News

Please join us in welcoming the following employees to Minnesota State University Moorhead! Make sure to stop by their departments to say hello and let them know it’s a GREAT day to be a Dragon! 

July 28, 2017

• Bertha Vasquez – Art Gallery Director, College of Arts, Media, and Communication (Re-hire)

 July 31, 2017

• Melissa Dingmann – Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships

August 1, 2017

• Sara Schultz – Planetarium Director, College of Science, Health & the Environment (Re-hire) 

August 7, 2017

• Mikaela Scullen – Early Education Center Teacher, Early Education Center (Re-hire)
• Kristen Fildes – Early Education Center Teacher, Early Education Center
• Karisa Gratton – Early Education Center Teacher, Early Education Center
• Ryan Koehler – Graphic Arts Specialist (Graphic Designer), Marketing & Communications

Thursday, Aug. 3 | 2-4 p.m. | Owens 107

Please join us for a retirement open house honoring Carolyn Zehren on Thursday, August 3 from 2-4 p.m. in Owens 107.

Carolyn has dedicated 27 years to working in the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid. Come celebrate her well-deserved retirement!  Read the rest of this entry →

After a national search, Melissa Dingmann has been named the Director of Scholarship and Financial Aid at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Throughout the process Melissa shared stories and examples that demonstrated her belief in MSUM’s core values of humility, grit and heart. Her calm demeanor and clear passion for supporting students aligns with the culture and environment on our campus.

Coupled with progressive experience in financial aid and having spent the last 12 years as the Director of Financial Aid at the University of Minnesota Crookston, Melissa brings MSUM a high level of competency and expertise.

Dingmann’s first day on campus will be July 31.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: What All Student Loan Borrowers Need To Know offered by American Student Assistance (ASA)

Wednesday, July 26 | 7:30-8:30 p.m. EST

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program forgives the balance of eligible federal student loans for borrowers who complete 10 years of eligible public service. This includes employees of many non-profit and government employers. Eligibility for this program is not based on what you do, but who your employer is.

Register Now

We also are offering another session that includes not only PSLF but the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program — which is another federal student loan benefit for teachers who work for a Title 1 school.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: What Teachers Need To Know

Wednesday, July 19 | 1:30-2:30 p.m. EST

Recent comments from the federal Department of Education, along with our direct student loan borrower experience lead us to believe that many Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Teacher Loan Forgiveness eligible borrowers do not have a clear understanding of how these programs work or may not know of its existence at all.

Register Now

If you can’t make either of those webinar times, you can view a recorded version at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzEmafuUR2Lcs0JIa5SiLw

On Tuesday June 20, 2017, starting at 9 a.m., there will be planned IT Maintenance. We will be upgrading one of our database servers. The down time of each application may vary as we move the applications to the new environment. This planned maintenance will affect the following applications.

• Accessibility Services
• Alumni SOS form
• Bookstore Fin Aid Changing
• Bookstore Course Schedule
• Budget Requests
• Career Services and Academic Success Request System
• Chemical Inventory Manager
• Chemistry Exit Survey
• CIBS – Dragon Consulting Student Application
• Clearinghouse
• College for Kids
• Data Warehouse Security Requests
• Dean’s List/Graduation List
• DIARY/Cooperating Teacher Survey
• Directory Manager
• Distance Dragon Card
• Dragon Card
• DragonFire membership tracking
• Driver License Verification
• Event Attendance
• Film equipment Checkout
• Financial Aid Scholarship Manager
• Hendrix Immunization Form
• Housing forms
• HR forms
• IT application Inventory
• IT forms
• IT person Verify
• ITS forms
• Key/Card forms
• KMSC song log
• MSUM mobile app
• Name Badge Ordering Form
• Nursing Online Application
• Online Course Evaluations
• Paralegal Internship Manager
• Parking Permit Request
• Positive Pay
• Retiree Directory Manager
• Scholarship Listing
• SCJ Camera Checkout
• Security Photos and New Prox Cards
• SPA – Events Form
• Transcript Requesting
• Wellness Center
• Work orders (Housing and Main)

It’s time to start thinking about how you’ll finance the 2017-2018 school year and Affinity Plus is here to help! Our Student Choice Private Loan offers low, variable rates; a line of credit structure; the option to defer payments until after graduation; and reduced rates with automatic payments. Looking for a scholarship? The Affinity Plus Foundation is offering a $3,000 Campus Scholarship to one MSU Moorhead student — apply now through September 30, 2017 at affinityplusfoundation.org/Scholarship/Campus-Scholarship.

