A

Academic Advisor

The advisor serves as a resource for all academic and nonacademic services and can help students plan their schedule, choose a major, and understand the system. Advisors are faculty within the department that students have declared their major, and who have been trained to assist students with general academic advising.

Academic Probation

An undergraduate student at Montana State University must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or a "C" average to remain in good standing. An undergraduate whose cumulative average falls below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation and must meet specific criteria to be allowed to continue as a student. For additional information, see the University Catalog.

Academic Suspension

Failing to satisfy the probationary academic requirements: A student must maintain a 2.0 or better each semester. Failure to do so for 3 semesters results in Academic Suspension.

Add/Drop

Add/Drop is a change of registration process conducted during each semester when a student may add or drop classes, or completely withdraw from the university. Consult the Schedule of Classes for refund policies and deadline dates.

ASMSU

The Associated Students of Montana State University (ASMSU) has been organized to provide numerous services to its student members and to be a voice for student concerns. Students taking seven or more credits pay an activity fee making them members of ASMSU. The ASMSU Office is located in Room 281 of the SUB.

Attendance Confirmation (formerly zero validation)

At the beginning of the semester, you must let the Controller?s Office know that you plan to attend. You can do this by stopping by their office in Montana Hall, e-mailing them, or signing the bottom of the bill that they sent you. You can not verify by phone. If you pay your own bill, your check or payment is verification of attendance. You must verify your attendance with the Controller?s Office before they can disburse Financial Aid payments for tuition.

Audit

When a student takes a class, but does not receive a grade for the class. Auditing a class costs the same as taking the class for credit.

Award Letter

A document from the financial aid office stating how much financial aid was awarded to an individual student. The award letter may be delivered electronically or delivered by mail. First year students and students attending summer session will usually get mailed a paper award, other students will receive their award letter electronically.

B

Bachelors Degree

The formal name for a four-year college degree. Montana State University offers both the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) dependent on the major and the college.

Bookstore

The student and faculty owned MSU Bookstore is conveniently located in the basement of the Strand Union Building and open Monday-Friday 7:45am-5:30pm and Saturday 10:00am-4:30pm. The bookstore has envolved into a small department store, offering everything from textbooks to general books, MSU apparel and gifts, snacks and drinks, school supplies, computers and accessories.

Bus System

Streamline Bus provides free rides to students with a OneCard across MSU's campus, throughout Bozeman and into Belgrade Monday-Friday from 7:00am-6:00pm. Check the website for updated route information.

Business Office

See University Business Services.

C

Career Services

Current MSU students and alumni can take advantage of free resume-writing assistance, mock interviews and career counseling through MSU Career Services. Located in the Strand Union Building.

Catalog

The catalog describes the university, its academic programs, and support services, and provides a description of all the courses offered. It outlines general course requirements that all students must fulfill and courses in a student?s major and minor that are necessary for graduation, as well as elective course options. These are available in the Registrar's office and online at: http://www.montana.edu/wwwcat

Catapalooza

An on campus music festival that welcomes students to MSU. Catapalooza usually kicks off the first day students can move into the residence halls. Along with a wide variety of musical acts, local business and organizations set up tables to introduce themselves to the incoming students.

Class Schedule

A book distributed by the university that lists the name, number, time, location and instructor for the courses offered each semester.

Class Standing

Class standing or student classification for undergraduates at Montana State University is: freshmen (0-29 earned credit hours), sophomores (30-59 earned hours), junior (60-89 earned hours), and seniors (90+ earned hours).

CLEP Tests (Credit through College Level Examination Program)

MSU awards credit toward graduation for successful performance in certain subject examinations (for example, Spanish and German courses) of the CLEP conducted by the College Entrance Examination Board. Students may arrange to take these examinations on campus at the Testing Center, Reid Hall 243, 994-6984. Students with passing grades receive credit and a P grade on their transcript.

College

Within Montana State University are 9 colleges that make up the University. The 9 colleges are Engineering, Nursing, Arts and Architecture, Education and Health and Human Development, Letters and Science, Agriculture, Business, University College and Graduate Studies. Each college has various departments and majors that it oversees. Each college also has its own Dean and Assistant Dean, for non academic matters there is the Dean of Students.

