Fees, Expenses, and Financial
Aid
FOR 2007-2008*
The following fees apply to full-time students enrolled during the fall or spring term for nine or more credit hours:
A.
Resident Tuition and Required
Fees for
Fall
Spring
Total
$2,464.50
$2,464.50
$ 4,929.00
B.
The Non-Resident Tuition and
Required Fees below must be added to the
Tuition and Required Fees above for a student who is not a Mississippi
resident:
Fall
Spring
Total
$3,245.50
$3,245.50
$6,491.00
*The University reserves the right, subject to order of the Board of Trustees, to raise, lower, or modify without notice any of the above fees for the 2007-2008 session.
A.
Tuition and Fees for a part-time
student enrolled for not more than eight credit hours during a regular
semester: Rate Per Hour
(Rounded) Tuition and Required Fees $274.00
B. The Non-Resident Tuition and Required Fee must be added to the Tuition and Required Fee above for a student who is not a Mississippi resident: $360.75.
The
following fees apply to tutorial students:
A. Definition: A tutorial student is one who does not attend regular classes but is working on a definite course or a problem under the tutorship of a regular University staff member.
B. Fee: A tutorial student will pay the rates identified for part-time students for courses scheduled.
Fees
for Courses Audited—A person not registered in the University as a regular
student may audit a course by paying the rates identified for part-time students
for each credit hour the course carries. The
same University policy governing the payment and refund of fees for regular
enrollment also applies to students in an audit status.
Laboratory Fees—Additional fees for laboratory usage and supplies may be charged by some departments.
Schedule
Change Fees—Any change in class schedules after the last day to register
for classes (See the Academic Calendar in the front of this publication for
specific dates) will incur a change of schedule fee.
The fee is $50.00. The charge
is assessed each time an Add/Drop Form is presented to the Registrar’s office
after the last day to register; the Add/Drop Form is required for adding a
course, dropping a course, or changing sections of a course.
Schedule change fees are waived in the event of a change required by
administrative action of the University. Schedule
changes made after initial registration and payment of fees may generate
additional charges to students. Such
additional charges are subject to the same payment schedules and penalties as
the initial charges, and additional charges should be paid promptly to avoid
service fees.
Thesis/Dissertation
Fees—Candidates for master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral
degrees are required to pay for the cost of having his/her thesis/dissertation
typed and bound. The binding fee is $12.00.
This fee is used to bind two copies of the thesis/dissertation for
permanent filing in the University Library and must be paid to the Controller.
No provision is made for the binding of additional copies of the
thesis/dissertation; this is the student’s personal responsibility.
The student must have his/her thesis/dissertation microfilmed for a
fee of $55.00 for dissertations and $45.00 for theses.
Copyrighting the thesis/dissertation is optional. The fee is $45.00. The Library will provide the student with the necessary processing materials. Each student submitting a thesis or dissertation should seriously consider copyrighting his/her material. All applicable fees will be assessed to the student’s account.
Student
Accounts—A financial record for each student is kept in the Account
Services Office in Garner Hall. The information is considered confidential;
however, the records of students will be available for examination by authorized
representatives of the government. Student
account detail may be reviewed at any time via the University’s Internet web
site at www.uis.msstate.edu.
Application
Fee—All applicants, domestic and international, must submit a $30.00
application fee to the Office of Graduate
Studies at the time application is made.
An application fee is required for
each application submitted. The
application fee rate is subject to change at any time.
Please check the application to verify the fee and see the calendar in
the front of this publication for application deadlines.
International Student Charges—All international students are assessed an Administrative Programming fee of $100.00 each fall, spring, and summer term. Sponsored international students whose programs of study are administered through the International Services Office are assessed an additional fee of $200.00 each fall, spring, and summer term. Health insurance for international students will be assessed at the prevailing rate for the fall semester and for the spring/summer semester. Detailed international admissions health requirements are available from the International Services Office's web site at http://www.admissions.msstate.edu/international/apply/insurance.php.
Sponsored International Student Charges—The International Services Office will administer the programs of study for international students who receive all or most of their financial support in the form of scholarships, grants, or awards from U.S. government agencies, foreign government agencies, private and/or international agencies, or foreign employers, and students whose financial support is administered by foreign embassies and third-party billed by Mississippi State University, assessing a fee of $200 each fall, spring and summer term.
