University of South Carolina  

University of South Carolina Parent E-news: August 2017
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It's hard to believe, but the fall semester is almost here! These last few weeks of summer are sure to be filled with packing and preparations as families across the nation get ready to see their students off for another great year at Carolina. We are anxiously awaiting the first week of classes, and all the fun that comes along with the start of the semester!

Our Parents Programs staff enjoyed meeting thousands of new Carolina parents and family members at New Student Orientation in June and July. This month, we welcome more than 6,000 new members to our Parents Association! We look forward to working with families, new and returning. Remember, we're always just a phone call or email away! 

Heading to Columbia for Move-In Day? Find us on Greene Street at the Gamecock Family Roost! Learn more here (Aug. 16 and Aug. 22). 

Stay connected with the Office of Parents Programs; make sure to like us on Facebook , follow us on Instagram  and visit the Parents Programs website  for timely posts and monthly tips to supplement this newsletter. 

Pictured above: Cocky and his parents at Parents Weekend 2016. Have you registered for Parents Weekend 2017 yet? Don't miss this fun-filled family weekend!
Parents Weekend 2017
Mark your calendar for Parents Weekend 2017 , to be held Oct. 6-8! Registration is required and space is limited.

Registration is now OPEN! Please visit the Office of Parents Programs website to register, learn more about the schedule, and prepare for an unforgettable Gamecock weekend!
University Housing news
Fall 2017 Move-In
University Housing is pleased to welcome parents and students home this fall on Tuesday, Aug. 22. Discover more about Move-In 2017 by clicking here.

Questions? Visit the University Housing website or call 803-777-4283.
Student Health Services
Center for Health and Well-Being
Student Health Services has officially moved to the Center for Health and Well-Being. Students can visit the second floor welcome desk just behind the Russell House University Union for directions. The Thomson Building's front entrance is closed for renovations. Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention & Prevention is on the first floor of the Thomson Building; their entrance is just across from Bull Street Garage. Psychiatry is on the fourth floor of the Thomson Building; students should visit the second floor welcome desk in the Center for Health and Well-Being for directions on how to access their services. Thank you for your patience as Student Health Services undergoes renovations and settles in to their new center. 
New from CarolinaCard 
Adding Carolina Ca$h 
The CarolinaCard Office is proud to introduce a new and simple way to upload Carolina Ca$h to your student's account. 
 
We are happy to announce a new GET Funds option for parents, guardians, and relatives to upload Carolina Ca$h to their student's card. Based on the new multi-factor authentication -- parents, guardians, and relatives are not able to upload Carolina Ca$h to their student's card using the Self-Service Carolina portal.   
 
By visiting get.cbord.com/sc and selecting the "Parents, Guardians, and Other Relatives" link at the bottom, you can upload Carolina Ca$h, at any point, to your student's account. The information needed to upload Carolina Ca$h is a VIPID number, the student's last name and their date of birth.
 
We also recommend students download the new GET App through the Apple or Android App Store. Students can use the app to request Carolina Ca$h deposits as well as check their current balance. They can even browse food locations and services that accept Carolina Ca$h to see where they'd like to eat or shop. Additional features will be added in the near future to the Get App. Stay tuned for updates! 
From the Bursar's Office
Payment deadline for fall 2017
Tuition and fees for fall 2017 are due by 5 p.m. on Aug. 16

College savings plans
Students who will use 529 education savings and trust funds should send a copy of their tuition statement to their plan administrator as soon as possible to ensure funds are disbursed and arrive before the deadline. Payment plan options are available if needed and can be processed via SSC. Please note that payment is due immediately for students who register after the payment deadline.

For more information from the Office of the Bursar, click here
FAQs from the USC Postal Service
Who gets a mailbox assignment and box combination?
Any student assigned to an on-campus residence hall through University Housing (excluding those assigned to Aspyre, Park Place or 650 Lincoln) and students residing in Greek Village are automatically assigned a mailbox.

How can my student view their mailbox assignment and box combination?
  2. Scroll down to the "Personal" section. Do not log in to Self Service Carolina.
3. Click "View mailbox assignment and box combination."
4. Log in using network username or VIPID.

When can my student see their mailbox assignment and box combination?
Students who have already received their housing assignment for fall 2017 can now see their mailbox assignment. Students who have NOT received their housing assignment for fall 2017 will receive their mailbox assignment as soon as they receive their housing assignment. Box combinations will be available on Aug. 22.

