Aggie Parent & Family Podcast

Episode 37: Being Exploratory at USU

In today’s episode, we chat over Zoom with Jana Haws from the Exploratory Advising office, Kevin Schwemmin from the Career Design Center, as well as A-Team member Mason Ralphs about what it means to be “exploratory” here at USU. We get to dive into what picking a major might look like for students and why it is okay if you change your mind when it comes to what it is you would like to study.  

New Student Orientation: https://www.usu.edu/orientation/locations/logan   
Orientation Office Contact Information: 435-797-0283; orientation@usu.edu; Instagram @usuateam  

Exploratory Advising: https://advising.usu.edu/exploratory/index  
Exploratory Advising Office Contact Information: 435-797-3373; exploratoryadvising@usu.edu; TSC 302  
Major Quest Canvas:  https://usu.instructure.com/enroll/EK84LL 
Focus Area Website:  https://advising.usu.edu/exploratory/focusareas/ 
Career Design Center: https://www.usu.edu/career-design-center/  
Aggie Network: https://aggienetwork.usu.edu/  

 

Guests 
Jana Haws – Exploratory Academic Advisor at Utah State University  
Kevin Schwemmin – Executive Director of the Career Design Center at Utah State University 
Mason Ralphs –  Exploratory; Sophomore; Pocatello, Idaho 

Episode 36: How the USU Financial Support Center Can Support Your Student For Fall 2022

In today’s episode, I sit down with A-Team member Emma as well as Jennifer and Sue of the Student Financial Support here at USU to talk about the different services offered through the new department. We go into some of the specific services offered, why it is important, and what students can expect when visiting.  

  

New Student Orientation: https://www.usu.edu/orientation/locations/logan    
Orientation Office Contact Information: 435-797-0283; orientation@usu.edu; Instagram @usuateam  
Student Financial Support: https://www.usu.edu/financial-support/  
Emails: financialaid@usu.edu; scholarships@usu.edu; smmc@usu.edu  
Location: TSC 106 (set to return August 5, 2022 to in-person services) 

 

Guest 
Sue Rasmussen – Scholarships Councilor; USU Student Financial Support 
Jennifer McGaughey – Assistant Director of Counseling; USU Student Financial Support 
Emma Davis – Double Major in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education & Psychology; Sophomore; Sandy, UT 

Episode 35: Fall 2022: What to Expect with In-Person Aggie Orientation

In today’s episode, I sit down again with Isaiah, Reagan, Kara, and Tia to talk about in-person Aggie Orientation and what students can expect. We break down the orientation day, talk about parent orientation, and give some advice for students as they prepare to attend. 

New Student Orientation: https://www.usu.edu/orientation/locations/logan    
Orientation Office Contact Information: 435-797-0283; orientation@usu.edu; Instagram @usuateam  
Sign-Up for In-Person Orientation or Switch Orientation Days: https://login.usu.edu/cas/login?service=https://secure1.vzorientation.com/usu/ssosignin.aspx  

 

Guest 
Isaiah Jones – Parent and Family Program Coordinator, Student Orientation; Utah State University 
Reagan Jensen – Psychology and Communication Studies; Senior; South Weber, UT 
Kara Pastorik – Nutrition and Dietetics; Senior; Bountiful, UT 
Tia Zebe - Human Development and Communication Studies; Junior; Las Vegas, NV 

 

Episode 34: Fall 2022: Module 3, Aggie Orientation

In today’s episode, we chat over Zoom with A-Team members, Erin and Xander about Module 3 of the online orientation, in-person Aggie Orientation, and what to expect this summer as they prepare to attend Utah State.  

New Student Orientation: https://www.usu.edu/orientation/locations/logan  
Sign-up for an in-person Aggie Orientation Session (or change your date): https://secure1.vzorientation.com/usu/  
Orientation Office Contact Information: 435-797-0283; orientation@usu.edu; Instagram @usuateam 

  

Guests 
Erin Nielsen – Social Work; Senior; Hyde Park, UT 
Xander Heath – Marketing with Tech Sales Minor, Senior; West Valley City, UT

Episode 33: How Can I Express My Feelings in a More Gentle (less blaming) Way?

In today's episode, we chat over Zoom with USU Extension professor Ashley Yaugher and Health and Wellness Coordinator Chapel Taylor-Olsen on how we can express our feelings in a more gentle (less blaming) way.

