Understanding Student Charge and University Bookstore FAQ’s
Q. What is Student Charge and how does it work?
A. Student Charge allows students to purchase bookstore items with their Mizzou ID and charge it to their University account. Student Charge is available for any student who is financially enrolled at the University. Financial enrollment means that a student has made the minimum educational fee payment for the academic semester. Students may not Student Charge if they are not officially enrolled for the current semester (If your student is not enrolled for summer school, they can’t charge during the summer semester.)
Q. Is there a limit to how much students may charge?
A. Your student may charge a maximum of $1,000 per semester. Making a Student Charge payment will not adjust the balance back to $1,000. Once the $1,000 limit is reached, another form of payment is required. Students may track the status of their account by keeping their bookstore receipts. When a purchase is made with Student Charge, the receipt will indicate the remaining account balance. This is a great way to budget throughout a semester.
Q. How will I be billed for bookstore purchases?
Each month the Cashiers Office (15 Jesse Hall) mails a billing statement that contains various charges, such as residence hall and educational fees. Bookstore charges appear on this bill as a “bookstore student sale.” Since the MU billing statement is not itemized, it’s important for your student to keep the bookstore receipt given at the point of sale.
Q. May I inquire about what my student charged in the bookstore?
A. We truly want to work with you on this. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), passed by Congress in 1974, protects the confidentiality of your student’s educational records. This is a good thing for your student but can be really frustrating for parents. To talk about your student’s bookstore purchases, we need your student’s consent. This can be done through the Registrar’s office or by filling out a form at the bookstore.