This Week in AU Orientation

This week for new families - August 16

Greetings Eagle Families,

As you ready the boxes and stuff the suitcases, we hope you and your Eagle are as excited about the start of the semester as we are! Whether you arrive as a family or your Eagle flies solo, we'll be here to greet them and get you where you need to be.

All-American Welcome includes so many opportunities for your student to explore our campus and our community! We build the schedule for students moving in on August 24 or later. If your student is moving in early (August 21 - 23) and is not part of Explore DC just keep in mind that our services and offerings will expand over the course of the week. Visit the information desk in the Mary Graydon Center or our All-American Welcome website for details about dining and campus retail hours and One Card/AUID and UPass pick-up.

While we don't schedule formal events or presentations for families during move-in, we do offer you a full series of webinars throughout the year. You can preview the 2022-23 Eagle Family Webinar Series now - and know that we're working to bring you the content you need, when you need it.

Orientation Leaders are still at the ready to help your student with any last minute questions as you make your final preparations. We can't wait to welcome you!

In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] with any question, any time.

Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle!
The New Student and Family Programs Team

Did you know we have a website with curated content just for our AU parents and families? You'll find quick links to campus services and offices, a planning calendar with key dates and deadlines, travel tips and a listing of our favorite hotels, a collection of our recorded webinars and so much more! Visit us at www.american.edu/ocl/families.

New Student Checklist: Dates and Deadlines

You can help your student keep track of deadlines and tasks like these:

Textbooks can be ordered through the Campus Store. Don't worry if an instructor hasn't posted them yet! Many students wait until they review the syllabus (in Canvas or in class) before purchasing materials.
Encourage your student to start reading this year's Writer as Witness selection: Laila Lalami's Conditional Citizens: Who Belongs in America? available at a discounted rate through the Campus Store.
Consider whether tuition insurance is right for your family.
Avoid lines at move-in. Your student should have already uploaded a photo for the AUID (One Card) and their immunization records, including proof of Covid-19 vaccine and booster.
Save the date: Family Week end is October 7-9. Book your hotel at the discounted AU rate.

Last minute financial aid questions? Every AU student has an assigned financial aid counselor available to assist.

REVIEW THE CHECKLIST

new! Covid-19 updates for fall

As we learn more about Covid-19, we routinely update our policies and procedures to protect the health and safety of our campus community. We shared details with your student via email on August 11. Please take a few moments this week to review the guide with your student now so you'll be prepared if they, or a close contact, tests positive. You'll want to pay attention to our guidance about:

how to find Covid-19 tests on campus
when and where KN95 masks are required
what isolation in place will look like
class absences and notifying faculty
family members and other guests on campus

Covid-19 guide

consider tuition insurance

Student lounging. Is Grad Guard right for you?

We all plan for our students to have a successful semester. What happens when a sudden illness, a chronic condition or mental health challenges get in the way of finishing a term? Tuition insurance can protect your financial investment so you can focus on your student. GradGuard is not related to AU, we don’t benefit from promoting their insurance. We certainly hope you’d never need it - but we strongly recommend that you consider whether it is right for your family.

tuition insurance

AU sponsored Health Insurance: WAIVE-OR-ENROLL

If your student chooses to participate in the AU sponsored health insurance plan, the charge will remain on your student's account. The next step is to actually create an account with Aetna at Academic HealthPlans. Once you have created your account, you will have access to your insurance cards within 1-2 business days. The Aetna plan covers August 1, 2022 - July 31, 2023.

If you are requesting to waive the AU sponsored health insurance and have the charge removed from your student's account, please help your student to follow the instructions online before the deadline of September 12, 2022.

health insurance details

ALL-American Welcome

All-American Welcome is a time for your student to meet new friends, build community, explore involvement opportunities, and enjoy events and activities as we welcome our new and returning students to campus. With more than 70 events and activities each fall, there's a great variety of fun in-person events to help our Eagles to meet each other, learn their way around campus and explore DC.

We do not offer formal programming for families and friends during welcome, but we will encourage you to visit us in the Mary Graydon Center to explore our resource fair on 8/24 and 8/25. Then join us in The Bridge cafe for complimentary coffee, tea and tissues with administrators and our Parent Leadership Council.

all-american welcome

ICYMI: fall Move-in Details

Check out the recording of our recent First Year Student Move In webinar for more details about what you can expect when you arrive on campus, and tips to make it a smooth process for everyone.

Don't forget - you can find details about fridge rentals, packing lists and even furniture dimensions on the housing website. Other urgent housing questions? Encourage your student to email [email protected] or live chat Monday - Friday, 1 - 4 p.m. ET.

fall MOve-in

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