Dear Trojan Parents and Family Members,

Happy New Year!! We hope your family enjoyed the holidays and your student is refreshed for the start of the spring semester. There are many events and important dates for parents and students throughout the spring semester, so be sure to access www.usc.edu/parent for up-to-date information.

A big thank you to Trojan parents who donated to the USC Parents Council Union Rescue Mission Toy Drive in December and brought holiday cheer to needy children and their families. Thank you to Avery Barth, Sandy Bartlett, Barbara Boxley, Christine Fine, Kavita Gupta, Marilou Hamill, Judith Harris, David and Ana Galvez Kadin, Becky LaForge, Vivian Landau, Carolyn Ward, Kandi Wopschall and other secret Santas. Also thank you to David, Ana and Marilou for delivering all the items and meeting with the staff at the Mission. Your Trojan spirit is greatly appreciated! The Parents Council is also working with the Union Rescue Mission（in Downtown Los Angeles）on upcoming projects including the Alumni Day of SCervice on Saturday, March 23. More details to follow soon.

The Office for Parent Programs sends cardinal and gold bouquets of appreciation to the Hong Kong Parents Association for their amazing hospitality at a luncheon held at the American Club on Monday, December 10, 2012 while Beth Saul, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs was visiting in Hong Kong as part of her trip to Asia. Chaired by Alice Tan, the Hong Kong Parents Association holds several events during the year and epitomizes the Trojan Family across the Pacific. All who attended received updates about USC and were very anxious to welcome their students back to Hong Kong for the winter break. Together all of us celebrated our Trojan ties, Catherine Leung’s（Director for the USC Hong Kong office）birthday and the holiday season.

As the new semester begins, please have a conversation with your student about a USC faculty member that has made an impact on your student. The 2013 Steven B. Sample Teaching and Mentoring Award nomination form is now available online. These awards, a signature program of the USC Parents Association, are the only faculty recognition awards initiated by Trojan parent nominations and comments by their students. Faculty recipients receive a $1,000 honorarium, recognition in the Trojan Parent Perspective newsletter and their name inscribed on a permanent plaque at the University Club. The 2012-2013 nomination deadline is Friday, March 29, 2013. Please access www.usc.edu/parent for more information and the nomination form.

Register for the Parents Council Meeting on Tuesday, January 22

All parents are invited to attend the Parents Council meeting on Tuesday, January 22 at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center Ballroom. Dr. Michael Quick, Executive Vice Provost and Professor of Biological Sciences in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, will be the featured speaker. Social starts at 5:30pm; dinner starts at 6pm. Register at http://sait.usc.edu/parent/UpcomingEvents.asp. Please bring donations, gift baskets or gift certificates for the silent auction at the March 2 Parents Basketball event. Suggested items include restaurant or movie theatre gift cards, sporting event tickets or memorabilia, jewelry and USC-related items. Also, please bring unused toiletries（collected from hotels or other places you may have visited）to the January 22 meeting for distribution to the Union Rescue Mission.

We encourage parents to become involved and join the Parents Council. No new membership applications will be accepted after January 15, 2013 for the 2012-2013 academic year. Please access http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/parents/parentassoc.html for the application and more information.

Also, as a reminder from the Parents Council Safety Committee, please sign up for the TrojansAlert notification system. TrojansAlert is a free alert system that allows university officials to contact you during an emergency by sending text messages to your email account, mobile/handheld devices or a message through a landline（text messages fees may apply from your wireless carrier）. For more information and to sign up, visit https://trojansalert.usc.edu/index.php?CCheck=1.

Buy Your Gayle Roski Scarf- Limited Supply Available

The Gayle Roski scarf is available through the Office for Parent Programs and makes a beautiful gift. This one-of-a-kind, 36” x 36” silk scarf was designed by Gayle exclusively for the USC Parents Association to sell and raise money for its projects. Gayle is a USC alumna, a renowned artist and a strong supporter of the university. Her husband Edward Roski, Jr. is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and they have been major benefactors to the Roski School of Fine Arts. The cost is $65 per scarf and a limited supply is currently available. There is an additional $10 charge for shipping. Contact Beth Saul, Director for Parent Programs, at saul@usc.edu with any questions and/or to order your scarf today!