College of Technology (COT)

Gallatin Valley and MSU students have access to some of the benefits of a two year college right on MSU's campus. Preparatory classes in Math and English are offered at the Great Falls College of Technology in Bozeman as well as some two year degrees and distance learning classes. Students admitted to MSU provisionally may combine COT courses with MSU courses to be full time.

Computer Labs

Free computer labs for student use are available in Reid and Roberts Hall as well as in the Library. Call the Ask Us Information Center (994-4636) for current hours. Students can also take advantage of MSU's wi-fi campus with wireless internet access available in nearly every campus building.

Conduct Code

The Conduct Code is the conduct guidelines and grievance procedures for MSU students. Rules and procedures concerning academic conduct, sanctions, and appeals are included.

Core Curriculum (Core 2.0)

The faculty of MSU has developed a new, common Core 2.0 curriculum for all undergraduate students in the belief that it will enable students to reach their intellectual potential, to become contributing members of society and to compete more successfully in our rapidly changing and increasingly complex world. The purpose of Core 2.0 courses is to ensure a wide-ranging general education of consistent and high quality to all MSU students regardless of their major. See the catalog and/or your advisor for a complete list of core requirements: http://www.montana.edu/core2/

Co-requisite

Courses listed as co-requisite must be taken concurrently in the same semester.

Counseling & Psychological Services

Students registered for 6 or more credits at MSU can use confidential Counseling and Psychological services for free. Located on the second floor of the Swingle Student Health Service. Open 8:00am-12:00am and 1:00pm-5:00pm. Call 994-4531 to set up an appointment.

Course Number

Every course has a name and number. Numbers range from the 00-level to the 500-level. 00s are developmental and do not count toward graduation. The 100-level are usually taken during the freshman year, 200-level during the sophomore year, 300 and 400-level are upper division courses which are for advanced undergraduate and, under some conditions, graduate students. 500-level are for graduate students only. Most freshmen and sophomores take lower division or 100-200 level courses (and when required 090s), juniors and seniors generally take upper division or 300 and 400-level courses.

Course Reference Number (CRN)

The 5-digit number needed to register for classes. It is listed as the CRN in the catalog and the course schedule.

Credit Hour

Credits are measured in semester hours. One semester hour consists of the equivalent of one 50-minute lecture or discussion period, or two laboratory periods per week, for one semester. For individual study programs, requirements for a credit unit are arranged on an individual basis.

College Student Inventory (CSI)

The CSI is a survey that freshmen students take during orientation. This survey gives us a snapshot of the needs and abilities students bring with them to college. Students can pick up their survey results after the first couple weeks of classes and have a First Year Initiative advisor interpret the results as well as work on a student's strenghts and weaknesses, assisting them in making a successful transition to college.

Curriculum

All the courses required for a degree. Majors/minors will have a specific course of study that students must follow. Students should consult the University Catalog or their major/minor advisor for information on their curriculum.

D

Dean

A college administrator who is the head of a specific college or organizational division or unit at the university.

Dean's List/ Dean's Honor Roll

The Dean's list is printed twice a year. Students taking 12 credits or more and receiving a 3.5 or higher GPA will be honored on the Dean's List and receive a letter from their department.

Dean of Students

The Dean of Students Office acts as an advocate for students, consulting and working with individual students and other campus offices to create a sense of community at MSU. Assistance is available on a drop-in basis or by appointment. http://www.montana.edu/wwwds/

D&F List

Professors have the option of submitting the names of students who are receiving D's or F's in their classes. The list is submitted to the Dean of Students office who will send letters to students, notifying them of the submission and suggesting they make an appointment with a First Year Initiative advisor. Advisors will go over study skills with students, discuss ways of improving their grade and explain the withdrawal process if necessary. This service is primarily provided for first year students but is open to all students.

Dining Halls

There are three dining halls available for students living in the residence halls. Miller located in the Hedges complex, Harrison, between Johnstone and Mullan and Hannon in Hannon Hall. The dining rooms are open 12 hours everyday and students can come and go as many times as they wish. Guests can also pay to eat in the dining halls if interested.

Disabled Student Services

Located in the Strand Union Building in room 155, Disabled Student Services (DSS) is committed to facilitating Montana State University's goal of making its programs, services, and activities accessible to students with disabilities.

