september 2010 family newsletter

Aggie Quick Connection

Inside...2-3 New Student Programs4-5 Howdy from the University Advisors and Counselors6-8 Upcoming Events9-10 Strategies for Success

...On the Calendar

1

September 2010 Family Edition

Howdy! It’s an exciting time on campus as classes start, football season begins, and students prepare for a new academic year. First year students often experience greater emotional highs and lows as they test their new freedoms and become familiar with their roommate, professors and classmates. Our desire is for each student to have as smooth of a transition into the new semester as possible. Remember that your encouragement and support can mean the world to your student during this time. There are many helpful resources available on campus to assist your student should the need arise.

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 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!

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

September is the Hispanic Heritage Month. Sept. 3 Last day for adding/dropping courses for the fall semester. Sept. 7 Silver Taps Sept. 10 - Academic Convocation. - 5:00 p.m. Last day to apply for degrees to be awarded in December.

October 15-16, 2010Texas A&M University v. University of

Missouri Football Weekend

Purchase Your Tickets Now!A family pack of tickets for the weekend is $40 and includes materials for the weekend, the Friday night dessert reception, and the Saturday tailgate BBQ for a student’s immediate family. Purchase tickets (does not include football ticket) from the MSC Box Office by visiting http://boxoffice.tamu.edu/ or http://studentlife.tamu.edu/NFW, or call (979) 845-5826 for more information.

Sports Pass Option Holders:Family members, as a part of the New Family Welcome, your student can purchase up to 4 half-price tickets for the A&M vs Missouri football game using his or her sports pass (must include football option) here: http://MySportsPass.tamu.edu.

Why should you plan on attending?Explore Aggieland!Visiting with Faculty & Administrators!Yell Practice!Aggie Family Tailgate!Aggie Football for Special Ticket Pricing!Quality Time with your Aggie!

Make your hotel reservations & reserve game tickets now!

••••••

Save the Date! New Family Welcome


2

Stay Connected with the latestCampus News

The Battalion- “The independent student voice of

Texas A&M since 1893.”

www.thebatt.com

Texas A&M News and Information-

Aggie HotlineThe Division

of Marketing & Communications produces Aggie

Hotline, an email news brief

service that is distributed to

subscribers each weekday. News

briefs may also be found online at:

tamunews.tamu.edu.

Subscribe to Aggie Hotline: Send an email message to [email protected]. Leave the

subject line blank and type the

message: SUB Aggie-Hotline

your-real-name.

New Student ProgramsAMPLIFY: THE SUCCESS SERIES FOR STUDENTSEncourage your student to attend Amplify, a year-long series of programs and workshops designed to assist freshmen, transfer and sophomore Aggies develop skills and 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/workshop.

Every 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 AMPLIFYSeptember 2, 20102 - 5PM Aggie Allies Advance Workshop

September 8, 201010AM - 2PM Volunteer Opportunities Fair (VOF)11 - 11:30 AM Living a Life of Service: What does it mean to be an active citizen?12 - 12:30 PM Emerging Leaders: A Program That Empowers You to Be the Change1 - 1:30 PM Strengths and Service / Serving With Your Strengths

September 9, 20101 - 2:30 PM Learning is a language-based activity: Strategies to succeed when English is not your first language4 - 6:15 PM Texas A&M at Qatar: Exploring the Middle East through the branch campus 8 - 9 PM No Black Belt Required: Practical Suggestions For Personal Safety

September 12, 201012:30 - 4:30 PM Leadership and the Challenge Course Adventure

September 13, 201012:30 - 1:30 PM Understanding Credit Cards and Credit Scores3:30 - 4:30 PM Financing Your Study Abroad4:30 - 5 PM Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) (Continued on page 3)


2


3

September 15, 20101:50 - 2:50 PM Time Management & Procrastination

September 16, 201012:30 - 1:30 PM Money Management for College Students2 - 3 PM Saving and Investing2:20 - 3:20 PM Study Success Strategies

September 17, 201012:30 - 1:30 PM I’m Graduating: Now What?1:30 - 2:30 PM Cooking on a Budget

September 20, 201010 - 11 AM Business Communication Skills11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Stress Management & Test Anxiety

