An e-newsletter for parents and family members of students in their first year at Oregon State University.
We hope you will find this e-newsletter helpful and full of resources. Our goal of the e-newsletter is to provide parents and family members with information about the student experience and how to best support your student during their first year at OSU.
Welcome to Fall Term 
Dan Larson, Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Interim Dean of Student Life
 
Dear parents and family members,
 
The fall is an exciting time of year at OSU. The colors are changing, the campus is full of students, and your new students are learning what it means to be a member of Beaver Nation.

As a parent of a first-year student myself and as someone who has worked with first-year students for the past 22 years, I understand the transition from both perspectives.  

Your student is grappling with what it means to be an adult, and perhaps for the first time, they are beginning to understand the freedom and responsibility that this includes. As a parent or family member, you are adjusting to your routines and family dynamics in their absence. 
Paying the Bill

On October 5th, the first bill for the Fall 2016 term will be posted to your student's account. A notification email will be sent to your student's OSU email once a new statement is ready, and can be accessed by logging on at http://mybill.oregonstate.edu. An example of the email reads: "Your new billing statement has been issued and is now available for viewing at the following web site address: http://mybill.oregonstate.edu." 

This site is available 24 hours a day to make paying the bill more convenient. Students must use their ONID username and password to log into the site and pay their bill.  Students can also set up an authorized user who can sign in to the account and make payments on their behalf.  
Click to Continue Reading...
Campus Safety
 
Oregon State University community and the city of Corvallis are considered friendly and relatively safe communities, though neither is immune to the realities of the world. A safe and secure environment is made possible through each member of the Oregon State University community's involvement in crime prevention. Here are a few ways your student can be proactive about their safety on OSU's campus and in the Corvallis community:
 
Register Bikes with Public Safety:
Students can register their bicycle at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in  Cascade Hall . Registering discourages theft and aids in identification in the event of a theft. It is encouraged that your student attend a Bike Safety/Registration Workshop or come to the DPS office in  Cascade Hall prepared to provide the following information: Click to continue reading...
Registering to Vote
For many students, this will be their first national election they are eligible to vote in and we want to be sure all students are registered and can fully participate on November 8. 

For Oregon, the deadline for voter registration is October 18 and Oregon is a mail-in-ballot only state, which means no polling stations. Students have the option to register locally or to vote by absentee ballot from their home state/county. In general federal financial aid, residency, and dependent status for tax purposes are not impacted by a person's voter registration. 

More information can be found at:
Oregon Student Voting Guide
Other State Voting Guides


Computer Help
A lot of students don't realize that the Information Service (IS) Service Desk is the single point of contact for getting help with their computer while on campus. This includes assistance with the wireless network, Canvas, OSU email, Clickers, printing, etc. 

Students can access this service for free, by calling, emailing, or walking in. The IS Service Desk is located in 201 Milne Computer Center: 541-737-8787.

Free Student Planner
Free planners are available to students (until they are all are gone) and can be found at the following locations: Dixon Rec Center, the Valley Library, Kerr Admin A150, and the Academic Success Center in Waldo 102. 
September 21: First day of Fall term classes

October 2: Last day to drop a course by Web and receive 100% refund

October 5
: Tuition bills emailed to student's OSU email account. Payment due November 1. 

October 9: Last day to add a course- need departmental approval

October 16:
Last day to withdraw from a course in order to receive 50% refund

October 28-30:
OSU Homecoming

November 18-20:
Fall Family Weekend

FAFSA Update
Starting October 1st, the 2017-2018 FAFSA applications at FAFSA.ed.gov will be available! However, Oregon State University's FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline for 2017-2018 is still February 28th! The priority processing deadline is used to determine awarding of some funds. FAFSA applications submitted after February 28th will still be eligible for federal financial aid such as the Pell Grant and FORD Direct Loans. 2015 tax and income information will be used on the 2017-2018 FAFSA.

Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, FAFSA will be using tax information from two years prior. This means next year's FAFSA for 2017-2018 will be using the same 2015 tax information. We strongly encourage the use of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for both the 2016-2017 FAFSA and 2017-2018 FAFSA.

Benefits of the early FAFSA include:
  • Most 2015 taxes are already filed, so students and their families do not need to estimate income information and return to make corrections later.
  • More students will be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool at the time of their FAFSA application. This provides you with the actual tax information from the IRS for 2015.
  • Students can complete their FAFSA sooner, and have more time to explore and understand other financial aid options, such as state and private scholarships.
Questions or concerns ? Contact the Office of Financial Aid at financial.aid@oregonstate.edu or call 541-737-2241.
Fall Family Weekend

Fall Family Weekend -Nov. 18-20th- is an activity-filled weekend that allows students to share their college experiences with their family and loved ones. 
 
As everyone has their own definition of what "family" means, this year Fall Family Weekend has broadened the invitation list from just "Dads" weekend to include moms, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, OSU alumni, friends, and anyone students want to invite. With events for everyone, this year's event highlights include a Welcome Reception, Family Tailgater, Oregon State University vs University of Arizona football game, Fall Comedy Show featuring Paula Poundstone, college open houses, brunch, OSU Recreational Sports, Craft Center activities, and many more that promise fun and unforgettable memories shared with your guests. 
 
Stay tuned to our website for updates and registration at  http://sli.oregonstate.edu/osupc/family ! Register and you will receive one free Family Photo!
As the finale to the Orange and Black Rally held during Welcome Week--
all the new students gather for the annual OSU class picture.
Helpful Links
Please feel free to forward this e-newsletter to other parents & family members who have a student in their first-year at Oregon State University.  They can sign up to receive future e-newsletters here.