Employees—
Mississippi State University “Benefits Eligible” employees who have
appropriate approval may have tuition remitted for up to six credit hours per
semester (fall, spring, or summer) with a maximum of 18 credit hours per
calendar year. Employees are
required to pay tuition and required fees for any additional hours taken during
the enrollment period and other assessments to their student account.
In order to receive tuition remission, employees must gain
admission/readmission to the University and complete the Application for Tuition
Remission – Employee form. The
application must be completed and forwarded to the Sponsored Student Office, 153
Garner, at the beginning of each semester.
Senior
Citizens—Senior citizens (65 or over) may
take courses without paying tuition and required fees, although registration is
on a space-available basis and must be completed after classes begin.
Out-of-State
(non-resident) Tuition/Fee Exemption
Scholarships—(Ref:
Legal Resident Status)
Alumni
Non-resident Exemption—Graduate students who are sons or daughters of an
alumnus or alumna who earned a minimum of 48 semester hours of credit or a
degree from Mississippi State University and who have not received other tuition
waivers are eligible for a waiver of 50 percent of non-resident tuition.
Both a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA and completion of at least nine hours
of coursework each fall and spring semester are required for renewal of the
waiver and are monitored at the end of each fall term.
Less than a 3.00 cumulative GPA and/or less than nine hours completed
during fall/spring semesters will result in the permanent loss of the
out-of-state tuition waiver.
Academic
Common Market—Academic
Common Market out-of-state tuition waivers are available for specific academic
programs for students from certain states. Application must be made first with
the awarding state. The student must be a legal resident of that state and
approved for a specific major at MSU. Both undergraduate and graduate students
are eligible to apply. A qualified student must maintain full time status. The
waiver is 100 percent of out-of-state tuition and will remain at this level
unless the student’s field of study changes or a student no longer has full
time status. To be eligible for the
non-resident waiver during the first semester of enrollment, applications and
resident verification must be submitted to and approved by the Office of the
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs prior to the first day of class.
For more information about submission and deadlines, please contact that office
at 662-325-3742. Students seeking
information on the Academic Common Market waiver should write to the Academic
Common Market at the Southern Regional Education Board,
Unpaid
Balances from Previous Semesters—
Student
Activities—All students by payment of tuition
and required fees are eligible for use of facilities, participation in
intramural sports, admission to intercollegiate athletic events, the student
newspaper, student health services, and other benefits.
Billing—Billing
information is available to students on or about the 15th of each and
every month with payment due approximately the 9th of the following
month. Students receive a monthly
billing notification via email providing also a link to their account detail and
statement information via the MSU Intranet at https://www.uis.msstate.edu.
All account information is continuously available online.
The University provides a mailed, printed statement three times per year
just prior to the beginning of each term. It
is the responsibility of the student to maintain current home and billing
addresses in order for the printed statements to reach the proper locations.
Attorney
and Collection Fees—The account of a student who does not pay fees by the
end of the term may be turned over to an outside collection agency for
assistance in collecting. The
prevailing collection cost rate will be added to the amount owed by the student
to cover the collection agency cost. If
an attorney’s services are needed to collect an unpaid balance, the student
will be responsible for payment of the attorney’s fees, plus all court and
other collection cost incurred.
Housing
Fees—To live in a residence hall, a student must sign a nine-month housing
contract. The contract in
Information pertaining to housing may
be obtained by contacting the Department of Housing and Residence Life,
Other Fees—Fees which may be incurred by students include Student Identification Card Replacement Fee which is $30.00.
Payment of Fees by Students Receiving Financial Aid or Scholarships—A student who receives a scholarship or need-based financial aid from the University is expected to use the financial aid or scholarship award to complete payment of tuition and required fees. The remaining balance of scholarship and financial aid funds is available to be used for other educational expenses only after tuition and fees have been paid. A “Memo” balance of Financial Aid on a student’s statement may not prevent service fees after the first billing for the term. Only timely filing of a student’s Financial Aid will assure a timely disbursement to prevent service fees.
Student
Obligation—The account of a student who does not pay the fees by the end
of the term may be turned over to an outside collection agency for assistance in
collecting. The prevailing
collection cost rate will be added to the amount owed by the student to cover
the collection agency cost. If an
attorney’s services are needed to collect an unpaid balance, the student will
be responsible for payment of the attorney’s fees, plus all court and other
collection cost incurred.
Payment
Terms and Conditions—The account balance is due and payable 25 days from
billing. Due dates are the 9th of
each month.
A service charge will be assessed at the rate of 1.5% on outstanding
charges unpaid more than 25 days from billing date.
