mar 2010 family newsletter

Aggie Quick Connection

Inside...2 Campus News2-3 New Student Programs4 Upcoming Events5-6 General Resources7 Enjoy Spring Break

...On the CalendarMar. 2 Silver TapsMar. 3-4 Renting 101 Mar. 8 Mid-semester Grades Due in Office of the RegistrarMar. 15-19 Spring Break Mar. 18-19 Faculty and Staff Holiday 1

March 2010 Family Edition

Welcome Family Members,

March brings to Aggieland warmer weather and the occasional random shower - spring is right around the corner! To help you stay up to date, this message contains information we hope will be helpful to both you and your student.

Don’t forget to visit the Aggie Parent web site for other updates and helpful resources. You can visit us at: http://parents.tamu.edu.

Please feel free to contact Student Life at (979) 845-3111, or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Dr. Carol Binzer Director of Student Life

Message from the Director of the Offices of the Dean of Student Life Plan ahead:

Sure, YOU are good at planning ahead for trips and vacations, but has your student planned ahead for their spring break plans (no matter how big or small)? Spring Break can be a time students experiment with alcohol or drink more than usual in celebration of the time away from school. We want to be sure your students are safe while on break and return to Aggieland safely.

“When I went on Spring Break!”... Avoid tales of drinking exploits from your own college years and encourage your students to make responsible decisions while on spring break. Entertaining students with stories of drinking “back in the good old days” normalizes what, even then, was abnormal behavior. It also appears to give parental approval to dangerous alcohol consumption and gives them an automatic excuse for their poor decisions.

Stress to students that alcohol is toxic and excessive consumption can fatally poison: This is not a scare tactic, students die from alcohol poisoning each year, even at Texas A&M. Discourage dangerous drinking such as drinking quickly or playing drinking games. Parents should make sure their student understands how alcohol affects the system and the signs of alcohol poisoning.

For more information: http://studentlife.tamu.edu/adep.

SPRING BREAK PLANNING TIPS from Alcohol and Drug Education Programs:


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New Student Programs

AMPLIFY: THE SUCCESS SERIES FOR STUDENTSEncourage your student to attend Amplify, a year-long collaborative, campus-wide effort designed to assist freshmen, transfer and sophomore Aggies by developing skills that help make them aware of resources that will enhance their Texas A&M experience. Some example sessions offered this semester include: Cooking on a Budget, Time Management and Procrastination, and Career Assessment Workshop: Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to Help Identify Personality Characteristics. To view a complete listing of this semester’s workshops, please visit: http://amplify.tamu.edu/workshopEvery program offered through Amplify is completely FREE so we hope your student will take advantage!

Registering for Amplify workshopsA reservation is required so that presenters can prepare the appropriate amount of materials and also to help track the programs students are most interested in so that we can refine our offerings in the future.Remind your student to go to http://amplify.tamu.edu, click on a workshop, and select “View Details to Register”. At any time students can view, manage or change the list of programs they are registered for by clicking on “My Profile.”

THIS MONTH IN AMPLIFYMarch 3, 20102:20 - 3:20 PM Time Management & Procrastination4:00 - 5:00 PM Writing an Effective Resume5:00 - 6:30 PM Renting: 101

March 4, 201011:15 - 12:15 PM Explore Majors and Careers with DISCOVER11:30 AM - 1:00 PM CommUnity Conversations-Texas Colonias - Myths, Stereotypes, Realities2:30 - 3:30 PM Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) Interpretation4:30 - 6:00 PM Renting: 101

March 5, 201011:30 AM - 1:00 PM Documentary Film Series - What I Want My Words To Do To You

March 10, 201012:00-1:00PM Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) Interpretation1:50 - 2:50 PM Study Success Strategies (Continued on page 3)


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March 11, 20102:20 - 3:20 PM Maintaining Focus

March 17, 201011:00 AM - 1:00 PM Healthy Relationships Workshop

March 22, 201010:20 - 11:20 AM Career Assessment Workshop: Using the MBTI to Help Identify Personality Characteristics12:00 - 2:00 PM Perfectly Imperfect Workshop 2:00 - 3:00 PM Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) Interpretation

