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With testing waivers, Ļć½¶Ö±²„makes enrollment more inviting than ever despite coronavirus disruption

With testing waivers, Ļć½¶Ö±²„makes enrollment more inviting than ever despite coronavirus disruption

Contact: Allison Matthews

Tulips bloom on MSU's campus with the Chapel of Memories in the background
Ļć½¶Ö±²„leaders have been adding more enrollment incentives to help ease burdens and stress brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and help continue studentsā€™ academic success. Despite hardships, there has never been a better time for many students and professionals to enroll at Mississippi State in summer or fall courses, a new graduate program, or teacher training. (Photo by Megan Bean)

STARKVILLE, Miss.ā€”Despite the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a better time for many students and professionals to enroll at Mississippi State in summer or fall courses, a new graduate program, or teacher training.

Ļć½¶Ö±²„leaders have been adding more enrollment incentives to existing ones to help ease burdens and stress brought on by the ongoing crisis and help continue studentsā€™Ā academic success. The university has made funds available for a ā€œgapā€ scholarship to cover summer expenses, applied after Pell Grant awards, for eligible students, with the land-grant institution also ensuring availability of support services such as counseling, health care, technology and more.

Additionally, Mississippi State is temporarily waiving GMAT and GRE testing requirements for students applying to the universityā€™s graduate programs.

ā€œIn an effort to reduce the stress level that current and prospective students may be experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic, our Graduate School, in conjunction with the academic colleges, made the decision to waive the GRE and GMAT test score requirements for summer 2020 and fall 2020 applicants,ā€ said Peter Ryan, dean of MSUā€™s Graduate School and executive vice provost.

The GMAT and GRE waivers apply to all of MSUā€™s more than 200 on-campus and online graduate programs. All other requirements still must be met for admission. Graduate School staff are available to answer questions via telephone at 662-325-7400 or email atĀ gradapps@grad.msstate.edu. Program coordinatorsĀ alsoĀ canĀ answer questions specific toĀ colleges and departments.

³Õ¾±²õ¾±³ŁĢż to find specific coordinators for each program.Ā More information on MSUā€™s distance and on-campus graduate degree programs is available atĀ .ĢżĢż

Also, the Mississippi Department of Education is temporarily waiving some requirements for students applying to enter MSUā€™s teacher education and administration preparation programs, as well as waiving licensure exams for certification through December 31, 2021.

The MDE waivers include both traditional (undergraduate) and non-traditional (graduate) teacher education programs and approved traditional or non-traditional educator or administrator preparation programs as defined by the Mississippi State Board of Education. The licensure exams for the following Ļć½¶Ö±²„programs have been waived: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, Music Education, Physical Education, School Administration, School Counseling, School Psychology, Master of Arts in Teaching-Secondary, and Master of Arts in Teaching-Special Education.Ā 

The educator preparation program admission testing requirement for teacher education, which includes the ACT/SAT requirement or the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators examinations, have been waived. Grade Point Average (GPA) and all other criteria for Ļć½¶Ö±²„program admission remain in effect.

For more information on education program waivers, contact Donna Shea, director of MSUā€™s Office of Curriculum and Field-Based Instruction, atĀ dshea@colled.msstate.eduĀ or 662-325-7684.

For a complete list of MDEā€™s new admissions and licensure requirements, visitĀ .

Ļć½¶Ö±²„is Mississippiā€™s leading university, available online at .