may 2012 aggie family newsletter

Aggie Quick Connection May 2012 - Family Edition

Message from the Office of New Student and Family Programs

Howdy!

May is here and the spring semester is coming to a close. With final exams approaching, it is important to encourage your student to do their best during this busy time. After finals conclude many students will be graduating to join the Aggie Network while others are happy to see another semester come to a close. In either case, we are here to provide you with helpful resources during this exciting time in Aggieland.

We encourage you to visit the Aggie Parent web site for additional updates and helpful resources. You can visit us at http://parents.tamu.edu/.

Please feel free to contact the Office of New Student and Family Programs at (979) 845-5826, or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Thanks and Gig ’Em!

What’s Inside:

Page 2-3: GraduationPage 4: Final ExamsPage 5: Moving Out (Off Campus Students)Page 6: Moving Out (On Campus Students)Page 7: Summer PlansPage 8: Campus Events

May 2012 Aggie Quick Connection 1

Important DatesMay 1st – Tuesday• Last day of spring semester classes.• Last day to apply for all degrees to be

awarded in May.• Redefined day, students attend their Friday

classes.

May 2-3rd – Wednesday-Thursday• Reading days, no classes.

May 4th – Friday• Spring semester final examinations for all

students.

May 5th – Saturday• Corps of Cadets Final Review.

7-9th – Friday, Monday-Wednesday• Spring semester final examinations for all

students.

May 10th – Thursday • Grades for degree candidates due.

May 11th – Friday• Last day for May undergraduate degree

candidates to apply for Tuition Rebate.

May 11-12th – Friday-Saturday• Commencement and Commissioning.

(details on next two pages)

May 14th – Monday• Final grades for all students due.

May 25th – Friday• Last day to register for summer one and 10-

week summer classes.

May 28th – Monday• Memorial Day. Faculty and Staff Holiday.

May 29th – Tuesday• First day of summer one and 10-week

summer classes.

2 Aggie Quick Connection May 2012

Graduation

Joining the Aggie Network


May is here and we could not be more excited about the thousands of Aggies who will soon graduate and officially join the Aggie Network. Below you will find a full listing of the events for commencement ceremonies with more detailed information available at http://graduation.tamu.edu/. Some information for guests attending graduation include:

Attire: There is no University policy regarding attire of guests. Guests are encouraged to dress (1) respectfully for the occasion and (2) appropriately for the weather. Most guests tend to wear “business casual” (men: slacks and button-down shirt) although many “older” guests wear suits/ties or dresses. Shoes should be comfortable for walking between parking areas and the arena and for walking up and down steps in the seating area.

Seating:The doors to Reed Arena will be opened for guests two hours before the start of each ceremony. Seating is available on a “first come, first served” basis.

Ceremony Length: Although the length of each ceremony varies with the number of graduates, it is best to plan for up to three hours. Although visitors may leave the viewing area at any time, graduating students and their guests are requested to respect the other graduates by staying during the entire ceremony.

Other Viewing Options: The ceremonies are carried live on Texas A&M’s television station KAMU-DT (broadcast on Channels 12.1, 12.2, & 12.3 and Cable 700 locally). The broadcast may be viewed from the comfort of an apartment or hotel room. Also, you may purchase a DVD of any of the ceremonies by visiting http://graduation.tamu.edu/picsvid.html.

Commencement Convocation

Time: Thursday, May 10, 5:30 p.m.Location: Rudder AuditoriumSpeaker: John SharpChancellor, Texas A&M University System

Commencement ceremonies begin with a convocation featuring a notable speaker. This year’s speaker is Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp and the Commencement Convocation will take place on May 10th. The commencement exercises at which degrees will be awarded will follow in ceremonies on May 11th and 12th. Students will not be required to wear academic regalia at the Commencement Convocation, but will need to do so at the subsequent degree-granting exercises.

Commissioning Ceremonies

Friday, May 11th

- Air Force at 12:00 p.m. in Wehner 113

- Army at 12:00 p.m. in Rudder Theater

- Navy & Marines at 5:00 p.m. in Rudder Theater

For questions regarding any of the Commissioning Ceremonies, contact the Commandant’s Office at 979-845-2811.


Graduation Cont.

