Issue 4 of 6

July 13, 2018

Want to receive a newsletter like this every month? Sign up for Texas Parents, the official association for all UT Austin parents and families. You'll receive monthly communications similar to Next Steps with timely information to help you help your student. There are two levels of membership: Complimentary and Supporting, learn more   here .  If you are already a member, welcome and thank you for signing up.

Dear Longhorn Families,   Welcome to the Longhorn community. Soon, your student will be immersed in a university culture that celebrates intellectual curiosity, creativity, self-expression, and diversity of people and ideas.   Thank you for trusting us to provide your student with the world-class education they deserve. Here, your student will have the resources and support needed to grow, thrive, and be inspired to change the world after graduation.   As the executive vice president and provost, I am responsible for ensuring that each student receives the very best academic experience, and to prepare them for life after graduation. Whether that be identifying a career and finding their first job, continuing their education in a graduate or professional school, or pursuing public service, I work to ensure their experiences and education enrich their lives and prepare them for the next step.   At UT, your student will learn from the best faculty. Our professors inspire, challenge and encourage students, tapping into their potential and helping them accomplish whatever they set out to do. Encourage your student to take the time to meet with professors. Our faculty care about students and want to see them succeed. Research shows that students who take advantage of the connection with their professors are more likely to be successful in college and also find success later in life.   You play an important role in supporting your student to stay on track to graduate. Students who graduate on time are more attractive candidates for employers, start earning income earlier, and incur less debt. To do this, students should take 15 hours of coursework each semester.   For students, my advice is simple. Take intellectual risks. Take a class in something you know nothing about. Talk to your professor about getting involved in research. Study abroad. Join a student organization and learn from people who have backgrounds different from your own. Take intellectual risks now, and you will reap the rewards for the rest of your life.   Thank you to you, our students’ family members. Thank you for supporting your student to help them reach this pivotal point in life. Students were selected to be members of our Longhorn Class of 2022 because of their academic preparations, commitment and potential. I know you are proud, and so are we. I look forward to welcoming your student to campus as a valued member of our community.   With the excitement of the fall semester approaching, I know that it will not only be a significant change in your student’s life, but also your own. Know that together, our faculty, staff, and administration will do everything we can to support your student so that they will succeed and thrive.   Hook ’em!   Maurie McInnis Executive Vice President and Provost The University of Texas at Austin

A Message from Texas Parents The content in this fourth issue of Next Steps continues our focus on introducing you to information that will help your family with a successful transition to UT Austin in August. Our department is here to help all UT Austin parents and families; please let us know how we can assist you! Susie Smith Texas Parents Director

In this issue: Health and Wellness Tuition Information UT Communication Protocol Involvement Opportunities and much more! Additional Resources:  Parents.utexas.edu with dedicated pages for "incoming freshman" "transfer" parents and families. An electronic version of the New Parent Guide that was mailed out in May. First three issues of Next Steps: March 26 , April 20 and May 4

Join us at the Mooov-In Parent Mixer Hosted by Texas Parents & Texas Exes Saturday, August 25 6:00-8:30pm Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, on campus We hope you'll take a break from Mooov-In and join us for complimentary hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and great company! Chances are your student will be out exploring with new roommates and friends, so take this time to unwind and meet fellow Longhorn Families.  RSVP  here  by Sunday, August 12.  More information in following Next Steps issues As alcohol will be served, this event is intended for parents and guardians only, please. We ask that students and siblings not attend.

Messages from New Student Services (NSS)

Encourage your student to check out NSS's comprehensive post-orientation checklists. Go here for incoming Freshman students or here for incoming Transfer students.

Incoming Freshman This NSS video featuring UT Orientation Advisors is a great watch about life on the Forty Acres. Hear about everything from what it is like to live in a residence hall, how to transition to college academics and where to eat on and off campus.

Transfer Students This NSS video featuring students who transferred to UT does a great job capturing the transfer student experience at UT Austin. Hear what the transition was like for them and how they found community on campus.

Longhorn Traditions In our monthly Texas Parents eNewsletter, members learn tidbits every Longhorn should know. We're sharing a couple of the "big ones" with you in Next Steps.  This month, learn how Bevo became UT Austin's mascot and how he was given his famous name here.  Thanks to Jim Nicar  for all the great Longhorn lore!

Advice for New UT Students Jim Nicar, of the  UT History Corner , shares his spot-on insights for UT freshmen. Jim has spent many years on campus both as a student and as a professional interacting with students. See below and pass along to your Longhorn!  Imagine your [student's] upcoming college experience as something packed into a great, mysterious box - wrapped in burnt orange paper, of course - ready to be opened and explored. Surprises, adventures, challenges, and good times are waiting inside. The wrapping peels off easy enough, but before you open the box, you notice... read more here .