September 21, 20101:30 - 2:30 PM Quality Customer Service3:30 - 5 PM Raising your Cultural IQ6 - 8 PM Tips on Maintaining Your Bike6 - 9 PM SHARP - Sexual Harassment Assault Rape Prevention

September 22, 201011 AM - 1 PM Pizza with Parking and Transit - Seldom Known Facts About Parking & Transit12:30 - 1:30 PM Buying a Car2 - 3 PM Love and Money: What You Need to Know Before Getting Married

September 23, 201010 - 11 AM Telephone Courtesy1 - 2 PM Identity Theft2:30 - 3:30 PM Money Management for College Students5:15 - 6:15 PM Undeclared but not Unprepared: Choosing a Major/Career

September 24, 20101 - 2 PM Saving and Investing

September 26, 2010 2 - 5 PM Aggie Allies Advance Workshop

September 28, 20104 - 4:30 PM Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI)5:15 - 6:15 PM Study Abroad Informational

September 29, 201012:30 - 1:30 PM Love and Money: What You Need to Know Before Getting Married12:45 - 1:45 PM Study Success Strategies1:45 - 2:45 PM Buying a Home3:30 - 4:30 PM Study Abroad Informational

September 30, 201010 - 11 AM Presentation Skills2 - 5 PM Aggie Allies Advance Workshop


THIS MONTH IN AMPLIFY (CONTINUED)


4September 2010 Family Edition

Howdy from the University Advisors and Counselors!Your student has made it! Congratulations!You and your student are about to make a big transition in both of your lives! College is a time where a student’s accountability to themselves grows more than any other time in their life. As the parent or family member of a new student, you should encourage your student to invest in their own academic future by developing strong connections with faculty and staff.

Who to turn to:Your student’s Academic Advisor is a key resource for information while making the transition from high school to college. In high school they may have seen a counselor once a year, maybe a few times less or a little more often; nevertheless, it is important for you to understand the role of the Academic Advisor now that your student is in college.

Academic Advising requires active participation on your student’s part. Time with an advisor is a chance for your student to ask questions about anything: majors, careers, classes, as well as any other questions they may have about getting the most out of their college experience. (And while we like to talk to parents, please remember that this is your student’s college experience and they are the ones who should be asking the questions!) Students should not hold out on their advisor! If your student is thinking about changing their major or taking classes elsewhere, it’s crucial that they inform their advisor as soon as possible. Doing so allows the advisor to give your student the best advice for their needs (and make sure they take the correct courses and save you money!)

Your student’s advisor will give them the best advice for their situation. This is advice – what your student does with it is up to them. No one will FORCE your student to do anything outside of their program requirements. In the end it is up to each student to make the most out of their college experience by researching and preparing for their future on their own.

If your student is struggling with homesickness, requires specialized campus services, or just needs a personal face to their university, their Academic Advisor and the Student Counseling Service (SCS) at Texas A&M University are available to help make the transition from high school to college as smooth as possible. Ask questions and learn as your student learns!

We, as Academic Advisors, truly want to see our (and your!) students succeed; nothing makes us happier than to clear a student for graduation. We are happy to answer questions- and we’ve heard some wacky ones- but we can’t answer the ones that aren’t asked. Please encourage your student to call, email, come by and visit their Academic Advisor; we are here for them!

4


5September 2010 Family Edition

About University Advisors and Counselors:UAC is the professional campus organization for faculty and staff advisors and counselors. In the spirit of the university’s commitment to excellence, the organization strives to provide support for advising and counseling at the university. The quality of advising and counseling at certain critical stages can impact the student’s educational experience, retention and ultimately the student’s entire life. In providing support for advising and counseling, the University Advisors and Counselors seek to provide the optimum atmosphere for the student’s academic development through increased professional communication.Please visit our website at: http://uac.tamu.edu.

Some common “Advisor Speak”GPR – Grade Point Ratio (also referred to as GPA or Grade Point Average).

FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. To learn more about FERPA go to http://admissions.tamu.edu/Registrar/General/FERPA.aspx. Please understand that this may prevent us from answering some of your questions about your student without their express permission. We aren’t trying to hide anything from you; rather, we are bound by this Act to maintain student confidentiality.

Q-Drop – Refers to dropping courses without penalty within the first 50 class days. Students may do this a maximum of 3 times.