News from the Office for Parent Programs:

Make Plans to Cheer at the Trojan Basketball Parent Event on March 2
Join fellow parents and family members at the annual Parents Basketball event on Saturday, March 2. Registration cost will include brunch, entertainment by the Trojan Marching Band, a silent auction/raffle and tickets to the men’s basketball game featuring the Arizona State Sun Devils against the USC Trojans. Check the Office for Parent Programs’ website soon for registration information!

Mark Your Calendar--Important Spring Dates-to-Remember
Open Registration：January 10-11
Classes begin：Monday, January 14
Martin Luther King’s Birthday（no classes）：Monday, January 21
Parents Council Meeting：Tuesday, January 22
President’s Day（no classes）：Monday, February 18
Parents Basketball Event：Saturday, March 2
Spring Recess：March 18-23
Alumni Day of SCervice：Saturday, March 23
Parents Council Meeting：Tuesday, April 9
Classes end：Friday, May 3
Study Days：May 4-7
Final Exams*：May 8-15
Commencement：Friday, May 17
*Students usually leave campus for the summer 24 hours after their last exam.

Parent Information:

Important Information Regarding Student Health Insurance
In order for students to request a waiver of the USC student health insurance for Spring/Summer 2013 only, using the online system, the deadline is February 1, 2013. The online request site opened December 3, 2012. Students must be registered for Spring classes for at least three days to begin this process. Students must login to their OASIS account（not a Guest Account）, select “Other Services”, then select “Student Health Insurance” and follow instructions to request a waiver there. A confirmation email will be sent upon completion of this process.

If you requested and received a waiver for Fall 2012 you DO NOT need to request again for Spring/Summer 2013. Please do not request again until Fall 2013.

If you missed the Fall 2012 request deadline and have not received an approval for Spring/Summer 2013 only, you may submit your request in the online system at this time. If you are a new incoming student and you wish to waive the student health insurance for Spring/Summer 2013 only, you may request in the online system at this time. New waivers must be requested at the beginning of every academic year（in the Fall）by the deadline date. For any questions regarding insurance waivers, please email b.well@usc.edu.

Start planning for Your Family’s 2013 Graduation Events
It’s not too early to start planning for your student’s 2013 USC Commencement celebration on Friday, May 17. Many of the local hotels and restaurants have already started to book up, so start making your plans today. If you need assistance with your travel arrangements, contact STA Travel at 213.254.2662（www.statravel.com）.

Starting on Monday, February 11, parents can purchase tickets to the 2013 Baccalaureate Dinner at 6:30pm on Thursday, May 16. This dinner hosts 1,200 students and families under an enormous canopy on Pardee Way near the Widney Alumni House. The cost for dinner is $40 per person, which includes tax, gratuity, and wine or other beverage. There is no limit to the number of tickets families can buy, but tables will be seated in groups of ten（i.e. if you buy eleven tickets, your party will be split among two adjacent tables）. Please note this event will sell out. For more information, access http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/specialevents/commencement/baccalaureate.php.
Finally, the 2013 El Rodeo yearbook may also be purchased online for $70. Reserve your student’s copy at www.uscelrodeo.com. The yearbook is a great present to remind students of their time spent at USC, friends and events.

2013 Grad Fair to be held February 12-14 at the Tutor Center Grand Ballroom
The 2013 Grad Fair will be held on February 12, 13（from 10am - 4pm）, and 14（10am – 6pm）in the Tutor Campus Center Grand Ballroom. This is your one-stop shop for all commencement-related items. Last year, approximately 5,000 students and parents attended this three day event. Although parents are highly encouraged to attend, you can shop online and order the commencement packages which will be at a discounted rate ONLY for the three days of the Grad Fair.

