Top Tips for Maintaining Wellness

Encourage Your Bull to Live Well to Be Well

Did you know eight out of the top ten reasons why students struggle in their first year of college are health and wellness related? Concerns like stress, sleep problems, depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse can create barriers to academic success and overall well-being. Our Wellness USF team focuses on helping students adjust to college life. There is something for everyone, addressing all aspects of health and well-being so your students can Be Well and Excel!

Tampa Wellness Services • Recreation & Wellness — stay active, meet people, and explore new activities. • Center for Student Well-Being — health and wellness resources and education related to stress management, sleep, alcohol, and other drugs. • Counseling Center — free drop-in and online counseling, support and meditation groups, calming apps, and more. • Student Health Services — wellness check-ups, immunizations, urgent care, STI testing, Feed-a-Bull food pantry, nutrition counseling, and on-campus

Bulls Country Pharmacy. • Student Outreach and Support — provides help navigating university systems, community referrals, and removing barriers to student success. • Success and Wellness Coaching — a self-directed, personalized process that empowers students to achieve their individual and academic goals with the help of a personal coach. • Wellness Centers — stress reduction, relaxation, and health resources including massage chairs, nap pods, sleep packs, free fruit, and more. To learn more about wellness services on the Tampa campus, go to usf.edu/wellness. Stay up to date by following our Wellness USF social media sites and our Be Well blog.

Family Conversation Starters:

“How do you cope with stress?”

“What are your plans to manage your health and wellness?”

“When things get challenging, who will you talk to?”

“When will I know you feel overwhelmed?”

“How well are you?”

This guided process helps students assess their overall wellbeing and provides links to resources if needed. usf.edu/student-affairs/ wellness/about-us/howwell-are-you.aspx

Remind your student they do not have to struggle. It’s about being able to ask questions, determine what they need, and take action. We have many resources on campus to help.

$MONEY$$$$

We know money matters for families. Whether you are helping your student pay for college or assisting them in navigating what can feel complex about financial aid and paying for college, USF has several resources to help your student navigate their needs throughout the process. USF directly interfaces with students regarding their financial aid and educational records, so we encourage family members to help their students identify their questions or needs so they are equipped with the most accurate information.

Financial Aid Tutorials You and your student can review step-bystep instructions and tutorial videos for each aspect of the financial aid process by visiting usf.edu/financial-aid and reviewing the “How To Videos.”

Florida Bright Futures Make sure USF is listed as your student’s school choice for Florida Bright Futures. Your student should review usf.edu/financial-aid/brightfutures for more details.

Florida Pre-Paid A short tutorial to learn how Florida Pre-paid works at USF along with related information can be found at usf.edu/business-finance/controller/ student-services/student-accounting/ florida-prepaid.aspx

Student Loans Students will need to complete Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note at studentaid.gov if they will be borrowing federal loans. Please note: international students do not need to complete this step.

Review Tuition and Fee Deadlines Tuition and fees must be paid by the fifth day of the semester in the student’s OASIS account. Your student can review their total amount due in OASIS once they have registered for classes. If students are receiving a financial aid deferment or have an active FL Prepaid Plan they will get an extended bill due date. usf.edu/business-finance/controller/ student-services/deadline-dates.aspx.

Financial Education The Bull2Bull Financial Education Program (B2B) is a peer-to-peer financial education program. It is designed to enhance the financial wellness of undergraduate students. Learn more at usf.edu/financial-education.

Financial Aid Access for Third Party (Including Parent and Family Members) In order to discuss your student’s financial aid awards with the university, your student must contact the Office of Financial Aid and request the Privacy Release for Dependent Students form to be posted to OASIS. The form must be completed online. Please note your student must update this form on an annual basis. For more questions, visit usf.edu/financial-aid/questions

$$$$MATTERS

Family Conversation Starters:

“Who is financially responsible and accountable for college?”

Every student and family’s decisions look different, so establishing the expectation from the onset of your student’s collegiate experience is beneficial to drive decision-making and budgeting.

“Do you plan to work? Do you need to work right away or are you able to wait until you’ve adjusted?”

“How much spending money do you need?”

“How do you plan to stretch your money throughout the entire semester/year?”