Several dates have been set aside for new students to attend STudent Advising and Registration (STAR) Orientation for the 2020 fall semester at Missouri State University-West Plains.

Cindy Bridges, coordinator of student advisement at the Advisement and Academic Coaching Center for Empowering Student Success (AACCESS), said first-time freshmen and transfer students with less than 10 credit hours must attend one of the sessions for the fall semester.

Spaces are available for the following dates:

• July 8, 10, 15, 17, 23 and 31
• Aug. 7 and 14

A STAR Orientation session also will be offered at the university’s Mountain Grove campus in Shannon Hall, 401 E. 17th St., at 1 p.m. July 21.

Students planning on enrolling in classes during the summer session should contact AACCESS at 417-255-7222 or WPAACCESS@MissouriState.edu to visit with an adviser.

Delayed dates due to pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s STAR Orientation sessions were moved to later in the summer when it is hoped that on-campus orientations can take place, Bridges said.

Should the pandemic extend well into the summer months and the university is unable to host the sessions, AACCESS staff will contact students prior to their selected orientation date with alternative options for completing orientation and registration for the fall semester, Bridges said.

Students who were registered for one of the previously scheduled orientations in May or June and have not yet been in contact with AACCESS staff should call 417-255-7222 or email WPAACCESS@MissouriState.edu for more information about options and rescheduling, she added.

What happens at STAR?

STAR Orientations are designed to provide students with an introduction to the university and its services, policies and procedures, and to assist students in registering for their first semester.

During STAR, students will:

• meet with a faculty adviser
• schedule fall classes
• receive a photo ID
• be assigned a BearPass login
• receive a parking permit
• have an opportunity to visit with a financial aid representative
• purchase textbooks at Drago College Store
• if desired, take a tour of the campus

“In short, they will be totally prepared for the first day of classes on Aug. 17, 2020,” Bridges said.

Separate program for parents, spouses, friends

She also pointed out a separate program is available for parents, spouses and friends of the students to attend.

“They will hear from a number of university administrators and staff members who will present information about the campus, explain important topics such as academic degree programs, financial aid, etc., and provide insightful tips about how they can help their student achieve academic success,” Bridges said.

Before attending an orientation, students must be admitted to the university and complete required placement testing.

For information about the admissions process, call the Missouri State-West Plains admissions office at 417-255-7955 or email WPAdmissions@MissouriState.edu.

For more information about required testing, contact the university’s Testing Services at 417-255-7943 or email WPTesting@MissouriState.edu

For more information about the STAR Orientation sessions and how to register for an orientation session, contact AACCESS at 417-255-7222, email WPAACCESS@MissouriState.edu or complete the online form on the AACCESS website.

All university offices can be contacted toll free by calling 1-888-466-7897.