Parents & Families
Your Redhawk is leaving the nest. We’ve got them. And you.
It doesn’t matter if your student is the first in the family to attend college, or is the latest in a long line of proud graduates, there’s a lot of information to take in. Questions are inevitable for you as a parent or family member. While SEMO promises to provide the excellent support you’ve come to expect from us, we understand you want to continue to provide yours too. We can help!
Welcome to the SEMO community. You, too, are always a Redhawk.
How To Apply
Applying for college shouldn’t be difficult. SEMO has made the process simple. There’s no application fee, your student doesn’t need an ACT or SAT score. There’s no essay writing either. All your student has to do is fill out and submit the application.
Costs and Scholarships
Top 20 Most Affordable College
Calculating Cost
Scholarships
More Financial Aid Options
Admitted. What's Next?
Congratulations! Welcome to the flock. We’re just as excited as you are that your Redhawk is taking the next bold step into their future. Now that they’re official, it’s time to get them formally enrolled and signed up for housing.
First STEP Orientation
First STEP is your student’s launchpad into life at SEMO. For you, it will introduce you to campus policies, connect you with other families, and help you learn strategies to support your student. During orientation, your student will be enrolling in classes, learning about the tools they’ll use, meet new friends, and more.
Sign Up Now for FirstSTEP Orientation
Housing
Your Redhawk is required to spend their first two years living on campus. Students living on campus have more opportunities to connect with classmates, network, and participate in events. This sets them up to thrive and helps them begin to set those deep roots we’re so proud of at SEMO. It creates confident, connected, and engaged individuals who are prepared for success.
How to Get Support on Campus?
-
Tutoring
Tutoring at SEMO is offered through Learning Assistance Programs, which provides free one-on-one and small group support in the Academic Support Lab to help with class assignments, test preparation, and key academic skills. Students can access help in writing, math, science, and many other courses, with both in-person and online options available so they can get support in the way that works best for them.
-
Health Clinic
You do not need to worry about what happens when your student is sick or needs someone to talk to. SEMO’s Health Clinic, located right on campus, offers medical care for common illnesses and access to counseling services so your student can get both physical and mental health support in one convenient, familiar setting.
-
Accessibility Services
Nothing should limit your student’s ability to thrive at SEMO. Accessibility Services works with students who need help getting to class, participating in course activities, or arranging accommodations, and partners with them to remove barriers so they have equal access to learning and campus life.
-
University Police
Student safety is important to us. SEMO’s University Police Department provides 24/7 campus safety so students can feel secure day and night. Officers work closely with local law enforcement, offer safety programs and resources, and are always reachable by phone if a student needs assistance or wants to report a concern.
What Can I Do?
Here are ways you can support your student while they are on campus.
If you are paying your student’s bill, they can designate you as an authorized payer in SEMO-Pay so you can view statements and make payments directly on their account.
Your student logs in to their mySEMO portal, opens SEMO-Pay, sends a payer invitation with your email address, and you will receive a secure link, username, and temporary password so you can set up your own access and manage payments on their behalf.
Want to give your student a treat and some extra spending money on campus for coffee or snacks? SEMO Dining offers Redbucks you can load onto your student's SEMO ID card and they can use at any dining venue on campus.
What Is FERPA?
-
FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that protects the privacy of a student’s education records.
-
At the college level, FERPA rights belong to the student, not the parent, so SEMO cannot automatically share grades, class schedules, or financial details with families without the student’s consent.
How FERPA Works at SEMO
-
Your student can choose to grant you access to certain academic and financial information, often through tools like the SEMO Family Hub or school-specific release forms.
-
This approach allows parents and supporters to stay informed and involved while FERPA ensures that the student’s records remain secure and ultimately under the student’s control.
Join the Family Portal
Take the Next Step
Contact Us
Location
Office
Mailing Address
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701-4710