Fall 2021 - Issue 3
IMPORTANT DATES
Making the Transition to Life @ USI
This issue highlights the Housing and Residence Life Office, choosing a place to live in college and living with roommates. Whether you’re living in an on-campus residence hall or apartment, in an off-campus apartment or living at home, USI is your home throughout your collegiate career.

Housing and Residence Life
Living on campus allows students to feel connected to USI and prepares them for life beyond college. They will gain independence, meet new people and be able to sleep in longer! Studies show that students who live on campus get better grades and are more likely to graduate in four years.

The Housing and Residence Life Office oversees all the residence halls, apartment communities and the living learning communities on campus. The office provides both student staff and full-time staff living on campus to assist students.

Resident Assistants (RAs) are student staff members selected for leadership skills, their ability to reach out to peers and their capacity to connect students to the resources they need to be successful. RAs are trained to help students manage any issue that may arise while living on campus. RAs are in all of the various housing areas and there to help. 

Area Coordinators (ACs) are professional staff members who live in a specific area of Housing and Residence Life facilities. ACs supervise the RAs, plan and implement programs, manage the area facilities, conduct meetings with students regarding policy violations and are great resources if students have questions or issues. 

Housing and Residence Life Contact Information
Living On Campus
Fall 2021 Move In
All students will sign up online for a 45-minute time slot for move in. In order to keep traffic moving smoothly we are only allowing the 45-minute time slot for unloading and moving vehicles to designated parking lots. After a vehicle is unloaded and moved then students and their guests can move items to rooms.

Sign Up for a Move-In Time Slot
To reserve your move-in time:
  • Log into myUSI
  • Click on the Housing icon
  • Look for the Move In Sign Up Fall 2021-Spring 2022 link

What to Bring to Campus?
Check out the Housing and Residence Life packing list and tips to help plan for move in and living on campus.

Fall 2021 Guest and Overnight Guests Policy
In an effort to return to a more normal living environment, effective July 1, 2021, Housing and Residence Life has reinstated the guest policy as it was prior to COVID-19. We want all students to have an engaging campus life experience. Our success depends on your continued attention to safety and following COVID procedures. Guests will be allowed to help students to move into their apartment or residence hall.

Have Additional Questions?
Visit the Housing FAQ web page or email living@usi.edu.
Quick Roommate Tips
  • Discuss what each student will be bringing to their new home.
  • Keep an open mind.
  • Communicate - talk to each other and learn how each prefers to be communicated with.
  • If bigger problems arise, take advantage of your resources. Your RA is a great person to mediate conflict.
  • During your first two weeks, call home but don't go home. Staying on campus and staying involved can make a big difference.
Living Off Campus
Commuting to USI
Living in off-campus housing or at home gives students the opportunity to be both independent and at USI. Consider broadening your network by meeting new people, and maybe even living with them! The quickest way to meet new people at USI is to get involved and participate.

Parking
Commuter students may park in any University lot that does not require a parking permit or that is marked restricted. Most lots in the main part of campus are available for commuter students. Commuter students do not need a parking permit to park on campus. Commuter students can register their vehicles with Public Safety in case of an incident.

Time Between Classes
When students have time before, after or between classes, make sure to connect with campus by doing some of the following:
  • Go to Rice Library and study or grab a coffee
  • Relax down by Reflection Lake in the gazebo
  • Run over to the Recreation Fitness and Wellness Center to get in a quick workout
  • Take a stroll down the USI-Burdette Trail
  • Use a meal plan or Munch Money to eat on campus

Student Services
Being well can help you do well inside and outside of the classroom. Self-care, including quality sleep, good nutrition and knowing how to cope with stress, all contribute to your ability to thrive as a USI student. Wellness is an active, continuous process of self-enhancement. Every day students make choices that influence their well-being. From locating resources on campus to needing someone to talk to about challenges in life, the following offices will help you be successful during your time at USI.
New Student Orientation
Attend the last Summer Open House - Friday, July 30
Students and their guests are invited to visit and explore our beautiful campus this summer. Students may register two guests, lunch will be provided and a COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be available as vaccines are available. Events and activities will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Log in to my.USI.edu and click on the Screaming Eagles Orientation icon under Eagle Apps, and select Orientation Open House to register. Sign up today as spots for each session are limited.

Topic Specific Zoom Series are held throughout the summer on Thursdays at 6 p.m. CDT. Students and families can participate in topic-specific sessions via Zoom to learn more about specific areas of campus.

Online Orientation will provide you and your family with information about advising, academic requirements, financial aid and billing, campus services and resources, and answer many other questions you might have about attending USI. You will complete this orientation at your own pace.

