Step 1:Understand the Process

Step 1: Understand the Process

links and resources

Common Language

Home Campus - where you are earning your degree and paying tuition.
Host Campus - where you want to take the Tri-College class.
Partner Campus - Tri-College is a partnership. Concordia College, M State, MSUM, and NDSU are the partner campuses.
Open Enrollment - the date Tri-College students begin registering at a host campus. Go to the Tri-College Comined Academic Calendar
Tri-College Class - a class taken at a partner campuses using the Tri-College Course Exchange Agreement

4 Campuses | 4 Registration Systems | 5 Basics

Tri-College is an amazing option for enrolled students and a one-of-a-kind agreement to mazimize student opportunities.

The concept is based on this simple idea: at the end of registration, there are sometimes open seats in a class, so why not make those available so Tri-College students get the classes they need?

Bottom line - the course exchange can make a huge difference keeping students on track for graduation.

5 Basic Concepts

#1. Unique process to register

Registration starts at "open enrollment" after all home campus students have finished registering.
Each college has its own registration software systems, and the systems are not connected.
- PDF forms are the best way to process forms between the campuses and save student registration documents.
You remain an enrolled student at the home campus with access to electronic course materials and resources at the host campus.
The process takes additional time, but well worth it considering you get to maximize your academic opportunities.

#2. No additional cost

There are no application fees.
You pay tuition to the home campus for the total number of credits taken at the home + host campus.
Financial aid is distributed by the home campus for the total number of credits taken.
Special note: campuses have a small number of classes with a special course fee paid by all students in the class. (Examples include art supplies, a lab fee, etc.) If everyone in the class is required to pay the fee, then the Tri-College student pays the fee directly to the host campus business office.

#3. Follow the academic calendar and policies of both campuses

For deadlines specific to the class (for example, the start date, holidays, breaks, finals schedule) the student follows the host campus deadlines.
For deadlines specific to being an enrolled student at the home campus (for example, add dates, tutition payment, financial aid distribution) the student follows the home campus deadlines.
Review the chart on the Links & Resources page

#4. Seamless transcript

Class counts toward graduation as if you'd take it at the home campus.
Grades are calculated in the home campus GPA.

#5. Benefits for students

Students don't have to relocate to get the classes they need, so this saves time and money.
Between all the campuses, there are over 3,000 classes offered each semester.