Getting a Head Start Toward Academic Success Encourage your student to sign up now for free workshops that will be offered in September by the Sanger Learning Center, UT Austin's main resource for academic support. Topics include: Time & Procrastination: how to better allocate time, finding a balance between work and play. Study Smarter, Not Harder: learning the study cycle steps to better engage in meaningful, active learning. Read Between the Lines: learning a 3-step strategy that helps students get more out of their required readings. Have your student go here to learn more or to register .

Important Tuition Information for Fall 2018 Students who have registered for fall 2018 classes by Wednesday, July 25  will receive a tuition notice electronically on Tuesday, July 31. These will be delivered via email to the email address listed on your student's record; no paper bills will be mailed. Tuition is due no later than 5 p.m. (CT) Friday, August 17. Students who register for fall 2018 classes after July 25 , such as those students attending August Orientation, will receive their tuition bill after they register for classes.  Tuition for these students will be due no later than 5 p.m. (CT) on Tuesday, August 28.    If tuition is not paid by the payment deadline, your student's class registration will be dropped, no exceptions!  Regardless of whether or not your student's tuition bill notification is successfully received via email, students are still responsible for timely payment of their tuition bill. In the July 27 issue of Next Steps, we'll share information on the different ways to pay tuition as well as how to pay tuition on your student's behalf as an eProxy. How UT Austin Communicates with Your Student For the majority of messages,  the University will communicate to your student by email . Remind your student: to read all correspondence that comes from UT Austin to avoid missing important information or deadlines. that UT Austin does not send the same emails to you; so you can't "catch" something if they miss it. that undeliverable messages returned because of a full inbox or use of spam filter will still be considered delivered by UT Austin. to make sure that their email address on record is valid by following the instructions below. How to Verify Student Addresses Encourage your student to log in to  All My Addresses  with their UT EID and password to update local and permanent addresses, email address, phone numbers, and choose what information can be publicly accessed. While checking this off their to-do list, also encourage your student to check their email address is typed in correctly and that their filters are set up to receive UT Austin emails. If emails bounce or are sent to junk/spam folders, the University considers this to be the student's responsibility.

Presentations and Resources The July 27 issue of Next Steps will include links to presentations and resources shared with you at Family Orientation. We wait until all sessions have been completed so that the most current materials can be offered.

Sorority & Fraternity Recruitment UT Austin has 68 registered social sororities and fraternities associated with its campus. The university has been made aware of non-affiliated groups posing as fraternities, however these are not registered student organizations and are not recognized by UT Austin. Students should use caution interacting with such groups. To participate in recruitment with a registered organization, students can visit one of the following:   Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment Registration The University Panhellenic Council's (UPC) formal recruitment registration opened Monday, May 21. The registration fee increases after Sunday, July 15. The deadline to register is Thursday, August 2, so that your daughter has time to register, begin collecting recommendation letters and sending them directly to each chapter house.   Find more information, including the schedule and FAQs  here .  Please note that UPC recruitment begins before Mooov-In. If your daughter plans to participate in recruitment, it is recommended to inquire about early move-in options with her off-campus or on-campus residential office.   Interfraternity Council (IFC) Fraternity Recruitment IFC requests interested men register online throughout the summer. Find more recruitment information here . Sorority and Fraternity Council Communities UPC and IFC are two of the six councils students may join at UT Austin. Find information about the sorority and fraternity community here . University Housing and Dining (UHD) On-Campus Housing Room Assignments Students with permanent housing contracts received room assignments July 1. Room assignments for students with contracts for supplemental spaces are pending but will be assigned by August 10.   If changes are needed, students with a permanent housing contract will have the opportunity July 31 to view open rooms and request a room change. Mooov-In 2018 Mooov-In officially begins on Friday, August 24 (although students can elect to check in as early as Monday, August 20 with an extra $50 per night early check-in fee). Students received an email July 1 with a link to sign up for a check-in time. Check out these handy lists on What to Pack to prepare for Mooov-In. In the July 27 issue of Next Steps, we'll share more information about Mooov-In including what the day will be like, what to bring to campus and more. Ignite Texas Ignite is a four-day retreat for incoming freshmen and transfer students who are looking to find Christian community at UT Austin. The registered student organization Ignite Texas offers two date options:  Session 1: August 8-11 Session 2: August 11-14 Find more information here .  Camp Texas Camp Texas is a three-day extended orientation offered by Texas Exes, the University of Texas at Austin Alumni Association. The program offers a great start to the college experience for both incoming freshmen and transfer students. Held at a Hill Country ranch outside of Austin, Camp Texas is a key component in efforts to ensure UT students enjoy their time on campus and go on to become lifelong and caring alumni. From intimate chats with UT professors to Texas traditions and making new friends, campers leave knowing what it truly means to be a Longhorn. Find more information here . Self-Nominate to serve on the Texas Parents Ambassadors Council If you signed up as a Texas Parents Four-Year or Transfer supporting member and are interested in getting involved to support the mission of Texas Parents, consider self-nominating for a 2018-2020 seat on the Texas Parents Ambassadors Council. Find a nomination form here that includes an overview of council member responsibilities. Completed nomination forms must be submitted by Friday, August 17. Please reach out to the Texas Parents Director,  Susie Smith , with any questions.