Commencement Ceremonies

Thursday, May 10, 2:00 p.m.Location: Rudder Auditorium - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Friday, May 11, 9:00 a.m.Location: Reed Arena - Graduates and Undergraduates in Agriculture and Life Sciences- Graduates and Undergraduates in Geosciences

Friday, May 11, 2:00 p.m.Location: Reed Arena - Graduates and Undergraduates in Architecture- Graduates and Undergraduates in Liberal Arts

Friday May 11, 7:00 p.m.Location: Reed Arena- Graduates in George Bush School of Government and Public Service - Graduates and Undergraduates in Dwight Look College of Engineering

Saturday, May 12, 9:00 a.m.Location: Reed Arena- Graduates and Undergraduates in Mays Business School - Graduates and Undergraduates in Science

Saturday, May 12, 2:00 p.m.Location: Reed Arena- Graduates and Undergraduates in Education and Human Development - Graduates and Undergraduates in Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences- University Commissioning Ceremony

The Next Tradition is designed to welcome graduating students into The Association of Former Students, teaching the importance of staying involved beyond your time at Texas A&M University. Students are welcome to invite family and friends to join them at The Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center for prizes, refreshments, professional photos under the Haynes Aggie Ring Replica, all while learning about the many benefits of the Aggie Network and Association of Former Students!

Thursday, May 10, 20121:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.Drive Thru & Get Your Decal at the Alumni Center

Friday, May 11, 201211:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Come & Go Open House

Saturday, May 12, 201211:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Come & Go Open House

http://www.aggienetwork.com/events/tnt.aspx

The Next Tradition

Final ExamsHelping Your Student Succeed

4 Aggie Quick Connection May 2012 May 2012 Aggie Quick Connection 5

Final Exam ScheduleFinal examinations will be held on Friday, May 4th, Monday, May 7th-Wednesday, May 9th, 2012. For the full final exam schedule, please visit: http://registrar.tamu.edu//General/FinalSchedule.aspx.

Tips for StudentsStudent Counseling Service is a fantastic resource on campus for students and has created a study guide for your student to conquer their finals. A moderate level of stress before and during an exam is useful, as it helps a student perform at their peak. Too much stress, or test anxiety, can keep a student from being able to focus on the task at hand. If your student is feeling overwhelmed by upcoming final exams, encourage them to keep in mind these tips for overcoming test anxiety:

Before the exam:

•Manageyourtimewell:getplentyofsleep,findtimetoexerciseorbeactive,and schedule time to study. •Focusonhealthybehaviors:eatregularmeals,drinkwaterandothernon-alcoholic beverages, choose healthy snacks (excessive sugar can make you drowsy), limit caffeine – it increases anxiety. •Studyinplaceswithminimaldistractions. •Condensenotesintomanageablestudytechniques.Creatingflashcards,vocabularylists,or quick study guides are great ways to take a semester’s worth of notes and create manageable study tools.

During an exam:

•Whenyouaretakingatest,keeppositivethoughtsinyourmind(yes,youcan!) •Readalldirectionsthoroughly. •Readallquestionscarefully. •Feelfreetosimplystopforaminute,takeadeepbreath,andthencontinueworking.

For more information, please visit the Student Counseling Service Website at http://www.scs.tamu.edu/.

Stay Connected with Aggieland

The Battalion

“The independent student voice of Texas A&M since

1893.”

http://thebatt.com

Texas A&M News and Information-

TAMUtimes:

Texas A&M News and Information- TAMUtimes:

The Division of Marketing & Communications produces

TAMUtimes, an email newsletter distributed to subscribers twice a week.

Subscription information can be found online at:

http://tamutimes.tamu.edu/subscribe

Bryan/College Station News Outlets:

KBTX http://kbtx.com

The Eagle http://theeagle.com

TAMU Mobile Aps

Texas A&M offers a variety of mobile applications that

provide information and access to campus maps, directories,

dining, calendars, sports information, and much more. Free downloads and updates

can be found at :

http://www.tamu.edu/mobile/apps/.

Final Grade Release

Final grades for all students are due on May 14th and will be released on your student’s HOWDY portal. Parents/guardians should discuss setting up a parent password to access information (grades, class schedule and verification of enrollment) available at https://howdy.tamu.edu with your student. Unofficial grades may be printed from this web page for scholarship sponsors, good student insurance discounts, employer reimbursement, etc. Any student may set a parent password to allow limited access to their records by a parent, guardian, spouse, or other individual as deemed appropriate by the student. You may find information about these steps by visiting http://registrar.tamu.edu/Parents/GradeParents.aspx.

The Office of the Registrar does not set the parent password or supply password information to parents or guardians. Access to grades must be coordinated by students and their family member(s). It is Texas A&M University’s policy to not mail grades. Please visit http://www.tamu.edu/registrar or call (979) 845-1003 for more information.

Off Campus: Moving Out? What Your Student Needs to Know


The month of May means moving. Every student knows it, and most students put off thoughts of moving out until after finals are completed. However, if your student lives off campus, there are a few imperative things they should know before they “throw in the key.”

