PARENT HANDBOOKB DEAR AGGIE PARENT Letter From The President WELCOME TO UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY, HOME OF THE AGGIES We hope the next few years are full of learning and growth for your student, and that you feel welcomed as a member of the Aggie family. As the parent of an Aggie, I have seen firsthand the personal growth that occurs as students participate in the learning, discovery, and engagement available at this world-class university. Students regularly cite parents among the greatest influences in their lives. We recognize you are a tremendous partner in helping your student reach his or her goals. We thank you for your influence and support as your student experiences both the successes and challenges that will shape his or her experience as a learner. Whether you are a returning parent, a first-time parent, or alumni, this handbook will provide you with resources and information to help support your student's transition to college. While reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection may require USU to modify or cancel some of the events or services listed in this handbook, the university remains committed to supporting student success, health and well-being. To stay up-to-date on the university’s actions during this period of time, please visit usu.edu/parents, subscribe to the Aggie Parent and Family Podcast, and join the Parent Network for regular newsletter communications. You can also visit the university’s COVID-19 response page at usu.edu/covid-19. Welcome to Utah State and welcome to the Aggie family! Sincerely, Noelle E. Cockett President II | | 1 USU PARENT & FAMILY MISSION & OUTCOMES The USU Parent & Family Programs Mission is to serve families through programming designed to equip parents with resources they need to help their student succeed at Utah State University. We do this by providing Parent Orientation, Parent Publications & Podcasts, and Deferment & Leave of Absence Outreach. We provide parents and families with these resources to promote student success and independence at any stage in their student’s academic career at Utah State University. Parent & Family Outcomes • How will becoming an educated person help my student flourish personally, To empower parents and families to civically, and professionally? navigate this new part of their student’s life. 2. How can I intentionally engage in ways that will help my student be To understand the structure and mission successful? of the university. • What does an intentional college parent To assist parents in helping their student look like? to become a learner. • How do I best support my student To learn intentional practices and along their path to becoming an behaviors that parents and families can educated person? What might interfere? engage in and not engage in to support their student along their path to becoming • How do I know if my student is being an educated person. successful? To discover the resources that are 3. How do I take advantage of the available for parents to help their resources available to both parents student succeed. and students? To help parents become a part of the • What resources are available to parents Aggie Family. of college students? Parent & Family Big Questions • How do I balance being an involved parent while helping my student 1. How can a university education develop or maintain their translate into success for my independence? student? • How can I support my student as they • What is an educated person? connect to, participate in, and create communities that contribute to success • How do general education, the major, and belonging? and the overall student experience help my student become an educated person? 2 | 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS A Breakdown of USU's Resources WELCOME RESOURCES 1 Dear Aggie Parent 28 Academic Success 2 USU Parent & Family Programs Mission & Outcomes usu.edu/asc 6 FERPA 30 USU Libraries libraries.usu.edu usu.edu/registrar/ferpa-info 8 USU Alumni Association 32 Undergraduate Research usu.edu/alumni research.usu.edu/ undergradresearch/ 10 Parent Orientation 34 Disability Resource Center 11 Advice for an Aggie Parent usu.edu/drc 12 Navigating the 36 Housing & Residence Life Parent Handbook usu.edu/housing 37 Housing & Dining Map STUDENT SERVICES 38 Dining Services dining.usu.edu 13 What Is Connections 40 Student Health & Wellness health.usu.edu 14 Academics 42 Counseling & Psychological 16 Finances Services (CAPS) usu.edu/registrar/tuition counseling.usu.edu 18 Campus Recreation 44 Campus Safety usu.edu/campusrec usu.edu/campus-life/safety 20 Student Involvement ususa.usu.edu 45 Sexual Assault Prevention 22 Student ID Card 46 Campus Store usucard.usu.edu campusstore.usu.edu 23 Career Services 47 TSC Post Office career-services.usu.edu distribution.usu.edu 24 Campus Map 48 Academic