University Health Services (UHS) UHS is UT Austin's large, fully-accredited, primary care clinic for students located on campus in the Student Services Building (SSB). UHS provides high quality, affordable and convenient healthcare services including general medical and urgent care, the GYN clinic, sports medicine, physical therapy, allergy shots and immunizations as well as travel health, nutrition, radiological, and laboratory services.   All enrolled UT Austin students are eligible to use UHS without having to sign up or subscribe. A student's responsibility for most office visit charges is only $10. Additional charges apply for all medications administered, supplies used, procedures performed and tests conducted at UHS visits. UHS is available for both insured and uninsured students, accepts most insurance plans and works to keep costs as low as possible. Students are responsible for knowing whether UHS accepts their insurance. Discounted rates are available for uninsured, underinsured and students covered by Medicaid. Find more insurance and charges information here and a list of all UHS charges here .

Chances are... You have managed the majority of your student's healthcare needs from scheduling appointments and filling prescriptions to completing health history documents. One of the best ways you can continue caring for your student's health and well-being is to give your student the wheel and let him or her drive.  Find a checklist here to help organize health-related "to-do's" before your student comes to campus.

Paperwork, paperwork Sit down with your student before coming to campus and help him or her fill out the online health history and insurance information forms (directions on your checklist above) as well as acknowledge a few pieces of information related to his or her health care. Completion of these forms is required prior to checking in for his or her first UHS appointment. It is a lot easier to help you student do this now rather than doing it remotely while you are home and he or she is in the UHS waiting room, not feeling well. Transferring care for physical therapy and allergy shots Students participating in physical therapy over the summer can continue those services in the UHS  Physical Therapy Clinic . The physician who ordered your student's physical therapy services can fax a referral to 512-232-7918. Find information about charges and insurance here . Call 512-475-8444 with questions about UHS physical therapy services. Students who get allergy shots can set up a schedule to continue receiving their shots at UHS. Find how to make arrangements to have your student's allergy extract and allergist's orders moved to the  UHS Allergy/Immunization Clinic here. Medical Care and Privacy Laws at UHS Federal privacy laws prohibit healthcare facilities, including UHS, from disclosing a student's medical information to any individual, organization, or facility  unless  the student provides written permission. This includes campus departments, faculty, staff and even parents. Find more information about power of attorney and other topics on the parents.utexas.edu website under resources for "All Undergraduate Families," "Health and Wellness" or  here .  The Link Between Health and Academic Performance Academic performance is influenced by a number of factors in students' lives, including their health status. The UHS mission is to support students in reaching their optimal health, so they can achieve their academic and personal potential. Find tips on how to support your student's health and academic performance  here .

Prescriptions & Pharmacies If your student takes prescription medications on a regular basis, plan ahead for how refills and renewals will be handled.  Pharmacies around campus The  Forty Acres Pharmacy is conveniently located on campus in the Student Services Building (SSB) and also has a free app for convenient and quick refills. Cash, checks, most credit cards, Bevo Bucks, and almost all prescription drug insurance plans are accepted. Call 512-471-1824 to see if your plan is included.    Students can transfer prescriptions to the Forty Acres Pharmacy by bringing the medication in its package or bottle to the pharmacy. Students wanting to transfer a prescription before arriving on campus, can call the number above to get the process started. There are other pharmacies around campus that you can find by an internet search.   Please note, the CVS located on "the Drag" (Guadalupe Street), across from the Texas Union, does  not  offer pharmacy services.  Prescription Delivery The HEB grocery store's pharmacy at 41st Street and Red River will deliver two or more prescriptions for free and is only a $5 fee if the order is for one prescription. Your student or someone 18 years or older must be there to accept the delivery and pay the driver upon receipt of the prescription with exact cash or check. Find more information  here .   Locally owned for nearly 77 years, Tarrytown Pharmacy at 2727 Exposition Blvd also offers prescription delivery to students. Parents or students can order a prescription (and additional over-the-counter items like cough drops) for a $5 delivery charge. The pharmacy will coordinate with your student for an appropriate delivery time. Refills can be requested online, over the phone, or through their phone app. Find more information here . OUT OF STATE PARENTS, TAKE NOTE: Medications for ADD/ADHD and other Schedule II medications require presentation of an original, written prescription issued from a healthcare provider who is licensed to practice in the State of Texas. Physicians at UHS do not prescribe medication for ADD/ADHD, even if your student's healthcare provider has been writing prescriptions for these conditions. Find information here about medication and psychiatric services available at the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC).