While it is acceptable to make partial payments, a student is encouraged
to make payment in full by due date to avoid this monthly service fee assessment
and past due holds. Prior term
charges must be paid in full before a student will be eligible to register for a
new term.
A student is responsible for payment of all tuition and fee charges
unless the student either CANCELS HIS/HER
SCHEDULE OR WITHDRAWS FROM SCHOOL. See
section on withdrawals and refunds for details.
Failure to take appropriate
withdrawal action can result in significant payment obligations.
The maximum penalty allowed by law will be charged for any check
returned by the student’s bank for any reason.
IT IS THE STUDENT’S
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE HIS OR HER ADDRESS IS CORRECT FOR ANY NEEDED
CORRESPONDENCE. For other
information concerning a student’s account or payment requirements, please
call Account Services at 662-325-2071.
Refund for Dropping—A student who reduce his or her course load during a semester to a level which results in a reduction in tuition and fees may receive a 100 percent refund for the courses dropped until the 10th day of classes. After the 10th class day, no refunds are made for individual courses dropped.
Drops for all summer terms are refunded at 100 percent during the first three class days. After the third class day, no refunds are made for individual courses dropped.
Unpaid Balances from Previous Semesters—Any outstanding and past due amounts owed to the University must be paid in full before a student may register for additional courses. All payments received on student accounts will be applied to charges in the same order in which the charges were incurred. A student who has a hold on his/her record because of an overdue account may not receive a transcript or a diploma until the account is cleared.
Student
Activities—All students by payment of tuition
and required fees are eligible for use of facilities, participation in
intramural sports, admission to intercollegiate athletic events, the student
newspaper, student health services and other benefits.
Billing—Billing
occurs on the 15th of
each month. A student may
access his or her account information 24 hours a day via the University’s web
page: https://www.uis.msstate.edu.
Click on Intranet, then on Secured Access to get to your personal
information menu.
Refund for Withdrawal from the University—Tuition and most fees may be refunded according to the schedule on the Mississippi State University Academic Calendar to students who formally withdraw from the University. See www.msstate.edu/dept/registrar/calendar.htm for this information.
The administrative authorities of the University will withhold the credits and readmission of any student who fails to pay all of his/her financial obligations to the University by the end of each semester and/or at the time of withdrawal.
A student’s records may be cleared and credits released when the indebtedness is paid in full. The respective University department or agency will notify the University Registrar when the indebtedness has been paid.
ASSISTANTSHIPS
Graduate research, teaching, and service assistantships are available on an annual or nine-month basis. Individual academic and non-academic departments/units are responsible for award decisions, the duties and responsibilities, stipend rate, and work schedule. The minimum stipend rate is $600.00 per month.
Graduate
Teaching Assistantships—Graduate Teaching
Assistants (GTAs) normally serve in an instructional capacity and are selected
on the basis of a student’s past teaching experience or academic promise to be
effective instructors in their field of study.
Most academic units offering graduate work budget for one or more
teaching assistants each year. Graduate Teaching Assistants who have primary responsibility for
teaching a course for credit and/or for assigning final grades for such a course
must have earned at least 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline,
be under the direct supervision of a faculty member experienced in the teaching
discipline, receive regular in-service training, and be regularly evaluated.
Assistants may lecture, assist in laboratory, grade papers, or
perform other tasks associated with the academic program.
Stipends vary by assigned responsibilities and between units. All first time teaching
assistants are required to attend the Teaching Assistant Workshop that is held
annually prior to the beginning of the fall semester. To inquire or apply
for an assistantship, please contact the department of your concern.
Teaching
Assistant Workshop—The Teaching Assistant
(TA) Workshop consists of two segments.
Segment One – Required of all teaching assistants. This segment focuses on the role of a classroom instructor. Presentations may include topics such as the role of a GTA, syllabus development, effective teaching techniques, understanding sexual harassment, the impact of cultural diversity, ethics in the classroom, assessing academic achievement, and academic support services.
Segment Two – Required of all teaching assistants whose native language is not English. This segment which focuses on communication skills, cultural adjustment, and University orientation concludes with an English language proficiency test. The test consists of a five-minute student presentation to a panel of three judges. After each presentation, the judges engage the student in a dialog related to some aspect of the presentation in order to evaluate the student’s language proficiency.
A student who is not successful in the language proficiency examination is expected to attend a special semester-long class at no cost. This class further assists the student with language deficiencies as diagnosed in the fall workshop. At the end of the semester, the student is again tested on language skills.
