- Talking Points
- Family Weekend
- CarolinaCard updates
- Airport shuttle
- Break closings
- Off-campus living
- Bursar's Office
- Financial Aid
- Football viewings
- Student Health Services
- University news
- Important dates
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Greetings!
The fall semester is halfway over and the past 10 weeks have been full of successes for UofSC students. Our newest Gamecocks have continued adjusting to life at Carolina, returning students have welcomed this new semester with enthusiasm and the Carolina community just celebrated a spirited Homecoming Week - complete with a win on the football field!
As your student looks forward to Thanksgiving break, encourage them to take some time this month to give back to the Carolina community. Donating canned goods to the
Gamecock Pantry
or volunteering with a student organization can be simple, yet impactful. Students can also meet with a leadership coach in the
Leadership & Service Center
to learn about additional ways to give back this season.
I greatly enjoyed being able to meet many of our families throughout Family Weekend this year. It's always special to see you and your student reunite and share in a treasured Carolina tradition. As our Parent & Family Programs team begins planning for next year, please consider sharing your thoughts through the
Family Weekend survey
. This feedback is used to plan a memorable weekend for you and your Carolina student. Don't forget to mark your calendar for next year's Family Weekend: Sept. 27-29; it's sure to be unforgettable.
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Anna C. Edwards, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Life
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UofSC mascot Cocky and his dad celebrate at the 2018 Family Weekend Tailgate Party. Family Weekend 2019 will see the Gamecocks take on the Kentucky Wildcats.
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November Family Talking Points
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While the 2018-2019 school year moves ahead, students continue to experience excitement and challenges in their coursework, relationships and social activities.
One of the challenges all students will encounter is the decision to participate in or associate with high-risk behaviors.
Some examples of high-risk behaviors are: drinking alcohol under the age of 21, chugging alcohol, participating in drinking games or drinking shots, not knowing what you are drinking or leaving your drink unattended, mixing alcohol with medications, energy drinks or other illegal drugs and misusing prescription drugs.
Families are encouraged to have continuous conversations with their student about their experiences thus far at South Carolina and the activities with which they're involved
. It's important to discuss low-risk behaviors and encourage them to take part in healthy choices, like: choosing fun, alternative activities that do not involve alcohol, making a realistic, safe plan before going out for the night, knowing before going out how they will get home safely, eating a meal before drinking, drinking water between alcoholic drinks and always knowing how much alcohol is in their drink.
Additional conversation topics are available in the
Talking Points
publication and on the Parent & Family Programs mobile app.
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Family Weekend 2018 has come and gone. Our team enjoyed planning and hosting this annual event, and we are already looking forward to
Family Weekend 2019
, which will be held
Sept. 27-29
(USC vs. Kentucky)!
As we begin making preparations for next year's events, we are seeking your feedback and thoughts on Family Weekend. Please take a moment to complete the survey linked below as we are constantly striving to improve the experiences we offer.
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Update Meal Plan for Spring
Assigned meal plans reset at the start of each new semester. If your student is looking to have a different spring meal plan than the default option (Garnet 14 Silver for freshmen and none for off-campus upperclassmen), a change will need to be selected under
Account Information.
Add CarolinaCa$h Online
CarolinaCa$h is a simple and convenient way for students to purchase anything on campus, including items in the bookstore. Students and families can add CarolinaCa$h 24/7 online through get.cbord.com/sc using the following steps:
- Go to: GET.cbord.com/sc
- Select "Click here to deposit into a student's account," under the "parents, guardians or other relatives" tab
- Enter your student's information (VIP ID, last name, date of birth)
- Enter credit card information
- Confirm
Students will receive a confirmation email when money is deposited in their account.
A portion of a student's financial aid award can also be allocated to use as CarolinaCa$h. During tuition payment, students can add CarolinaCa$h to the bill in order to use scholarships, 529 college savings plans, and financial aid. For this transaction, students should access the "Account Information" tab in their
Self Service Carolina
account. This is the only opportunity to add CarolinaCa$h to your student's semester bill.
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Columbia Airport Shuttle Service
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During select university breaks, Student Government coordinates a shuttle service for the student body free of charge. If your student is traveling through the Columbia airport for Thanksgiving break, encourage them to
reserve their spot on the shuttle
.
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University Housing Break Closings
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University residence halls will close for the Thanksgiving and winter breaks.
Thanksgiving Break
Residence halls close Nov. 21 at 10 a.m. and reopen Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. Apartment-style halls and Maxcy College will remain open. Students must register to remain on campus.
Winter Break
Residence halls close Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. and reopen Jan. 9 at 8 a.m.
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Is your student already talking about where they'll be living next year? If not, now is a good time to start the conversation.
The Office of Off-Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations is available to help students as they begin their off-campus housing search.
The city of Columbia has many student-centered apartment communities and other options for students to call home during their time at Carolina. Off-Campus Living can assist students looking for housing options, narrowing their priorities, signing a lease, finding a roommate, and budgeting for life off-campus. Students can contact Off-Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations by visiting them on the lower level of the Russell House West Wing or by emailing
saocss@mailbox.sc.edu.
