North Dakota State University

Tri-College University Students

Tri-College University (TCU) is a consortium of the three major Fargo-Moorhead institutions of higher education: NDSU, Concordia College, and Minnesota State University Moorhead. Students at the three schools may benefit from what each school offers individually and cooperatively through the consortium.

Through the Tri-College course exchange, students enrolled at one campus may take courses at the other two at no extra cost and without going through separate admission procedures. Tri-College expands discipline offerings and course availability for students beyond their home campus. Tuition is paid only to the home-base campus. Courses not eligible for Tri-College registration are those offered through NDSU's Division of Distance and Continuing Education, summer self-support, off-campus or weekend courses offered through MSUM's Continuing Education program, most workshops, most graduate courses, independent study courses at Concordia College, private music instruction at Concordia, and international travel programs.

Students enrolling in classes that require special fees (lab fees, lessons, supplies, etc.) beyond the home-campus fees assessed at the time of registration will be responsible for remittance of payment to the billing department or institution.

Course limits: Concordia students - and MSUM or NDSU students wanting to take a course at Concordia - may take only one course per term under the student course exchange, and then, only if they are full-time students and only if that course is not available on their home campus at any time during the academic year. Concordia does not participate in the TCU course exchange during the summer. NDSU students wishing to enroll in MSUM coursework are expected to maintain enrollment (at least one course) at NDSU each semester. Concordia and MSUM business courses taken via Tri-College may not be applied to professional programs (majors and minors) in the College of Business at NDSU.

Credits and Grades: Credits earned through TCU course exchange will appear on a student's transcript and be applied toward graduation requirements and grade point averages as though they were taken at their home-campus.

Course substitutions: Students need to obtain advanced approval to substitute TCU courses for required courses in a major or minor.

Drop/add deadlines: Students follow their home-campus deadlines to drop or add a course, or to enroll as pass/fail, instead of at the TCU partner school where the course is offered or hosted.

Registration and payment procedures: Students register for TCU exchange courses at their home campus and pay their home campus tuition and fees. (NDSU students register in person in the Office of Registration and Records, 110 Ceres Hall.)

Tri-College Minors

The Tri-College partners recognize minors earned through the TCU course exchange. Students receive recognition on their graduation transcripts for minors completed on one of the other TCU campuses. This policy applies only to minors earned in programs not available on a student's home-campus.

Majors

Majors may be earned only at the school from which a student earns a degree. Most students enroll initially at the school from which they intend to graduate. However, the TCU course exchange agreement between MSUM and NDSU allows a student to begin their studies at one of the schools prior to transferring to the other school to complete their degree. Select programs have specially-designed articulation agreements intended to provide a seamless transfer process for TCU students. Tri-college students typically are restricted to pre-professional coursework in a professional program of study. Students should work with the chair of the department in which they intend to major to make sure their program includes all requirements for the major and for graduation. Students may apply for tuition reciprocity prior to transferring from their home state. In addition, a Tri-College graduate program exists in Educational Leadership.

Library Services

Students, faculty, and staff of the TCU institutions may use all of the libraries in the consortia. Circulating materials from TCU libraries are available free of charge for direct checkout or through interlibrary loan via daily shuttle service.

A regional computer-based catalog shows availability of materials at the TCU libraries as well as more than 100 other libraries. In addition, a cooperative video collection maintained at MSUM makes videos available for onsite viewing and checkout. For details, contact a TCU library.

Bus and Parking Services

A Tri-College bus schedule provides intercampus transportation to Concordia, MSUM, and NDSU every half hour. The bus is operated weekdays by the City of Fargo during the NDSU/MSUM academic year; it is not available during the summer. Bus schedules are available at the TCU office and at several locations on each campus.

A separate parking permit is not issued for Tri- College University parking. If vehicles have a current home-campus permit, they may be parked in the following lots on other campuses.

• Concordia: TCU students, faculty, and staff can park in Parking Lot MH/C. Parking restrictions are strictly enforced.
• MSUM: TCU students can park in Lots ED, P and K. TCU faculty and staff may park in Lots ED, P, K, and F.
• NDSU: TCU students can park in T or R Lot. TCU faculty and staff permits are valid for T-1 Lot.

All drivers are subject to traffic regulations of the respective institutions. Lot restrictions are eased after 5 p.m., but there is no overnight parking.