March 23, 201011:30 AM - 12:30 PM Study Success Strategies

March 24, 20101:00 - 3:00 PM Managing Your Anger 101 Workshop 4:00 - 5:00 PM Career Assessment Workshop: Using the Strong Interest Inventory to Help Identify Career Interests5:30 - 6:30 PM Talking with Professors

March 25, 20104:00 - 5:00 PM Time Management & Procrastination

March 26, 201011:30 AM - 1:00 PM CommUnity Conversations - Forgotten Lives: Ending the Institutional Bias for Texans with Intellectual Disabilities1:00 - 3:00 PM Journal Writing Workshop

March 28, 20102:00 - 5:00 PM Aggie Allies Advance

March 29, 20103:00 - 4:00 PM Smart Reading Strategies

March 30, 201011:10 AM - 12:10 PM Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) Interpretation1:00 - 2:00 PM Explore Majors and Careers with DISCOVER2:20 - 3:20 PM Career Assessment Workshop: Using the Strong Interest Inventory to Help Identify Career Interests

March 31, 20102:20 - 3:20 PM Stress Management & Test Anxiety4:00 - 5:00 PM Career Assessment Workshop: Using the MBTI to Help Identify Personality Characteristics


THIS MONTH IN AMPLIFY (CONTINUED)

SILVER TAPS Silver Taps is that final tribute paid to an Aggie who, at the time of his/her death, was enrolled in graduate or undergraduate courses at Texas A&M. We encourage all students to participate in this time-honored Aggie Tradition; it is a powerful and moving tribute to fellow students. During the academic year, it is a monthly event when needed. The next Silver Taps ceremony will be held March 2, 2010 in honor of Trigg Jackson Hughes. The memorial ceremony will be held at 10:30 p.m. in front of the Academic Building on the Texas A&M campus. For more information visit, http://studentaffairs.tamu.edu/sas/silvertaps

RENTING: 101 Have a student living off campus or planning to live off campus next year? Does she/he understand Texas lease law and the standards they are to uphold? An Off Campus Student Services’ Renting: 101 session will help your student learn landlord expectations in addition to pet rules and the importance of renter’s insurance. Spring Sessions will be held in Cain Hall C-113 on:

• Wednesday, March 3rd at 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm • Wednesday, March 4th at 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

After this session, students will be knowledgeable about their rights as a tenant to make for a worry-free positive off campus living experience. Registration for each session can be accessed at: http://amplify.tamu.edu/workshop.

SAFE SPRING BREAK: PARTY IN THE USA! Encourage your student to take come get more information about having a safe spring break during SAFE SPRING BREAK: Party in the USA!

Wednesday, March 3rd Block Party at Sorority Row, 5 pm to 7 pmThursday, March 4th Water Distribution at Harry’s, 11 pm to 2 amSaturday, March 6th Water Distribution at Northgate, 11 pm to 2 am

For more information: http://studentlife.tamu.edu/adep.

PARENTS WEEKENDParents’ Weekend is a special time each spring when students have the opportunity to express their gratitude for all of the support their parents have given throughout the year. This year, Parents’ Weekend will be April 16-18, 2010 and include such events as the Aggie Moms’ Boutique, Bevo Burn BBQ and the All-University Awards Ceremony. While there are great opportunities to visit campus year-round, this is an extra special chance for parents to see their impact on their student and the University. More information can be found at: http://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/.

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More Upcoming Events & Programs

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PROPERTY MAINTENANCEThe College Station Code Enforcement Division works daily to improve and maintain the condition of all the buildings within the City through the use of the International Property Maintenance Code. This code helps to ensure the Health & Safety of our citizen’s whether they are property owners or renters. The Property Maintenance Code assists both property owners, who may not be aware of conditions at their property, and tenants who don’t know their rights with regard to their living conditions.

The Code Enforcement Division also works closely with the Community & Economic Development Department by identifying residents who need assistance in performing and/or paying for needed repairs or maintenance of their homes. The Community & Economic Development staff has a wide variety of programs available to assist home owners. They can be contacted at (979) 764-3778.College Station is a young community, but as our buildings age, maintenance will be important in protecting our neighborhood integrity and ensuring that we remain a GREAT place to Work and Live! Please contact the Code Enforcement Division at (979) 764-MEND (6363) if you are aware of any building that needs maintenance or repair.

