emergency message:

If because of an extreme emergency you must contact your son or daughter during the day, Student Affairs will look up his or her schedule and try to make immediate contact.

218-477-2171

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Does my student need a car?

The Moorhead Area Transit (MAT) bus provides free rides to MSUM students with their student ID. Your student may ask their roommates or friends for rides to certain locations if needed, but the campus is really quite self-sufficient. There are places to eat, a hair salon, laundry facilities, and a grocery store within walking distance. Although the majority of students do have cars, it is not a necessity.

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