Common Contacts
A transfer student calls to say that they've completed their online Orientation and want to know how to contact their advisor so they can register for classes. Where do they go?
Online Orientation! Find the item that says "Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor" and click the button that says "Find Your Advisor's Contact Info".
What high school GPA must a student have to be exempt from WRIT 101W?
3.9 or higher.
The first day of Spring 2027 classes
January 12, 2027
True or False: Disability Services has an item in online Orientation
True!
The O-Code for spring-start Veteran Freshmen students
OS4
Where and when will incoming spring-start students get their CatCard?
At the CatCard Service Window below Miller Dining Commons starting January 11!
True or False: A student with a 300.002 Writing Placement should take the placement test to try and get a higher level
FALSE: You can't place higher than 300 on the writing placement test, so it would be a waste of time for them
The earliest possible date an incoming transfer student can register for their classes
Nov 23 at 8:00 AM. But they need to work through online Orientation and meet with their advisor first.
A student can't log into Canvas, what are the troubleshooting steps
1. Are they registered for ort?
2. Make sure they're using the right username netid@student.montana.edu
3. Tell them to reset their NetID password
4. Clear their browser cookies or try a different browser with the new password and the correct username
5. Still doesn't work? UIT.
A parent wants to attend spring Orientation. Can they? If so, how do they sign up?
Yes they are welcome to attend! They don't need to sign up. They can just accompany their student to Orientation on the morning of January 11.
A student took one semester of classes at MSU 3 years ago and wants to start over and do a completely different major starting this spring. Who should they talk to?
They should submit an intent to register form through the Registrar's Office!
A transfer student calls to ask if they need to take the math placement test. They have several pages of transfer credit, including a variety of math classes, but nothing has been evaluated. What should they do?
They should meet with their academic advisor who can help them determine what they need for their major and can help them decide if their credit is likely to work for what they need or if they need to take the placement test.
Priority deadline for OS1 students
December 4
A student calls because they got a question wrong on the online Orientation and needs us to reset the quiz so they can take it again. What do you do?
Tell them they can only take it once. The system will let them move on even if they get a question wrong. Offer to clarify anything if they have questions on what they got wrong. Assure them that they're not getting graded and their wrong answer won't impact them.
Do Advocats or OLs (or both) work Spring Orientation?
OLs! We ask last year's OLs who is available and hire a handful of them to help out throughout the day.
The phone extension for the Financial Aid & Education Office
2845
An student calls to ask if they need to take the math placement, where would you look and what would you ask?
Look in MyMSU Checklist to see what they have on file.
Ask if they have SAT/ACT scores.
Ask what their intended major is.
Ask if they have taken math through another college.
When can incoming spring start students purchase their parking pass?
December 1, 2026 if they have registered for Ort by that point.
True or False: International Students complete our Online Orientation
True!
Bonus: What is their O-Code
How does preregistration work? Describe it as you would describe it to an incoming freshman
- A professional academic advisor handcrafts schedules for students based on their Orientation Questionnaire, their Math Placement, any transfer credit they have on file, and their major.
- If the student has specific concerns or interests, they should put those concerns and interests on their Orientation Questionnaire.
- If a student needs to make changes to their schedule, they can do so in person on January 11.
- If a student doesn't make the deadline for preregistration, they will register in person on January 11.
An incoming Gallatin College student calls needing access to EdReady, where do we send them?
ELLIE is the one who creates EdReady accounts for Gallatin College students. Confirm that they have a PR code and an application on file for the upcoming start term, then take down their information and share with Ellie (or you can create their account for them manually)
If they don't have a PR code, direct them to Gallatin College.
What is the recommended starting math placement for Business?
400 is recommended, since it allows you to bypass College Algebra. Our Business degree is a Bachelors of Science, which speaks to the quantitative rigor of the program. Business students have statistics and data analytics curriculum that requires them to be above the 300 level. It is OK if they don't start at that level, but they will need to work up to it in their first few semesters.
Which one is NOT a title of an online Orientation module:
- Becoming a Bobcat
- Orientation 101
- Completing your Admissions Requirements
- Paying for School
Orientation 101 is not the name of an online orientation module. The modules are:
- Welcome to Orientation
- Completing your Admissions Requirements
- Understanding your degree
- Paying for school
- Becoming a Bobcat
- Wrapping Up
and -New Optional Module: Preparing for the Start of Classes
A student submitted and was approved for a religious exemption for the immunization requirement, but they still have a health services hold. What might be happening?
A religious exemption counts for the MMR immunization requirement, but it doesn't exempt students from the Tuberculosis Screening Form Requirement. They still need to fill out that form and, if indicated on the form, get tested for TB. That is not an immunization.