Below are some of the frequently asked questions about course fees and waivers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question
1. How do I access the fee waiver system?
Answer
- Log in to My Missouri State.
- Navigate to the main menu at the top left of the page and select the Discover option.
- Search for the "Fee Waiver Benefits" card.
- Click the Credit Fee Waiver Request link to access the Fee Waiver system.
Question
2. Is there a deadline for submitting a fee waiver request?
Answer
You can request a fee waiver up until the end of the term in which classes are taken (the day before graduation). Requests must be made and processed prior to dropping a class, and fee waivers will NOT be processed for previous terms. Fee waiver requests should be made as early as possible each semester to prevent processing issues, but if it is near the end of the current semester, applications for the following semester may be disabled until after end-of-term processing has been completed. You can try again once final grades are posted for students.
Question
3. I want to use the waiver for my child, spouse, or sponsored dependent.
Answer
If this is the first time using the system you will need to add them as a recipient in the system. The recipient will need to have a BearPass Number (M#) for you to add them. They also need a university email and to complete a FERPA release; see FAQ 8.
Question
4. When will my fee waiver and applicable fees be processed?
Answer
Fee waivers and applicable fees are processed at the end of the first week of class.
Question
5. What if I dropped a class or canceled and want to use the fee waiver again?
Answer
You'll receive an email stating the class was dropped or canceled, and it will indicate if you have any available credit hours remaining. You can check the current balance screen to see the hour(s) added back on.
Note: Credit hours are processed in whole increments and not in partial increments. Greenwood is an exception and 7.5 hrs are allowed per academic year.
Question
6. I got my bill and there was a finance charge. What do I do?
Answer
There will be a small window of approximately one week to make your payment before the new billing is issued. Tuition payments made prior to the second billing will be deducted from the bill to determine the amount due to the University.
Question
7. I'm trying to complete a fee waiver for my student/child but the system said they needed to complete a "fee waiver FERPA request". What do I do?
Answer
- Make sure the student/child is added as a recipient.
- At the bottom of the Current Balance screen, click on Send Email next to the student/child's name.
- Send an email requesting they sign a FERPA Waiver Agreement.
OR
For the Springfield campus:
The student/your child, can go to the electronic contract page and simply check that the release is signed.
- Have the student log in to the My Missouri State portal.
- Navigate to the main menu at the top left of the page.
- Select Discover to search for the Personal Information card or type "online agreements" in the search bar and hit enter.
- Click the link for Online Agreements.
- Scroll down to the Fee Waiver FERPA Agreement. Click the link within the box to sign the agreement.
For the West Plains campus:
To Log into the Faculty/Staff Fee Waiver FERPA release form follow these directions:
- Log into http://mygrizzlyden.missouristate.edu using your BearPass ID (abc123) username.
- Click on the Fee Waiver FERPA Release Form under the Student Resources section of the My Enrollment tab.
- Please read the Release of Confidential Information statement and choose "Yes, I agree with the above release." Click Submit.
Please Note: Greenwood students do not have to complete a release unless they are also enrolled in a course at Missouri State University.
Question
8. I’m retired (Emeritus) and want to use the fee waiver for my spouse or children. This wasn’t a problem on the old system. The new system doesn’t give me an option on the pull down menu. What do I do?
Answer
You’ll need to add the spouse and or children as recipients first. The recipients of retired spouses and children weren't carried over on the new system.
Question
9. I'm a Per Course Instructor at the Springfield Campus. Can I use the fee waiver?
Answer
Per Course instructors, other than those from the West Plain Campus, are not eligible for the fee waiver.
Question
10. Does the fee waiver cover MSU’s cooperative program with the University of Missouri Columbia and Missouri University of Science and Technology?
Answer
Yes, it covers charges billed through MSU as a part of this program.
Question
11. A new employee starts work on October 1st. The new employee’s dependent child started classes on August 18. Is the new employee eligible to use the fee waiver?
Answer
No, the employee handbook states that in order for the University to pay the required student fee, employees must be employed by the University prior to the start of the semester for which they have enrolled and intend to use the fee waiver benefit.
Question
12. Are part-time employees whose status changes to full-time during the semester eligible for the fee waiver?
Answer
No, they would have to be full-time at the beginning of the semester.
Question
13. Does the fee waiver cover the SOAR program?
Question
14. When are intersession classes paid?
Answer
They are posted after the first week of classes. For example, if classes start on Monday, the payment will be posted on the Friday of the same week.
Question
15. If an individual is a retired staff/faculty and is a dual credit instructor are they eligible to use both benefits for themselves?
Answer
Yes, the total hours for themselves would be 8 (5 per term for retired staff/faculty and 3 per academic year for dual credit).
Question
16. Can I apply the fee waiver to a dropped class?
Answer
Only if the fee waiver was requested and applied prior to the student dropping the class.
For additional questions about Course Fee Waivers please contact HRBenefits@missouristate.edu.
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