Fall 2023 - Issue 2
IMPORTANT DATES
Making the Transition to Life @ USI
Whether you’re living in an on-campus residence hall or apartment, in an off-campus apartment or at home, USI is your home throughout your collegiate career.

Housing and Residence Life
Living on campus makes students 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 on campus get better grades and are more likely to graduate in four years.

The Housing and Residence Life Office oversees the residence halls, apartments and theme living communities on campus. The office provides student 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 succeed. RAs live in the residence halls and apartments and are trained to help students manage any issue that may arise while living on campus.

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
Upcoming dates for Housing and Residence Life:

  • July 15: Room notification — assignments and roommate information are available on the Housing portal.
  • July 21: Sign-up form to reserve move-in date and time available on the Housing Portal.

Move In Sign Up
All students will sign up online for a time slot for move in. This time slot is for unloading vehicle(s) and moving them to designated parking lots. After a vehicle is unloaded and moved then students and their guests can move items to rooms. The move in sign up form will be available on the Housing Portal on July 21.

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.

Follow Housing and Residence Life on Instagram @usihousing.
Quick Roommate Tips
  • Discuss what each student will bring 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 getting involved can make a big difference.
On-campus Parking
Students living on campus must register their vehicle online and obtain a parking permit decal before the beginning of the Fall Semester. Parking permits will be available for pickup during Housing Move-In during Welcome Week. Register your vehicle online once you know your room/apartment assignment.
Living Off Campus
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 Information
Meal Plans
Get familiar with the meal plan you selected as it has the number of meals in the Loft and the amount of munch money available for the semester.

Students can purchase a meal plan or make a change to the plan they have already selected by contacting the Eagle Access Card Office.

USI Dining Contact Information

The deadline to change a meal plan is midnight on Sunday, August 20 by emailing foodmealplans@usi.edu with your USI email.
Dining Lingo
All students can use their Eagle Access Card (Student ID) to purchase at campus dining locations. Here are the ways:
  • Meal Plan Swipes are for students on a meal plan to eat at the Loft. Each meal plan has a different number of meals and Munch Money amount, and some include a meal exchange option for a meal after 7 pm during the week and 3 pm on the weekend.

  • Munch Money can be used to purchase anything that is sold in the food service operations, including non-food items at the EagleXpress Convenience Store (C-Store) located in the Community Center and Starbucks. Food purchases with Munch Money are tax-free and include bonus dollars.

  • Flex Money is for students to use the laundry utilities and printers. Funds can also be spent on food, but there is no tax-saving option.
Food Brought From Home
Students can eat food brought from their residence in all dining seating and lounge areas in the University Center and across campus. There are microwaves available in multiple locations.
New Student Orientation

If you need to make or change your orientation reservation (i.e., date, guests, orientation housing), log in with your myUSI username and password, and click on the Admitted Student Task List icon and then the Screaming Eagles Orientation Reservation task. 

Campus Information
SAVE THE DATE: August 16-23
  • On-Campus Housing Move In
  • Welcome Week Check-In
  • Meals and Evening Entertainment
  • New Student Convocation
  • College Meetings, Screagle Pride and Spirit, and Class Picture on the Quad
  • Eagle Experience: All Freshman Campus Program

More information coming soon
Campus Office Information
Check out the following offices for new student and campus information:
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.

The REC/RFWC: Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center. (Take Student ID with you).
Student Spotlight - Brylee B.
Outside of being an OL, Brylee is the Vice President of Biology Club, a Student Ambassador, a Welcome Week Leader, and a member of the Pott College Student Advisory Board. Brylee enjoys playing intramural sports with her friends, binging tv shows, and crocheting in her free time.
Tips & Reminders
New Student Checklist | Review to complete any next steps
More items can be found on your Admitted Student Task List via myUSI.

Welcome Week
August 16-23
Save the Date! Welcome Week 2023 details coming soon. Please hold these dates for Housing Move in, New Student Convocation and more.