E

Electives

Electives are optional rather than prerequisites or required courses in an academic curriculum.

Exponent

The Exponent is the campus newspaper, published every Thursday and written by MSU Students. Now available online.

F

Finals, Final Exams

These are exams given at the end of each semester. In some courses, final exams may be comprehensive and include all the material covered during the course, while other courses may have more specific exams. Sometimes, a professor will require a final paper or project instead of or in addition to a final exam. The course syllabus should indicate when the final will be given, what it will cover, and how much it will count toward the final grade.

Full-Time Student

A student taking 12 or more credits. Full-time students will normally carry 14-16 credits each semester.

FYI (First Year Initiative)

First Year Initiative program at the Office of Retention. The office serves as a resource center for new students who are making the transition to college for the first time. It is located in the Dean of Students Office, 120 Strand Union Building, 994-7359: http://www.montana.edu/freshmen/

G

General Studies (Now University Studies)

The General Studies Program fulfills a variety of interest and needs at MSU. Freshmen choose General Studies when they are uncertain about a major field of study or want to explore a variety of courses before making a final choice. General Studies offers the freshman seminar course which is an academic verbal core course designed to assist undeclared freshmen in making a successful transition to college: http://www.montana.edu/wwwgs/

GID

Another name for the student identification number which is the 8 digit code that begins with a dash and is on your One Card.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Montana State University is on a 4.0 grading scale. For instance, each credit hour of "A" equals 4 grade points; an "A" earned in a three credit hour course generates 12 grade points. The student?s grade point average is calculated by: the total number of grade points earned divided by the total number of credit hours earned. Credit hours for courses in which an "F" is earned are used to calculate the GPA. Transfer hours and courses in which a "P" (passing) grade is earned are not used to calculate the grade point average.

Grades

Course grades for students are expressed as follows: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, and F. Undergraduates may be permitted to take certain courses on a Pass (P) or Fail (F) basis. Other letter grades include: N continuing; I incomplete; W withdrawal and Au - audit. For a detailed description of the grading system, see the University Catalog.

Graduate Studies
The College of Graduate Studies, located in Montana Hall, offers numerous graduate degrees for students. See their website at http://www.montana.edu/wwwdg/ for more information.

H

Health Service
Students taking seven or more credits pay a mandatory $138.50 fee to use the Student Health Service. Students taking one or more credits can also opt to pay the fee. Students who have paid the fee may use the Health Service as many times as necessary during the semester. Visits to the doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses are always free. Small charges apply for prescriptions, minor surgery, lab work, x-rays, and the dental clinic. See their website for more information.

Hold

An action taken by the university because of an outstanding obligation (usually financial) that may restrict a student from registering or receiving a transcript.


I

Incomplete or I-Grade

Allows for an additional amount of time to complete a course, given at the discretion of the professor in special circumstances. For additional information, see the University Catalog.

Insight
An alcohol, drug and tobacco abuse early intervention program. The insight program offers confidential substance and alcohol abuse counseling as well as counseling for smoking cessation.

In-state
For tutition purposes, students are considerd "in-state" if they have lived in Montana for at least 12 consecutive months. The 12-month period does not begin until at least one act that clearly indicates the intent to become a Montana resident is taken. Students enrolled for more than half time status are not able to count time spent in the state towards their tweleve month period. At Montana State University, 6 credits is considered half-time enrollment status for both undergraduate and graduate students. For more information, please refer to the Registrar's website.

Intent to Register
Students are considered former students of MSU if they have attended in the past but not the most recent term. Students wishing to return to MSU, they can fill out an intent to register form and turn it in 30 days prior to the registration period for the term desired. The forms are available online and through the Registrar's Office in Montana Hall.

Intramurals
With everything from cribbage to raquetball, MSU's Intramurals program offers a sport for everyone. Students paying the activity fee are able to participate in all Intramurals. For more information, see the ASMSU Recreational Sports and Fitness website.

J

JBOARD
The judicial boards in the residence halls. Students written up by RAs for minor infractions have the option of appearing before a judicial board of their peers. Students interested in volunteering for J-Board can speak to their RA.

K

KGLT
The campus radio station. Broadcast from the Strand Union Building and often hosted by MSU students and staff. Tune into 91.9 FM.