At the Grad Fair, students will rent caps and gowns, purchase class rings, announcements, sashes, diploma frames and leis. A new option at this year’s Grad Fair includes a studio so that parents and/or friends can take a picture with their student in caps and gowns. There will also be commencement packages available for advanced degree graduates.

Also in attendance at Grad Fair this year will be the El Rodeo Yearbook, USC Alumni Association, Dornsife, Annenberg, Marshall and Viterbi representatives, as well as the USC Credit Union and STA travel.

For more information about Commencement, visit the commencement website at http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/specialevents/commencement/. Please email gradfair@usc.edu for any questions regarding the 2013 Grad Fair.

Early Bird Registration Discount Available for the 2013 USC Women’s Conference
An early bird registration discount is available through January 15 for the fifth annual USC Women’s Conference to be held from 8am – 5pm on Thursday, March 7 at the USC University Park campus. Join USC alumnae and friends to network and hear thought-provoking presentations and panel discussions featuring luminaries in the fields of medicine, business, public service and the arts. Register at https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/SCA/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=140725 or call the USC Alumni Association at 213.740.5734.

USC Summer Programs for High School Students – Live the Trojan Experience!
USC Summer Programs offers 2-Week and 4-Week college immersion programs for high school students. Courses are taught by USC faculty and members of the academic community. Students engage in the university experience through a combination of lectures, hands-on workshops and labs, guest speakers and academic field trips to locations throughout Los Angeles. Students will also receive 3 units of USC elective credit upon successful completion of the 4-Week course. For more information and to view our extensive selection of courses, please visit http://summer.usc.edu/parent.

Information to pass on to your student:

Update from USC Housing for spring check-in
New residents for the spring semester may check-in at 9am on Thursday, January 10. Students will receive check-in information by mail. USC Housing Renewal（UHR）begins in mid-January. Information about the process was emailed and hard copies mailed to residents’ permanent addresses in December. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact USC Housing at 213.740.2546.

Encourage Your Student to Attend a Trojan SCupper February 22-24
The USC Alumni Association and the USC Student Alumni Society invite your student to participate in the fifth annual Trojan SCuppers. This program, a series of alumni and friends-hosted dinners, provides a wonderful opportunity for students to network with peers, parents and alumni in a relaxed and fun Trojan Family environment. Students can attend one of three dinner dates during the spring semester：Friday, February 22, Saturday, February 23 or Sunday, February 24. All students who are interested are welcome to apply!

Registration for all students will open on Monday, January 14 on the Student Alumni Society website http://alumni.usc.edu/sas. Students are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Please e-mail sas@alumnicenter.usc.edu with any questions.

Applications Are Now Available for USC Alumni Association Scholarships
The USC Alumni Association and its related entities, both domestic and international, award more than $2 million in alumni scholarships to continuing USC students each year. The deadline to submit applications is February 1, 2013 for the 2013-2014 academic year. For more information, please visit http://alumni.usc.edu/students/scholarships/.

Have Your Student Check Out the Career Center for Job Opportunities
The spring 2013 calendar at the Career Center is in full swing so please prepare your students for an eventful semester! Parents can encourage their students to start prepping for these events by doing research on companies and industries and by attending the events below so they know who to approach beforehand on http://careers.usc.edu.

• On-Campus Recruiting will run from January 16 - April 19.
• Career Fest 2013（a week-long series of career development workshops put on by career services across campus）will run from January 28 - February 1.
• The Diversity Networking Mixer will be held during Career Fest on January 30.
• Spring 2013 Career Fair（with over 150 employers）will be on February 7.
• Internship Week will run from February 11 - 14.

The Career Center team is ready to help Trojan students get the jobs and internships they want! In addition to cover letter and resume help, the Career Center has many programs to guide your student in their career path. The Career Center is open from 8:30am - 5pm Monday-Friday and is located in the Student Union（Suite #110）.