•Hittingtheroad:Residentsmustgiveanoticetovacate;thenumberofdays’noticetheymustgiveislistedintheiroriginallease.Most leases state a 30-60 day notice. If you miss this deadline, your rent will automatically roll month-to-month until you give the landlord apartment complex the proper amount of notice.

•Clean:Evenifyouhaveacleaningfeeassociatedwithyourresidence,youstillneedtocleanafteryoumoveoutallyourbelongings. Additional fees can be assessed and deducted from your security deposit if your residence requires excessive cleaning. Please remember you are not responsible for normal wear and tear.

•Money,money,money:Inordertogetthesecuritydepositback,studentsneedtoprovideapermanentforwardingaddress(usually their parent(s) address). The landlord has 30 days to refund the deposit and/or provide a list of expenses (such as excessive cleaning) if a full refund is not given.

•Snapshots:Takephotosoftheconditionoftheapartmentuponleaving,preferablywithatimeanddatestamp.Thisdocumentation can protect you if there is a dispute about the move out condition of the residence. Don’t forget to photo the bathroom, carpet, inside of the fridge, etc. and take pictures from different angles.

If you have any questions about the moving out process or want more information, visit the Adult, Graduate, and Off Campus Student Services (AGOSS) website at http://studentlife.tamu.edu/agoss. Students with legal questions can also contact Student Legal Services (SLS) at 979-862-4502.

And finally, if your student is looking for a new place to live off campus, make sure they read the entire lease before signing it! NEVER RENTAPLACEUNTILYOUHAVESEENTHEACTUALUNITYOUWILLBELIVINGIN.Aleaseisalegallybindingdocument;itisvalidtheday you sign it and not something to take lightly. AGOSS and SLS can also review leases and provide information about the moving in process if needed.

On Campus: Moving Out? Residence Hall Spring Closing Information

The Department of Residence Life has released their Spring Closing Notice and it is important your student is aware of their policies before leaving for the summer. We have included some of the information in this article but we highly encourage you to visit their website for the full document which can be found at http://reslife.tamu.edu/.

To begin, all students must check out with a resident advisor (RA) and be completely moved out of their residence hall within 24 hours after the last exam. The last scheduled exam is on Wednesday, May 9th. Students who need an extension to stay beyond 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10th will need to contact their Graduate Hall Director or Community Director as soon as possible.

All students must also have completed their room checkout by their resident advisor (RA) prior to leaving. To checkout they must make an appointment with their RA at least 24 hours in advance of their anticipated checkout time. All belongings must be removed and the room must be clean prior to this checkout.

Your student’s room must be clean and free of any new damage at check out. They will need to utilize the checkout checklist (http://reslife.tamu.edu/download/current/closingNotice12a.pdf) to ensure their room is prepared. All rooms are subject to inspection and billing for cleanliness and damages after 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 10th, except in the cases of approved extended occupancy.

Important Information and Dates:

Bathroom Cleaning: Cleaning of suite and private bathrooms by custodial staff ends on Friday, April 27th. Public bathrooms will continue to be cleaned daily.

Loft Information: If you own your loft, it should be disassembled by 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 1st or after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 9th.

Trash Removal Items: Hall staffs have large trash bags available for trash being removed to trash collection areas. Items such as concrete blocks, wood, carpet, and metal items must be placed in the open dumpster containers located near your hall. Students should take large, bulky items to the closest open top trash containers and place them by the containers, NOT in the containers.

Reminders:

Security: Moving out can be busy and distracting, and is an opportune time for thieves. For both safety and security reasons, do not leave items in the hallway. Your student should report any suspicious activity and remind them to keep room doors locked.

Mail: Remind your student to forward their mail to their summer address.

Parking: PARK ONLY IN AUTHORIZED PARKING AREAS. Parking on grass, sidewalks, in mall areas or in front of dumpsters is not permitted. Parking in the Commons loading dock is prohibited. Violators will be ticketed and/or towed. Your student should contact Transportation Services with questions or review campus parking rules at http://transport.tamu.edu/parking/rules.aspx.

Bicycles: Remind your student to take their bicycle home. Abandoned or inappropriately stored bikes will be removed. See University policy at http://transport.tamu.edu/bicycles/regulations.aspx. If your student is interested in storing their bike on campus, they can do so through Transportation Services. See details and make arrangements at http://transport.tamu.edu.

Recycling: The Recycling Program, in approved halls, will end on Friday, May 4th.

Interim Housing for Summer School Residents: Students can sign up for interim housing on-line at http://reslife.tamu.edu/how/. After May 4, in-person applications can be completed 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., at the Housing Assignments Office, Cain Hall, Room 140, B-Wing. Interim housing is available May 10-25. Storage of belongings for summer school residents is only available through interim housing. Call 979-845-4744 for more information.

