Dear T-Bird Parents and Families,

We are so thankful for all you do to support your student, encourage their dreams, and help them see the value in their education. We are grateful for the opportunity we have to be a partner in your student's education. Whether you are together for the break, or if your student will be staying on campus, please take some time to check in with your student to see how they are doing. This can be a stressful point in the semester for many students as they push to finish strong for finals. Even returning home can feel different. I loved this article from a student's perspective about returning home after being away at school. I also loved this commercial from a parent's perspective of having your college student return home.

As your T-Bird prepares for final exams, words of support and encouragement from home can go a long way in helping them finish strong. Here is a great article about supporting your student through finals . Families can also send a note, an encouraging text, or a care package filled with all the things they love best. We've included information below about Finals Survival Kits from our Alumni Office, and some fun ideas for students who will be staying in Cedar City over the Thanksgiving break.

Please let us know any time we can help offer support, information, and encouragement to you or your student. Thank you for being an important part of our T-Bird family!
Heading Home for the Holidays
I 've had parents email inquiring about finding rides home over the break. Here are a few ideas from our students:

Shuttles:
St. George Shuttle-  https://www.stgshuttle.com
Salt Lake Express-  https://saltlakeexpress.com

Finding other students to carpool with:
Ask friends on Social Media
Reach out to your ACE or your group from Thunder U
Try the rideshare board in the hall east of the Ballroom

Wondering when to plan travel home?
View the academic calendar here and the final exam schedule here. 
Need a Gift Idea?
Study abroad trips make great gifts. Cultural Immersion study abroad trips are subsidized and a great opportunity for students to explore new sites at an affordable rate. Students can choose between Mexico City during Spring Break for $654 or Guatemala during summer break for $750! Price includes AIRFARE! 

Study abroad programs (excluding cultural immersions) offer up to 7 credits tuition free. Many students can also graduate sooner if they participate in study abroad because they can get 7 credits in just 2-4 weeks (some students will go on multiple trips this year, earning 14 credits in about a month of studying abroad.)

Information about applying and information about other opportunities available  here .
Worried about Finances?
When you and your student are together, you can get started on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2020-2021 academic year. By completing the FAFSA students will be considered for grants, work study, and loans. SUU Financial Aid has great tips for getting started and a link to the application on their website at suu.edu/finaid .

Scholarship Applications for current students including Departmental, Housing, Staff Association, and Graduating Class Gift opened November 1st. For a how-to video on applying for these scholarships, click here .

If your student needs help creating a financial game plan to get them through the school year, have them reach out to financialwellness@suu.edu to schedule a one-on-one appointment to help make their budget last.
Each graduate, regardless of whether he or she plans to “walk” at Commencement on April 24, 2020, must submit a graduation application (and pay the $15 diploma fee) by one of the following dates:

December 1, 2019 for spring 2020 graduates
December 15, 2019 for summer 2020 graduates.

The graduation application can be completed in your student's  mySUU portal . For any questions regarding Commencement 2020, please visit suu.edu/graduation  for schedules, reminders and the latest updates.
suu.edu/parents - Southern Utah University - (435) 865-8752