When can I start sending packages to my student's mailbox?
Aug. 7 is the first day the Student Mail Center will be receiving packages for students enrolled for fall 2017.

How do I address packages to my student's mailbox?
All mail and parcels must have the student's first name, middle initial, last name and box number. The middle initial helps in the event another student has the same first and last name. This is the proper format for addressing student packages:

Student Name (including middle initial; NO nicknames)
USC Student Box _____ (5-digit box number)
1400 Greene Street
Columbia, SC 29225

**Please keep in mind that student mailboxes are campus mailboxes and not US Postal Service PO boxes!

What cannot be received at the Student Mail Center?
Follow the link below to see what shipments/deliveries will not be accepted at the Student Mail Center:

When is the first day my student can pick up packages?
Students can begin to pick up their packages on their designated move-in day.

How will my student know if they have a package or piece of mail?
For any accountable mail and packages that will not fit in the student's mailbox, the student will receive an email when the package has arrived at the Student Mail Center and is ready to be picked up. Letters and untracked packages small enough to fit in the student's mailbox will be placed in the mailbox. Students are encouraged to check mailboxes weekly for non-accountable letter mail. 
Total Solar Eclipse 2017
Mark your calendar for Aug. 18-21, as Columbia, SC will be the total solar eclipse capital of the east coast! Columbia, SC and its surrounding region are positioned in the best location to witness a spectacle that has not been seen in the continental United States since 1979. Throughout the long weekend, attractions, cultural institutions, hospitality and retail businesses in Columbia, will host special eclipse-related events leading up to nature's grandest spectacle. For more information about the total solar eclipse, please visit: http://totaleclipsecolumbiasc.com.  
Opportunities to share with your student
Multifactor Authentication
All students need to register for Multifactor Authentication (MFA). MFA is sometimes referred to as two-step or two-factor authentication, and is an overly technical-sounding term for a very simple solution. Think of it as "password plus." It is an easy way to make sure that the only one using your credentials is you. Learn more about and register for Multifactor Authentication by visiting this link

Carolina Welcome
Carolina Welcome is a great way to start the semester! Aug. 22-27 will be filled with fun events to welcome all students to campus. Click here for the schedule of events.

Registration for Service Saturday now open
Students are invited to participate in Service Saturday, headed by the Leadership and Service Center.  This signature monthly event allows representatives from the university to collaborate with and serve the surrounding Columbia community.  Preregistration for the Aug. 26 Service Saturday is open now.  For more information, visit the  Service Saturdays website .  

Opportunity Knocks Part-time Job Fair
Students interested in part-time work-study or non-work-study positions should join the Career Center for the Opportunity Knocks Part-time Job Fair. The fair will be held Friday, Aug. 25 in the Russell House Ballroom from 1 to 4 p.m. Learn more by visiting the Career Center's website at www.sc.edu/career. 
University news updates
UofSC community unites to welcome eclipse
Columbia is one of the best places to experience America's first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse since 1918. At Carolina, we're celebrating our community's front-row seat with celestial exhibitions, expert discussions and scientific research. From astronomy to history, we've got the inside view of the eclipse.  Read more>>>

Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year: Clifford Leaman
Clifford Leaman's love of teaching and performing is obvious to Leaman's students and colleagues, who describe him as a master performer and teacher. This year, the university presented Leaman, who has taught saxophone at Carolina for the past 17 years, with its highest teaching honor: the Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year Award.  Read more>>>

Polar Explorer
UofSC professor Lori Ziolkowski spent a month in Antarctica, looking for life in an extreme environment. The fruits of her journey may one day provide crucial clues for those venturing even further afield - to Mars, for instance.  Read more>>>

Stay updated on the latest   University of South Carolina news .
Important upcoming dates
Aug. 16: Payment deadline for fall 2017
Aug. 22: Move-In
Aug. 23: New Student Convocation
Aug. 24: First day of classes
Aug. 24: Alcohol Edu & Haven part 1 due
Aug. 25: Part-time job fair
Aug. 30: Last day to change/drop a course without a grade of "W" 
Aug. 30: Student Organization Fair
Sept. 4: Labor Day (no classes)
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:
scparents@sc.edu
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