Summer School: Residence Halls open for 1st summer session on Friday, May 25, 8:00 a.m.


24-Hour Quiet Hours

Begin: Tuesday, May 1at 8:00pm

End:Wednesday, May 9 at 5:00pm

Schools Out!Knowing Your Student’s Summer Plans

Summer is quickly approaching and it is important you talk with your student about their plans. Whether they are working, taking classes, or simply taking a break, everyone needs a plan for a productive and enjoyable summer. Here are a variety of options you should discuss with your student before the semester ends:

Summer School:Summer serves as a great opportunity for students to catch up or get ahead on their degree plan. Students are able to enroll at Texas A&M, other universities, or community colleges to take the courses they need. Students can then transfer these course credits back to Texas A&M to apply to their field of study. Before any action is taken, make sure your student meets with their current academic advisor to discuss the possibilities of taking classes either at A&M or at another institution. There are certain pre-requisites and transfer requirements for each academic college and students need to educate themselves on these policies. Visiting their academic advisor is a great first step and a necessary one so that they do not waste their time and money this summer!

If your student is looking at taking classes at Texas A&M, there are three options available: Summer I term (May 29th – June 29th), Summer II term (July 3rd – August 8th), and Summer 10 Week (May 29th – August 8th.)

Community college and attending other universities is a good option for students looking to take courses away from Aggieland. If your student is looking into one of these options, it is crucial that they meet with their current academic advisor. Students must make sure the courses they plan to take can transfer back into their degree plan, a question only academic advisors can answer.

Working:Summer is a great time for students to get out of the classroom and venture into new employment opportunities. The Student Employment Office is designed to help students pursue their educational goals by providing employment resources and professional development opportunities. The office serves students, departments and local businesses by maintaining an online job database, managing work study programs, and offering professional development workshops for students and supervisors. For more information, visit https://jobsforaggies.tamu.edu/Default.aspx.

Relaxing:Whether it was their first semester or their last, students tend to be exhausted after months of rigorous coursework and involvement. Allow them some time to unwind and relax during the break since it won’t be long until they start preparing for the next semester.


Upcoming Events and ProgramsWhat’s Happening at Texas A&M

Do you know other members of the Aggie Family who might want to receive this newsletter? Please feel free to forward it to them, or tell them how to sign up for the listserv.

Visit http://parents.tamu.edu/listserv for instructions of subscription/unsubscription.

Silver Taps

Due to inclement weather, April’s Silver Taps has been rescheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 at 10:30PM. Silver Taps is that final tribute paid to an Aggie who, at the time of their death, was enrolled in graduate or undergraduate courses at Texas A&M. We encourage students to attend to pay their respects to their fellow Aggies and their family members. May’s Silver Taps is held in honor of:

Michael Chris KaitsonNicholas James Garbarino

For more information about Silver Taps visit http://studentaffairs.tamu.edu/sas/silvertaps.

Corps of Cadets’ Final Review

Final Review is the last activity of the Corps of Cadets as a unit before it is dismissed for the summer. It is a full military review at Kyle Field of the entire Corps of Cadets separated into two passes. The reviewing stand usually consists of high ranking military and university officials and the pass in review allows the reviewing officials to inspect the ranks of the Corps as they march past.

After the first pass, the cadets go back to the dorms where they prepare for a second pass. This time only three classes march: the new seniors, juniors, and sophomores. The second pass of final review is the only time the Corps marches without freshmen. It is also the new seniors’ first public appearance in their new senior boots and new roles as the leaders of campus.

The old seniors form a line facing the Corps, and this second pass is made in their honor. The Corps of Cadets passes in review this time saluting the seniors rather than the reviewing officers when each outfit passes its old senior class.

This year’s final review will take place on May 5th at 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit http://corps.tamu.edu/.

Off Campus Aggies’ – Moving Out!

Packing Up? Donate Your Unwanted Items! Off Campus Aggies (OCA), a student organization at Texas A&M, will host MOVING OUT next month, an event where students can drop off any unwanted furniture, non-perishable food items, clothing, etc. before heading home for summer. OCA then partners with Twin City Missions to donate the collected items to others in need. There will be both an on campus and off campus location for students’ convenience. The drop off dates, times, and locations are as follows:

Tuesday, May 8th - 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. On campus in front of Krueger and Mosher Hall (off of Bizzell)

Wednesday, May 9th - 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Off campus at University Place Condos-basketball court (off Southwest Parkway between Wellborn Rd. and Welsh)

If you have questions, contact Off Campus Aggies at [email protected] or visit their website at http://oca.tamu.edu.

8 Aggie Quick Connection May 2012

may 2012 aggie family newsletter

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