New Student Hangout Zoom Sessions are opportunities for you to hang out with other new and current students. This is a great way to get to know others and get your questions answered as you begin your USI adventure. These sessions will be on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. CDT starting July 27.

Parent and Family Orientation
We will be offering a separate Virtual Parent and Family Orientation session while students will participate in a Screaming Eagles Orientation. This session will focus on meeting staff and faculty and answering your parent and family members' questions.

We encourage parents and family members to go through this online orientation. To review all of the material, it will take you 2-3 hours to complete.
USI Insider Tips - USI Lingo
Archie: Archibald The Eagle, USI's mascot. 

Archie's Army: The student cheer block at athletic events.

C-Store: Located in the Housing and Residence Life Community Center and houses a small convenience store, pizza delivery, laundry room and more!

The Link: Area between the Science Center and Health Professions. It offers a lounge and food options.

The Quad: Open green space between the Liberal Arts Center, Rice Library, University Center, and Business and Engineering Center. It is a great place to hang out with classmates and play frisbee or football.

Screagle: Short for Screaming Eagle as used in #ScreaglePride.
Campus Information
SAVE THE DATE: August 19-25
  • On-Campus Housing Move In
  • Welcome Week Check-In Fair
  • Welcome Dinners
  • Evening Entertainment
  • College Meetings, Convocation, and Class Picture
  • Eagle Experience
  • Community Meetings
Register for Welcome Dinners during Welcome Week
USI students and their families are invited to attend the Welcome Dinners on Wednesday, August 18, and Thursday, August 19 at the end of move-in day. Make sure you get your family registered by Tuesday, August 10.
  • Students, if your family can't stay, please make sure you still register to attend. Other students will be at the dinner whose families cannot attend. Students are encouraged to join roommates, friends and Welcome Week Leaders.
  • Students who arrive on Wednesday can sign up for dinner on both Wednesday and Thursday.
  • Students commuting to USI are encouraged to attend one of the dinners too.
COVID-19 Resources
The University is open, and offering a flexible mix of face-to-face, hybrid and online courses. We are monitoring COVID-19 developments daily and following recommendations and guidance from the State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Indiana State Department of Health and local healthcare providers.

We value a culture of care and concern and our faculty and staff are working hard to ensure the safety of our entire community and visitors. We understand that, during this pandemic, things are different, and at times challenging, but as Screagles, we take care of each other.

Vaccination Recommendation
The University of Southern Indiana currently strongly encourages, but is not mandating, all members of our community, employees and students, be vaccinated against COVID-19. We will continue to monitor and evaluate local, state and federal safety guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Campus Office Information
Check out the following offices for new student and campus information:
Student Spotlight - Hayden Martin
Hey Screagles! My name is Hayden Martin and I am a junior biology major. I grew up in Borden, Indiana, but this past year I found my new home at USI! When searching for colleges to attend while in high school, I only visited USI and instantly knew that it was not necessary to look at any other colleges- I knew USI was going to be the perfect fit for me. I am so proud to attend such an amazing University with such phenomenal academic and personal development opportunities. Within my first few weeks on campus I was greeted by so many brilliant, spectacular and kindhearted individuals who have continued to support me throughout my time at the University.
  
When coming to USI, one of my biggest aspirations was to excel academically while staying involved on campus. A year later, I can proudly say that I have achieved that goal. With so many opportunities on campus to get involved with it was hard to choose which organizations and clubs to pick, but with the guidance of faculty and friends I have found the perfect opportunities for me. Through my involvement on campus, I feel  deeply connected to my campus community. One of my favorite things about being on campus is that I can never walk around with headphones on because I always run into someone I know. Not only have I made lots of friends on campus, I have made so many important relationships with faculty and staff on campus as well, who  have pushed me to be the best student I can be during my time at USI. The University of Southern Indiana truly is my “home away from home." 

To my peers, my biggest piece of advice is to get out and get involved. Build relationships with everyone around you while on campus. Talk to the fellow student who sits next to you in class, talk to the person who is making your coffee at Starbucks, take advantage of your professor’s office hours and, mostly importantly, just being kind. Involvement on campus can come in many forms. Whether it is  a club on campus, applying for a leadership position, such as Student Ambassadors or AMIGOs, attending a night of cookies and canvas, signing up for Sorority or Fraternity Recruitment, going to sporting events or simply connecting with a fellow student in the lunch line. As students at the University, we are all in this together. Get out, get involved and make USI your “home away from home.” Go Screagles! 
Tips & Reminders
Bedding and Bath Supplies
Welcome Week
August 19-25
Check out what USI has to offer as you start your collegiate journey.