Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Beginning in January with the 2007 spring semester, Mississippi State will offer tuition-free academic courses to all persons 60 years of age and older.
Previously offered only to those 65 and beyond, the new policy is available on a space-available basis to anyone--university affiliation is not required. The option continues to include no limits on the number of course credit hours that may be taken at no cost, other than specific course and laboratory fees and parking permits.
"Interested senior citizens should promptly begin the admission and registration processes in order to be placed in the desired courses in time for the first class meeting," said MSU Registrar Butch Stokes. Spring classes begin Jan. 8, with late registration continuing through the 16th, he added.
"For those who may need more time to consider what courses they might want to take, I would recommend our new Maymester offerings in May or the traditional summer term classes that begin in early June."
MSU first offered free classes to individuals of retirement age in 1989. During the just-concluded fall semester, six persons took advantage of the opportunity to continue their educations.
Other 65-plus enrollment figures for MSU include one individual during the 2006 summer term; five during 2006 spring; four in 2005 fall; and nine in 2005 spring.
"Several years ago, we also had a local resident who earned her bachelor's degree," Stokes said.
For complete information on special registration for students 60 years and older, contact the Registrar's Office at 662-325-2662.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.