Departure Checklist

Departure From AU

Whether you are departing for the summer, graduating or ending your exchange program at Augustana, there are important steps to take to prepare for your departure.

Departure Checklist

Carefully Review the Following Checklist

  • I-20 Signatures — If you are leaving the United States during the summer and will return to Augustana next semester, come to the International Programs Office (IPO) to get your I-20 signed.
  • Flight Plans — Be sure to arrive at the airport two hours prior to departure. Contact a reliable friend to transport you to the airport. IPO staff may be available to assist with rides during standard work hours if given prior notice. Alternatively, book a Lyft or taxi, which should cost about $15 one way.
  • Check airline luggage restrictions. Airlines have strict limits and charge high fees if you have more bags or more weight in your bag(s) than allowed.
  • Transcripts — Students enrolled in an Augustana graduate program and current undergraduate students with a login and password for my.augie.edu can request official electronic or paper transcripts through the portal. There is a $5 processing fee for either method of delivery. We recommend requesting several copies for your personal records and school back home (if you are an exchange student), employment purposes and/or for graduate school applications. You can complete the form prior to the posting of final grades and the Registrar's Office will forward your final transcript once all grades have been entered.
  • Once you depart campus, request additional transcripts online through Parchment. There is a $5 processing fee to send electronic or paper transcripts securely via USPS domestic delivery or USPS International.
  • Business Office — Check out with the Business Office to ensure that your account balance is $0 so they can begin to process your housing damage deposit refund. Augustana will not process any transcript requests if you have an unpaid balance. If you are graduating or not returning, leave your credit card number at the Business Office so they can refund any portion of your housing damage deposit that is due to you. Damage refunds may take 30 business days after your room checkout to process. Students who do not provide their credit card information to the Business Office for housing deposit refunds will forfeit their housing deposit.
  • Mail
    • Remaining in the U.S. — Change your address for summer mail delivery, or if you are graduating, for permanent delivery. Log into my.augie.edu to find and complete the Campus Post Office Change of Address Form. (Note: First-class mail will be forwarded to your updated U.S. address, if applicable; second-class and bulk mail will be recycled). The Campus Post Office will forward your change of address to the Business Office. If you do not have a campus mailbox, stop by the Business Office to change your mailing address.
    • Leaving the U.S. — Please complete the Campus Post Office Change of Address Form before you depart so that Augustana can update our records. Additionally, be sure to either close or update your address with your bank account(s), cell phone provider(s), employer(s) or any U.S. business that would send you mail. This is essential as mail sent to a U.S. address will not be forwarded to international addresses.
  • Residence Hall Room Check Out — Clean your room. Your housing damage deposit will be affected if you do not clean your room. Schedule a time to check out of your room or apartment. Contact your Viking advisor (VA), hall director or apartment manager. Review the conditions document. If you do not complete an official check out with your VA or hall director, you may lose your housing deposit. Underclassmen should check out 24 hours after their last final. Seniors should check out the Sunday after graduation. However, if you need to stay longer due to flights or other travel arrangements, you must be in contact with Housing & Residence Life staff in advance for approval.
  • Textbooks — All rented textbooks need to be returned by the last day of finals and according to the rental instructions provided. Sell books back or keep them for future use if not rented from the bookstore.
  • Library — Return borrowed items from the library.
  • Packing — Get packing supplies (boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, etc.). These supplies are available at Walgreens, Target, Lewis and Walmart. Summer storage is available for students who are from more than 500 miles away. Pay attention to your student email inbox for communication from the IPO regarding summer storage procedure and rules.
  • Donating Items — Bring items that may be useful to future students to the IPO. Generally we accept bedding, winter clothing, fans, lamps, laundry baskets and waste baskets. We will not accept large furniture or personal items such as toiletries and clothing. Augie Thrift or Goodwill may accept some of the items that the IPO cannot take.
  • Summer Work — Notify the IPO if you will be working on campus or off campus this summer. For off-campus employment, you need to fill out the CPT Request Form and get the work authorization on your I-20 from the IPO.
  • Staying On Campus Over the Summer — Be sure to apply for summer housing to ensure your place on campus. Even if you are only staying on campus for part of the summer, you need to fill out the form.
  • Summer Parking — No parking permit is required during the summer months of June, July and August. If you do have a vehicle on campus during the summer, you need to register your vehicle with Campus Safety on a sign-up sheet.
  • Say Goodbye — If you are graduating or not returning to the campus, we recommend that you hand write thank-you notes to your professors, friends, staff, friendship family, etc.

Additional Items for Exchange Students

Sponsored students on programs with IREX or World Learning need to follow their program departure checklists for additional responsibilities.

Additional Items for Graduate Students

  • Diploma — Diplomas will be mailed to students in the weeks following commencement. Shipping your diploma outside of the U.S. requires an additional charge. If you are in Sioux Falls, you can stop by the Registrar’s Office to pick up your diploma. Typically, diplomas go out in late June or early July. Diplomas will not be released unless all student account balances are paid in full. Please work with the Business Office to take care of any remaining balance to ensure that your diploma is sent on time. 
  • OPT Updates — If you have applied for OPT, you must keep the IPO updated anytime you have a change in address or employment. Please use this form to give us all the relevant information we need to update your SEVIS record. USCIS requires these updates to keep you in status.
  • Graduate School — If you are going to graduate school, schedule an appointment with the IPO to transfer your SEVIS I-20 record to your new school.
  • Stay in Touch — We are always interested in your success! If you haven't done so already, like Augustana Goes International on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. Email ipo@augie.edu to keep us updated on your life after AU!

Contact our alumni office at alumni@augie.edu with any questions of how to stay in touch with other Augustana alumni.