Insider's Guide to MSU (2025)

What does Dr. C. say are the four major themes in MSU's history and traditions?

Inclusion, Service, Expansion, Research

What does it mean that MSU is a "land-grant" university?

Planned to provide an education based off agriculture and engineering. Along with military science.

What was the Morrill Act, in what year and under whose Presidency was it passed, and what did it provide?

The act to provide land to higher education was created in 1862 provided under Abraham Lincoln.

Why are we the major land-grant university in Mississippi, and not Ole Miss?

Because they were not interested and renounced their land grant-status

In what year was MSU authorized by the state legislature?

1878

In what year did MSU actually open for classes?

1880

How many faculty and college students were there when we first started?

13 Faculty; 87 Students

Who was our first President of Mississippi State University? What had he done before coming here?

Stephen D. Lee; a general

In the beginning, what training was required of all students, and how many students were required to work?

Military training and all students were required to work

How did the first students heat their rooms, take baths, and tend to their personal needs?

Carry their own coal for heat, once bathing houses were made they weren't heated for long, and the outhouse was used for personal needs.

What common pastimes were forbidden to students?

Playing cards, dancing, and fraternities

How did students hunt rabbits, and why?

Would heard them and then beat them to death with sticks

How did students get to the MSU campus?

Via rail line

When were women first admitted to MSU?

1882

When were women banned from MSU, and why?

Because of an innocent encounter with one of the male and female students, a riot was started and in 1912 women were banned.

When were women allowed back, and why?

1930 because of economic reasons

What was the first women's residence hall on campus, and when did women start living there?

Margruder Hall in 1938

When did enrollment of women greatly increase?

1950s

Who first tried to integrate the University of Southern Mississippi, what year was his first attempt, and what happened to him?

Clyde Kennard; 1955; he died due to cancer after being put in forced work and neglected

Who was the racist governor of Mississippi in the 1960s who vehemently opposed integration?

Rose Barnett

When was Ole Miss integrated, and who was its first African American student?

1962; James Meredith

Why was he allowed to enroll, and what happened when he did?

A jury was held taken all the way to the supreme Court which held in his favor, because of this a riot broke out.

In what year was Mississippi State University integrated?

1965

Who was the MSU President at the time, and what was his stance on integration?

Dean Colvard; he believed we would do it right without riots or fighting

What building on campus is named after this President?

Colvard Student Union

How much violence was there when MSU was integrated?

None

Who were the very first African Americans to take MSU courses? When and where did they do that?

20-25 African Americana were taught on Columbus Air Force Base

Who was our first full-time African American student to enroll on campus, and what became of him after he graduated?

Richard Holmes; became an emergency room physician

What unit of the University is named after him?

Holmes Center for Student Success

Where can you read a contemporary account of these historic events as they unfolded, written by a key individual who was involved in them? What famous person in MSU history wrote these down?

The integration of MSU and 1963 Game of Change was written by President Colvard

Who was our first African American student to graduate with an MSU degree?

John L. Barnes

What was the relationship between Stephen D. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant? What memorial to each is found on opposite ends of the Drill Field?

Grant, the Union leader, defeated Lee, the confederate leader; Lee hall and Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library

What is the oldest structure on the MSU campus?

Eckie's Pond

What is the oldest building on campus?

Industrial Education Building

When was Lee Hall built, and who uses it now?

1909 now houses the Department of English/Classical and Modern Languages

Why is there a building on the other end of the Drill Field that looks just like Lee Hall?

Was a condition that it had to look exactly like Lee Hall from the gifter

When was the "Y" Building (YMCA building) constructed, and who uses it now?

Built in 1914 but given renovations in 2018 which now houses the VP student affairs, VP for Finance, Dean of Students, and University Attorney

What was George Hall originally used for, and what tragedy struck in 1918?

Used as a campus infirmary and hospital; Spanish flu pandemic

What was distinctive about Perry Cafeteria when it was built?

Was the largest university cafeteria in the country

What is the Moon Tree, where is it, and why is it called that?

Located at the entrance of the football stadium, grown from one of the seeds taken from Apollo 14 and had landed on the moon (hence the name)

What was Old Main, and what was distinctive about it?

Was a dormitory and became the largest dormitory in the world under one roof

What happened to Old Main, and when?

Burned in a fire in 1959

When was the Chapel of Memories built, and why is it called the Chapel of Memories?

1965; because it was built from the bricks of the old Old Main that carried a lot of memories

Why is the new Old Main called Old Main? What is it used for?

Wanted to recreate the old Old Main for memories; used as a garage, classes, and offices

Where is the Wolverton rotunda? Who was Dr. Wolverton and what did he do?