Calendar 26 Student Center Map 4 | | 5 FERPA usu.edu/registrar/ferpa-info WHAT IS FERPA The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a U.S. federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records. FERPA protects your student’s rights by ensuring we don’t release any information to anyone without their consent; that includes you, as parents. In order for you to have access to this information, your student will need to go to myid.usu.edu, and assign you as a delegate. To find out more about FERPA, visit usu.edu/registrar/ferpa-info. 6 | FERPA USU Alumni Association usu.edu/alumni The USU Alumni Association is located in the Welcome Center. WHAT IS AN AGGIE Aggie: an agricultural school or college; also: a student at such an institution. “When I ask people where they went to school, they always reply, "I’m an Aggie." People do not just graduate from USU; it becomes a way of AGGIE ICE CREAM life. I will forever bleed blue!” 750 N. 1200 E. – Sian Smith Logan, UT 84322 (See our map pg 24) “Being an Aggie means you are part of something larger than yourself. You are part of MAY – SEPTEMBER the Aggie family, connected to other Aggies M-F 9 am - 10 pm around the world. It changes you forever. It SAT 10 am - 10 pm becomes who you are. Suddenly ‘I’m an Aggie!’ SUN Closed takes on a whole new meaning.” OCTOBER – APRIL – Scott Olson M-F 9 am - 9 pm SAT 10 am - 9 pm SHOW ME THE SUN Closed TRUE-BLOODED AGGIE CALL THE STORE The mission of the Alumni Association is to contribute 888.586.2735 to the success of Utah State University by providing opportunities for meaningful, lifelong involvement for its alumni, students, and friends. USU ALUMNI OFFICE 7500 Old Main Hill 435.797.2055 [email protected] 8 | USU Alumni Association USU Alumni Association | 9 PARENT ORIENTATION ADVICE FOR The college years are a time of transition for young AN AGGIE PARENT people and their parents. There is no way to move usu.edu/parents/tips through such an important passage without some feelings of dislocation and loss. But information and insight can help parents negotiate this significant and SOME BASIC PARENTS SHOULD WHAT USU IS DOING FACTS PARENTS ENCOURAGE THEIR TO HELP STUDENTS often neglected phase of their children’s lives. SHOULD KNOW: STUDENT TO DO THE GRADUATE: – Karen Coburn & Madge Treeger • People with bachelor’s FOLLOWING TO HELP • The University Catalog THEM GRADUATE “Letting Go: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years” degrees earn about has suggested 4-year $1 million more in ON TIME: plans for each major additional income over • Enroll in USU 1010: (see catalog.usu.edu their lifetime than those University Connections. and select Degree without. Maps). STAY CONNECTED • Meet with an usu.campusesp.com • Financial difficulties advisor to create an • Thrive.usu.edu helps Join the Parent Network to receive are the number one academic plan. students do more reason students drop than just survive. customized, timely communications • Enroll in the right about news, deadlines, campus out, according to This includes a media 15 credits each resources, and more. self-reported data. library full of stories of semester (or 30 persistence. Subscribe to the Aggie Parent and • Nationally, less than credits each year). Family podcast on all major platforms 60% of students who • USU has a variety of for practical advice about topics • Complete the FAFSA start toward a 4-year resources found in this ranging from campus safety, academic each fall, even if they degree complete it guidebook. Student advising, diversity and inclusion, and don’t think they are the best ways to support your student. within 6 years. fees help pay for these Pell-eligible (most services, so students • Students who feel a scholarships require should use them. connection to campus a completed FAFSA). and are engaged with • For more tips on • Go to usu.awardspring. co- and extra-curricular helping your student com each January activities are more likely succeed at every to find and apply to graduate. stage in their college for scholarships. career, visit usu.edu/ • Get involved with parents/tips. co-and extra-curricular activities (this includes clubs, intramural sports, research with faculty, leadership, etc.). • Create a 4-year financial plan. 10 | Parent Orientation Parent Orientation | 11 NAVIGATING THE WHAT IS WHAT CAN MY STUDENT PARENT HANDBOOK CONNECTIONS EXPECT? This handbook is designed to be a supplement to the Parent USU 1010 Connections is a two-credit academic * 2 Credit Academic Course Orientation held before the beginning of the semester. Please course designed to ease your student’s transition * Ease into college use this during and after the orientation in order to stay informed, to Utah State. It is an optional course, but highly life at USU and as a resource in supporting your student throughout the year.