parents.tamu.edu
December 2010
A Publication for Aggie
Aggie Quick Connection
by the Office of New Student and Family Programs
Welcome Family Members,
What to Expect of Your First-Year Students
Howdy! Temperatures in Aggieland have started to drop, and students are enjoying the cool weather as they study for upcoming finals. Keep in mind that as the winter break approaches, students might be sad about leaving new friends, love relationships, and their Aggie home. Remember not to take their mixed emotions about being home for the break personally; it is all a part of the college transition.
December is a hectic time for students. With final papers and tests coming right after Thanksgiving break, the stress can be overwhelming for students. Take the time to remind your student that although this is a very stressful time, you are available to help if they need it. Additionally, encourage them to maintain a healthy diet, exercise and get adequate sleep.
Message from the Office of New Student and Family Programs
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 nsp@tamu.edu if you have any questions. Thanks and Gig ’em!
Inside... 2-3 Upcoming Events 4 Winter Break Reminder
Plan ahead for moving your student home for the break. Move out dates for the residence halls are listed in this issue, as well as helpful information for locking up your student’s off-campus apartment or house. Your student may want to take home more belongings then they brought home for Thanksgiving, so be sure to plan accordingly. Many students return home from their first semester in college and expect to be treated as guests in their parents’ home, while the parents assume the student will just fit back into the family. Discuss expectations about chores and family obligations early in the break to avoid any tension or conflicts. By mid-break, your student may be feeling bored and out of touch with their high school friends. Your student may realize that they have more in common with their college friends and begin to feel lonely. Plan a family outing after the New Year to help ease this loneliness.
December 2010
Aggie Quick Connection
1
Upcoming Events and Programs UPCOMING DATES Nov. 18-Dec. 3 (Thursday-Friday) - Preregistration for 2011 spring semester Dec. 6 (Monday) - Redefined day, students attend their Friday classes - Prep day, classes meet Dec. 7 (Tuesday) - Last day of fall semester classes - Redefined day, students attend their Thursday classes - Prep day, classes meet Dec. 8-9 (Wednesday-Thursday) - Reading days, no classes Dec. 10, 13-15 (Friday, Monday-Wednesday) - Fall semester final examinations for all students Dec. 17 (Friday. 5pm.) - Last day for December undergraduate degree candidates to apply for Tuition Rebate Dec. 17-18 (Friday-Saturday) - Commencement and Commissioning Dec. 18-Jan. 12 (Saturday-Wednesday) - Residence halls closing Dec. 20 (Monday. Noon.) - Final grades for all students Jan. 17 (Monday) - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Jan. 18 (Tuesday) - First day of spring semester classes
FINAL EXAMINATION SCHEDULE Final Examinations will be held for all students on Friday, December 10, Monday, December 13 through Wednesday, December 15, 2010. For a final exam schedule, please visit http://admissions.tamu.edu/Registrar/General/FinalSchedule.aspx.
FINAL GRADES It is Texas A&M University’s policy to not mail grades. 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. The Office of the Registrar does not set the parent password or supply password information to parents or guardians. Disputes over access to grades must be settled between the student and the family member(s). Please visit http://www.tamu.edu/registrar or call (979) 845-1003 for more information.
2
Aggie Quick Connection
December 2010
Stay Connected with the latest Campus News The Battalion“The independent student voice of Texas A&M since 1893.” www.thebatt.com The Battalion will not be published from December 14, 2010 through January 18, 2011.
Texas A&M News and InformationAggie Hotline The 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 listserv@tamu. edu. Leave the subject line blank and type the message: SUB Aggie-Hotline your-real-name.
SILVER TAPS Silver Taps is the 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, December 7, 2010, in memory of Gerardo Ivan Aguirre and Steven Craig Lofton. 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.
ALL UNIVERSITY OFFICES WINTER BREAK CLOSURE Offices will be closed for winter break from December 24, 2010 - January 2, 2011. Everyone in the Offices of the Dean of Student Life hopes you and your families have a restful and enjoyable break. We look forward to seeing students back after the first of the year!
