University of South Carolina  

University of South Carolina Parent E-news: December 2014 
In This Issue
Parents Annual Fund
December Commencement
Supporting student during finals
Opportunities for your student
News from the Bursar
University news updates
Important dates
Quick Links

 

 
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It may be hard to believe, but the fall semester is already coming to an end. This Friday, Dec. 5, is the last day of classes for your student. Final exams will be held Dec. 8-15. 

Be sure to have a conversation with your student about his/her plans for winter break. Coordinate how your student will come home after completing final exams. We encourage you to discuss family expectations for the break upfront to avoid any potential conflicts. We hope you enjoy the time with your student during the winter break! 

Your student can expect his/her grades to be posted on my.sc.edu. If your student is a first-year student and his/her first-semester grades are lower than expected, please keep in mind that grades often improve in subsequent semesters as students adjust to a new life away from home. If your student seems to be struggling with college coursework or wants to take advantage of resources to be more successful in class, encourage him/her to visit the Student Success Center

Stay connected with the Office of Parents Programs by liking us on Facebook, following us on Instagram and visiting the Gamecock Family Connection blog.

 

Monthly tips for parents. Visit the Office of Parents Programs website regularly to review the monthly tips that serve as a supplement to this newsletter.  

Parents Annual Fund
It's the season of giving, and gifts from parents are important to provide funding for USC programs that tuition alone does not cover. This year, the Parents Annual Fund is supporting the new Leadership and Service Center. Located on the second floor of the Russell House University Union and opening in January 2015, this is the place where USC students will start their journey into campus and community involvement. Your donations also help support Dinner Dialogues, a program that provides funding for professors to host their undergraduate classes at their homes for dinner and increases the interaction between faculty members and their students.

You should receive a phone call this academic year from one of the student Carolina Callers asking you to make a donation to the Parents Annual Fund. You also can make your gift online. After arriving on the giving page and entering the amount of your gift, please select "I would like to specify an area to support," and when prompted, type "Parents Annual Fund."

Thank you for making a contribution, no matter what the size, to programs that have a direct impact on the lives of USC students.
December commencement information

Congratulations to your graduating student! December commencement will be held Monday, Dec. 15 at 3:30 p.m. in the Colonial Life Arena. Click the links below for more information about Commencement: 

Encourage your student to stay connected with Carolina after graduation by joining My Carolina Alumni Association

Russell House Study Union
The Russell House University Union becomes the Russell House Study Union during finals week!
  • The Russell House will stay open until 2 a.m. Dec. 7-12 for late-night studying. The Horseshoe Deli will be open late for students to grab a late dinner or snack while they are studying.
  • Several meeting rooms will be set up to accommodate individual students and small groups for studying all day, everyday during finals.
  • Free photocopying will be available at the Russell House Information Desk Dec. 1-15.
  • Dec. 9-12, students can enjoy free coffee and snacks in the Russell House lobby starting at 9 p.m.
  • The popular "Russell House Review" will be held Monday, Dec. 8 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. This exciting night will feature a free late-night breakfast in the Grand Market Place from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.; massages from licensed massage therapists; exam help packets provided by the Student Success Center; a stress ball making and crafting table and self-hypnosis and self-massage workshops provided by Changing Carolina. All of this is free with a student's Carolina Card!
  • Students can access study tips via Twitter: @RussellHouseUU
Opportunities to share with your student

Career fairs set for spring 2015
The Career Center has set the dates for the spring career fairs for students. The Career Fest (for non-technical careers) and Science, Engineering & Technology (S.E.T.) Fair are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27. Both Career Fest and the S.E.T. Fair will be held in the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center from noon to 4 p.m. Employers will be present to talk with students and alumni about internships, cooperative education and full-time positions. Education Recruitment Day, which is for students and alumni interested in working in K-12 education, is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25.

CarolinaCard
As the end of the semester approaches, remember that you can add Carolina Cash to your student's CarolinaCard 24/7 at my.sc.edu/carolinacardOptional fees now are open on my.sc.edu where your student can add Carolina Cash and choose a meal plan for Spring 2015. Your student can use Carolina Cash for all of his/her on- and off-campus needs. As a reminder, you can load funds from financial aid to your student's CarolinaCard at my.sc.edu to use financial aid to pay for books and supplies.

Flu shots now available
The Thomson Student Health Center has flu shots available for students for $10. Students can get their shots by visiting the health center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. No appointment is required.

MLK Days of Service
The largest campus-wide community service event recognizes Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy through two days of service. Students can make a positive impact in the greater Columbia area by joining hundreds of fellow students, faculty and staff in keeping Dr. King's dream alive. Registration is now open for USC's two days of service, which will be held Jan. 19 and 24. Students can register here.

Student Government
Is your student interested in running for an office in Student Government? Candidate interest meetings for students who want to run for office will be held on Dec. 2 and Jan. 13. Students running for office should file for candidacy Jan. 20-21, 2015. 
News from the Bursar

Spring 2015 bills

Please be sure your student reviews his/her bill thoroughly, checking that all charges are present and accurate. The online and in-person payment deadline for Spring 2015 is Jan. 7. The deadline for payment by mail is Jan. 2. Payment plans for the spring semester are available through your student's SSC account.

Spring 2015 fee payment

Spring 2015 fee payment will take place at 516 Main Street Jan. 5-9 and Jan 12-16 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Classes will be dropped if tuition and fees are not paid by 5 p.m. on Jan. 7.

Refunds

Financial aid overage checks will be disbursed beginning Jan. 6. If your student signed up for direct deposit, the refund should be in his/her bank account within 72 hours of Jan. 6. If he/she did not sign up for direct deposit, he/she will receive a paper check in 7-10 business days after Jan. 6.

Authorized users
Students have the ability to assign authorized users to their account in SSC. This authorization will allow the authorized user to see the student's bill, payment history, 1098T information and payment plan, as well as speak with the Bursar's Office staff about the student's account. Please note that if your student previously submitted a FERPA release form, he/she still will need to set authorized users in SSC.

For more information from the Office of the Bursar, click here.

University news updates

IBM, Fluor partner with UofSC

It's now official: IBM, one of the largest and most respected technology companies in the world, is partnering with the University of South Carolina and will take up residence on the Columbia campus. Read More>> 

 

Road trip warrior

Last year, if you had asked University of South Carolina junior Jasmine Johnson what she would be doing with the rest of her life, she probably would have said she was staying in South Carolina to teach. Read More>>

 

Stay updated on the latest University of South Carolina news.

Important upcoming dates
Dec. 2: Tree lighting on the Horseshoe at 6 p.m.
Dec. 5: Last day of classes
Dec. 6: Reading day (no classes)
Dec. 8-15: Final exams
Dec. 15: Commencement
Dec. 16: Residence halls close at 10 a.m.
Jan. 1: FAFSA available for 2015-2016
Jan. 7: Residence halls open at 8 a.m. 
Jan. 12: Spring semester classes begin 
Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no classes)
Jan. 20: Last day to change/drop a course without a grade of "W" being recorded
Jan. 27: Career Fest; Science, Engineering and Technology Job Fair 
Feb. 2: Last day to apply for May Graduation 
Feb. 7: Student Leadership and Diversity Conference 
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 email 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
Email:
[email protected]
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