Does Your Student Need Health Insurance? Many states require health insurance coverage for college students. Texas does not. The federal government requires most international students to have coverage while attending U.S. colleges. Most domestic students are covered, and will remain covered, under a parent's plan until age 26. If your student is uninsured or wants to be sure that they have the best coverage for the cost, consider exploring an optional, affordable student health insurance plan sponsored by The University of Texas System, AcademicBlue. The plan is offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and pays 100% for all covered services at UHS. It includes in- and out-of-network benefits for off-campus providers and facilities, for which deductibles, co-pays, and/or coinsurance may apply. October 1 is the enrollment deadline for 2018 fall coverage. Find more information here .

Dietitian/Nutrition Services On Campus Nutrition Counseling at University Health Services (UHS) If your student has or develops a health or lifestyle concern for which nutrition counseling would be beneficial, he or she can schedule a consultation with a  registered dietitian at UHS . Some of the common reasons students see the UHS dietitian include: A medical diagnosis with significant nutrition implications Food and body image concerns Eating disorders Weight management Digestive problems, allergies, food intolerance, etc. Vegetarian or vegan diet advice Vitamin or mineral deficiency related to diet Nutritional analysis - to get feedback on one's diet to learn to eat smarter The UHS dietitian helps students develop personalized plans based upon their needs and preferences, whether he or she is a vegan, a meat-eater, or somewhere in between. To schedule an appointment, students should call (512) 475-8010.   Find more information here . Check with your student's insurance plan to see if nutrition consultation is covered and whether a healthcare provider or counselor referral is required.

Counseling and Mental Health Center The UT Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) invites you to check out their website , and watch this video introduction.

CMHC can help ease students' transition to UT Austin. If your student has a history of mental health or emotional concerns such as depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, substance abuse or dependence, etc., there are important extra steps to take now to help your student prior to the upcoming school year.  Consider if your student might need to establish a relationship with a new counselor in Austin. Or, your student might need to consult with his or her current doctor about whether medication can continue to be prescribed from home or whether the doctor recommends finding a new medical provider in Austin. Planning now will help your student more successfully navigate the stressors of college life. To help with this planning, CMHC has counselors available to talk with your student about accessing the resources or support that might be needed in his or her particular situation and developing a plan for the year. Encourage your student to call (512) 475-7110 to talk with a CMHC counselor. The important thing is to plan ahead to ensure that your student is adequately supported, and has a backup plan in case mental health needs change. CMHC is here to help set your student up for success!

The Center for Students in Recovery (CSR)

CSR is an on-campus, supportive community where students in recovery and in hope of recovery can achieve academic success while enjoying a genuine college experience free from alcohol and other drugs. CSR offers students an opportunity to get connected to fellow students in recovery from addiction. Participation is completely voluntary, and students at all stages of their academic or recovery journeys are welcome. CSR holds weekly peer support group meetings, sober social activities, and opportunities to give back. Find more information here . 

Next Steps issue 5 - what to expect

The fifth of six Next Steps issues will be sent on Friday, July 27 and will cover the following topics and more: Mooov-In What to Bring to Campus Tuition & Financial Aid Family Weekend Resources in the Division of Student Affairs

Unsubscribing from the Next Steps eNewsletter: You're receiving this email because you either attended Family Orientation, signed up for membership in Texas Parents, or your student provided your email address on his or her Admissions application. In addition to this issue, you will receive two more: July 27 and August 10. Please note that by clicking the link below to unsubscribe, you will no longer receive any Texas Parents messaging. Instead of unsubscribing, we ask that you simply delete this message. If you have any questions, please contact the Texas Parents office.

The University of Texas at Austin | Texas Parents 512-471-2353 | Toll Free 888-690-0012 | TexasParents@austin.utexas.edu Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Central)