FYGE – First Year Grade Exclusion. Freshmen students may choose to exclude from their cumulative GPR up to 3 grades earned of D, F, or U taken within the first 12 months of enrollment at TAMU. For more information go to http://admissions.tamu.edu/Registrar/Current/GradeExPolicy.aspx. Transfer students are not eligible for FYGE.

Pre-requisite (Pre-Req) – Courses, test scores, and/or grade level that must be completed before taking a specific course. Pre-reqs are required for a reason and are generally enforced; students enrolling in a class without having completed the pre-req can be dropped by the department (and those students will often find themselves at a disadvantage if the course builds on the pre-req course’s information.)

Upcoming Events & ProgramsSILVER TAPSSilver 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 conducted Tuesday, September 7, 2010, in memory of Tanner Lloyd Ferris, Kimberley Michaela Kenyon, Nathan V. Shearod, and Yi-Chun Yang. 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.

Attention Dallas/Fort Worth area family members! Want to experience a little of Aggieland closer to home this fall? The Association of Former Students & the 12th Man Foundation invite all of our Aggie Family Members to join us at Cowboys Stadium on October 8th for the All Aggie Hullabaloo & Midnight Yell Practice as part of the Southwest Classic’s weekend activities in Arlington. • Granger Smith ’02 & Grady Skelton ’08 Live in Concert • Doors & Concessions Open at 7pm • 8-11pm inside Cowboys Stadium

6



• Ticket prices are $10 for Adults & $5 for Children. Purchase tickets at: http://www.aggienetwork.com/allaggiehullabaloo/.• Free Admission to Midnight Yell Practice • Gates Open at 11pm • Free Parking

For the latest information, visit: http://www.aggienetwork.com/allaggiehullabaloo/ or contact The Association of Former Students at [email protected] or 979-845-7514. For more information about the Southwest Classic, please visit http://www.12thmanfoundation.com/swclassic2010/.

Game Day at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center, Presented by State Farm®Family Members… YOU are an important part of the Aggie Network and we welcome your family to join us during home football game weekends at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center for a taste of Aggie hospitality and interactive history and to view the live feed from Kyle Field before, during and after the game on The Association’s 49-panel video wall, Aggie Network TV.

Our doors open at least three hours prior to each home game and will remain open one hour post-game. Enjoy:• Interactive Exhibits• Adult Beverages (Beer & Wine) & Soft Drinks for Purchase• Hot Dogs, Burgers, BBQ, Nachos & Ice Cream for Purchase• Alpha Phi Omega’s (APO) Ticketmart• Bus 12• 12’ Aggie Ring Replica• Live Feed from Kyle Field of the pregame, march in and post game• Multiple Screens Broadcasting Simultaneous Football Games• State Farm Texas Aggie Tailgate tent, climate controlled with food, beverages, and big screen TVs of all the college games

If your travel plans allow you to arrive Friday evening, stop and listen to Texas A&M’s Singing Cadets at 5 pm as they conduct an open rehearsal in the magnificent Flores Hall!

For the latest information on game days sponsored by State Farm Insurance at the Alumni Center, visit http://www.aggienetwork.com/events/tailgates.aspx or contact The Association of Former Students at [email protected] or 979-845-7514. For more information about Game Day in Aggieland, visit http://tailgating.tamu.edu/.

ALL AGGIE HULLABALOO & MIDNIGHT YELL PRACTICE: SOUTHWEST CLASSIC

More Upcoming Events & Programs


7



MONEY WISE AGGIE WORKSHOPS Scholarships & Financial Aid is pleased to announce our workshop schedule for the Fall 2010 term. The Money Wise Aggie program will offer workshops on topics from budgeting to credit cards and credit scores. One of the most popular workshops is Saving and Investing. (No get rich schemes here, just the power of compound interest.) The Student Employment Office offers opportunities for students to enhance their skills in telephone courtesy, time management, and business communication to name a few. A complete list of the fall workshops and information on registration can be found at https://finaid.tamu.edu/workshops/.

FIRST YELLThe Texas Aggie Yell Leaders are excited that Bill Engvall will be the headline entertainer for First Yell 2010. The 12th annual event will be held on Friday, September 3, 2010 at 8:00 PM in Reed Arena. In keeping with the First Yell tradition, the show will open with performances by some of the top student performers on campus including the Aggie Wranglers, Fade to Black and the Singing Cadets. First Yell is a great opportunity for TAMU families to experience the Aggie Spirit, we hope you can join us!

