Moving forward as one Bulldog family: MSU prepares to welcome students for fall semester
The upcoming fall semester will be unlike any other at Mississippi State, and the state’s leading university is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment to help new and returning Bulldogs on their paths to success.
“The start of a new academic year is always the most exciting time on campus, and we remain focused on helping our students successfully transition to a new term,” said MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt. “Whether they are joining us here in Starkville or online from home, we look forward to assisting students in getting connected and finding the resources they need to achieve their academic and personal goals.”
Hyatt said the university’s Safe Return Task Force has developed a Comprehensive Health and Safety Return Plan for students and employees. The success of that plan, she said, will very much rely on the entire Bulldog family’s participation in the university’s Cowbell Well campaign. The new initiative encourages seven wellness behaviors -- wearing a face covering; cleaning your hands often; observing physical distancing; staying home if you feel sick; sanitizing surfaces; practicing self-care; and completing the daily screening. For more, visit www.msstate.edu/cowbellwell.
MSU also has been making adjustments to fall events to ensure students have an enjoyable campus experience while adhering to health and safety guidelines, Hyatt said.
MVNU2MSU (Movin’ You to MSU), the university’s annual residence hall move-in time, will take place Aug. 10-15. College View residents will check-in Aug. 14-16 at their scheduled move-in date and time. Students may check-in directly at their residence halls Aug. 10-15 at a specific date and time assigned by the Department of Housing and Residence Life. Students should check their MSU email for assignment details. For questions or more information, visit www.housing.msstate.edu/future-residents/moving-in, call 662-325-3555 or email housing@saffairs.msstate.edu.
To make their MVNU2MSU experiences run as smoothly as possible, students are encouraged to connect to the MVNU2MSU Guidebook. Download the “Guidebook” app through the App Store or Google Play and search “MVNU2MSU.”
Hyatt said all students and their families will go through a health screening before arriving at residence halls to unload their belongings. Procedures are in place for contactless check-in, and volunteers will assist with providing directions and managing elevator occupancy but will not be moving students’ possessions into their rooms this year.
Volunteers can sign up in groups or individually and will receive free T-shirts. During the entirety of their shifts, all volunteers are required to wear face coverings inside university buildings and outside where unable to maintain physical distancing of 6 feet. Those in need of face coverings should notify the Department of Housing and Residence Life when checking in, call 662-325-3555 or email hrlmarketing@saffairs.msstate.edu.
As part of MSU’s 15th annual Dawg Days event series, incoming freshmen and transfer students will participate in various free activities over a two-week period. This year’s program was extended by one week to enable smaller groups of students to participate in accordance with physical distancing guidelines. Hyatt said a variety of accommodations are being made, including some events being offered more than once and some taking place outdoors instead of indoors.
“Our goal is to keep students healthy and safe while providing them creative ways to connect and have fun,” she said. “We will continue to update the Dawg Days website at www.dawgdays.msstate.edu as we get closer to the first day of events -- Aug. 15 -- so we encourage students to visit that site regularly for the most current information.”
MSU’s academic and event calendars can be viewed at www.msstate.edu/calendars.
Learn about MSU’s Division of Student Affairs at www.saffairs.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.
Sasha Steinberg | Public Affairs
