Transfer Student Newsletter: April Silver Bullet

A&M-SA'S TRANSFER STUDENT NEWSLETTER

THE MONTHLY

April 2021

S I L V E R B U L L E T

Sweet April showers Bring May flowers

The semester is almost over!

Y'all have been doing great and stuck through it all. It is spring time after all, so make sure to give yourself a break and go outside to enjoy the nice weather. We have hidden several easter eggs throughout this issue so keep a look out for them.

APRIL 2021

VOLUME 9

Content 01 Department of the Month 02 DOM continued 03 Faculty Highlight 04 Op-ed from the Lead Mentor 05 #Jagtransferweek Recap 06 #Jagtransferweek continued 07 Transfer Student Spotlight 08 Events 09 Choose. Act. Impact Recap 10 Transfer Student Leadership Summit 11 #StudentPerks 12 Small Business Highlight 13 Jaguars Corner 14 Nat'l Sexual Assault Awareness Month 15 Mentorship Program Call: Mandatory

University Police Department Department of the Month This month and every month we are so grateful to our University Police department for keeping Jaguar land safe!

This month, we felt that they deserved special recognition for all they do! They are April's Department of the month and we spoke with officer Karen Tucker-Engel!

The University Police Department is available on our campus 24/7 and it's no doubt that we hope to see them grow alongside our community on campus! The entire UPD team keeps us safe on the roads, through every event, and by ensuring we've practiced evacuation drills. If you want to stay connected with UPD make sure to download their SafeZone app and sign up for JagE alerts through the A&M-SA website.

While many students utilize the UPD's service of unlocking your car door and the accidental safe zone alerts, officer Tucker-Engel wants to remind students that lost and found is also a service provided through their department to help return important items to their owners! Although we all hope a student never has to use it, the UPD provides essential services to victims/survivors of all crimes.

Check out her credentials APRIL 2021

Officer Tucker has been part of our campus for six and a half years now and loves attending events and meeting students. She is the coordinator for the Office of Victim Service and Crime Prevention. She is a credentialed advocate and certified crime prevention specialist as well as the Clery Act coordinator for the university.

PAGE 01

Come Meet Them!

Did you Know

We have 19 UPD employees?

Officers S. Gonzales, C. Marmolejo, D. La Boy, A. Juarez, P. Worley, J. Grossman, S. Del La Paz. Emergency Manager O’Callaghan, Detective Nanez is over Criminal Investigations and Sgt. Duran is over Field Operations. Debi Van Horn is the department's Administrative Associate. Support Operations Roberto Lopez, Ms. Borroel is the communications (dispatch) supervisor. At this time her dispatchers are Mr. L. Beaton, Mr. S. O’Callaghan and L. Quintanilla. We have three student workers. Josh Ibrom, Albert Rodas and Ramon Orendain

Contact us!

210-784-1900

I'm hen w s et d ke p g aroun i l I " kin nd my wal a !" pus 26th cam s Aug. yi hda t r i b

Emergency Line 210-784-1911

Hi, i'm oakley "He is a Victim Assistance Dog. Oakley’s main job is to love on crime victims and witnesses when they are in the office and help reduce their stress. Crime victims and witnesses open up and feel more comfortable while merely in the presence of a loving dog. Oakley loves to walk around campus to visit students, faculty and staff."

" adv I am t oc h can ate an e victim com d st sup e to m udents p reso ort an e for urce d s."

Senator Frank L. Madla Building St. 120

The dynamic duo wants you to know APRIL 2021

PAGE 02

Jennifer

De Leon

Faculty Highlight

About Jennifer De Leon's Roles On Campus

Jennifer De Leon plays many vital roles here at A&M-SA, her roles include working with First Year Seminar assisting freshmen in career and college readiness, being a field supervisor for education majors helping them prepare for their future in teaching, and her newest role is with TU Casa as an Academic Success Coach which is designed to allow the opportunity for intellectually disabled students to receive an accurate university experience. "I assist students with their courses by tutoring, and collaborating with their instructors to guarantee academic success".

5 tips for transfer students from professor De Leon "Learn all you can about the resources a college has available to you."