UNSUBSCRIBE FROM AGGIE FAMILY LISTSERV If you no longer want to receive these electronic messages, you can unsubscribe by one of two ways: 1) Visit the online subscription page http://listserv.tamu.edu/cgi/wa?SUBED1=parents&A=1), fill out your e-mail address and name, but click ‘Leave the List’ instead of ‘Join the List’. 2) Send an e-mail to listserv@listserv.tamu.edu. Leave the Subject line blank. In the Body type UNSUB Parents. You should receive a confirmation e-mail stating that you have left the listserv. Please feel free to contact the Offices of New Student Programs at (979) 845-5826, or nsp@tamu.edu if you have any questions.
TEXAS A&M SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships are a great way to pay for your student’s college education. Scholarships are awarded on a variety of factors and do not have to be repaid. Last year, Texas A&M University disbursed $433 million in financial aid. Approximately $102 million of this total was in the form of scholarships. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of your student’s academic achievement, extra curricular activities, volunteer services, employment and on some cases financial need. Scholarships are designed to reward, encourage and assist your student in pursuing academic excellence and leadership roles. Scholarship opportunities vary according to your student’s classification at Texas A&M, so please encourage your student to view the scholarship information that applies him/her. More detailed information is available at https://scholarships.tamu.edu/tamu_scholarships.aspx. If you have any question, please call the Scholarship Office at (979) 845-3982 or email at scholarships@tamu.edu.
SPRING 2011 PAYMENT SCHEDULE Students who have registered for Spring 2011 classes must pay all fees by 5pm January 12, 2011 to avoid a late fee. Fee information can be found on the Student Financial Services web page at http://finance.tamu.edu/sbs/.
December 2010
Aggie Quick Connection
3
Winter Break Reminder RESIDENCE HALL SEMESTER BREAK SCHEDULE The TAMU Residence Halls will close on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 7 pm and reopen on January 13, 2011 at 8 am. It is very important that the residents make an appointment to check out with an RA prior to leaving for winter break. All residents returning to the halls in the Spring semester must check in with their RA upon arrival.
TIPS FOR SECURING RESIDENCE WHILE ON BREAK • Be sure all doors and windows are closed and locked securely. • Leave inside lights and/or radio on timers so that it will appear you are home. • Leave a few outside lights on (front door, back door, backyard area). • Turn central heat on and set at a low temperature (50 degrees) in case the weather turns cold while you’re gone. • Leave cabinet doors open under sink areas to allow warm air flow to help prevent pipes from freezing. • If you live in a residential property, you will want to wrap outside water pipes and the air-conditioning line to the house. • If there is a sprinkler system, either turn it off or set it to water only once a week. • Have your mail held at the post office or have it temporarily forwarded home over the break. • Pay January 2011 rent in December if you won’t be back by the time January’s rent is due. • Make sure bills are taken care of, especially utility bills. Talk with roommates to determine who/ how the bills will be paid over the break. • Unplug computer and other electrics from outlets during the break (TV/Stereo, etc.) • Bring inside any personal belongings from outside that might be susceptible to theft or inclement weather if it were to snow/ice. • Keep valuables out of sight or take them with you. • Keep window blinds and drapes closed. • Throw away food that will spoil. Don’t leave it sitting inside but use the dumpster or outside garbage receptacle. • Take pets with you. If you can’t, leave them with a friend or board them in a kennel. • Talk to someone locally who will be staying in town to come and check on your house. They can pick up mail/papers and remove door hanger advertisements and flyers from your door, put away garbage cans, and check the doors to make sure that maintenance, pest control, or anyone else doing work in your home while you’re gone has closed and locked all doors behind them. • This is a great time to arrange for renter’s insurance. It’s cost- effective and easy to acquire. Many things outside your control can happen while you’re gone – burglary, burst pipes, hot water heater leaks, storm damage, etc. Renter’s insurance can help protect you. (Provided by Adult, Graduate and Off Campus Student Services. Please visit http://studentlife.tamu.edu/agoss for more information.)
4
Aggie Quick Connection
December 2010