L

Laboratory or Lab

Coursework or part of a course involving experiments, projects, or other "hands-on" activities rather than reading, lectures, papers, or library research. Often required as part of four-credit courses. You must register for the required lab in addition to the lecture in order to register for the course.

Lecture

Lesson given by a professor (usually verbally) during a class session. It may include overheads, PowerPoint presentations, group or class discussions and demonstrations.

Level

Student classification or category (i.e. Freshman, Sophomore). Refer to student class standing for further information.

M

Major

A major indicates a student?s field of specialization and may comprise from 25 to 50 percent of the prescribed courses he/she needs in order to graduate. Students must contact their major department to determine the procedure for officially declaring their major.

Major Advisor (Academic)

When students declare a major, a faculty member from the major department, or an advisor from the major department, is assigned to assist them in course selection and academic planning.

Mid-Terms

Mid-terms refer to exams, which in most courses, professors will give to students during the middle of the semester. Usually, mid-terms will test students on all the material covered up to that point and may count for a higher percentage of a student?s grade than other tests. The course syllabus should indicate when the mid-term will be given, what it will cover, and how much it will count toward the final grade.

Minor

Refers to a group of courses in a particular field designed to give students expertise in that field even though it does not fulfill requirements for a major. It may also refer to a group of prescribed courses from a department that some students, dependent on their major, are required to complete.

Museum of the Rockies
Started in 1957, the Museum of the Rockies is located on the corner of MSU's campus and offers vistors large collections of history. Visit the website for more information.

MyInfo
All students are given a MyInfo account when they are accepted to MSU. Students can log into this account to check their unofficial transcript, register for classes, view financial aid awards, view bills, view holds and update personal information. All bills are found online through a students MyInfo so it is important for students to periodically log into their accounts.

MyMSU Portal
MyMSU is the primary communication tool for students, faculty and staff at MSU. All students are given a MyMSU account when they register at MSU. MyMSU provides a place for a wide variety of information, including email, critical announcements, news headlines, file sharing, chat, calendars, and more.

N

National Student Exchange
The National Student Exchange (NSE) is a consortium of 180 state-supported colleges and universities offering MSU students the opportunity to study for up to one year at a university in another part of the United States. For more information, visit the website or call Karen Steele at 994-6435.

O

One Card

The One Card is your MSU Student ID, an optional on-campus debit card and after hour access card to the residence halls. The One Card also serves as a meal pass card and is used to gain entrance to student functions. Deposits can be made at the One Card to use the card as an on-campus debit card. The One Card can then be used to make purchases in all food areas, MSU Bookstore, Health Service, Strand Union, copy machines and other areas on campus. One Cards are sold in the One Card office located near the bookstore in the basement of the Strand Union Building, 994-2273.

Orientation

A program that freshman participate in which introduces them to the University, assists them in registering for classes and gives tours of campus: http://www.montana.edu/wwwnss/orientation.shtml

Other Side of Silence, The

All freshmen students are required to attend The Other Side of Silence, a presentation on sexual assault and awareness.

P

Paperless Billing

MSU uses only paperless billing for all University bills. Students are sent an e-mail when their bill is due and can access their statement by logging into MyInfo. This means all students should regularly check their University e-mail address. For more detailed instructions, see this website.

Parking

There is no free parking on campus from 6:00am-6:00pm Monday-Friday. All visitors must purchase a visitor parking hangtag from the parking kiosk or University Police for $2.50. Regular parking passes are available semesterly or yearly from University Police in the Huffman Building on the corner of 7th and Kagy. Students living in the residence halls may park on campus with a parking pass.

Pass/Fail Option

An undergraduate student in good standing who has accumulated 30 hours in residency (courses taken at Montana State University) with a GPA of 2.5 may elect to take a course Pass/Fail. The course must be outside their department and not required for graduation. This does not apply to HHD activity courses. A grade of "P" indicates that the student has passed the course and a grade of "F" that he/she failed the course. The "F" grade is included in the calculation of the grade point average but the "P" grade is not. For additional information, see the University Catalog or the Schedule of Classes.

PDF (Personal Data Form)

See your academic advisor before you register to get a PDF. It will have an advisor code on it that you must have in order to register on the web.

