Flock Talk is a new section where our current Eagle Families share advice just for you! Check out this week's advice:

"Honor your student's independence; support them as they develop their own problem-solving skills." - Shelley Wedergren, P '24

This is a great piece of advice we received! Let’s start with honoring your student’s independence. As your Eagle emerges into adulthood, it’s time to discuss the ways your students will take ownership of their college experience. Here are examples of some great conversations to have right now:

• Financial expectations – Discuss with your student how they will manage their finances in college. What will they need to pay for? Feel free to share these financial literacy resources with your student.

• Health considerations – Discuss with your student how they will manage their health as an adult. They will need to get in the habit of scheduling their own appointments and making decisions about their own health. If your student has a chronic health need, now is a great time to plan. If they have existing mental health or physical healthcare providers, they should speak with their provider about finding care in Washington, DC.

• Did your Eagle succeed with accommodations in high school? New students should start the application process early in the summer as the approval process takes several weeks. They must submit documentation themselves, which may be different from the high school model in which you handled the accommodations process. With a new environment, students may feel emboldened to try their first semester without accommodations. However, a new environment brings new challenges and uncharted territory, so it's important to keep using accommodations in the first semester/year, then evaluate if they're still needed in the future.

As your Eagle develops their own problem-solving skills, it’s important to remember that they will likely share their challenges with you, while the friends get the fun and exciting news. When things go wrong, college students phone their parents for reassurance. When you get the call, encourage them to utilize the many resources available to support their AU journey.

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

• Upload a photo for the AUID (One Card) by July 15 to avoid long lines at move-in.
• Students must upload immunization records by July 15.
• Consider whether tuition insurance is right for your family.
• Student bills are due August 1, they get finalized in early July as your student registers for a full-time courseload.
• Start thinking about finding local ATMs, banks, pharmacies and specialized medical providers as needed. Use the "20016" zip code to search the internet for services closest to campus.
• Save the date: Family Weekend is October 13-15.

REVIEW THE CHECKLIST

We now have a resolution for logging into Canvas. Thanks for your patience! The "forgot password" process will now send you a link to reset your password. Here are the instructions:select the option for Professional and Lifelong Learners: For learners without an @american.edu account. Login with the email address that we've sent you our newsletters. To set up your password, follow the "Forgot Password?" link and check your email for instructions from Canvas to reset your password. The orientation will give you an overview of AU’s academics, campus life, safety considerations, student responsibilities and resources specifically for families, all at your own pace. You’ll also be able to begin the course and return to finish or revisit content at any time!

LOGIN AND EXPLORE

The District of Columbia Immunization Law requires that all students under age 26, no matter how many credit hours they are enrolled in, must provide proof of their immunizations on the AU Mandatory Immunization Form. All new students must also complete the Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire. Students will be able to enter their immunizations online once they have registered for classes, so this is a good time to obtain current records. They must do so themselves, a family member can’t enter the information on their behalf. Immunization records are due by July 15.

IMMUNIZATION DETAILS

AU Central is your one-stop shop for all billing-related questions. AU Central brings together in a central location the front line services related to student accounts, registration and Veterans Services. The office has also partnered with Academic Health Plans (AHP) to manage the administration of the student health insurance waiver process. Our team of student services counselors is cross trained and ready to assist you with your questions.

LEARN MORE

Payment for the fall semester is due August 1. Your student must register for classes to generate a bill, which will be posted to the student’s Eagle Service Account. In order for families and other sponsors to view or pay the bill, your student must grant you proxy access. You’ll find a simple list of tuition and fees, instructions on how to view an itemized version of the student bill and payment options on the Student Accounts website.

STUDENT ACCOUNTS