- Talking Points
- Presidential search
- Bill information
- Senior Awards
- Off-Campus Living
- Student leadership
- Student Health Services
- University news
- Important dates
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Greetings!
Happy New Year to you and your family! 2018 was a memorable and impactful year for University of South Carolina students and 2019 will be just as meaningful.
A new year signifies new opportunities and resolutions that we make for ourselves.
This year, I am challenging my staff in
Student Life
to get creative in how they plan events, meet with students and develop programs that provide a fulfilling experience on campus. I encourage you to also talk with your student about the goals they have as we enter a new semester. Combined with our commitment to creating an engaging community, these personal resolutions are sure to help your student live their
best student life
in 2019.
Students can take advantage of many opportunities this semester, like
joining a new club
or taking an active role in the classroom.
Student Government
and organization officer elections are also on the horizon, as well as various leadership opportunities throughout campus for which students can apply.
If your student is looking to develop new skills, build relationships, or make an impact, encourage them to get involved today! We are here to help your student reach their goals, so please let us know how we can help!
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Anna C. Edwards, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Life
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Classrooms and libraries will soon be filled with students as spring semester classes begin Monday, Jan. 14.
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Presidential Candidate Search Committee
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Over the past several weeks, the
Presidential Candidate Search Committee (PCSC)
has been hard at work on the initial stages of the search process, including
selecting
Parker Executive Search to assist in this effort. Parker is a leading global executive search firm and has conducted more than 2,000 senior-level searches over the past 30 years, including some here at UofSC.
To enable the entire community to more easily receive updates as the search moves forward, a
search webpage
has been launched.
There you can find information about the committee members
,
news updates
and mo
st importantly, an opportunity to provide
community input
.
You are encouraged to complete the
community input survey
to share your thoughts on desired qualities and key opportunities and challenges that face our next President. Your input is vital to this process and will help the PCSC prepare for candidate interviews.
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January Family Talking Points
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With the fall semester behind us and New Year's Resolutions taking shape, encourage your student to make goals which will have a great impact on their life beyond college.
While studying more or taking time to focus on mental health are greatly beneficial to any student,
financial resolutions can also lead to a less stressful semester.
Here are some resolution ideas for your student:
- Create and stick to a monthly budget
- Secure an on-campus job
- Make preparations for student loan repayment
- Establish a saving plan for an upcoming opportunity
Each of these resolutions would allow your student to make steps toward securing a better financial future for themselves. If your student isn't sure where to start, the
Student Success Center
offers
financial literacy workshops
throughout the semester. Session topics include: basic budgeting, planning finances for study abroad, salary negotiation for college students and many others.
If students have a specific financial resolution, they can also schedule a one-on-one appointment with a staff member to have their questions answered, make a plan and create means to stay on track. Finances are a top concern among college students, so encourage your student to take steps this semester to alleviate some of that stress.
Looking for additional ways to support your student? Check out various conversation topics and tips you can discuss in the
Parent & Family Programs mobile app
through the "Dinner Dialogues: Family Edition" mobile blog and the
Talking Points
publication.
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Important Tuition Bill Information
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Spring 2019 Fee Payment and Bills
Tuition bills are available through your student’s
Self Service Carolina
(SSC) account with a
payment deadline of Jan. 9
for the spring 2019 semester. Students should review their bill thoroughly, ensuring all charges are present and accurate. If discrepancies are identified, contact the Bursar's Office as soon as possible.
Failure to pay the spring balance in full, or set up a payment plan by the deadline, can result in the course schedule being dropped.
If a student is dropped from courses for non-payment, a $75 reinstatement fee
will be assessed. Payments
can be paid in person or online via SSC.
Payment Plans
Payment plans can be established for the spring semester through your student's
SSC
account. These plans will allow payment throughout the semester, per a monthly schedule, until the balance is paid in full. To facilitate the payment plan process, an initial payment of 25% of the total balance is to be paid, plus a $75 administrative fee. Three additional payments are due: Feb. 11, March 11, April 10.
