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Dear Carolina parent,
Move-in Day at the University of South Carolina is just two weeks away on Saturday, Aug. 14! As you and your student prepare for the transition of moving to campus, we are here to help with any questions you may have. Call the Parents Assistance Line at 1-800-868-6752 or send an e-mail to scparents@sc.edu.
Is your student living on campus? Make sure to read University Housing's Move-in Guide for more details about moving in! Also, visit the USC Welcome website for complete details about getting settled on campus.
As the semester begins, encourage your student to be independent and act responsibly. If your student faces a problem, point him or her in the right direction but refrain from "coming to the rescue." By allowing your student to solve his or her own problems, you will demonstrate that you have confidence in him or her!
The photo above shows the Parent Information Tent on Move-in Day. Make sure to stop by from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the Russell House! | |
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Parents Weekend registration ends August 27
A limited number of football tickets are available for the Parents Weekend football game, so register soon! Fall at Carolina is perfect for social events, educational sessions, open houses, and football! Parents Weekend 2010 will be held September 17-19. Registration is available now and will end on August 27 at 4 p.m. (EDT). We encourage you to register soon if you are interested in purchasing football tickets to the game against Furman University because we have a limited number of tickets available.
Click here for more information, to view the tentative schedule of events, and to register. Please note that activities are still being added to the schedule of events, so check back periodically for updates. A final schedule of events will be given to all registered Parents Weekend participants during check-in. (If you have already registered, be on the lookout for an e-mail with final details about two weeks before Parents Weekend.)
Registration for the Parents Weekend 5K is available now through Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. Run or walk the 5K course with your family!
Parents Weekend is a great time to visit campus and your student's college home for a weekend of activities planned especially for families! We look forward to seeing you at Parents Weekend in September! |
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NEW! Monthly tips for parents
The Office of Parents Programs website has a new feature to help parents navigate the college experience at Carolina. Extensive monthly tips will be added throughout the year to help you stay updated on what you should be talking with your student about, things your student might be experiencing that month, and resources to help you with deadlines and questions you might have. If you have feedback on this new resource or suggestions for items that would help make this page more helpful, please let us know! For complete information about what you need to know for August, click here. |
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Move-in weekend updates
Move-in Day for campus housing is Saturday, August 14. Visit the Office of Parents Programs' monthly tips for August for complete details about Move-in Weekend.
University Housing. Review the Move-in Guide for more details about each residence hall, what to bring, and much more! The residence halls will open for Move-in Day on Saturday, August 14 at 8 a.m. Students who need to arrive on campus earlier can request temporary housing in Bates House, which is available Monday, August 9 through Friday, August 13. Early arrival will be available for all residence halls on Friday, August 13 except in Bates House, Honors Residence, and McBryde. Requests for early arrivals should be completed by August 12.Paying Fees. Bills are available now on VIP for the fall semester. During Move-in Weekend, the Bursar's Office will be open for fee payment in Petigru (room 206) on Friday, August 13 (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Saturday, August 14 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.). The mail-in payment deadline for the fall semester is August 6, and the deadline to pay fees for the fall semester is August 20. Please note that bills can be paid through VIP using MasterCard, American Express, Discover or e-check; by mail; or in person. Parent Information Tent. Make plans to stop by the Parent Information Tent in front of the Russell House on Move-in Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to get more information about the Office of Parents Programs and the Department of Student Life! Pick up water and soft drinks, and cool off with the misting fan while listening to some good music. We'll also have maps of campus and the city of Columbia and can help you get where you need to go!  Carolina Welcome. Encourage your student to get involved by participating in the many Carolina Welcome events and activities that will be offered during the week leading up to the start of classes. It's a great time to make new friends and get involved in campus life! Be Prepared for a Hot Day! Summer days in South Carolina are warm, so be prepared for the heat (and the chance of afternoon rain showers). On Move-in Day, water will be available around campus, but make sure to bring your own water bottle! Or stop by the University Bookstore at the Russell House to purchase one.
