Inside...2-3 Upcoming Events and Programs3-4 General TAMU Resources

Happy New Year from Aggieland! We are gearing up for students to return and want you to be up to date. Many students will come back ready for a “fresh start semester.” We will join you in encouraging them to do their best on campus in and out of the classroom.

Don’t forget to visit the Aggie Family web site for additional updates and helpful resources. You can visit us at http://parents.tamu.edu/. Please feel free to contact the Offi ce of New Student and Family Programs at (979) 845-5826, or email us at nsp@tamu.edu if you have any questions.

Thanks and Gig ’em!

Welcome Family Members, Message from the Office of New Student and Family Programs

Time away from school sometimes increases anxiety for your student when they return in January. Negative events, such as disappointing grades or unexpected changes in relationships, are not the only source of concern either.

A pleasant break can make it hard for students to return to school and increase anxiety about performance in the spring semester.

Returning from home back into the college environment will require support and encouragement from you.

Even though your student has made it through one semester of college, they may want to take a different approach to the spring semester. Ask your student what they plan to do differently this semester and what you can do to help. If they had any issues with a specifi c class in the fall, then ask your student if it will affect any of their spring classes. Remind them that they should make use of the resources listed in this issue if they are worried about any classes.

What to Expect as Family Members of First-Year Students

Aggie Quick Connection

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by the Office of New Student and Family Programs

January 2011 Aggie Quick Connection 1

January 14 (Friday. 5 p.m.)- Last day to register for spring semester classes and pay fees.

January 17 (Monday)- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

January 18 (Tuesday)- First day of spring semester classes.

January 24 (Monday. 5 p.m.)- Last day for adding/dropping courses for the spring semester.

January 28 (Friday. 5 p.m.)- Last day to apply for all degrees to be awarded in May.

Upcoming Events & Programs

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2 Aggie Quick Connection January 2011

REGISTRATION Registration for spring classes will reopen on January 3, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. and will remain open until January 14, 2011. After this date, registration will be considered late. Students registering after January 14, 2011 could be charged late fees of $100. The fi nal day to add or drop spring classes is Monday, January 24, 2011 by 5:00 p.m. Don’t forget that your student should talk to his/her academic advisor if he/she has any questions regarding registration for classes. For more information on registration please visit: admissions.tamu.edu/Registrar/Current/RegSchedules.aspx.

TUITION AND FEES Tuition and fees for the spring semester are due by January 14, 2011. This is when the fi rst installment is due for students on the installment plan. Late fees will be applied to students’ accounts on January 14, 2011. Classes will be dropped if payments are not made by the fourth day of class. For more information please visit: fi nance.tamu.edu/sbs/tuition/default.asp.

Online payment options are available at aggie-pay.tamu.edu/sfs-payments/credentials.aspx.

SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 15-17, 2011 PARENTS’ WEEKEND April 15-17, 2011 marks the 92nd anniversary of Parents’ Weekend! Please remember to book your hotel reservations as soon as possible as Bryan/College Station hotels seem to get booked far in advance.

Important Times and Dates:- Aggie Ring Day, April 15, All Day, Association of Former Students - Midnight Yell: April 15, Midnight, Kyle Field - MSC Variety Show: April 15, 7:30 pm, Rudder Auditorium - Bevo Burn BBQ: April 16, 11 am-2 pm, Duncan Dining Hall (indoor and outdoor seating available) - Maroon and White Game, April 16, 1pm, Kyle Field - Singing Cadets Concert: April 16, 7:30 pm, Rudder Auditorium - Aggie Moms’ Boutique: April 15, 10 am- 4:30 pm, Reed Arena & April 16, 9 am- 5 pm, Reed Arena - All University Awards Ceremony: April 17, 9:30 am, Rudder Auditorium

There are many other events that take place during Parents’ Weekend, for additional information visit the Parents’ Weekend website: ParentsWeekend.tamu.edu.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS Whether coming in for a visit, to attend a football game or for Parents’ Weekend, hotel rooms often need to be reserved well in advance. An on-line listing of local hotels can be found at the Convention and Visitors Bureau website. Look under ‘accommodations’ at http://visitaggieland.com/.

January 2011 Aggie Quick Connection 3

MSC OPEN HOUSEThe objective of MSC Open House is to provide a way for student organizations to connect with students who want to get involved. It is scheduled on Sunday, January 23, 2011 from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center. This is Texas A&M’s largest student organization recruiting event. Hundreds of student organizations will be hosting tables to attract new members. This is a great opportunity for your student to fi nd additional ways to be involved on campus. For more information, please visit: mscopenhouse.tamu.edu.

