MARCH 2008
Campus Link

University of South Carolina Parent Updates – March 3, 2008

Carolina parents,

Greetings from Columbia! Today is the midpoint in the semester, so expect your student to be busier than normal with exams and projects. Also, spring break is next week. For students who live on campus, the residence halls (with the exceptions listed below) will close at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 8 and will re-open at noon on Sunday, March 16.  (The following residence halls will remain open during the break: Bates House, Bates West, East Quad, French House, Green Quad, Horseshoe Apartments, The Roost and South Quad.)

Look for the Carolina Ties parents newsletter to be delivered to your home in the next week. This issue focuses on safety and includes great articles to discuss with your student.

The spring edition of the Carolinian magazine features an article on Dinner Dialogues, a program sponsored by the Office of Parents Programs and funded by the Parents Annual Fund that encourages faculty members to increase their interaction with their students outside of the classroom by inviting them to their homes for dinner. To read the article, visit www.sc.edu/carolinian/bravo/bravo_08spring_01.html.

Here are a few updates from the University:

*The University of South Carolina announced Friday (Feb. 29) that alumnus and business leader Robert McNair of Houston will increase the funding for the McNair Scholars Program, the University’s most prestigious and valuable scholarship program for out-of-state students, to $30 million. The announcement is part of the University’s 10th anniversary celebration of the program. In 1998, McNair and his wife, Janice, gave $20 million to establish the McNair Scholars Program. For more information, visit http://uscnews.sc.edu/2008/02292008-DEVL074a.html.

*For a limited time, Menactra, the meningitis vaccination, will be sold for $50 to current students. This discounted cost will only be available until Tuesday, March 18. If your student has not yet received the vaccination, consider setting up an appointment with the immunization office at the Thomson Student Health Center. Effective fall 2007, all incoming freshmen were required to receive this vaccination prior to registration. To this point, many upperclassmen have not received the meningitis vaccination.  Contact the immunization office at 803-777-9511 to set up an appointment. For more information about meningitis, visit www.sa.sc.edu/shs/tshc/meningitis_vaccine.shtml.

*As many students and parents have heard, University Housing is experiencing an upward trend in requests for undergraduate housing on the Columbia campus. This past fall, almost 7,000 students were housed on campus. All 23 residence halls and all 18 houses in the Greek Village were filled to capacity for the fourth year in a row.  What does this mean for current Columbia campus students enrolling for fall 2008?  To learn more, visit www.housing.sc.edu/pdf/SignUpArticleFeb20.pdf.

*On-campus housing sign-up for continuing students ends this Friday, March 7 at 5 p.m. Students should log onto https://vip.sc.edu to submit their applications for housing. For more information, visit http://www.housing.sc.edu/signuprocess.asp.

*Join Student Health Services and the American Heart Association in the fight against heart disease by participating in the 2008 START! Midlands Heart Walk on Saturday, March 15. Encourage your student to participate in the walk, become a team captain for USC or make a one-time donation. For more information, visit www.startmidlandssc.org or call 803-777-6518.

*Two City of Columbia fire stations that serve the University received gifts of life-saving equipment in honor of seven students who died in a beach-house fire Oct. 28 in Ocean Isle, N.C. The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation contributed “Jaws of Life” extrication equipment and thermal imaging cameras to Stations 2 and 9 in Columbia. The cameras use infrared technology to help firefighters and rescue workers “see” through smoke, fire and walls to find people and fire sources. For more information, visit http://uscnews.sc.edu/2008/02262008-STUD_Web008.html.

Finally, the March e-newsletter is attached. It includes articles on creating resumes, reducing water usage, staying safe during spring break and St. Patrick’s Day, choosing athletic shoes and planning for the summer transition.

Please continue to visit our Web site for information and resources at www.sa.sc.edu/parents. As always, we are only a phone call or e-mail away, and we encourage your feedback!

Office of Parents Programs
University of South Carolina
Web site: www.sa.sc.edu/parents
Parents Assistance Line: 1-800-868-6752
E-mail: scparents@sc.edu