Check out the questions below. If you don't find the question or answer you're looking for, email us at newstudent@mnsu.edu for assistance.
Academic Advising
Registration & Access Codes
General Education & Graduation Requirements
Academic Policies
Do you still have questions that aren't listed here? Send them to newstudent@mnsu.edu for an individualized response!
Your academic advisor is assigned according to your declared major. The Office of New Student & Family Programs provides advising for all students who are currently undecided about their major. Your advisor's name (or "New Student & Family Programs," if you're undecided) is located at the top of your class schedule, which is viewable from the E-services website. You can also call our office for assistance at 507-389-5498.
If you have chosen a major in the College of Business, College of Education or the College of Science, Engineering & Technology, go to the Advising Center for that college to declare your major, and get a new advisor.
If you have chosen a major in the College of Allied Health & Nursing, College of Arts & Humanities, or the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, go to the department of your major to declare it, and get a new advisor.
You decide how often you'd like to meet with your advisor. Generally, it's recommend that you meet with your advisor at least once per semester to discuss registration. However, advising centers and faculty tend to be incredibly busy the few weeks prior to registration - so you may want to meet sooner than this.
Please remember - your advisor can provide valuable information at all times of the semester, and can help you navigate your experience at Minnesota State Mankato. Plan to contact your advisor at any time that you have academic-related questions/concerns - but also feel free to contact your advisor for other more general information about services available on campus. You may find that you benefit from an advisor's guidance early on in your college career (when you're still getting familiar with campus), all the way through your senior year (when you're starting to think about entering the job market, looking at graduate schools, etc.).
There are several ways to choose classes. First, if you have selected a major, consult your Undergraduate Bulletin to determine required classes in your major. Second, check out your Degree Audit Report (DARS), available online via campus E-services - your DARS will help you determine which general education goals you have left to fulfill. Third, after reviewing these documents, schedule a meeting with your advisor to discuss the classes you're considering.
If you undecided about your major, call New Student & Family Programs to schedule a time to meet with one of our advisors (507-389-5498). You're also welcome to stop by to set up an appointment. Our new office will be located in Preska 103 - starting this fall!
If you have selected a major, and have been assigned to a specific advisor, you can look up your advisor's name by logging into E-services. Then, select "Courses & Registration," and "View/Modify Class Schedule." Your advisor's name will be listed above your schedule.
After you've located your advisor's name, go back to the Minnesota State Mankato home page, and enter the name into the search location in the upper-right corner, and click on "search." This will connect you to your advisor's contact information - including office location, office phone number, and email address.
Registration access codes are assigned to undecided students by the New Student & Family Programs Office. Access codes REQUIRE that students meet with an advisor in order to register for classes. Undecided students who have completed less than 24 credits, OR at least 60 credits are assigned an access code. The purpose of an access code is to make sure that undecided students are aware of academic standards, and requirements needed for degree completion.
Note: Several majors at Minnesota State Mankato also require access codes. Check with your academic advisor if you are unsure whether or not you need an access code to register.
Our office sends emails to undecided students who need access codes to register - so check your MSU email to determine if you need an access code. Then, if you do, you will need to meet with a New Student & Family Programs advisor to get that code. At that meeting, you and your advisor will discuss general education requirements, major exploration, and course selection for the following semester. You will also address any other questions/concerns that you may have. To prepare for your advising appointment, please visit our advising site and complete the forms there.
If you are NOT an undecided student, you may or may not need to get an access code - depending on your academic major. Check your MSU email account, and plan to meet with your advisor before registration begins. Your advisor can help you determine if you need an access code in order to register.
To enter your access code, please follow the steps outlined below:
Registration holds are placed on students' accounts for several different reasons. To determine if you have any outstanding holds, check your E-services account. After logging in, select "Courses & Registration," and "Check Registration Holds" to determine if you currently have any holds.