"Financial Literacy is important to your future, so learn all you can about what is free and what will cost you and why."

"Find a cohort of peers on the same path you are on to have academic and social assistance throughout your college career."

"Your instructors on your main career path should become mentors, so communicate with them as much as possible (This is why I was able to get the jobs I had so easily)."

"Volunteer, do internships, join organizations.

This will enhance your resume for your future career!"

APRIL 2021

How Does Your Course Help Transfer Students?

De Leon’s First Year Seminar course helps students learn how to study and schedule time for assignments. “It also shares the importance of utilizing the resources that students pay for in their tuition, such as the library, writing center, and the Mays Center assistance for career paths and internships.”

De Leon’s courses ensure students are on the right track to avoid the same experience she had in the beginning of her journey in college.

De Leon's Transfer Journey De Leon started her academic journey at San Antonio College then transferred to St. Philip's college. She later transferred to Wayland Baptist University where she received her Bachelor's in Justice Administration. She continued her educational journey at Texas A&M-SA receiving her Masters in Special Education.

When asked why she decided to transfer, De Leon replied “Unfortunately, I did not have good direction at the colleges I went to in the beginning...I did not understand how that all worked until after I received my bachelor’s degree and felt it would be pointless to go backwards.”

PAGE 03

David Mantiply

Build a Community

A tip from the lead mentor This last year has been difficult for everyone, I had an especially hard time last semester. I was disconnected and a little depressed and as a result my grades suffered, this semester is different, this semester I’m thriving.

So what changed?

I’ve had fun this semester I allowed myself to be a little silly and take a break from studying every now and then. Having fun is an important component of success in higher education. We all know how stressful college life can be so stressful that we forget that we're supposed to be enjoying this experience. In my time as lead mentor, I’ve had the opportunity to talk to a lot of transfer students and something I hear far too often is I’m just here to go to school. That sounds awful. Just because we didn’t take the traditional route to the university doesn’t mean we don’t deserve the full university experience, but far too often that seems to be the mindset. We’re allowed to have the university experience also, doesn’t matter if you’re a traditional-aged student or an "old person" like me - you’re allowed to enjoy this time. You have permission to have fun. I understand treating school like it’s your job because that was me in community college. I now know why those jolly HR people are always creating mandatory fun events in the office…turns out, happy people tend to perform better. Student success and engagement, more specifically the transfer student engagement office, is like HR for transfer students. It's our job to make sure you’re staying engaged and having at least a little fun - I hope were doing an okay job at it.

You don’t have to come to all the events we have on campus or online but give one a try let your hair down and blow off some steam, you might be surprised how good you feel afterwards.

I’m a student parent with a job and a full course load so I know how precious time is and this semester I’ve made sure to carve a little time out of each day to stop thinking and just have fun; it has helped me immensely. Since I’ve experienced less stress, I have been able to focus more when I’m studying or doing homework - as a result, my grades have improved which makes me smile, happiness squared. I’m not going to tell you how to have fun because quite frankly that looks different for everyone what I am telling you to do is find something that makes you smile, I promise it works.

PAGE 04

Spring Transfer Week 2021 Recap

APRIL 2021

PAGE 05

#Jagtransferweek

Thank you transfers!

All week long, we provided events for all of our transfer students - from a kick-off where we gave away swag, to our popular painting with a transfer, to a new tradition of a movie night at City Base Cinema, and a very special induction ceremony for our newly inducted Tau Sigma members - you all showed up and made it memorable & we can't thank you enough. See you Fall 2021!

APRIL 2021

PAGE 06

Involvement on campus: Peer Leader with The Office of First-Year Experience President of A&M-SA Cheer Why did you choose A&MSA? I wanted to transfer to A&M-SA to be closer to family. I really liked how small the campus was. It is a very welcoming environment.

T

Demi Villarreal

er Stude f s n nt a r

Spo

t h tlig

Classification: Junior Major: History major, Kinesiology – Coaching and Business Administration minor with a concentration in Teacher Certification

What keeps you going when obstacles get in the way?