Center for Women and Men offers Support Group for Women
The Center for Women and Men（CWM）runs a weekly drop-in Women’s Group. This support group is for women who have experienced gender-based violence, such as assault, harassment, stalking or abuse. The sessions will be supervised by a CWM counselor and will be safe and confidential. It’s a place to connect with other survivors, gain support and continue healing. Like all of their counseling services, this group is free and no appointments are necessary. The meetings will be held at 4pm on Thursdays at the Student Union, Suite 202. To find out the start date or for more information, contact Sheetal Chib at schib@usc.edu, 213.740.4900 or stop by CWM.

Solutions to New Year’s Resolutions from USC Recreational Sports
Is your student looking to become more involved this semester? Work out more? It’s easy to get buried under classes and we, at USC RecSports, believe that students need a healthy balance of mind, body and spirit. We have everything your student needs to get involved and stay in shape. Both the Lyon Recreation Center（UPC）and the Soto Recreation Center（SRC）provide free weights, cardiovascular equipment, and more. Is your student interested in a quick game of ultimate Frisbee or Lacrosse? Intramural sports are a great way to try out something new. Your student can join one of 60 club sports that range from archery to wrestling.

Trojan Fitness provides a wide variety of group exercise classes including muscle conditioning, SCycle, zumba, and yoga. Fitness includes personal trainers, group exercise classes, and massage therapy to increase your student’s fitness levels. USC BeFit.BeWell. Wellness offers programs that cover all aspects of wellness –social, physical and financial are just a few. Learn more at www.usc.edu/recsports or call 213.740.5127.

$1,000 student cash prize to be awarded for “I Am USC Dornside” Contest
Any student with a USC Dornsife major or minor is eligible to enter the “I Am USC Dornsife”contest. We want to hear USC Dornsife student stories, passions and learn about their quests to understanding pressing issues. An individual student or team of students may submit a video, written piece, song, photography or art that shows how they embody the spirit and mission of USC Dornsife for a chance to win up to $1,000. Submissions must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, February 19. Learn more at http://dornsife.usc.edu/iamuscdornsife.

Check out these upcoming events:

Free Monthly Tours of the USC Shoah Foundation
Discover how the life stories and memories of Holocaust survivors and witnesses are being used to overcome prejudice, intolerance, and bigotry through visual history and education programs all over the world. If you enjoyed the demonstration of the archive during Trojan Family Weekend, this tour will show you how testimonies are digitized and translated into the Shoah Foundation archived format for translation into ten languages, indexing and preservation. The next tours are currently scheduled for 11am - 1pm on Wednesday, January 16 and February 6. Learn more at http://sfi.usc.edu/.

Speaker Series Focuses on Breast Cancer Treatment on January 17
Join fellow Trojans at the Indian Wells Country Club（Indian Wells, CA）Wellness Center Health Speaker Series for “Breast Cancer Treatment in the Genomic Era” starting with a special reception at 4:30pm on Thursday, January 17. The discussion features speakers Stephen F. Sener, M.D. and Christy Russell, M.D. of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital. Tickets are complimentary. For RSVP information and other event information, visit https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/SCA/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=13221.

Joint USC Interfraternity & Intersorority Parents Council Meeting on January 24
Steve A. Kay, Dean of Dornsife College of Letters Arts and Sciences, will be the featured speaker at the Interfraternity and Intersorority Parent Council meeting starting at 10:30am on Thursday, January 24 at the Delta Delta Delta sorority house on The Row（just north of campus）. Chapter updates will be provided by chapter presidents and additional updates will be provided by Beth Saul（Director for Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development and Parent Programs）, USC Department of Public Safety and the USC Career Planning and Placement Center. For more information, please contact Sara Phirrmann, President, USC Interfraternity Parents Council at sarapf@aol.com.