| Code | Hold | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0032 | Admissions | Admissions Office | 507-389-1822 |
| 0031 | Unpaid Balance | Campus Hub | 507-389-1866 |
| 0060 | Collection Agency | Cashier's Office | 507-389-2259 |
| 0038 | Financial Aid (codes 41, 139, 165) | Campus Hub | 507-389-1866 |
| 0070 | Housing | Residential Life | 507-389-1011 |
| 0005 | Immunization | Student Health Services | 507-389-6276 |
| 0058 | International Student | Kearney International Center | 507-389-1281 |
| 0013 | Orientation | New Student & Family Programs | 507-389-5498 |
| 0022 | Overdue Resource Material | Memorial Library | 507-389-5064 |
| 0061 | Post-Secondary Enrollment | Extended Learning | 507-389-2572 |
| 0001 | Probation (undecided majors) | New Student & Family Programs | 507-389-5498 |
| 0002 | Academic Suspension | Academic Affairs | 507-389-1333 |
| 0093 | Academic Warning (undecided students) | New Student & Family Programs | 507-389-5498 |
If you need to take the placement exam for math or modern languages, follow the links below:
Math or English Placement /Testing
Online language placement (Spanish, German, or French)
General Education requirements are meant to add breadth, and exposure to the four-year degree you're earning. Satisfying General Education requires a minimum number of credits in assigned multidisciplinary goals. Specific requirements may vary, depending on the Undergraduate Bulletin you're following. We strongly encourage you to meet with an advisor to determine the General Education requirements you've completed, as well as the requirements you've left to fulfill.
Note: General Education courses are meant to be intertwined with courses in your major. For many majors on campus it is NOT recommended to complete your General Education requirements before beginning courses in your major. Meeting with an advisor can help you make informed decisions regarding the best class schedule for you.
The Diverse Cultures requirement demonstrates the University's commitment to create an understanding and appreciation of diverse perspectives and people. Students will be required to complete two Diverse Cultures courses (from different departments) before graduation. For specifics, consult your Undergraduate Bulletin, and meet with an advisor to determine whether you've met the Diverse Cultures requirement.
Yes, you can repeat a course. However, please be aware of the following:
If students drop courses, they are merely deciding they do not want to take the class. Students must drop by the end of the first week of classes using the online registration system. A dropped course has no permanent impact on a student's record, and will not count against their completion rate. Check the registration website for official deadlines.
Withdrawal from individual full term classes means that the student plans to withdraw from one or some (but not ALL) courses, and receives a W on their transcript for the course(s). Withdrawing from course(s) does impact a student's completion rate. Students may withdraw from individual courses before the official deadline (usually the twelfth week of the semester) using the online registration system. Students considering withdrawal should meet with an advisor before officially withdrawing to discuss how withdrawing could impact academic progress, and financial aid.
Students can also withdraw from ALL of their courses (which constitutes official withdrawal from the University). Official withdrawal should be initiated through the Campus Hub, located on the main floor of the Centennial Student Union. The official deadline for withdrawal from all classes typically occurs in the fourteenth week of the semester. Withdrawal from the University will impact a student's completion rate, campus housing, and financial aid. Students considering official withdrawal should meet with an advisor before officially withdrawing from all classes to discuss how withdrawing impacts academic progress, and financial aid.
Bulletin Expiration Policy: The privilege of graduating under the requirements of an undergraduate bulletin extends no longer than seven years from the term of the student's original enrollment. The requirements outlined in the current bulletin become effective at the beginning of the fall semester. Although students cannot graduate under bulletin requirements that precede graduation by more than seven years, students can graduate under a more recent bulletin. However, students must complete all requirements under a single bulletin, except for new programs.
Note: While specific requirements for a degree may expire or change, students do not "lose" college credits they have earned. They may have to take additional coursework, or fulfill different requirements to obtain a degree under a new bulletin.
Students need to average 15-16 credits per semester to graduate in four years. It is typically recommended that full-time students stick to the average course load. However, it is not uncommon for first year students to take fewer than 16 credits, particularly in their first semester - as a means of easing into college life. If students wish to take more than 18 credits per semester, special permission is needed (see [PDF] Course Overload Application (11 KiB)), and additional tuition and fees will apply.
To appeal for suspension reinstatement, your first step is to schedule an appointment with the Student Relations Coordinator (SRC) in the College of your major. If you have not selected a major, call New Student & Family Programs at (507-389-5498) to schedule an appointment with the Assistant Director for Advising Services.
To prepare for that appointment, review the [PDF] Application for Academic Reinstatement (43 KiB). The SRC or New Student & Family Programs advisor will discuss the process with you at the appointment - so you can determine what steps need to be taken after that.
Minnesota State
University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
1-800-722-0544
© 2005-2013 Minnesota State University, Mankato. Minnesota State University, Mankato is a member of
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system and an affirmative action/equal opportunity university.
