Metro College Alliance

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, a new Metro College Alliance (MCA) course exchange agreement will serve students in place of the Tri-College University consortium, which sunsets at the end of 2024. Students will continue to enjoy broadened educational opportunities through this partnership and the same seamless course enrollment process. The MCA is designed to adapt to the evolving higher education landscape, ensuring that students continue to benefit from the collaborative spirit of the five colleges and universities that adhere to the agreement: Concordia College, Minnesota State University Moorhead, North Dakota State College of Science, North Dakota State University, and Minnesota State Community and Technical College.

About Metro College Alliance

MCA is a partnership between M State, Concordia College, Minnesota State University Moorhead, North Dakota State College of Science and North Dakota State University.

Through the MCA, M State students may take courses at the other campuses at the M State tuition rate and without going through separate admissions procedures. The MCA expands discipline offerings and course availability for students beyond their home campus.

Courses not eligible for MCA registration are those offered through NDSU's Division of Distance and Continuing Education, off-campus or weekend courses offered through MSUM, most workshops, independent study courses at Concordia and private music instruction at Concordia. In addition, some of the institutions do not allow for online courses to be taken via MCA enrollment.

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 or payment of those fees directly to the institution where the course is being offered.

Course limits

The course exchange is limited to two courses per student per semester per participating campus. The courses to be taken must not be offered at the student's home campus during that semester. Students are required to take at least one course at their home campus when participating in the MCA course exchange program (excluding summer session). Exceptions to the one course per semester limit among campuses are as follows:

Students who request enrollment in the Aerospace Studies/Air Force ROTC or Military Science/Army ROTC courses at NDSU;

Students who request enrollment in a course/lab pairing (lecture and corresponding lab, which are considered two separate courses);

Other requests for exceptions may be reviewed on an individual basis but will be granted on a very limited basis only after consultation and agreement between registrars at the impacted campuses.

Concordia does not participate in the course exchange during summer semester.

Grades

Grades received through the MCA course exchange will be applied to the student's home campus grade point average.

Credits

Credits earned through the MCA course exchange will appear on a student's transcript and be applied toward graduation requirements as though they were taken at their home campus.

Course substitutions

Students need to obtain advanced approval to substitute MCA courses for required courses in their major.

Library services

Students, faculty and staff of the allied institutions may use all of the libraries in the consortium. Circulating materials from MCA 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 MCA library.

Bus and parking services

Bus schedules are available at the MCA office and at several locations on each campus. There is no separate parking permit issued for MCA parking.

Drop/add deadlines

Students follow their home-campus deadlines to drop or add a course, not the deadlines of the MCA partner school where the course is offered or hosted.

Registration

Students register for MCA exchange courses at their home campus and pay their home campus tuition rate and fees.

Students interested in the MCA course exchange should review the MCA registration guide below.

M State students who wish to take a course via the MCA course exchange must complete the MCA registration form at the top of this page and submit it to Student Development Services on the Moorhead campus or send to registration@minnesota.edu.

Once a request has been submitted, information on the status will be sent to the student's M State email account. If a student is eligible to take the requested course (i.e., the course qualifies as part of the course exchange and all applicable prerequisites have been met), the registration period is open, and space is available in the course, the student will be notified that the registration has been approved. Once registered in the course, email communication will be sent from the institution where the course is being hosted with additional information such as student ID, how to access email and/or other available resources, and where to park when attending class on that campus.

Students must buy any required textbooks or other materials needed for the course and check the institution's course schedule for class meeting days, times and locations. This course will follow the academic calendar of the institution hosting the course, which may be different from M State's calendar. Students should review both institutions' calendars carefully for semester start and end dates, final exam schedules, and any other non-class dates that may be different.

Students enrolled at one of the partner institutions who wish to take a course at M State must submit a completed MCA form to their home campus. The registrar's office at that institution will communicate with the student regarding the status of the request. Upon registration into a course at M State, the student will receive email communication from M State's registrar's office with details including student ID, email account access, parking information and other information.