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News from the Bursar's Office
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Spring 2019 Bills
Tuition bills will be available for students who are registered for spring semester classes beginning Nov. 15. Please be sure your student reviews their bill thoroughly, checking that all charges are present and accurate.
The deadline for mailed-in payments is Dec. 10, while online payments for spring 2019 are due Jan. 9.
If payments will include 529 college savings plan checks or scholarship/grant checks, please communicate with the respective administrators regarding the mail-in deadline and provide any required documentation to them to ensure payments are received by the deadline. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the University of South Carolina and mailed to: Bursar's Office, University of South Carolina, 1244 Blossom Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29208.
Payment Plans
The final payment for the fall 2018 payment plan is due Nov. 12
.
T
he payment can be made through
Self Service Carolina (SSC)
, paid in person or mailed in to the Bursar’s Office. The payment plan does not carry over from semester to semester. You must re-enroll for spring if planning to
pay by payment plan
.
1098-T Tax Form
Students can choose to access and print their 1098-T forms online via SSC or have them mailed to their permanent address.
Authorized Users
can also access the 1098-T forms through SSC. For questions concerning your tax credit, please contact a tax advisor.
Student's UofSC Email Account
Please encourage your student to check their UofSC email account often. Campus offices and faculty regularly communicate critical information through the student email account.
The Bursar's Office will be closed during winter break, Dec. 24 - Jan 1.
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Financial Aid & Scholarships Reminders
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The 2019-20 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form is available - and now you can easily fill it out right from your phone.
The FAFSA can be completed by downloading the
myStudentAid
mobile app (iOS or Android) on a mobile phone or by visiting
fafsa.gov.
Students who submit their FAFSA information before April 1 will receive full consideration for all financial aid resources.
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You're Invited: Football Viewing Parties
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Current families in the
Dallas-Fort Worth
and
Richmond, VA
areas are invited to attend football viewing parties hosted by their local
MyCarolina Alumni Club on Saturday, Nov. 3.
Meet Gamecock alumni and fellow families
while cheering on the South Carolina football team against the University of Mississippi. Join them an hour before kickoff at:
The Nodding Donkey, 2900 Thomas Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75204 and Hurley's Tavern, 4028 Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
Not in Dallas-Forth Worth or Richmond, but want to join other Gamecocks for gamedays? MyCarolina Alumni Association Clubs host gameday viewing parties across the country for fellow alumni, family and friends of the university.
Find a MyCarolina Club
near you to join the festivities!
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Student Health Services Updates
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TAO: Therapy-Assisted Online
TAO allows students to get effective treatment when their schedule, or life, makes it hard to visit the counseling office. They will have access to highly effective therapy modules 24/7 and a dedicated time to meet online with a counselor each week. Students also have the option to engage with TAO: Self-Enrolled Self-Help to learn skills without the assistance from a mental health professional. Students can learn more on the
TAO website
or by calling 803-777-5223 to schedule a triage.
Culinary Bootcamp
Center for Health and Well-Being 219
Students can learn basic knife skills, cooking techniques, how to repurpose ingredients and food safety in this 3 hour cooking class. Participants will receive a free salad shaker, and one lucky guest will win a set of pots and pans.
Body Project
Center for Health & Well-Being, 215
The Body Project is a conversation about body image and the influences of cultural and social interactions. This small group, two-part workshop is peer-led and encourages the spread of body positivity, self-confidence and self-fulfillment. Encourage your student to register to attend.
Gamecocks Eat Well Cooking Class - Happy Holidays
Center for Health & Well-Being, 219
The holiday season can be filled with tons of delicious recipes that pack a nutritional punch. Students can learn how to use popular holiday ingredients to make dishes to bring to gatherings with family and friends.
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"Outstanding Black Alumnus:
Akil Ross"
Akil Ross knew he wanted to have an impact on young people's lives even before he completed his master's and Ph.D. in education from the University of South Carolina. His efforts to do just that have won him many accolades, including being named national principal of the year.
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"Forever to thee"
After a decade of service as president and leading the University of South Carolina through an unprecedented period of growth and success, President Harris Pastides announced that he will retire as president effective the summer of 2019.
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Nov. 6:
General Election Day
- no classes
Nov. 20:
Greek Village closes at 6 p.m. for Thanksgiving break
Nov. 21:
Residence halls close at 10 a.m. for Thanksgiving break
Nov. 21-25:
Thanksgiving break -
no classes
Nov. 23:
Residence halls open at 8 p.m. after Thanksgiving break
Nov. 25:
Greek Village opens at noon after Thanksgiving break
Dec. 7:
Last day of fall semester classes
Dec. 8:
Reading Day
Dec. 10:
Final exams begin
Dec. 17:
Fall 2018 Commencement
Dec. 18:
Residence halls close at 10 a.m. for winter break
Dec. 18:
Greek Village closes at noon for winter break
Dec. 24-Jan. 1
: University offices closed
Jan. 9:
Residence halls open at 8 a.m. for spring semester
Jan. 13:
Greek Village opens at noon for spring semester
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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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