You and your student should review this new student arrival checklist and make sure that everything has been completed before the semester begins.
Before attending New Student Orientation (NSO)
☐ Encourage your student to complete their NSO Tasklist, including making a reservation for NSO.
☐ Remind your student to take the ALEKS Math Placement assessment (if required); they can find this in their LionPATH student account.
☐ All incoming students must submit proof of immunizations to University Health Services prior to NSO.
☐ All students must sign the Financial Responsibility Agreement (FRA) in LionPATH prior to enrolling for classes each semester.
☐ Students should complete the Penn State Safe and Aware online learning module before attending NSO.
Healthcare
☐ All incoming students must submit proof of immunization to University Health Services prior to NSO.
☐ All students must submit proof of adequate health insurance in LionPATH.
☐ Students without health insurance can purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for Penn State.
☐ Make a copy of insurance and prescription cards for your student to take to school.
Paying the Tuition Bill
☐ If you plan to view and pay your student’s tuition bill, your student first needs to grant you Authorized Payer Access in LionPATH.
☐ All students must sign the Financial Responsibility Agreement in LionPATH prior to enrolling in classes every semester.
☐ The student and authorized payers on the student account will receive an email when the tuition statements are ready. (Payments are due on the 22nd of the month.)
☐ To plan for future semesters, please refer to tuition.psu.edu. (Tuition rates for the academic year are set in mid-July.)
Preparing for the Semester
☐ View the academic calendar.
☐ Encourage your student to map out the location of their classes in advance.
☐ Explore purchasing or renting textbooks.
☐ Add cell phone numbers to the PSU Alert system to receive urgent text and/or voice alerts.
☐ Add funds to your student’s LionCash account.
☐ If desired, your student should grant you Delegated Access in LionPATH to view class schedule, financial aid, grades, etc.
Reminders for Parents and Families
☐ Sign up to receive emails from the Parent & Family Experience portal.
☐ Follow our Facebook page to keep up with what’s happening around campus.
General Topics for Discussion
☐ Encourage your student to participate in campus welcome activities and get involved on campus.
☐ Discuss campus safety and decisions regarding alcohol and drug use.
☐ Discuss time management and study skills.
☐ Set mutual expectations for staying in touch.
☐ Talk about how your student will finance their education.
☐ Provide reminders of life skills (including doing laundry, managing bank accounts, eating well, etc.)
☐ Remind your student to check their Penn State email account frequently. The University will communicate important information to students using their Penn State email address. Students can check their Penn State email via Office 365.