How Can I Express My Feelings in a More Gentle (less blaming) Way? w/ USU Professor Ashley Yaugher and Health & Wellness Coordinator Chapel Taylor-Olsen: https://usu.campusesp.com/posts/1142

 

Healthy Relationships Utah: https://extension.usu.edu/hru/ 

Episode 32: Career Design Center & the Benefits of Working On-Campus for Fall 2022

In today’s episode, I sit down with our Career Design Center here at USU and talk about the different services offered to students at Utah State. We also talk about the benefits to working on-campus, how students can find on-campus employment, and our upcoming virtual job fair specifically for incoming aggies. 

 

New Student Orientation: https://www.usu.edu/orientation/locations/logan    
Orientation Office Contact Information: 435-797-0283; orientation@usu.edu; Instagram @usuateam 
Career Design Center: https://www.usu.edu/career-design-center/  
Career Design Center Contact Information:  
Career Design Center Instagram: @usucareerdesigncenter
Aggie Handshake: https://usu.joinhandshake.com/login 
Sign-up to Attend the Incoming Student Virtual Job Fair: https://usu.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/31660/student_preview?token=FglPY_IC_2gWHkrPrTVv1gS61PdHPAi8vJRaosZ1ofODYjs1LSOI0A  

 

Guest 
Brianne Midgley – Employment Specialist, Career Design Center, Utah State University 
Kevin Schwemmin – Executive Director, Career Design Center, Utah State University 

Episode 31: Fall 2022: USU 1010 Connections and the Habits of Mind Course

In today’s episode, I sit down with Philosophy professor and Associate Vice Provost, Harrison Kleiner, to talk about two different academic opportunities for incoming students to take. We discuss the USU 1010 Connections course and the Habits of Mind courses that are designed to help students be successful in their academic pursuits.  

  

New Student Orientation: https://www.usu.edu/orientation/locations/logan    
Orientation Office Contact Information: 435-797-0283; orientation@usu.edu; Instagram @usuateam  
USU 1010 Connections: https://www.usu.edu/connections/logan/index  
Register for USU 1010 Connections: https://www.usu.edu/connections/logan/register  
USU Habits of Mind Courses: https://www.usu.edu/academic-support/courses  

 

Guest 
Dr. Harrison Kleiner – Philosophy Professor and Associate Vice Provost, Utah State University 

Episode 30: Fall 2022: Online Orientation Module 2 - Registration

In today’s episode, I sit down on Zoom with Kara Pastorik, Student Coordinator, and Stacie Denetsosie, Transition and International Orientation Program Coordinator, both from the Student Orientation and Transition Services here at USU to talk about Module 2 of the online orientation. We dive into what that registration process is like for the first time, what is covered in module 2 (all about registration), and what support our office offers for incoming students through the registration process. 

 

USU Parent & Families website: https://www.usu.edu/parents/ 
New Student Orientation: https://www.usu.edu/orientation/locations/logan   
Orientation Office Contact Information: 435-797-0283; orientation@usu.edu; Instagram @usuateam  
USU First Semester Registration Guide: https://www.usu.edu/orientation/guides/  
Registration Vocabulary: https://www.usu.edu/orientation/lingo  
 

Guest  
Stacie Denetsosie – Transition and International Orientation Program Coordinator, Student Orientation and Transition Services, Utah State University  
Kara Pastorik – Double major Dietetics and Kinesiology, minor in Chemistry and Hunger Studies; Senior: Bountiful, UT 

Fall 2022 BONUS EPISODE: Why You Should Submit a FAFSA in Under Five Minutes

In today’s bonus episode we sit down with Craig Whyte, Executive Director of Student Financial Support here at USU to talk about the extreme importance for incoming students to complete a FAFSA.  

New Student Orientation: https://www.usu.edu/orientation/locations/logan  
Orientation Office Contact Information: 435-797-0283; orientation@usu.edu; Instagram @usuateam  
Complete the FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa  

  

Guest 
Craig Whyte – Executive Director, Student Financial Support, Utah State University 

Episode 29: How to Become a Better Parent Through Self-Care

In today's episode, we chat over Zoom with USU Extension professors Dr. Naomi Brower and Elizabeth Davis on becoming a better parent through self-care. 

Naomi Brower Bio: extension.usu.edu/directory/brower-naomi 

Elizabeth Davis Bio: extension.usu.edu/directory/davis-elizabeth 

Self-Care Checkup worksheet: positivepsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/Self-Care-Checkup.pdf 

How to Become a Better Parent through Self-Care article: usu.campusesp.com/posts/1116