Distance Learning
To request withdrawal, please email onlineadvising@mssu.edu and let us know you need to withdraw from a course. We’ll send you instructions on how to do so. If you have declared a major and have a faculty advisor, please contact your faculty advisor and request that they email us their consent for us to work with you on the withdrawal.
Who is my advisor?If you have declared a major, the academic department will assign you a faculty advisor from that department. If you have not declared a major, and are taking only online classes, you will be assigned an advisor within Distance Learning’s Online Academic Advising unit. Please seek regular academic advising assistance. If you have declared a major and don’t know the name of your advisor, please check LioNet, Student Information. If an advisor is not listed, please contact your major department. If you are undeclared and entirely online, please contact our office at 417-625-9384 or 877-837-8527.
Where can I view the catalog and course schedule?The MSSU Catalog, Course Schedule and a dynamic list of Open Classes can be viewed here: http://www.mssu.edu/academics/classes/
How much are tuition and fees?The Bursar’s Office maintains information on current tuition and fees here: http://www.mssu.edu/offices/bursar/tuition-fees.php For more information on billing, charges, student accounts, payment due dates, accounts paid by financial aid, please view this page: http://www.mssu.edu/offices/bursar/frequently-asked-questions.php
I have questions or concerns about Financial Aid.To read through Frequently Asked Questions about Financial Aid, please go here: http://www.mssu.edu/financial-aid/frequently-asked-questions.php
What is the Writing Placement Exam?The Missouri Southern Writing Placement Exam (WPE) is a timed writing assignment. Students complete an essay in response to a writing prompt. The students’ essays are then evaluated by an MSSU English Department professor. The results of that evaluation are used to determine in which First-Year Writing course the students will be placed: ENG 080, ENG 0101, or ENG 0111. Students taking exclusively internet courses may take the writing test online. For information, contact:
Professor George Greenlee,
Director, Writing Program
417-625-9646
greenlee-g@mssu.edu
If you would prefer to take the Writing Placement Exam on campus, the exam schedule can be viewed here: http://www.mssu.edu/academics/arts-sciences/english-philosophy/writing-placement-exam-schedule.php
What is the Math Placement Exam?The math placement exam is a series of qualification tests which must be passed at 80% or higher in order to qualify to take a proctored exam which will allow you to skip Math 20 or Math 30. If you pass the proctored exam, you can skip the course and be placed into the next highest course. Your initial placement is based on your Math ACT score even if you do not have one. If your Math ACT score is less than 19 (or if you didn't take the ACT test) you will be placed into Math 20. If your Math ACT score is 19, 20 or 21, you will be placed into Math 30. Any student that has an initial placement into Math 20 or Math 30 may appeal that placement.
To appeal your math placement:
Step 1: First you will need to purchase an access code from the bookstore or online with a credit card. The cost is roughly $12 for sixteen weeks access. If it takes longer to complete all the programs, you will have to purchase additional licenses.
Step 2: Go to http://www.mymathtest.com and register. You may also purchase an Access Code during the registration process with a credit card
Step 3: You will need the following Program ID code during the registration process: XL0S-11QY-201Y-8EV2
Step 4: Next you will need to complete a series of qualification tests. If your Math ACT score is less than 19 (or if you didn't take the ACT test) you will need to complete the following qualification tests:
If you can complete each of these three with a score of 80% or higher, then you can take the proctored exam that will allow you to skip Math 20. Once you have 80% or higher on all three, you may send an email to johnson-k@mssu.edu to schedule an appointment to take the proctored test. If your goal is to skip both Math 20 and Math 30, you will need to proceed to the IAP Qualification Tests.
If your Math ACT score is 19, 20, or 21 then you will need to complete the following qualification tests: IAP Qualification Test Parts 1-5. If you can complete each of these five with a score of 80% or higher, then you can take the proctored exam that will allow you to skip Math 30. Once you have 80% or higher on all five, you may send an email to johnson-k@mssu.edu to schedule an appointment to take the proctored test.