PIN (Personal Identification Number)

The four-digit number required for access to ?My Info? on the MSU website. The PIN defaults to your birthday. After the first use, you will be required to change this PIN. Remember to write it down and/or make it something easy to remember.

Prerequisite

A prerequisite is usually a course(s) that must be completed before taking another course. Sometimes, a required grade point average or class standing may constitute a prerequisite for certain classes or to declare a major. For additional information, see the University Catalog or Schedule of Classes.

President's List

The President's List is printed twice a year and honors the students taking 12 or more credits who achieved a 4.0 GPA in their classes for the semester. Students will receive a letter from their academic department if they are on the list.

Probation

Students who obtain a GPA below 2.00 are placed on college/university probation. Procrastinator Theater

The ASMSU Procrastinator Theater is located in 125 Linfield Hall and shows movies Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $2 for students and $3 for nonstudents. For upcoming showings, see the website.

Public Transportation
The Streamline Bus is the new and improved bus system running around Bozeman and MSU. It runs Monday-Friday from 6:00am-6:00pm. Pick-ups are all over town. Check out the schedule online.

R

Recitation

A course that must be taken along with a lecture class. Same as a lab. Usually given 0 or 1 credits.

Refunds

An amount due to students for complete or partial withdrawal from classes. For additional information and deadline dates for full and partial refunds, see the Schedule of Classes.

Residency Status (Resident/Non-Resident)

Residency status refers to a student classification as either a resident or non-resident of the state of Montana, for the purpose of assessing university tuition. Details on the factors which determine residency or non-residency status are described in the catalog: http://www.montana.edu/wochelp/borpol/bor900/9401.htm .

Restriction

A condition that prevents registration which must be resolved prior to registration, also referred to as a "hold". May also be applicable to courses requiring specific arrangements with the department/instructor, prior to registration.

S

Schedule of Classes

This is a booklet that lists all the classes that will be offered during the coming semester, including days, times, room numbers, and faculty. The schedule also includes other pertinent registration information, updated policies and requirements, fees, insurance and financial aid information, general academic and testing requirements, and a calendar of important semester dates and deadlines.

Section

The different classes offered for the same course title. For instance, a department might offer three "sections" of the same course in a given semester and a student would select one of the three sections in which to register.

Seminar

A course consisting of a small group of students engaged in research under the guidance of a professor who meets regularly with them for reports and discussions. Usually, seminars are advanced courses for students pursuing a major or minor in the subject area.

Student Government (Student Senate) ASMSU

The Student Government represents the student body through elected officers and senators. Examples of involvement include student participation in university activities and formulation of policies that affect the student body. The officers of Student Government are the president, vice-president, and speaker of the senate: http://www.montana.edu/wwwasmsu/.

Student ID (GID)

The 8 digit code given to a student by the University. The number begins with a dash and is used for identification, computer tracking, and the One-Card. It is used on My Info as your log-in for purposes of registration.

Strand Union Building (SUB)

The Student Union houses services such as the cafeteria, lockers, and study space. It has meeting facilities for campus organizations as well as space for social and recreational events. It provides comfortable surroundings for students to study, relax, and enjoy the many educational and cultural events offered during the year.

Transcript

The official record of a student?s college work, which is maintained and updated each semester by the Office of Admissions and Records. The transcript includes courses, grades, grade point average, and transfer credit information: http://www.montana.edu/registrar/official_trans.shtml.

Transfer

Moving from attendance at one university to another university.

Transfer Credit

The number of credits or hours Montana State University will accept from another college or university toward a student?s degree. Eligible students are those who have attempted twelve or more credits at another institution: http://www.montana.edu/wwwnss/transfer.shtml.

U
Undergraduate Student

A student attending a university or college who has not received a bachelor?s degree.

University Business Services

This office is located on the second floor of Montana Hall. Responsible for the billing and collection of student charges. Their phone number is 994-2601.

V

Waiver

A document that provides institutional authorization to set aside or forego a requirement or obligation. For example, a tuition waiver is granted when a student has received a tuition scholarship or other form of financial aid that covers the cost of tuition.

Withdrawal from the University

Dropping all courses and leaving school for the semester. To complete a University Withdrawal, contact the Dean of Students Office, 120 Strand Union, 994-2826.

Z

Zero Validation

See Attendance Confirmation

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 1/09/06