One thing that has always motivated me when I face challenges with school is remembering the career that I will be able to have once I get my degree. My plan is to become a high school cheerleading coach and history teacher. I am very passionate about cheerleading and teaching. If I work hard now it is exciting to know I will be able to have a job that I enjoy going to everyday.

Any advice for other transfer students?

Get involved as much as you can! I was definitely shy and very hesitant about talking to people until I got hired as a Peer Leader. My college experience has significantly improved since I became more involved on campus. I have met some great friends and have been able to learn so many valuable skills from my supervisors and faculty/staff members that I have worked with on campus!

What made you want to start a Cheer team?

I have always loved cheerleading. I never thought I would cheer again after graduating high school. However, I quickly noticed that A&M-SA would benefit from having a cheerleading team when I attended the groundbreaking of the athletic fields. I thought that now, especially since we have sports teams, cheerleading would make a great addition to our campus!

My ultimate goal is to establish a new spirit tradition within A&M-SA. I hope that this team encourages school spirit and engagement. I also hope that A&M-SA Cheer is recognized for promoting leadership on campus.

APRIL 2021

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Check Ja for m gSync ore i nfo

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Choose. Act. Impact.

Recap

Tau Sigma E-Board support plant club!

HELP OUR PLANT CLUB GROW!

While volunteering we noticed that the plant club could use a little love so we thought we'd ask our transfer student demographic to help them grow a little! Become a member and help them in the gardens or keep them in mind when you come across any gardening tools while doing spring cleaning!

Contact Jose.Valdezbarillas@tamusa.edu if you'd like to help in any way!

They could use hand rakes, spades, and gloves!

APRIL 2021

PAGE 09

The Transfer Student Leadership Summit brings together transfer student leaders from four-year colleges and universities to share their transfer experiences, identify common themes, present on transfer support initiatives, and build peer networks. Though students will lead the sessions on campus support programs, staff and faculty members are invited to co-present and network at the Summit. Register now to gain access to the virtual session rooms.

The Summit aims to attract students who are currently making a difference for transfer students at their campus or those who are interested in starting transfer support initiatives at their institution.

Attendees should not only include transfer students but student leaders who support transfer students. Staff and faculty members from participating institutions may co-present with students and network with colleagues throughout the Summit.

March 1: Transfer Trends and Issues

March 29: Transfer Belonging, Culture, and Community

April 19: Transfer’s Function in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education

APRIL 2021

PAGE 10

FREE FAMILY NIGHT April 5, 2021 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

More info on thedoseum.org

April 9, 10, 11 2021

#SA EVENTS Fiesta 2021 has been postponed to June 17-27, 2021

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck

April 2nd

A FREE family friendly artwalk chock full of art, with the Blue Star Arts Complex as the anchor. Visit professional artists and galleries ready to share their monthly shows with you. Continue down S. Alamo street to experience vendors, gallery spaces and San Antonio’s creative eats and drinks.

APRIL 2021

Apr 3, 2021, 10am- 7pm WHERE: The Shops at La Cantera 15900 La Cantera Pkwy.

San Antonio, TX 78256 PAGE 11

Ch eck out Tau Sigma's very o wn President's Sm all Business

CREATIVELY CHEYENNE C U S T O M

S H I R T S , C U P S , S T I C K E R S A N D M O R E

Are you in need in finding perfect gift?

Personalized gifts are a great way to let someone special know you’re thinking about them. This small business adds that bit of sparkle to everything it touches.

Contact Cheyenne Today!

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JAGUARS' CORNER APRIL

Volunteers Needed!

April 17th 9-12pm Tau Sigma Volunteer Opportunity Day Open to all transfers Texas Diaper Bank. Email Tau

Reading Days MAY 3rd & 4th

Sigma for more information. (vgome05@jaguar.tamu.edu)

Good luck on finals!

Senior week.

Jag Awards April 30th 6pm

April 30th

Tausigma_Jaguars Tamusa.transfers APRIL 2021

April 19th23rd Check jagsync for events

Connect with us!

t

TauSigmaJaguars PAGE 13

YROTADNAM

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

L L A C

Calling all Silver Liners!

THURSDAY 4/22: 5-6PM Zoom Link will be provided in an Outlook calendar invite and will be located on the Silver Liners Instagram page