ORIENTATION LEADER APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLEWould your Aggie make a great ambassador for Texas A&M? If so, we are currently seeking dedicated TAMU students to serve as Orientation Leaders and work with new students and their families during New Student Conferences. Along with making a positive impact on the lives of thousands of new Aggies, Orientation Leaders have the opportunity to develop transferable skills that will benefi t them as student leaders and beyond. We are seeking a group of Orientation Leaders representative of the student body to entering freshmen, transfer students, and their family members. Please encourage your student to check out this fantastic opportunity! Applications and more information regarding the Aggie Orientation Leader Program are online at http://aolp.tamu.edu. Applications are due February 2nd!

AGGIE SEARCH The search for off campus housing and roommates can be a daunting process. To help, Adult, Graduate, and Off Campus Student Services (AGOSS) has created Aggie Search- a free online housing information and roommate search tool. Through Aggie Search, members of the Aggie Family can read information and leave feedback about housing communities, see housing listed for rent, and search for roommates. Students can also create a profi le and be notifi ed about new postings that match their search criteria. To view Aggie Search, please visit: aggiesearch.tamu.edu.

AGOSS also has an Off Campus Living Resources web page. This page provides links to sites that give specifi c information for off campus living concerns as well as useful information about the Bryan/College Station Community. This page can be found at studentlife.tamu.edu/agoss/offcampus.

SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AIDThe Student Financial Aid website has a wealth of information about how to pay for college, including tips on how to apply for fi nancial aid and how to avoid scholarship scams. Visit their website at: fi nancialaid.tamu.edu. It is important that bills are paid on time or that other arrangements are made. Doing this will ensure that your student’s schedule is not dropped.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE SERVICESStudent Assistance Services provides a number of services to assist students with medical and personal emergencies, and in the event of hospitalization. To access these services, students or their families should notify Student Assistance Services at (979) 845-3113 between the hours of 8:00 a.m and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To learn more visit: studentaffairs.tamu.edu/SAS.

General TAMU Resources

4 Aggie Quick Connection January 2011

ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICESAs the new semester starts, encourage your student to take advantage of the many resources on campus for students interested in improving their grades or study habits. From tutoring in specifi c classes to general study skills, TAMU offers a wide range of programs for students to choose from including: • The Student Learning Center offers a variety of learning assistance programs designed to help students learn how to gain the skills necessary to succeed academically at Texas A&M. Their programs include tutoring sessions and academic skill courses. Visit slc.tamu.edu for more information.• On-line workshops for various study skills and test anxiety along with other resources can be found through Student Counseling Service at: scs.tamu.edu/academic/LSC.asp. • Support from the Writing Center staff can be found at: writingcenter.tamu.edu.• Free one-on-one and group tutoring is provided by the Department of Multicultural Services. The courses for which tutoring is offered varies each semester. For a listing of this semester’s classes and how to register, visit: http://tutor.tamu.edu/courses.

2011 SPRING SEMESTER MEAL PLANSOn- and Off-Campus Student Options 250 meals/$100 Dining Dollars Plan....................................................................................$1,841 / semester 200 meals/$125 Dining Dollars Plan....................................................................................$1,542 / semester 150 meals/$150 Dining Dollars Plan.....................................................................................$1,288 / semester 30 meals/$800 Dining Dollars Plan.....................................................................................$1,109 / semester 30 meals/$600 Dining Dollars Plan......................................................................................$890 / semester 30 meals/$400 Dining Dollars Plan......................................................................................$680 / semester

Corps of Cadets Member OptionsThe Offi ce of the Commandant requires members of the Corps of Cadets to dine within Corps regulations. University Dining is pleased to offer two meal plans that best meet these needs.

During the Fall and Spring semesters, while classes are in session, approximately 9 meals per week will be designated exclusively for use as March-In meals. These meals include breakfast and dinner, Monday-Thursday and breakfast on Friday. If you select the 250/$100 Plan, there will be approximately 110 additional meals available for use at other Dining facilities for the semester. If you select the 200/$125 Plan, there will be approximately 65 additional meals available for the semester. Mandatory participation in designated Corps events will require other meals to be deducted from your plan (e.g. 14 meals will be taken for meals during Freshman Orientation Week (FOW).

Additional Meal and Dining Dollar OptionsIf you are running low on meals or Dining Dollars, you can add additional bundles to your current plan. Please note that bundles cannot be purchased without a current semester plan.

$25 Dining Dollars Bundle...............................................................................................$25 / semester + tax $100 Dining Dollars Bundle.............................................................................................$100 / semester + tax 10 Meal Bundle.................................................................................................................$65 / semester + tax

* Additional meals and/or Dining Dollars can be added to your plan at anytime throughout the semester.* All meal plan prices include tax; please note that Dining Dollars are not the same as Aggie Bucks. At this time, you are not able to select your meal plan until you have physically picked up your student I.D. card.* Spring meal plans will begin on Friday, January 14th and will end on Friday, May 13th.

For more information, please visit http://diningservices.tamu.edu/ or contact Dining Services at 979-845-3005.