A late fee of $100 will be applied if payment is not made on time.
Any charges not captured in the payment plan, e.g., parking citations, health service charges, student conduct charges, etc., must be paid manually via the student's SSC account.
Refunds
We encourage your student to set up a direct deposit account through SSC for potential refunds in order for funds to be received most efficiently. If direct deposit is not set up on the account, a paper check will be issued and mailed to the address listed as current on the student record.
Authorized Users
Students have the ability to
assign authorized users
to their account via
SSC.
Only the student can add authorized users which will allow them to view the student's bill, payment history, 1098-T information and payment plans. Authorized users also receive account communication and can speak with the
Bursar's Office
about the student's account.
Student Email Account
It is critical for your student to check their UofSC email account often. It is via the student's UofSC email account that important financial activity is communicated, such as statements, outstanding debt, tax information, hold information and drop deadlines.
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Senior Awards Application Now Available
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Outstanding senior students are encouraged to apply for senior awards
The University of South Carolina's Honors and Awards Commission is accepting applications for the
Outstanding Senior Award
. Students selected for this award will also be considered for the university's top undergraduate honors - the President's Award, Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award and Steven N. Swanger Leadership Award.
Students must meet the following criteria in order to be considered for these prestigious senior awards:
- Must graduate from an undergraduate degree program at UofSC Columbia between Jan. 1, 2019 and Dec. 31, 2019.
- Must have completed at least 75 academic credit hours.
- Must exemplify scholarship, involvement, citizenship and leadership in academic and co-curricular activities.
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As an exciting new semester approaches,
students should begin the process of securing off-campus housing for the upcoming academic year.
If students aren't sure where to start, the Office of Off-Campus Living & Neighborhood Relations provides many resources to support students searching for off-campus housing.
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Student Leadership Opportunities
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Students looking to get more involved on campus
this semester have many opportunities to do so through the
Leadership & Service Center
. They can make their mark on campus
while giving back to the South Carolina community.
Be sure to share these events with your student!
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Student Health Services Updates
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Center for Health & Well-Being Winter Break Hours
Jan. 1 --
closed
Jan. 2-8 --
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Regular spring semester hours resume Jan. 9 --
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday: 2-8 p.m.
Healthy New Year's Resolutions
Jan. 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Russell House University Union Patio
If personal fitness is your student's resolution, they can meet with a health coach to make their goals a reality in 2019.
Meet Me at the Bar(bell)
(Registration closes Jan. 23)
Jan. 25, 2-4 p.m.
Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center Boardroom
Meet Me at the Bar(bell) is a comprehensive wellness program designed to enhance the gym experience for students of any fitness level. While learning about proper gym form from a certified personal trainer and resources from Campus Recreation and Student Health Services, participants will understand how the gym can play a role in self-care, healthy relationships and overall wellness.
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"A decade of opportunity"
Year after year, the number of lives transformed and impacted by the University of South Carolina’s Gamecock Guarantee program keeps growing. But numbers alone don’t tell the full story.
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"Invested interest"
From an expanded school calendar to keep students on track to peer leaders to help ensure classroom success, the University of South Carolina does a lot to prepare students for the next chapter.
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Jan. 9:
Residence halls open at 8 a.m. for spring semester
Jan. 13:
Greek Village opens at noon for spring semester
Jan. 14:
Spring semester classes begin
Jan. 21:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day -
no classes, offices closed
Jan. 22:
Last day to change/drop a course without a grade of "W"
Feb. 2:
Student Leadership & Diversity Conference
Feb. 15:
Last day to apply for May 2019 graduation
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Please continue to visit the Parents & Families Gateway for information and resources at
sc.edu/parents
.
Office of Parent & Family Programs
University of South Carolina
Parents Assistance Line: 1-800-868-6752
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