January 2014

Quick Connection

What’s Inside: Page 2: Financial Aid Page 3: Housing 2014 Page 4: Student Involvement Page 5: Important Dates and

Announcements

January 2014

Howdy!

Happy New Year from the Office of New Student & Family Programs! Your students are back on campus, and it is time for a new semester. The spring semester is a great time for students to get involved with organizations here at Texas A&M and we encourage you to talk with your student about their involvement. With Aggie Basketball entering conference play, the opening of baseball season, Big Event, and Parents’ Weekend, the Spring 2014 semester will be full of excitement!

New Student & Family programs recently welcomed over 1,100 new transfer and freshman students for the Spring semester. We are excited to have so many new members of the Aggie Family, and hope they have a great first semester in Aggieland!

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 & Family Programs at (979) 845-5826, or email us at aggiefamilies@tamu.edu if you have any questions.

Thanks and Gig ’Em!!

Like our page at: https://www.facebook.com/AggieParentsAndFamily to receive campus information and connect with other Aggie Families.

Financial Aid

Announcements and Reminders Tuition and Fees

If your student is using the installment plan option, the installment deadline dates are 5:00 p.m. on January 24th (first payment), February 21st (second payment), March 14th (third payment), and April 4th (final payment.) For additional information about tuition payment and installment plans, please visit the Student Business Services website at http://finance.tamu.edu/sbs/.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

If your student is seeking financial assistance for the Fall 2014, Spring 2015 or Summer 2015 semesters, the 2014-2015 FAFSA must be completed. The 2014-2015 FAFSA is now available. Make sure your student’s FAFSA lists Texas A&M University as a school to receive their information electronically. Texas A&M University’s federal school code is 003632. Remember your student must complete all applicable sections and carefully review their information for accuracy.

We recommend completing the online FAFSA for quicker results. Your student may complete the FAFSA using the online FAFSA which is located at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. In most cases, the online FAFSA can be received by Texas A&M within one week.

Remember, the FAFSA must be completed each spring in order to receive financial aid for the upcoming academic year. For more information regarding the application process, please visit https://financialaid.tamu.edu/apply/fafsa/application_process.aspx For information regarding dependency status, please access the Office of Financial Aid website at https://financialaid.tamu.edu/basics/ dependency_status.aspx. For additional questions regarding financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid Office at (979) 845-3236, financialaid@tamu.edu, or https://financialaid.tamu.edu.

Student Life Spotlight:

Did you know… The GLBT resource center serves as a welcoming space for LGBTQA students, faculty, and staff and typically serves over 1300 students a semester?

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center (GLBT RC) is a resource and referral center for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Aggies and their straight supporters. The Center educates campus constituencies on GLBT issues through programming about sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, advocacy, leadership, and visibility. The GLBT RC also collaborates with student organizations, campus departments, and local community organizations to provide students with access to resources, activities, and support services. The Center coordinates several programs including Coming Out Week, GLBT Awareness Week and facilitates multiple presentations for classes and student organizations. To learn more, visit studentlife.tamu.edu/glbt

For more information about services provided by the Offices of the Dean of Student Life visit: studentlife.tamu.edu and “like” the Offices of the Dean of Student Life on Facebook!

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Housing Decision 2014

Housing Options for 2014-2015 On Campus Housing

Housing Decision 2014 is your student’s chance as a returning student to designate where they want to live on campus for Fall 2014 Spring 2015. This is also how they can tell the Office of Residence Life if they do not plan on living on-campus next year.

Housing Decision 2014 is for all returning students who lived on-campus for the 2013-2014 academic year and runs from January 24th to February 23nd. This is an online process only and ends at 11:59pm on Sunday, February 23. All housing assignments are based on the housing priority date (the date your student originally applied for housing), therefore it doesn’t matter what day they complete the Housing Decision process, as long as they complete it by 11:59pm on February 23. Students who miss Housing Decision are designated as “No Response” and will automatically have their housing cancelled for Fall 2014/Spring 2015. “No Response” students may have their housing deposit refunds delayed as those who go through Housing Decision are processed first.

