aggie family newsletter may 2013

Howdy!

Did You Know?There is an Aggie Families Facebook Page! Like our page at: https://www.facebook.com/AggieParentsAndFamily to receive campus information, and connect with other Aggie Families.

What’s Inside:

Aggie Quick Connection

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.

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!

Page 2-3: Graduation

Page 4: Final Exams

Page 5: Moving Out, Off Campus

Page 6: Moving Out, On Campus

Page 7: Summer Plans

Page 8: Important Dates

Aggie Quick Connection May 2013 2

Graduation

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.

4

CongratulationsGraduates!

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:Commencement ceremonies begin with a convocation that features one notable speaker. This year’s Commencement Convocation will take place on May 9th at Rudder Auditorium at 5:30 pm with speaker Congressman William H. “Bill” Flores ‘76. Students are not required to wear academic regalia at Convocation, but will need to do so at the subsequent degree-granting exercises.

Joining the Aggie Network

Aggie Quick Connection May 2013Aggie Quick Connection May 2013 3

GraduationContinued

Friday - May 10, 20139:00 a.m. Ceremony• Graduates and Undergraduates in Liberal Arts

2:00 p.m. Ceremony• Graduates and Undergraduates in Architecture• Graduates and Undergraduates in Geosciences• Graduates and Undergraduates in Science• Graduates and Undergraduates in Veterinary Medicine (and Biomedical Sciences)

7:00 p.m. Ceremony• Graduates in George Bush School of Government and Public Service • Graduates and Undergraduates in Education and Human Development

Saturday - May 11, 2013

9:00 a.m. Ceremony• Graduates and Undergraduates in Mays Business School

2:00 p.m. Ceremony• Graduates and Undergraduates in Dwight Look College of Engineering

7:00 p.m. Ceremony• Graduates and Undergraduates in Agriculture and Life Sciences

Commencement Ceremonies- All graduation Ceremonies held in Reed Arena

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 9, 20131:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Drive Thru & Get Your Decal at the Alumni Center

Friday, May 10, 201311:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Come & Go Open House

Saturday, May 11, 201311:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Come & Go Open House

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

The Next Tradition


Final ExamsHelp Your Student Succeed

Final Exam ScheduleFinal examinations will be held on Friday, May 3rd, Monday, May 6th-Wednesday, May 8th, 2013. A full exam schedule can be found at http://registrar.tamu.edu//General/FinalSchedule.aspx.

Tips for StudentsPeer Academic Services (PAS) has resources to help your student 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:• Manage your time well: get plenty of sleep, find time to exercise or be active, and schedule time to study.• Focus on healthy behaviors: eat regular meals, drink water and other non-alcoholic beverages, choose healthy snacks (excessive sugar can make you drowsy), limit caffeine – it increases anxiety.• Study in places with minimal distractions. • Condense notes into manageable study techniques. Creating flashcards, vocabulary lists, or quick study guides are great ways to take a semester’s worth of notes and create manageable study tools.

During an Exam:• When you are taking a test, keep positive thoughts in your mind (yes, you can!)• Read all directions thoroughly.• Read all questions carefully.• Feel free to simply stop for a minute, take a deep breath, and then continue working.

For more infomration, please visit the Peer Academic Services Website at http://slc.tamu.edu/study-tips/.

Final Grade Release

Final grades for all students are due on May 13th 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. 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. Unofficial grades may be printed from this web page for scholarship sponsors, student insurance discounts, employer reimbursement, etc. 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.


Help Your Student SucceedThe 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.”

• Hitting the Road: Residents must give a notice to vacate; the number of days’ notice they must give is listed in their original lease. 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: Even if you have a cleaning fee associated with your residence, you still need to clean after you move out all your belongings. 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: In order to get the security deposit back, students need to provide a permanent forwarding address (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: Take photos of the condition of the apartment upon leaving, preferably with a time and date stamp. This documentation 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 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 RENT A PLACE UNTIL YOU HAVE SEEN THE ACTUAL UNIT YOU WILL BE LIVING IN. A lease is a legally binding document; it is valid the day 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.

Each year students move out and discard thousands of dollars in goods that could be given to those in need. This year the Off Campus Aggies (OCA) and the Graduate Student Council (GSC), two Texas A&M sponsored organizations will be collecting donations of clothing, linens, non-perishables, books, electronics, toiletries and furniture for their Moving Out day event. During this three day event, which will be held May 7th, 8th, and 9th, donations will be taken at Lot 84 near the Fred Dollar Food Services Commissary on 474 Agronomy Rd (south of the General Services Complex). In the past the event has been very successful with several box loads of donations being given back to the community.

Move Out Donations

Moving OutOff Campus Students


Below is information from the Department of Residence Life’s Spring Closing notice, which all students living in the Residence Halls have received.

All students must completely moved out of their residence hall within 24 hours after the last exam. The last scheduled exam is Wednesday, May 8. Students needing an extended stay beyond 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 must contact their Graduate Hall Director/Community Director (GHD/CD). Saturday, May 11 at 12noon, is the latest date and time for which approval will be granted. Residents approved for extended stay, but found in violation of University or Residence Hall policy may be asked to move out of the residence hall immediately. Deadline to submit an extended stay request is Friday, May 3rd.

All students must be checked out of their room by a resident advisor (RA) prior to leaving. To properly checkout, students must make an appointment with their RA at least 24 hours in advance of their anticipated check out time. Student’s must be on time for checkout, due to the volume of RA appointments. All belongings must be removed and room must be clean prior to check out. Failure to follow ALL check out procedures may result in assessment of charges.

Rooms must be clean and free of any new damage at check out. A checkout checklist has been provided to your student to ensure the room is prepared. Roommate cooperation is essential. All rooms are subject to inspection (and billing for cleanliness and damages) after 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 9, except in cases of approved extended occupancy. Violations or damages found after residents’ departure could result in billing charges to both room occupants.

Important Information: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 the 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/interim/may/ or Call 979-845-4744 for more information.

Moving OutOn Campus Students


Schools Out!Summer Plans

Summer is quickly approaching and it is important to talk withyour 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 (June 3rd – July 8th), Summer II term (July 9th – August 14th), and Summer 10 Week (June 3rd – August 14th).

Community college and other universities are 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.

On Campus Students

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. Thereviewing 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 outgoing 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.

This year’s final review will take place on May 4th at 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit http://corps.tamu.edu/.

Summer School Schedule

Maymester: May 16th-31st10 Week Courses: June 3rd-August 14thSummer Term 1: June 3rd- July 8thSummer Term 2: July 9th- August 14th

Important Dates

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 to subscribe/unsubscribe.

Commissioning Ceremonies

All University Commissioning is on Saturday, May 11, 7:00 p.m. at Reed Arena. For more infomration on Commissioning Ceremonies please contact the Corps of Cadets.

(979) 862-2862http://corps.tamu.edu/

aggie family newsletter may 2013

Documents