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Leah Bittner

“The SMSU RN to BSN Program does not have you take a set amount of credits each semester. This flexible scheduling was perfect for me as it allowed me to vary the amount of credits I took each semester. I would have struggled without that flexibility as I am a non-traditional student who is also a wife, mother of four, and worked full time while completing my degree. This program is designed to fit into your life, whether you want to be a full-time or part-time student.”

Leah Bittner, '22 Alum
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Troubleshooting Registration/Enrollment Issues

Scroll down for answers to the following questions:

    1. How to get started

    2. My student can't remember their SMSU ID

    3. The ID and/or password don't seem to be working.

    4. My student receives a message stating "account cannot be verified" when attempting to use the self-service page.

    5. My student e-applied. What now?

    6. Not sure if the student correctly e-applied?

    7. Where is the registration link?

    8. We are getting a "Cohort code Error" when registering

    9. How long do students have to register?

    10. How to confirm that all my students have registered correctly?

Answers:

 

1. How to get started?

If a student has not done anything yet, they need to E-apply. Follow the step-by-step e-application guide exactly, as it’s very important that they apply as a College Now student and not an incoming freshman.

If they have a StarID from another Minnesota State institution, they should select the "Login" tab to ensure their application is linked to their existing file.

Step-by-Step to the E-Application

Link to the E-Application

 

2. My student can’t remember their Star ID and/or password.

They should be able to use the StarID Self Service page to look up their required information. Here are the steps they should follow:

  1. Go to the Minnesota State Star ID Self-Service site (or go to https://starid.minnstate.edu and select “activate your Star ID”)
  2. Choose the “Forgot Star ID” or “Forgot StarID and Password” option (whichever fits your situation)
  3. Select the “Personal Email Address” option under Students
  4. Enter the personal email address that we have on file for them
  5. Retrieve the verification email that will be sent to the email address on file and follow the activation steps included in the email

If students no longer have access to the email address on file or the system does not recognize their email, you will need to contact Ellie Ahmann, Assistant Director of College Now, at Ellie.Ahmann@SMSU.edu.

 

3. The ID and/or password don’t seem to be working

The first thing is to make sure you are using the correct StarID and password. The ID will be an 8-digit number (two letters, four numbers, two letters), and the password is whatever they set during the application or activation process. If they have forgotten their password, they can look it up electronically. See #2: My student can’t remember their StarID and/or password? For instructions on looking up passwords electronically.

 

 

4. My student receives a message stating "account cannot be verified" when attempting to use the self-service page.

This means either they have more than one StarID account in the system under that same email account, or they do not have that email listed on any of their MinnState accounts. You will need to contact the College Now Office with the student’s name, their email address, and the error message they receive, and we will look into their file on this end.

 

 

5. My student e-applied. What now?

Your student should receive their StarID and set their password during the application process. They will want to keep this information for later, as it is how they will log in and register for their courses. Please allow at least 48 hours after e-applying for the application to be processed before trying to register. Even though they have their login credentials, we may not have admitted them as a student yet. After 48 hours, we should be ready for them to register. Registration windows are open for the first 10 days from when the course begins.

Step-by-Step Guide to Registration

 

6. Not sure if the student correctly e-applied?

If the student e-applied, they should have received their StarID and set their password. Have the student go to the Online Application and click "LOGIN".

If they can log in to this site, they should be able to see whether they successfully applied to SMSU.

  • If an application is listed for SMSU under “Submitted Applications,” it does not need to be reapplied for.
  • If there is an SMSU application waiting to be sent, under “Non-Submitted Application,” go ahead and submit it.
  • If there is NOT an SMSU application listed or waiting to be sent, click “Apply to another institution” at the top and fill out the remainder of the application. (Print a copy of the Step-by-Step Guide to the E-Application to lead you through the important steps of the e-application).

 

7. Where is the registration link?

  • Can be found by going to www.smsu.edu and clicking on the “Admission” tab and then "College Now" from the drop-down. From there, you will see a "Register for College Now Course" option.
  • Or go directly to the registration page

Print a copy of the Step-by-Step Guide to Registration to walk you through the process.

 

8. We are getting a “Cohort Code Error” when registering.

Several things could be going on:

1. If you see a Cohort Code Error before you actually finish registering for the course, do not worry about it. Continue on. If you are able to register for the course, it’s not a problem.

2. If you are getting the Cohort Code Error after clicking on "register for checked courses," there are two possibilities:

  • The student just e-applied, and we do not yet have them admitted into our system. Remember, it may take us up to 48 hours after the student e-applies for them to be in the system. If this is the case, try registering again after 48 hours have passed.
  • OR, if they applied over 48 hours ago and are still getting the error, there may be a true Cohort Code Issue, so contact Ellie Ahmann, Assistant Director of College Now, at Ellie.Ahmann@smsu.edu to check the assigned cohort.

 

9. How long do students have to register?

The registration window is open for the first 10 days after the course starts. Students will need their StarID and their password to register. The registration link can be found at this link

 

10. How to confirm all my students have registered correctly?

After all students have supposedly registered, it is required that teachers log in to their eServices account to verify that the eServices roster matches the students in the course. To access eServices, teachers can go to www.smsu.edu and click on the “Menu” option in the top left corner and then “eServices" from the drop-down list.

Or go directly to eServices here.

Teachers will need to know their StarID and their password.

If a teacher has forgotten their StarID and/or password, they will need to reset them as students do. Here are the necessary steps to follow in order to reset a password and access a StarID:

  1. Go to the Minnesota State Star ID Self-Service site (or go to https://starid.minnstate.edu and select “activate your Star ID”)
  2. Choose the “Forgot Star ID” or “Forgot StarID and Password” option (whichever fits the situation)
  3. Select the “Personal Email Address” option under Students
  4. Enter the personal email address that we have on file for them
  5. Retrieve the verification email that will be sent to the email address on file and follow the activation steps included in the email

If teachers run into problems accessing their accounts, they will need to contact Ellie Ahmann, Assistant Director of College Now, at Ellie.Ahmann@SMSU.edu.

The only way for principals or counselors to verify rosters is by having teachers print out course rosters.

 

 

 

Last Modified: 6/18/26 4:15 PM | Website Feedback