Open House for Our Savior Church & USC Caruso Catholic Center on January 29
Parents and students are invited to attend the winter Open House for Trojan Friends and Neighbors at Our Savior Church and USC Caruso Catholic Center from 4pm – 6pm on Tuesday, January 29. Please plan to join us for an Interfaith Prayer Service, tours of the new Church and Center, refreshments in Newman Hall and an up close view of all the Catholic Campus Ministry at the Caruso Catholic Center. Please RSVP with rose@catholictrojan.org or 213.516.3973. Our Savior Parish and USC Caruso Catholic Center is at 844 West Thirty Second Street, Los Angeles（just north of campus）. For more information, visit http://catholictrojan.org/.

Jewish Alumni Association Networking Lunch on January 29
Hear from Dr. Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, about the incredible work being done with over 52,000 testimonies from survivors of the Holocaust, and to educate both the Jewish and non-Jewish world about the Nazi atrocities of WWII from 11:30am - 1:30pm on Tuesday, January 29. Hosted by the USC Jewish Alumni Association, the lunch will be held in Century City. Cost is $18 for JAA members and $36 for non-JAA members. Please RSVP by January 22 at http://www.uschillel.org/uschillel/jewish-trojan-family/usc-jewish-alumni-association/upcoming-jaa-events/jaa-luncheon-with-dr-stephen-d-smith/. Contact Alison at alisonle@usc.edu for more information.

USC in Your Neighborhood – Giving Sight to the Blind on January 31
Join USC Provost Elizabeth Garrett as she provides a university update and discusses the transformative research and discovery happening regularly at USC from 6pm - 8pm on Thursday, January 31. Also hear from Dr. Mark Humayun of the USC Institute of Biomedical Therapeutics（IBT）, one of several USC professors pushing the envelope of possibility, for a fascinating presentation on his groundbreaking research – and how it’s giving people suffering from macular degeneration a second chance to see the world. The event will be held at the New York Academy of Sciences in New York City. $20 cost includes hosted reception. Please RSVP at http://alumni.usc.edu/sightny.

Volunteers Needed Trojan Hoops for Justice Basketball Tournament on March 2
Join in the fun for the second annual campus-wide 3-on-3 basketball tournament to benefit USC charities starting at 6pm on Saturday, March 2 at the Lyon Center Basketball Courts. Proceeds from Trojan Hoops for Justice will benefit Troy Camp, Trojan Kids Camp and the After School Sports Connection.

Prior to the event, please consider joining the planning committee, registering a team, promoting team registration or becoming a tournament sponsor. The event will also need volunteers before, on the day of and at the event. For more information, please contact trojanhoops@uschillel.org or visit http://www.uschillel.org/uschillel/student-life/religious-spiritual-programs/food-fun/hoops/.

Additional news:

Hillel Delivers Chicken Soup to Sick Students
If your student is sick, just let USC Hillel know and they will individually deliver a Chicken Soup Get-Well Package for FREE. To order a soup delivery, call 213.747.9135 or email parents@uschillel.org.

Annual USC Dornsife Torchbearers Luncheon Honored Scholarship Recipients
USC Dornsife Torchbearers - parents, friends and alumni, spent an afternoon with some of USC Dornsife’s gifted and talented scholarship recipients at the annual Torchbearer Luncheon. USC Dornsife Torchbearers advance the mission of USC Dornsife, support student’s scholarly pursuits and transform lives through innovation, discovery and community. To hear from Ashley Kramer, graduate fellowship recipient and undergraduate scholarship recipient, Russell Stewart, to view photos from this special event or learn more about USC Dornsife Torchbearers, please visit http://dornsife.usc.edu/torchbearer.

The USC Dornsife Magazine has become interactive
Readers can now quickly and easily access videos, slideshows, music and more with a wave of their mobile devices. Flip through the pages and you’ll notice a trail of cardinal-colored buttons inviting you to “Scan for Extras.” Unlock these special features by downloading the new, free USC Dornsife Augmented Reality（AR）App on to your mobile phone and other devices. Learn more at http://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/1289/augmented-reality-debuts/.