In the center of Old Main; our last VP Academic Affairs who served MSU for 43 years

What three names has MSU had over the years?

A&M, Mississippi State College, Mississippi State University

What does it mean when we day that MSU is a "comprehensive university"?

We have programs in a wide range of academics

Approximately how many different majors do we have at State?

Over 80 different majors

What does it mean that MSU is a "research intensive" university?

Very high research activity

About how much support for our research do we get from sources other than the state of Mississippi?

3 hundred million a year

What special distinction does MSU have in the area of Research?

Top 100 research universities in the entire country

What special distinction does MSU have in the area of Service?

Honored by the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching (only 10-15% of colleges are honored)

How does being in a research university like MSU benefit students like you?

Helps when applying to jobs and gets the student interested and learn more on hands.

What looming worldwide problem does President Keenum point out, that MSU can play an important role in solving?

World Hunger

Name the seven secrets to student success

Work full time, go to class, time management, study smart, test wise, get help, difference of one

Why is your first-year performance at university examined so closely by future employers?

Because they expect the start to be similar to the start of how you would be in your career

About how much are the taxpayers of Mississippi subsidizing your university education, not counting scholarships, loans, grants, etc.?

$35 to $47.50 an hour

How many hours a week must you devote to your studies?

40

How much does missing class affect your course grades?

Missing 10% of your classes cut your chance of an A in half and more likely to fail

Why must you take notes in class?

First step to understanding the material

Where should you try to sit in class, and why?

In the front, this is to help you hear and understand what the lecture is about

Why should you never use a cell phone in class?

Because it is a distraction and disrespectful

What do experts agree is the single most important factor in succeeding at university?

Time Management

What object must you have in order to manage your time effectively?

A planner

How should you use one of these?

Write down the times you have classes, important assignments, or need to study

What is the "planning fallacy" that you must avoid?

Underestimating the time you need for an assignment

What is the best way to take class notes?

A brief summary instead of word by word

What should you do as soon as possible after class?

Review your notes

When should you read the textbook?

Before you go to class

When should you ask questions?

Before you go to class.

What kind of questions should you ask?

Specific to what you may not understand

When should you study for a test?

Over several days before the test

What is a good trick for learning material as you are studying it?

Saying it out loud to yourself or a person

What should you do before a test (besides study)?

Get enough sleep and stay calm

What should you do once you get the test?

Scan the test and understand how much time you have per question

If you don't know the answer to a true-false or multiple-choice test question, should you guess?

Yes

What should you do when you finish a test?

Review it

How should you take an essay test?

Read the questions, make an outline, ask if you need specific phrases, then review to see if the outline looks good.

If you do not know the answer to an essay test question, should you write everything you do know instead? Why?

No. It will make the teacher annoyed and difficult for them to grade the questions you actually knew

If you repeatedly study thoroughly for a test, know the material well before the test, but then "freeze" when you actually take the test and can't remember or express the material anymore, what is your problem called and what should you do about it?

Test Anxiety. Go to the counseling center

When you get your test back, what should you do?

Look over the ones you got wrong, ask them your mistake and learn from them

If you have a problem, how soon should you get help with it?

ASAP

What does it mean to "make a difference of one"?

Join a group to make a difference at MSU

Approximately many student organizations are there at Mississippi State?

Over 300

How many of them should you get involved with your first semester here?

2 or 3

Besides The Insider's Guide to Mississippi State University, what is a good book on how to get good grades in your courses?

The A game

What should you be sure to do, and not do, if you email your professor?

Use your university email, fill the subject header with name what class and section. Be formal.

How quickly should you expect your professor to respond to your email?

Give them between 42 hours (no weekends or evenings)

Which is usually better: emailing your professors, or calling their office phones?

Email

Is it usually okay to call your professors at home?

No

When you are talking to your professors in person, what things should you be sure not to do?

No phone or chewing gum

How do you know what to call your professors?

They will usually tell you but if not you can look at the Faculty page

What unforgivable classroom behavior do professors hate the most?

Texting

What other irritating classroom behaviors should you avoid?

Eating/drinking, sleeping, wearing inappropriate stuff, etc.

What annoying questions should you not ask your professor?

Asking something answered on the syllabus, asking if you have to read the book, asking if you missed something important, etc.

What are "attitudes of entitlement"?

Expecting something for nothing

What "attitudes of entitlement" do professors generally dislike?

Saying you got As in High School but failing here, saying something isn't fair, having your parents call, etc.

What is the MSU Honor Code?

As a Mississippi State student I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do

What are some common violations of the Honor Code?

Attending a class for another student is cheating, skipping class and lying for the reason

What is plagiarism, and how do you know if you have committed it?

Using someone's else's work as your own without proper citations