From parking passes and ID cards to inexpensive condoms and free sporting events, the University offers both new and old students many little-known services.
Normally in the fall, either the University or Residential Life will organize an event in a
centralized location to offer students easy access to the University’s common services such as parking, dining and registration.
No one hosts the event in the spring because most students registered are not new students, said Mimi Lavalle, Residential Life communications coordinator.
However, all students should be aware of this semester’s important dates and instructions.
New students and students who purchased parking passes for spring can pick up their tags from the parking office. Those who have not purchased a tag must purchase one through their PAWS or Reggie accounts, said Shellie Babin, an Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation clerk.
“This is the first semester that we issue the tags at the parking offices instead of at the Fieldhouse,” Babin said. “And we are considering the possibility of mailing tags next semester.”
Parking officials will begin ticketing unregistered vehicles and out-of-zone vehicles on Jan. 28. Until then, students with unregistered vehicles or students who have switched vehicle zones will not receive a ticket unless they park outside of a student zone, she said.
Students should know 578-FOOD, the number to call for purchasing a campus meal plan, and the dates for adding and dropping classes.
Students can continue adding classes for the spring semester until Jan. 31 and can drop a class without receiving a W on their transcript until Jan. 29.
“All the information that you want or need is in the schedule booklet on the registration calendar or the academic calendar,” said Robert Doolos, University Registrar. “Grab a copy of that booklet or look at it on the web and it should have everything you need and if not, I’d be real surprised.”
Campus Card Operations is the office located in the Union Room 221, where students can receive ID cards and open Tiger Express accounts.
“Its important for students to pick up their ID because it is the only officially-recognized form of identification on campus and is very useful to students living in dorms or who would like to use a Tiger Express account instead of using change in computer labs and vending machines,” said Toni Frey, manager. “In the computer labs it is the only way to pay for printing.”
Students will receive their first University ID free of charge, but should go to the Campus Card Operations office — immediately to avoid waiting in lines, Frey said.
Returning students also can take advantage of the new Tiger Express services online, including checking account balances, viewing account history and depositing funds.
“Say you were sitting in a computer lab at 2 a.m. and needed to print something, now you can deposit to your Tiger Express account with any Visa or Mastercard,” Frey said.
Campus Card Operations hopes to expand the online features to include reporting stolen cards online in the near future. Frey also said students should expect interesting changes to the Tiger Express services and new ID designs this semester.
The University also offers many free or inexpensive services exclusively for students such free admission to LSU sporting events, except football games, with a student ID.
And, students can obtain free or inexpensive medical care from the Student Health Center and Wellness Education Center.
The Wellness Center provides students with free health information for personal or academic research and offers special classes and counselling ranging from nutrition to self defense, said Juilie Hupperich, assistant director.
The center will give students seeking sexual health information free condoms, but students can purchase a six-pack for $1 in the pharmacy, Hupperich said.
“Sometimes students don’t know about all the services the Student Health Center offers that are included in their Student Health Center fee other than medical visits ,” she said.
The Student Health Center’s services include specialty clinics such as dermatology and injection clinics, three free mental health visits and a pharmacy that is available also for inexpensive outside prescriptions and over-the counter drugs, Hupperich said.