Carolina Dining. Need to fill your student's fridge before you leave campus? Stop by Carolina Dining's "Fill My Fridge" tent sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 14 in the Grand Market Place located inside the Russell House. Carolina Dining makes it convenient and affordable to purchase items like peanut butter and jelly, frozen pizza and Hot Pockets, fresh produce, fruit, milk, cereal, and soup. When you take a break from moving in, stop by the Grand Market Place for a refreshing snack, lunch, or dinner and make sure to visit the "Fill My Fridge" tent area! For more information, click here. New Student Convocation. New students and their families are invited to New Student Convocation, the official academic welcome to the University, on Sunday, August 15, at 4 p.m. at the Carolina Coliseum. Prior to convocation, the colleges and schools host receptions for families, and immediately following the ceremony is a reception with President Pastides and other University administrators. Click here for more information and to RSVP. |
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Leadership and service opportunities
Service Leadership Institute
Is your first-year student interested in jumping into the Carolina experience and getting involved? Does he/she want to meet other first-year students, learn more about his/her leadership style, and connect to the Columbia community through service? Encourage your student to consider applying for the Service Leadership Institute! Up to 25 new students will be selected to participate in this interactive and fun 3 ˝ day program designed to provide exposure to opportunities on campus and in the community. Institute sessions will occur Sunday, August 15 - Wednesday, August 18. Participants must be enrolling at USC-Columbia for the first time and are required to attend all scheduled sessions. For more information including the schedule and online application, click here. Emerging Leaders Program
Does your student want to learn more about his/her leadership capabilities, receive one-on-one mentoring and support from experienced student leaders, and develop the confidence to use his/her leadership skills to make a difference at Carolina? The Emerging Leaders Program is an 8-week leadership certification program that strives to provide Carolina students with the tools that they need to become successful student leaders. Workshops take place on Thursdays from 4-5:30 p.m. The program starts Sept. 9 and ends Nov. 11 with a graduation ceremony. The deadline to apply is Sept. 2. For more information and to apply, click here. |
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Important reminder from the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
Starting with the 2010-11 academic year, the University of South Carolina has transitioned to the Federal Direct Loan program. Students receiving a federal direct subsidized or unsubsidized loan must accept these loans on VIP before receiving the funds. This is a new requirement.
To complete this requirement, students should log into VIP, choose "Financial" from the navigation, and then choose "Show Me My Financial Aid Awards for 2010-11." The student can then accept the loan online (or decline the loan online, if they do not wish to accept it) by following the instructions provided.
Also, if your student has not yet signed the new Master Promissory Note (MPN) or completed entrance counseling for his or her direct loans, he/she can complete these items here. Access to loan funding for payment of educationally related expenses cannot occur without all of these requirements fulfilled.
If your student needs assistance with this process, encourage him/her to contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships by phone at 803-777-8134 or by e-mail. |
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New publications for parents available online
The Parents Calendar and Handbook 2010-11 is available now on our website! This publication features important University dates, an A to Z resource guide to the University, and much more to help you navigate the 2010-11 academic year. Copies will be available for you to pick up at the Parent Information Tent on Move-in Day and at Parents Weekend. Talking Points, a joint publication of the Office of Parents Programs and the Office of Substance Abuse Prevention and Education, also is now available online. This publication is mailed to families of incoming first-year and transfer students to encourage them to have conversations with their students about healthy decision-making, but we hope that all families will continue to discuss this topic with their students. |
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University news updates
Dignitaries honor Hollings, celebrate library dedication
In near record-breaking heat, a crowd of 1,240 had an even hotter ticket in town --- one that got them into the dedication of the University of South Carolina's new Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library, where Vice President Joe Biden entertained the audience and paid homage to his friends and former colleague. The noon ceremony, attended by friends and family of former Sen. Ernest F. Hollings as well as dignitaries and University faculty, staff and students, took place inside the Thomas Cooper Library, which is connected to the Hollings Library by a glass-enclosed walkway. Biden spoke affectionately of Hollings, whom he sat next to for 36 years in the U.S. Senate, and congratulated the University on its new library. U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, Hollings, and USC President Dr. Harris Pastides also spoke. Read more>>
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Please continue to visit our website for information and resources at www.sa.sc.edu/parents. As always, we are only a phone call or e-mail away, and we encourage your feedback!
Office of Parents Programs
University of South Carolina
Website: www.sa.sc.edu/parents
Parents Assistance Line: 1-800-868-6752
E-mail: scparents@sc.edu |
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