Failure to complete Segment One of the TA workshop will render a student, international or domestic, ineligible for a teaching assistantship. A student whose native language is not English must satisfactorily complete both segments to be eligible for classroom instruction.
Graduate
Research Assistantships—Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) are employed
by many of the University’s academic, research, and administrative offices.
GRAs provide important services in many University research activities.
This is an excellent opportunity to learn new techniques and methods as
well as expand knowledge by association with the research-oriented
responsibilities. Some GRAs are
appointed by units other than their academic discipline; however, GRAs will
bring knowledge and skills of value to the project wherever employed within the
University. Duties and stipends vary
from program to program and are usually dependent upon the nature of the
assigned duties and the time required for performance.
An applicant interested in a research assistantship should contact
his/her academic department.
Graduate Service Assistantships—This title generally refers to students who are employed to aid faculty and staff members with administration and operations within a unit. Many academic and non-academic units have graduate service assistantships available. Assignments vary depending on administrative needs of the unit making the award. Stipends vary according to the nature of duties and work-time required for performance. Application should be submitted to the department/unit where employment is sought.
Eligibility
for an Assistantship—To be eligible for an assistantship appointment, a
student must have “regular” or “contingent” admission status to a
specific graduate degree program. However,
a student with “contingent” status must, within the first award enrollment
period, satisfy “regular” admission requirements. A student with
“provisional” or “unclassified” admission status is not eligible for an
assistantship appointment. An
assistantship award will be terminated when these requirements are not met.
A student’s admission status may be verified by calling the Office of
Graduate Studies (OGS).
Application for Graduate Assistantships—Application for an assistantship appointment must be submitted to the college, department, school, or support unit with a position available. Each department may provide its own application form or use the generic “Application for Graduate Assistantship” provided on the Office of Graduate Studies Web location: http://www.msstate.edu/dept/grad/forms.htm. The department establishes application deadlines and reviews procedures.
Required
Course Loads for Academic
Semesters—Graduate
assistants must be full-time students (registered in at least nine graduate
credit hours) and may not enroll in more
than 13 graduate credit
hours. The required full-time status
must be maintained throughout the entire semester.
Therefore, no course may be dropped if the resulting course load would be
less than the required nine graduate credit hours, nor may any courses
constituting the nine-hour load consist of or be converted to audit status.
The nine-hour course load may not be composed of undergraduate courses
unless the course is a program prerequisite.
In such case, the minimum graduate load required will be six credit hours
and only one undergraduate course will be permitted as part of the nine-hour
load (Policy revision approved by the Graduate Counsel -
Required
Course Load for Full Summer Awards—Full summer awards require an enrollment in at least six
graduate credit hours with a maximum allowed of 13 credit hours.
Any combination can be used to make up the 13-credit hour maximum;
however, enrollment in either five-week term must be limited to seven credit
hours or fewer.
Required
Course Load for Half Summer Award—This applies to awards ending June 30 or
beginning July 1. “Half” summer
graduate assistantship awards require an enrollment in at least three graduate
credit hours with a maximum allowed of seven credit hours.
Satisfactory
Progress—To retain an assistantship, a student must demonstrate
satisfactory progress in the specified program.
Failure to do so may result in a termination of the assistantship.
Unsatisfactory progress may be defined as the failure to maintain a B average in graduate courses attempted after being admitted to a degree program (i.e., program and non-program courses), a grade of U, D, or F in any course, more than two grades below a B, failure of the comprehensive/preliminary examination, an unsatisfactory evaluation of a thesis or dissertation, failure of a research defense, or any other failure of a required component of the program. Any of these unsatisfactory performance indicators, or any combination of these, may constitute the basis for the termination from a degree program. Individual departments or units have the right to establish their own criteria of what is satisfactory and unsatisfactory performance.
Matriculation
Fees—All Graduate Assistants receive an exemption equal to approximately
71% of assessed tuition and required fees. Graduate Assistants who are not
COUNCIL OF GRADUATE SCHOOLS
“Acceptance of an offer of financial support (such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship) for the next academic year by a prospective or enrolled graduate student completes an agreement that both student and graduate school expect to honor. In that context, the conditions affecting such offers and their acceptance must be defined carefully and understood by all parties.
“Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of this Resolution. In those instances in which a student accepts an offer before April 15, and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer. It is further agreed by the institutions and organizations subscribing to the above Resolution that a copy of this Resolution should accompany every scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, and assistantship offer.
