Hello Parents and Family Members!
Winthrop is running on all cylinders with energy and excitement as the semester continues to move forward. We have some important updates and insightful information for you in this edition of the Eagle Family Connection. Student Financial Services has provided essential information about student taxes. The Office of Records and Registration has provided information about the purpose of interim grades. Although spring break is over a month away, it is never too early to start planning. Residence Life has provided information pertaining to hall closures during the break.
As always, the Office of New Student and Family Programs is here to keep you connected and informed. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
The Office of New Student and Family Programs
248 DiGiorgio Campus Center
803/323-2387
Winthrop has outsourced the processing of tax form 1098-T to ECSI, Educational Computer Systems, Inc. This form is available online in PDF file format and can be printed for your records.
ECSI’s student website provides instructions on how to access the 1098-T form and also provides other general information regarding the tax form, including how to interpret the information on the form. A list of relevant IRS tax links is also provided.
The 1098-T form provides detailed information to assist in determining your tax benefit. The form includes all payments for Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses received and all grants and scholarships credited to the student’s account in 2018. If the student registered for Spring 2019 before December 31, 2018, all Spring 2019 Qualified Tuition and Related Expense payments received prior to December 31 will be included on the 2018 1098-T, even though the grants and scholarships posted to the account in 2019. Pay close attention to Box 7 on the tax form.
If you cannot retrieve the form, please contact ECSI customer service, by phone at 866-428-1098, or use the “Chat with us” service on the website.
Winthrop is committed to supporting student success, and one way to do that is to communicate with students in an intentional way about their class progress. In a few weeks, most students will be receiving interim grades (also known as “mid-term” grades.) These grades are a guideline to assist students and advisors in assessing where the student is at that particular point in the semester. Students at-risk can be referred to the Academic Success Center while high-performing students can be steered towards the Honors Program.
Students can access their interim grades for classes that meet the whole semester through the online portal, Wingspan, beginning Monday, February 25. Interim grades do not appear on a transcript (unofficial or official), and students should keep in mind that their grade is only reflective of the amount of graded work done in the class up to that point. Most often, there is plenty of time to bring up a low grade. If not, students have time to consult with the instructor, advisor, or other support unit about whether to withdraw from the class.
Students with questions about their interim grades should confer directly with their instructors.
As with every extended break, residence halls will close for Spring Break at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 8 and will reopen at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 17. Students will not be allowed to enter their residence hall room after the 6 p.m. closing. The last meal on Friday, March 8, will be dinner from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
As students depart, residence hall staff will check every room for general health
and safety. These inspections are plain view searches. Staff will be checking for
prohibited items including fire hazards (extension cords, candles, etc.) and will
also check the general cleanliness of the room and suite bathrooms. Residence hall
contracts state that health and safety inspections periodically occur.
Special arrangements for students to stay can be made for those who are student teachers,
participating in an internship, athletes whose names have been submitted by the Athletic
Department and complete the online process, students with Rock Hill area jobs, and
students that live more than 300 miles from the Winthrop campus.
A Break Stay form, which is available online with instructions, must be submitted
via Wingspan and the Eaglesnest Housing for review and approval. Students who are staying for Spring Break must make their
own arrangements to stay in Lee Wicker, Phelps, Richardson, Roddey or The Courtyard,
if not currently assigned. All other halls will be closed.
All approved students will be able to print a permission form that they must keep
throughout the break and show each time they enter the hall. Students are not allowed
to have room guests during the break. Students are able to call their Residential
Learning Coordinator (RLC) or Residence Life at 803/323-2223 with further questions.
The Parent Portal allows Winthrop students the ability to grant access to their information to parents, guardians, or another third party. Depending upon the level of access granted by the student, authorized users may view addresses, grades, unofficial transcripts, class schedules, financial aid, and emergency contacts.
For your lodging needs please contact the Inn at Winthrop located in the heart of campus in Joynes Hall. The Inn at Winthrop features 12 elegantly-appointed suites and is certified by the South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance as a Two Palmetto facility for green practices that protect and preserve the environment.
Contact Amanda James for more information.
