Accelerated students
Accelerated students at Messiah University
Students enrolled in an accelerated program at Messiah University often have questions about how their student status affects housing, dining, financial aid, and campus services. The information below is designed to help you navigate this unique transition as you move from undergraduate to graduate status.
Please review each section carefully and refer to the provided links for detailed instructions and policies. If you have additional questions, contact the appropriate office listed within each topic or email sgpsstudentservices@messiah.edu.
Accelerated Undergrad v. Grad Status & Anticipated Graduation Dates
Utilize degree audit (available in FalconLink → Self-Service → Student → Student Records). The student level appears in the top section of the audit. Email gradregistrar@messiah.edu with questions.
Your anticipated graduation date correlates with your student status rather than the date of your commencement ceremony. For instance, if you will be an undergraduate student in the fall semester and a graduate student in the spring semester, your anticipated undergraduate graduation date is December 20XX. Once a graduate student, if your graduate commencement ceremony is in May but you will still be taking graduate courses over the summer term post-ceremony, your anticipated grad graduation date is August 20XX.
Housing
Typically yes - view our On-campus timeline and process page beneath the heading “Accelerated Students Desiring Undergrad Housing” for the complete process. Questions can be emailed to housing@messiah.edu.
Yes, view our On-campus timeline and process page beneath the heading “Undergraduate Students Enrolled as Messiah Graduate Students” for the complete process.
Depending on your graduate program, once you are full-time grad status, you may qualify to request to live in on-campus graduate housing. You can read more about the timeline and process on our On-campus timeline and process page.
Dining
Yes, see more details on our Dining page.
Yes, and full-time graduate students who purchase a meal plan get 10% off all campus dining purchases. You can read more on our Dining page.
ID Card & Printing
Not once you become full-time grad status – you will need to exchange your undergraduate ID card for your graduate ID card (if your status changes between fall and spring semester, you are strongly encouraged to do this before leaving campus for Christmas break). See additional information on the Falcon Exchange site.
While you are still undergraduate student status, yes. Once you are considered a full-time graduate student, you will need to exchange your undergraduate ID card for a graduate ID card (if your status changes between fall and spring semester, you are strongly encouraged to do this before leaving campus for Christmas break). See instructions on the Falcon Exchange site.
Yes, Winding Hill has Messiah provided printers. Students can upload money onto their ID card to print. While students are undergrad status, their pre-loaded printing dollars will continue to work, even at Winding Hill. Note: once fully graduate student status, pre-loaded money is not placed on grad student ID cards like undergraduate students are. Printer locations can be found on the Messiah Press site.
Parking
Messiah students can only be issued one parking permit location at a time. If you are undergraduate status, or are a graduate student living on main campus, you should obtain a main campus parking permit at the lot you are assigned. If you are living off-campus and attending classes only at Winding Hill, you should request a Winding Hill parking permit. Note: Winding Hill issued parking passes require students to park in the visitor lot when at Main Campus. Find additional information and register for parking here. Email studentparking@messiah.edu with any questions.
Student Financial Services
Until you are officially a full-time graduate student, your undergraduate financial aid continues. Once you are a full-time graduate student, your graduate financial aid applies (so long as your FAFSA has been updated to reflect that you are a graduate student).
No – your aid is delineated either undergraduate or graduate (i.e. an undergraduate student taking graduate classes versus a full-time graduate student).
No - if you completed the FAFSA as an undergraduate student and during the same academic year become a graduate student, you will need to update your current FAFSA to show that you are now a graduate student. Log into StudentAid.gov to update your FAFSA.
As a graduate student, by completing the FAFSA, you could qualify for a Federal Unsubsidized Loan (which can be used toward cost of living expenses, such as rent, food, car expenses, etc.). Be sure your FAFSA specifies that you are a graduate student (this does not happen automatically). The eligibility requirements for receiving federal financial aid can be viewed by visiting StudentAid.gov.
Academic Accessibility
Not automatically. You will need to reach out to the Office of Academic Accessibility via email (oaa@messiah.edu) letting them know that you are now a graduate student at Messiah and requesting for OAA to send you a letter to share with your graduate faculty members. Additionally, you’ll schedule a meeting with Graduate Student Services to discuss academic accessibility resources in graduate school. Email sgpsstudentservices@messiah.edu to schedule.
Follow the helpful steps provided on our Academic Accessibility resources page to begin the process of requesting academic accommodations.
Chapel
Yes, during the semesters where you have undergraduate status – the exception would be if you are enrolled in a graduate course that conflicts with the time of chapel. If there is a class conflict, complete the chapel petition form. Students who are full-time graduate student status, do not have a chapel requirement and are encouraged to attend the optional grad chapels held five times per year at Winding Hill and online.
Club Sports & Intramurals
Yes, both undergraduate and graduate students are invited to participate in/try out for club sports and intramurals, as they are offered. For further information, visit Messiah's club sports website or Messiah's intramural website.
Health & Counseling Services at the Engle Center
Yes, Engle Health Services continue to be available to our undergraduate accelerated students while they have undergraduate student status. Once full-time graduate student status, limited Engle Health services, including blood draws and physicals, are available for our in-person graduate students (AT, MSDI, OT, PT, and on-campus graduate assistants). Click here for a full list of Engle Health Services for graduate students..
While you are undergraduate status, yes. Once you are a full-time graduate student Timely Care is available to in-person students (AT, MSDI, OT, PT, and on-campus graduate assistants). Graduate students in other programs who do not have Timely Care access are encouraged to utilize community mental health resources (see more information here).
Writing Supports
While undergraduate status, the Writing Center remains available to you. Once full-time graduate status, you then get to utilize graduate writing help. Email sgpsstudentservices@messiah.edu with any questions.