Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University is establishing expedited processes that will allow students currently enrolled at universities hardest-hit by Hurricane Katrina to attend fall-semester classes on the Starkville campus.
University officials said Thursday that out-of-state students from affected institutions will be treated as in-state students in regard to tuition and fees. Tuition, fees, room, and board for all affected students will be deferred for 30 days so that financial aid, bank accounts, and other financial arrangements can be worked through on a case-by-case basis.
The university is making additional residence hall space available to accommodate transferring students.
"We realize that this is a traumatic time for many families and for students who already had begun their fall studies," said MSU President Charles Lee. "Our colleagues at affected universities are struggling with an unprecedented natural disaster, and we hope to provide assistance as a way of minimizing disruption while sister institutions recover."
Lee said the university would work to ensure a smooth process for displaced students, who must enroll no later than Sept. 16.
"The faculty and staff of our institution are rolling up their sleeves and helping students who want to avoid a disruption of their educational experience," he added.
Undergraduate students from affected institutions may telephone the Office of Admissions and Scholarships at 662-325-2621. Graduate students may contact Rita Burrell at (662) 325-7392 or rbh1@grad.msstate.edu.
For Mississippi State students affected by Hurricane Katrina, the university is providing streamlined and expedited processes for academic drops and potential withdrawals. Information is at http://www.msstate.edu/web/katrina/.
"We hope that our students will continue to stay in school, and we all are committed to helping them in any way we can," Lee said. "We want students to know that this university cares about them and wants to respond to their needs during an extremely difficult time."