Please note that the Fall 2014/Spring 2015 Housing Contract has been changed. Students no longer have until April 1 to cancel their Fall 2014 housing without penalty. Students will now have “seven calendar days AFTER they have been notified to cancel their housing and get their deposit back”. Returning students should be notified of their Fall 2014 housing assignment by the end of March 2014.

To complete the on campus housing process go to: http://reslife.tamu.edu/how/ and click on Housing Decision 2014.

Housing Fair

Housing Fair is an event each spring in which off campus properties present information about their amenities to Texas A&M students, faculty and staff. Students can walk around and visit various properties’ tables and gather informational materials, as well as pick up the latest copy of the Off Campus Survival Manual. Local community resources, such as the Bryan and College Station police departments, also sponsor booths to provide additional information pertinent to students living off campus. Housing Fair 2014 will take place on February19th 10:00 am-2:00 pm. in the 2nd floor Bethancourt Ballroom in the MSC. For more information, visit: http:// studentlife.tamu.edu/agoss.housingfair

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Student Involvement Spring Opportunities MSC Open House

MSC Open House will take place Sunday, January 19th from 2-5 p.m. in the Memorial Student Center and is a great way for students to find organizations in which to get involved. With over 400 student organizations represented, students will have an opportunity to search through both professional and leadership organizations that fit their interests. For more information about Open House, visit: http://mscopenhouse.tamu.edu/ Encourage your students to research organizations early by visiting the Student Activities’ online database at http://studentactivities.tamu. edu/online/search/index.

Aggie Orientation Leader Program (AOLP)

New Student & Family Programs houses the Aggie Orientation Leader Program, which welcomes new Aggies to the Texas A&M campus during New Student Conferences. AOLP is currently seeking dedicated TAMU students to serve as Orientation Leaders and work with new students and their families during the 2014 summer 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 benefit them as student leaders and beyond.

AOLP is seeking a group of Orientation Leaders representative of the student body to welcome entering freshmen, transfer students, and their family members.

Aggie Orientation Leader Program Execs. 2013-2014 Would your Aggie make a great ambassador for Texas A&M? Encourage them to check out this fantastic opportunity! Applications and more information regarding the Aggie Orientation Leader Program can be found online at http://aolponline.tamu.edu/. Applications are due January 29th!

Involvement Preview

Some of Aggieland’s biggest service events are happening this spring. It is a great time for students to get involved and give back.

Encourage your students to participate in these events!

Big Event The Big Event provides the students of Texas A&M University with the opportunity to say “Thank You” to the community of Bryan/ College Station for their continued support throughout the years. This past year, over 17,500 students volunteered to complete almost 1,650 jobs, performing tasks that range from painting, to yard work, and to cleaning. For information or to sign up, visit: http:// bigevent.tamu.edu/ The Big Event will be March 29th.

Relay For Life Relay teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around the track. The event is 12 hours in length, and each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times. Aggie Relay For Life works directly with the American Cancer Society office in Bryan, Texas. Money raised goes to support ACS cancer programs and cancer research in the Bryan/College Station area. For more information visit: http://aggierelay.tamu.edu/. Relay for Life will be April 25th.

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Upcoming Dates and Announcements January 2014

January 17: Last Day for Adding/Dropping Classes January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, University Closed January 24: Tuition Due by 5:00 pm

Aggie Basketball Men’s Home Games: January 15th vs. South Carolina January 25th vs. Vanderbilt Women’s Home Games: January 16th vs. South Carolina January 19th vs. Mississippi State January 26th vs. Tennessee Photos courtsey of Texas A&M University Athletics

2013-2014 Family Calendar SALE!

We are pleased to let you know we have 2013-2014 Family Calendars available for purchase for a discounted price of $5 (includes tax) plus applicable shipping. These calendars are a great resource for you as a family member! They include important deadlines, helpful campus phone numbers, university holidays, final exam dates, and information about several campus resources available to your student.

To purchase the 2013-2014 Aggie Family Calendar please go to http://parents.tamu.edu. If you need assistance ordering please contact our office at 979.845.5826.

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