Step 5: Once you have successfully passed the proctored exam, you will be placed in the next higher level course. For more information, please review this page: http://www.mssu.edu/academics/arts-sciences/mathematics/math-placement.php
When and how do I register for classes?The Registrar’s Office maintains current information on when to register. Registration priority is given to students by the number of hours completed; students who have more hours are allowed to register ealier. To view the registration schedule and for more information about registration procedures, please go here: http://www.mssu.edu/registrar/registration.php
If you have declared a major and have a faculty advisor, you need to discuss this with your faculty advisor. If you are are undeclared, please contact our office to set up a time to discuss academic planning with an advisor. We are happy to assist you!
I am really struggling with a subject; is there tutoring available?Distance Learning provides 24/7 online tutoring through Smarthinking. Students connect to live educators from any computer that has Internet access with no special software installation or equipment is required. The Smarthinking Online Writing Lab is available to assist secondary, post-secondary, and graduate students become stronger writers. Students receive a detailed, personalized critique of any written assignment, such as an essay, paragraph, report, personal statement, cover letter,resume, or creative work. When applicable, students can select specialists such as ESL, Technical Writing, or Creative Writing experts. Students can submit writing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information contact us by phone at 417-625-9384 or 877-837-8527 or by email at onlineadvising@mssu.edu
Be aware of the dates for withdrawing from a class. These dates can be viewed at the Registrar’s web site here: http://www.mssu.edu/registrar/dates.php
How do I withdraw from a course?Withdrawing from a course can affect your financial aid, course sequencing or degree completion schedule. If you have declared a major and have a faculty advisor, you need to discuss this with your faculty advisor first and obtain approval for the withdrawal. You should also contact Financial Aid to discuss how withdrawing may affect your financial aid. Be aware of the dates for withdrawing from a class. These dates can be viewed at the Registrar’s web site here: http://www.mssu.edu/registrar/dates.php
Our office can assist you with a single online course withdrawal if you are 100% online . If you have even one on campus class, you must initiate withdrawal in the Registrar’s Office, even if the course is online. For more information, please review this page: http://www.mssu.edu/registrar/withdrawal.php. If you want to withdraw from all of your courses, you will need to do that through Financial Aid. For more information, please review this page: http://www.mssu.edu/financial-aid/withdrawal-information#Total-Withdrawal-Information
Rental books must be returned upon withdrawing from a course or withdrawal from all classes. Rental books can be returned through the mail.
Mail to:
MSSU Bookstore
3950 Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801
Rental books can also be returned in person. Rental books do not need to be returned by the student that rented the book. There is a book drop slot located in the wall behind Billingsly Student Center for after-hour and weekend drop off.
Always check in LioNet to be sure that dropped courses are showing as having been dropped. If they are still showing in LioNet, you are still registered in the course. Failure to participate in an online course does not mean you have withdrawn from the class. Be sure that your records accurately reflect your active registrations. A student who completely withdraws from the University prior to the last week of classes in a regular or summer semester may receive a grade of 'W' in all courses in which the student is enrolled. Withdrawal from the University after the last week of classes in a regular or summer semester will result in a grade of 'F' being recorded for all courses. A student who leaves school without officially withdrawing will receive grades of 'F' in all courses.
What is a degree evaluation?A degree evaluation helps you and your advisor determine where you stand in meeting all degree requirements of your degree program. At Missouri Southern, these are called “CAPP”, which stands for “Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning”. You will need to login to LioNet to generate your CAPP. For more information on a CAPP report, please review this page: http://www.mssu.edu/registrar/capp-faq.php
What is a program?A program is the degree you are aiming to complete. Under the 2006-2008 and 2008-2010 catalogs, programs are broken down into degree and school. Under the 2010-2012 catalog, programs are linked to each separate major code.
How do I declare a major?Use this online form to declare or change your major or minor, change your catalog year or add a second major or minor. (http://webapps.mssu.edu/FormWizard/FormViewer.aspx?Id=130 )
I'm working toward a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree. Can I use CAPP?Yes. You can run a CAPP evaluation for the BGS degree that will check General Education Requirements and degree requirements such as the Missouri Constitution, computer literacy, writing intensive, and upper-division hours. The BGS evaluation includes an area that lists all courses in which you have earned a grade of "D" or better.
For more information contact us at:
3950 Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801-1595
(417) 625-9300
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