MIDTERM STRESS REMINDER It can be disheartening to hear your student(s) sounding stressed and discouraged when you talk to them. Exams can be major stressors, and with midterms right around the corner, it is important that students know about stress relief resources available to them. Below are several resources that you might consider discussing with your student.

BIOFEEDBACK This service is provided to students free of charge (paid for with student fees) by Student Counseling Service. Biofeedback is a method of using electronic sensors to measure different physiological processes or states, such as temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, electrical activity of the skin and muscles, and brain wave patterns. This information is then “fed back”. The feedback may be visual or auditory, and actually allows one to see or hear what is happening within their body. By learning biofeedback and relaxation, a person can have more control over how his/her body and mind react in stressful situations. Research with college students has consistently demonstrated that students who utilize relaxation on a regular basis not only feel more at ease, but also retain more while studying and recall more during exams. For more information please visit http://www.scs.tamu.edu/personal/biofeedback.asp.

UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER The University Writing Center provides various resources for students looking to improve their writing skills. The Center offers one-on-one consultations, which typically last 45 minutes. During these sessions students meet with a certified and experienced writing consultant. For more information please visit http://writingcenter.tamu.edu/appointments/.

General TAMU Resources


THE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATIONAL SPORTS Exercise and recreation can be a great outlet during stressful times. The Department of Recreational Sports provides students with various opportunities for fitness and recreation. • Rec Center – Registered students have free access to the Student Rec Center. http://recsports.tamu.edu/Hours/index.html. • Aquatics – both indoor and outdoor pools are available. http://recsports.tamu.edu/programs/Aquatics/index.html. • Fitness – Students can register for various fitness classes and training sessions. http://recsports.tamu.edu/programs/Fitness/index.html. • Outdoors – Outdoor services seeks to provide students with positive outdoor experiences. http://recsports.tamu.edu/programs/Outdoors/index.html.

THE MONEY WISE AGGIE The Money Wise Aggie is a free service to students that provides personal financial counseling and workshops. Current workshop topics include credit cards and credit scores, premarital money discussions; financial challenges after college; creating a budget; financial aid; identity theft; saving and investing; and major purchases (cars and homes). Their workshop schedule can be viewed at http://moneywise.tamu.edu.

VERIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT Verification of enrollment forms may be needed for insurance and other purposes. Parents and guardians can access verification of enrollment as well as grades and class schedules through the MyRecord website. Students must set a parent password in order to allow access to their records by a parent or guardian. Links and instructions for use can be found at http://myrecord.tamu.edu.

TUTORING AT THE STUDENT LEARNING CENTER If your student is having a hard time in one of his/her classes, then he/she should contact the Student Learning Center to see a tutor. Drop-in tutoring, located on the 1st floor of Hotard Hall, is available Sunday evenings from 5-8p.m. and Monday through Thursday evenings from 5-10 p.m. For more information, please visit their website: http://slc.tamu.edu/tutoring.shtml.

General TAMU Resources

6March 2010 Family Edition


7March 2010 Family Edition

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUES TRAVEL ALERT TO MEXICOFebruary 22, 2010

This Travel Alert updates security information for U.S. citizens traveling and living in Mexico. It supersedes the Travel Alert for Mexico dated August 20, 2009, and expires on August 20, 2010.

While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year (including tens of thousands who cross the land border every day for study, tourism or business and nearly one million U.S. citizens who live in Mexico), violence in the country has increased. It is imperative that U.S. citizens understand the risks in Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and whom to contact if one becomes a crime victim. Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department’s internet web site at http://travel.state.gov/. For more detailed information on staying safe in Mexico, please see the publication: “Spring Break in Mexico- Know Before You Go!!” at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/spring_break_mexico/spring_break_mexico_2812.html

Family Members: Remind your students to enjoy SPRING BREAK,but play it safe...

mar 2010 family newsletter

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