Tickets on sale now!! Texas A&M students can purchase tickets at the interior ticket windows at Kyle Field. To purchase student tickets, a current student I.D. is required and there is a maximum of 4 tickets per I.D. Public tickets can be purchased at the Kyle Field box office, by calling 888-99AGGIE (992-4443), or at http://www.12thmanfoundation.com/. For more information regarding First Yell visit our website at http://yell.tamu.edu or call 979-845-3534.

MSC OPEN HOUSEStudents have the opportunity be a part of hundreds of student organizations representing a multitude of interests while at Texas A&M. Student organizations are listed and described at http://studentactivities.tamu.edu/online/search/index (Organizations can be searched by name or key words.) These organizations provide valuable opportunities to develop leadership skills, academic and career interests, as well as social ties.

MSC Open House, Texas A&M’s largest student organization recruiting event, provides students with the opportunity to meet and talk with hundreds of student organizations. MSC Open House will be in the Reed Arena on Sunday, September 5, 2010 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. For more information, please go to http://mscopenhouse.tamu.edu/.

TENANTS’ RIGHT WORKSHOPSStudent Legal Services is hosting a free Tenants’ Right Workshop. It will cover leases, deposits, roommates, and other areas of interest for students leasing a home or an apartment for the school year. The one hour workshop is on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 12pm and 5pm in Cain Hall B111 (The POD). Students will need to register online at http://studentlife.tamu.edu/scrs/sls/TenantsRightsWorkshop. We will also provide free one-on-one help immediately following the workshops.


8



COLLEGE HEALTH 101As you are out and about getting everything your student needs to start the new school year, don’t forget tohave some conversations about alcohol and your expectations around their behavior. For more informationabout talking to your college student about alcohol, check out our Parent Guide at:http://studentlife.tamu.edu/adep.

OVERSEAS DAY Overseas Day is an annual fair held to introduce Aggies to their international options sponsored through and also independent of Texas A&M University. It will be held on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Rudder Exhibit Hall, where over 75 tables of information and services available to students will be present.

Also available at Overseas Day: • Scholarships & Financial Aid counselors will discuss scholarships, federal and state financial aid, and other funding options. • The Honors Program Office will share information on national scholarship programs. • The Career Center will provide information on how students can find international work opportunities and obtain career guidance and job placement assistance in preparation for post-graduation life.

Although Overseas Day provides many different resources for planning an international experience, students are encouraged to visit with the Study Abroad Office or web site (http://studyabroad.tamu.edu) to initiate the process for planning an international experience.

AGGIE FOOTBALAggie Football games can be exciting times for the entire family. The Aggies have eight games at Kyle Field this season (game times may change when televised): - 09/04 vs. Stephen F. Austin 6:00 p.m. @ College Station - 09/11 vs. Louisiana Tech 6:00 p.m. @ College Station - 09/18 vs. Florida International 6:00 p.m. @ College Station - 09/30 vs. Oklahoma State 6:30 p.m. @ Stillwater, Oklahoma - 10/09 vs. Arkansas Southwest Classic TBA @ Arlington, Texas - 10/16 vs. Missouri TBA @ College Station (SAVE THE DATE FOR NEW FAMILY WELCOME! Please visit http://studentlife.tamu.edu/NFW for more information!) - 10/23 vs. Kansas TBA @ Lawrence, Kansas - 10/30 vs. Texas Tech TBA @ College Station - 11/06 vs. Oklahoma TBA @ College Station - 11/13 vs. Baylor TBA @ Waco, Texas - 11/20 vs. Nebraska TBA @ College Station - 11/25 vs. Texas 7:00 p.m. @ Austin, Texas

More information about the football schedule, tickets, and Aggie athletics can be found at http://www.aggieathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/tam-m-footbl-sched.html.

Strategies for Success

9



ATMENTORSFor students looking for a friendly face to help them navigate their new home in Aggieland, ATMentors are ready to help. Mentors are TAMU faculty, staff, and administrators who volunteer extra office hours to make themselves available to students who just want to talk to someone. Mentors do not provide specific academic support, but can assist students in many other ways, including assistance with investigating the many academic support services offered on campus.

