MU Parents Association::FAQ

Q: What is the easiest way to find out the answers to all my questions?
Q: How do we pay for tuition and fees?
Q: How does my student enroll for classes at MU?
Q: Is my student required to register for a minimum number of credit hours?
Q: How and when will my student receive their financial aid?
Q: How does my student buy books?
Q: How will my student receive his/her outside scholarship funds?
Q: I have questions about academic advising. Where can I get more information?
Q: Can you tell me when and where a specific supplemental tutoring/learning session is held?
Q: Is there any inforamtion regarding post-sexual assault services for students at MU?

Q: What is the easiest way to find out the answers to all my questions?
A: Many offices at MU feature excellent web sites with student specific information. MU's home page is www.missouri.edu. STARMU is a secure service, which requires student authentication and authorization for access. Students can access their schedule, change their address, obtain a statement of fees via email, access their financial aid information, obtain their grades, and check course availability. For more information on STARMU, visit the Office of the University Registrar's web page.
Student Financial Aid's Touch Tone Voice Response System (TTVR) is a secure service offered by our office that allows students access to their information and records. You can reach the TTVR system by dialing our main office number, 573-882-7506. Have the student's social security number and PIN ready.

Q: How do we pay for tuition/fees?
A: If your financial aid award does not cover all tuition and fees, you may pay the semester total, or pay a minimum payment through an installment plan. The minimum payment is automatically figured on your bill. The University will assess a 1% monthly finance charge on the unpaid portion of the billed balance for all student accounts. To avoid the finance charge, pay your billed balance in full. You may make credit card payments through the Cashiers' TTVR system at (573) 884-CASH (2274). You must have the student's ID number and PIN to hear the minimum payment amount (option 1). A payment can still be made without a PIN by choosing option 7. Contact Cashiers at (573) 882-3097 with questions regarding your payment options.

Q: How does my student enroll for classes at MU?
A: If your student is an incoming freshman or transfer student:

She/he should register for classes during Summer Welcome.
Students should also submit the New Student Registration and Orientation Form for a partial academic schedule.
If your student cannot attend Summer Welcome, she/he should meet with their academic advisor concerning registration.
New students needing assistance with registration can call the Office of the University Registrar at (573) 882-7881.

If your student is a continuing student:

An early registration period is available during the semester, or regular registration begins one week prior to the semester for which they are enrolling.
Continuing students should meet with their academic advisor concerning registration.
Continuing students may register by phone using PAWS (573) 882-3700, in person at 205 Brady Commons, or on STARMU.

Q: Is my student required to register for a minimum number of credit hours?
A: Yes, undergraduate students receiving financial aid from our office are expected to enroll in at least 12 credit hours for the fall and winter semesters. If students have a special circumstance that will require enrollment in fewer credit hours, they should let their financial aid advisor know. They can provide the information by calling (573) 882-7506, emailing, or writing our office.

Q: How and when will my student receive their financial aid?
A: Students must have completed all processes required as outlined in the Financial Aid Checklist on the back of the Award Letter Guide (pdf) in order for their funds to be released at the beginning of the semester.

Current session disbursement dates are published in the Financial Aid News section on this web site.
Students must register for the required amount of credit hours and must pay at least the minimum payment to the Cashiers Office to be financially enrolled.
Financial aid funds available to be released will be applied first to any outstanding University balances, such as tuition/fees and on-campus housing. Any amount left over will be issued to the student. If the credit is from a parent loan, a check will be issued to the parent.
Students can check for availability of their financial aid funds by going to STARMU.
Students can call the Student Financial Aid TTVR system at (573) 882-7506 for automated information.

Q: How does my student buy books?
A: Students will buy their books at the University Bookstore located in Brady Commons.

Students can use the financial aid released to them or if their financial aid is not yet available, students can charge their books to their University account using their student ID. Only students who are financially enrolled may use their student ID to charge items at the bookstore.
For more information, please contact the University Bookstore at (573) 882-7611, or visit their web site at www.mubookstore.com

Q: How will my student receive his/her outside scholarship funds?
A: Typically funds are sent directly to MU.

If the student is receiving an outside scholarship, these funds may already be included with other financial aid funds released to the student.
If the student receives scholarship funds directly from the donor, he/she will need to notify our office to make sure he/she meets the donor's requirements.
Make sure the student's ID number is on any correspondence you send to our office

Q: I have questions about academic advising. Where can I get more information?
A: Go to advising.missouri.edu for more information.

Q: Can you tell me when and where a specific supplemental tutoring/learning session is held?
A: Yes, the Learning Center Master Schedule lists all ongoing supplemental learning sessions and test reviews that have already been scheduled. If this schedule does not list the course that you're interested in, you might check with the Learning Center just around the corner here(and direct them to our front desk). You can also check the Learning Center web page at http://web.missouri.edu/~lcwww for details of what's offered where.

Q: Is there any inforamtion regarding post-sexual assault services for students at MU?
A: About 3% of college women experience a completed and/or attempted rape during a college year (US Department of Justice, 2001). 3% of college men report surviving rape or attempted rape as a child or adult (US Department of Justice, 1998) While reported incidents at MU are low, it is believed that rapes and sexual assaults on college campuses are incredibly underreported. Several services are available on campus to help those students who have been affected by rape or sexual assault. At the University of Missouri Student Health Center a "Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner" (SANE) is available to meet the student's physical and emotional needs following the trauma of rape. SANE nurses also staff the University Hospital's Emergency Center. All examinations are confidential. Psychological counseling is available through the MU Counseling Center, the MU Women's Center, and the Student Health Center. If the student decides to report the incident to the police, university staff are available to facilitate this process. Students can also report assaults to the university judicial system as a violation of student conduct if the perpretrator is an MU student.

It is important for those affected by sexual assault to seek out appropriate support (medical, legal, and psychological) early to begin the recovery process. Your support of your student is important as she/he determines the services which will be most helpful.