The Minnesota Association of Financial Aid Administrators (MAFAA) honored Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Carolyn Zehren last week.

Zehren, who serves as MSUM’s Director of Scholarship and Financial Aid, was awarded the Special Achievement Award. Zehren’s recognition was for the significant contributions, enthusiasm, and service she has provide to the MAFAA membership and to the people of Minnesota.

Reminder to fill out the 2017 Summer Financial Aid application form if you are planning to take summer classes.

If you have filled out the application and submitted it to our office, check eServices to view your award and respond. If awarded work study and/or loans, look for the little blue dot with an “I” inside next to the award name. Click and you will receive more information on how to accept/decline work study or loans.

As the semester comes to an end, a few reminders from the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid.

Last day for MSUM to receive your 2016-2017 FAFSA data is May 9, 2017 for students still looking to receive financial aid for this academic year including this summer semester 2017.

If you have already filed a 2016-2017 FAFSA and received your award notification but need to borrow loans, the last day to request a spring loan is May 2, 2017. Stop in or email finaid@mnstate.edu with your loan request.

Seniors graduating spring or summer term are reminded to complete Exit Loan Counseling online at www.studentloans.gov prior to graduation.

The Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid has a variety of office supplies (including lots of binders) available for FREE Tuesday, April 4 only. Stop by the table outside Owens 107.

Planning to attend summer school? Undergraduate full time enrollment for summer is 12+ undergraduate credits; graduate full time enrollment is 8+ graduate credits. Must be registered for minimum of 6 credits for work study and federal loan eligibility. Work study is on a first applied basis. Turn in your summer application ASAP.

The Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid has a variety of office supplies (including lots of binders) available for FREE through Friday, March 31. Stop by and take what you need for work in your department.

Wednesday, March 22 | 12-1 p.m. | CMU 203

Affinity Plus will be hosting it’s first Financial Aid webinar open to all MSUM students, faculty and staff.  Read the rest of this entry →

Did you know you may be eligible to receive financial aid for taking summer classes? You can apply for summer financial aid here.

Deadline: April 3, 2017

Students seeking their first undergraduate degree with a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA, who have two years remaining to complete their bachelor’s degree are eligible for this scholarship. Scholarship is for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. Must be a full time student.

View the scholarship application.

The Robert and Sandra Roel Part Time Student Scholarship is available to students seeking their first undergraduate degree, attending MSUM on a part time basis and register for no more than 11 MSUM credits per semester. Student must file the 2017-2018 FAFSA by deadline date.

The 2017-2018 Upper Class/Transfer Honors Apprentice Scholarship application is available now at: https://www.mnstate.edu/financialaid/forms.aspx.

This is a competitive scholarship open to MSUM students seeking their first undergraduate degree who have the final two years of attendance. Scholarship is for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 (graduating spring 2019).

Deadline: April 3, 2017

Monday, Feb. 6 | 4 p.m. | CMU 214 or Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 12 p.m. | MA 169

Did you know: students who receive PELL grants as part of their financial aid are eligible to apply for the Gilman Scholarship for study abroad. MSUM students have received $5,000 from this program in the past.

If you are curious about funding study abroad and you receive a PELL grant, come to a Gilman Scholarship information meeting on Monday, Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. in CMU 214, or on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at noon in MA 169. A student recipient of the Gilman scholarship and the Director of Study Abroad will be there to answer all of your questions.

Final Reminder: 2017-2018 Upper Class scholarship applications are due Wednesday, Feb. 1 by 4:30 p.m.

You can find the application on the Financial Aid website.

MSUM Upper Class Scholarship application for 2017-2018 is available online. Criteria to apply:

• Undergraduate students pursuing their first undergraduate degree at MSUM
• Have taken at least 12 MSUM semester credits by the end of fall semester 2016
• Plan to enroll as a full time student (12+ credits) for fall and spring
• Student is in good academic standing

This scholarship is for next year, Fall 2017 and Spring 2018.

Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2017 by 4:30 p.m.