Advise students in their area of experience and competence.Act as effective referral sources to students whose problems are outside the Mentor’s expertise.Provide a caring, nonjudgmental ear when a student just needs to talk.

••

•

The ATMentors program does not attempt to replace or substitute for the programs provided by departmental advisors, the Student Counseling Service, and the many other valuable student services available at TAMU. On the contrary, Mentors work hand-in-hand with all of these services, helping students to locate and use them. To be matched with a mentor, refer your student to http://atmentors.tamu.edu.

LEARNING SKILLS SERVICEThe Student Counseling Service Programs for Academic Success Skills (PASS) provides students with an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enhance study and exam-taking ability, while decreasing anxiety related to academic performance. Services can include individual and group counseling, assessment of study behaviors, screening for learning disabilities, an extensive collection of self-help resources, and weekly workshops on a variety of study skills topics. They also offer a learning skills certificate program which is individually tailored to meet your student’s needs and involves a series of workshops, counseling sessions, and academic skills literature. Student Counseling Service also features the Academic and Career Resource Center, which offers a wealth of academic resources featuring information regarding test anxiety, academic stress, and even concentration. For more information visit the Student Counseling Service website at http://scs.tamu.edu.

Provide a smile, a helping hand, and eagerness to serve as stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks.•

The academic transition from high school to college can be an anxiety-provoking process for new students, and is a primary area of concern for parents and family members. It is true that college level classes are more difficult than high school classes, and your student may have some challenges adjusting to the rigorous coursework. However, at Texas A&M University, students are not alone in their academic journey! Below is a description of just a few of the resources and services designed to provide students with academic assistance and support. Costs associated with many of these services are either included in your student’s tuition and fees or are completely free of charge.

THE COLLEGE 101: PARTNERS IN SUCCESS PRESENTATION The PowerPoint presentation is now online at http://parents.tamu.edu/tipsforparents, allowing you to write down any information or websites you may have missed during the New Student Conference presentation.

More Strategies for Success

10



SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION AND TUTORING THROUGH THE STUDENT LEARNING CENTERTypically, the most successful students at Texas A&M spend as much or more time studying for a course than actually sitting in class. It may be helpful for your student to study with classmates, meet one-on-one with a tutor or attend Supplemental Instruction sessions. Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program coordinated by the Student Learning Center that is designed to improve your student’s academic performance and increase retention. The SI program targets traditionally difficult core curriculum courses and provides regularly scheduled, out-of-class, peer-facilitated group study sessions. Recognizing that some students need individual tutoring, the Student Learning Center also offers free tutoring sessions in some math and science courses. For tutoring and supplemental instruction schedules, direct your student to the Student Learning Center website at http://slc.tamu.edu.

THE UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTERWriting and public speaking aren’t limited just to English and Communications classes any more. Texas A&M University courses throughout the curriculum are writing or speaking intensive. Aggies often find that they write papers more frequently and of greater length than in high school or give complex oral presentations using slides or research posters. The expectations tend to be more demanding, too. If writing or public speaking are areas of concern for your student or if he or she would just like an extra eye to help with proofreading, the University Writing Center (UWC) is an excellent resource. The UWC specializes in one-on-one consultations with students needing help with their writing or oral communication skills. A trained writing consultant will guide the student through the editing process and teach how to strengthen not only a lone assignment, but techniques and skills that will come in handy later. UWC staff can help your student with brainstorming and freewriting, analyzing a topic or audience, rewriting a draft, and with refining basic mechanics, grammar and punctuation. Or they can listen to a speech or help produce well-designed slides. Access to the UWC is covered by student fees, so Aggies are encouraged to utilize the UWC whenever they need help. Many resources can be accessed online. Students can call or click to set up an appointment or get information: (979) 458-1455, http://www.writingcenter.tamu.edu.

Study Tips for Your StudentStudy your notes by making summaries of your notes each day, highlighting the big picture or main idea from lecture.Highlighting is rarely effective on its own. Instead, try summarizing each section in the margins or in your notes.Making flashcards for definitions or concept cards for important information can help you to review and re-memorize facts. Find a study partner in your class. Spend time before the exam explaining key concepts to them (and vice versa) to check your retention and understanding.

For a complete list of study tips, visit http://slc.tamu.edu/tips/general.html.

•

•

•

•

september 2010 family newsletter

Documents