Parents & Families
MSUM Housing and Residential Life is excited to have your student living on campus with us! We have compiled a list of some frequent questions here. MSUM also has more information on the MSUM Family and Parents website.
Bed Lofts
Bed loft rental is available through CSI lofts of Moorhead. Beds may be lofted in Nelson, Grantham, Ballard, and South Snarr. To rent a loft, please visit: http://www.csilofts.com/
Renters Insurance
We strongly encourage our students to pursue renters insurance. You may arrange for renter's insurance through your own insurance company, or through National Student Services, Inc. MSUM does not insure personal belongings in student rooms. While we hope students will never need to file a renter's insurance claim, it is important to be prepared just in case.
MSUM Residential Dining Service - What parents really want to know.
How it works
Contracted meals are served in Kise Commons, located between Ballard Hall & the CMU. Our campus Dining Service is managed by Sodexo and works closely with residents and our Student Dining Committee to respond to suggested new menu items, alterations in food cycles and trying new recipes. Student satisfaction is important to them and to us.
Student ID, Meal Ticket
Students' meal card is their MSUM ID and is nontransferable; it may not be loaned to a friend for use. The meal card may be used only by the student purchaser and must be presented to the checker at every meal. The only access a person has to the Kise dining area during meal hours is through the checker's station.
Persons must either present an ID coded with meal plan information or pay the casual meal rate. Temporary passes (when an ID is misplaced) can be obtained from the Sodexo office staff for a period of up to 3 days; there will be a $1.00 charge for all temporary cards. After these three days, a new University ID card will have to be purchased.
Feed Me! - What is the typical meal?
A typical breakfast includes an egg selection, pancakes or French toast, potato, meat, hot and cold cereal, make your own Belgian waffle, assorted pastries, fresh fruit, and yogurt. To begin a lunch or dinner, we include two made-from-scratch soups, a full salad bar and an entree from one of our dining platforms. Students choose from a made to order grill item, fresh pizza, a hot and sizzling stir fry made to order, deli sandwiches, or a more traditional entree from our classics line. Taste Change Bars, TGIF meals on Friday evenings, and a once a month Sunday Brunch extravaganza to break up the monotony. We also offer other seasonal, holiday, and theme meals throughout the year. All of our meals are served with unlimited seconds. To finish off the meal we offer cookies and bars at lunch and cakes, pies, cobblers and such for dinner. We have soft ice cream available every day. They won't go thirsty either: we serve Coke and Pepsi products, Minute Maid juice, milk, coffee, hot chocolate and teas.
It's a Deal!
The meal plans are priced on an assumed participation rate: that is, there is a percentage of meals per plan each week that persons probably will choose. It is normal for a student not to consume all of their meals each week.
What is the standard week?
Meal plans run on a Saturday to Friday basis. The number of meals a student has left may be checked at any register or at the Sodexo Office in Kise.
Food Service Questions?
Call MSUM Housing and Residential Life Office with billing questions - 218-477-2118
Call Sodexo with food/dining questions - 218-477-2836 or visit the Sodexo website.
What if my child does not get along with his/her roommate?
Getting used to a roommate can be worrisome 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 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.
Will my student be safe in the residence halls?
Students need to take responsibility for their own safety and security. While our residence halls are very safe, it is important to remind your student to take normal safety precautions, such as locking the door to their room and securing their personal items. Most thefts are crimes of opportunity and take less than 30 seconds. Make sure to lock the door, even if just going down the hall to the restroom. Resident Assistants also make regular rounds through all of the residence halls.
Students are also encouraged to register cell phone numbers with Campus Security's e-2 Campus emergency notification system. Students will receive a text message if there is an emergency situation on campus they need to be aware of. Campus Security Officers make regular rounds on campus. For more crime prevention tips, information on Campus Security or e2 Campus, visit the Campus Security web site.
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. For additional information on parking and transportation needs, contact the MSUM parking office at 218-477-2675, or visit the Parking Office website.
Internet Service
Internet service in the MSUM residence halls is provided by Go Moorhead. Information and instructions for setup are available on the Residence Hall Internet Questions page.
What does my student's room look like?
Floor plans and information on each hall is available in the residence halls section of our web site. You may click here to view the residence halls. Click on the name of the building your student will be living in. A link to the virtual tour is also provided on the first page.
What should a student pack to live in the residence halls?
This helpful move-in list has been put together for you to use as a reference. This list also contains a short list of what to not bring.
Moving Checklist