Aggie Quick Connection

What’s Inside:

October 2012

Howdy! The fall semester is in full swing and students are finding their groove here in Aggieland. Most students have completed their first round of tests for the semester, and may begin to feel anxious and stressed about their academic responsibilities. It is important to be there to encourage them, especially if it is their first semester. Remind them of the multitude of resources on campus such as the writing center, supplemental instructor (SI) sessions, and their professors, all of which are here to aid in their success.

We encourage you to visit the Aggie Family web site for additional updates and helpful information. You can visit us at http://parents.tamu.edu. Feel free to contact the Office of New Student and Family Programs at (979) 845-5826, or email us at AggieFamilies@tamu.edu if you have any questions.

Thanks and Gig `Em!

Howdy!

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

Page 2-3: Art in Aggieland

Page 4: The Texas A&M Foundation

Page 5: Getting Around

Page 6: Academic Support

Page 7: Helpful Reminders

Page 8: Campus Happenings

See photos from New Family Welcome here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamu_nsp/sets/72157631668139826/. All photos taken by Conor Christian ‘15.

Art in Aggieland

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Gallery Guide

The Permanent Collection of the Stark Galleries focuses on American paintings, prints, drawings and photographs of the 19th and 20th centuries. Some artists represented include Dawson-Watson, Julian Onderdonk, H.O. “Cowboy” Kelly, Peggy Bacon, Laura Gilpin, Charles Schorre and Dorothy Hood. Additionally, the Permanent Collection is home to sculpture and various other decorative arts. Visit our Monthly Highlight page to see moreinformation on specific works in the collection.

All prospective art donations or purchases undergo a rigorous selection process and must gain final approval from the President’s Advisory Committee on Art Policy before admittance into the Permanent Collection of the Stark Galleries. Criterion for acquisition include: clear ownership by prospective donor, aesthetic value of the art, historical significance and whether the art stands to enhance the Permanent Collection.

The Stark Galleries is featuring works of Ron A. Cheek, contemporary artist and Director of the Texas Academy of Figurative Art. The exhibition is open till October 21 and exhibition is free to the public.

The traveling exhibition ‘Painting Borges: Art Interpreting literature features artwork that illustrates twelve stories by the great Argentinian philosophical writer, Jorge Luis Borges. The exhibition is open till October 30 and admission is free.

Ever heard someone say they had a ‘surreal experience’? Surrealism is a cultural movement of art, philosophy and literature that began in early 20th Century Paris, which gave expression to non-linear, non-logical perceptions. Surrealist artists used their talents to express their rejection of social norms and expectations. The Stark Galleries proudly announces their newest exhibition, Surrealist Visions, which features original prints by all of the important artists of the movement: Max Ernst, Rene Magritte, Salvador Dali, Man Ray, Joan Miro, Andre Masson, Marcel Duchamp, Wilfredo Lam, Roberto Matta, Yves Tanguy and others. Also included is a rare set of 21 Surrealist photogravure postcards. The exhibition will run from August 23 to October 14, 2012.

University Galleries

This exhibition organized by Blair-Murrah, Inc. presents a comprehensive history of kites. The collection includes a diverse group of kites and accompanying introductory panels written by many well-known authorities. This exhibition begins on October 18 and runs through December 15, 2012.

Science and Art in FlightUpcoming Exhibits

The Memorial Student Center is home to three art galleries, the J. Wayne Stark Galleries, the Forsyth Center Galleries, and the James Reynolds Student Art Gallery, all of which open to the public.

J. Wayne Stark Galleries

Current Exhibits

J. Wayne Stark GalleriesMemorial Student Center, Ground Floor(979)845-8501 | Fax: 979.845.9252chastedt@uart.tamu.edu

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Art in Aggieland Cont.Gallery guide

The MSC Forsyth Center Galleries of Texas A&M University is an educational and cultural institution dedicated to stimulating public awareness and disseminating knowledge of the arts. We accomplish this by collecting, exhibiting, preserving and interpreting works of art to enrich educational, cultural and artistic communities regionally, nationally, and internationally. This effort is in support of the educational goals of the University, embracing its values of academic excellence, social justice and freedom of inquiry.

The Forsyth Center Galleries, located on the 2nd floor of the MSC on the Texas A&M campus proudly invites visitors to our newest exhibition: Highlights from the Bill (’35) and Irma Runyon Collection. This compelling exhibition features English Cameo Glass, important American paintings and other glass and porcelain artworks. The Forsyth hours have changed: They are now open Tuesday through Friday: 9 am to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday: Noon to 6 pm. For more information, call 979-845-9251.

Majolica earthenware is part of the new exhibition at the Forsyth Center Galleries. Known for its style based on use, Majolica was often designed to look like the food or object it was to hold. It was popularized in the 19th century and valued for its usefulness, bright colors, tin-glaze, and its whimsical appearance.

MSC Forsyth Center GalleriesMemorial Student Center, Suite 2440979.845.9251 | Fax: 979.845.9252Email: fcg@msc.tamu.eduThe Forsyth Center Galleries

James Reynolds Student Art Gallery The James Reynolds Student Art Gallery is run by the MSC Visual Arts Committee. The Gallery is open Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm. For more informationvisit: http://vac.tamu.edu.

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The Texas A&M FoundationGiving to our Aggies

Getting Around

To learn more, contact:Cindy Munson ’99(979) 458-1689c-munson@tamu.edu

Beyond Cookie DoughGiving to Texas A&M student organizations fuels passion and builds leaders

The month of October is generally accompanied by great weather, fall festivities and catalogues filled with cookie dough and wrapping paper. Fundraising for middle school and high school extracurricular activities was much simpler back then. It was easy to purchase two tubs of chocolate chip cookie dough and four rolls of snowmen-adorned wrapping paper and say that you’ve done your part by donating.

Now your child is attending one of the best universities in the nation. Your child is an Aggie!

Texas A&M is a university that prides itself on giving students the “other education” of leadership, selfless service, excellence, integrity, loyalty and respect beyond a classroom setting.

Although the days of sifting through catalogues or buying a dozen chocolate bars are gone, you can still support your child’s involvement by donating a gift of any size through the Texas A&M Foundation. The Foundation is a private nonprofit organization that solicits and manages investments in academic and leadership programs at Texas A&M. You can direct a charitable gift of any size to the student organization in which your child is involved. The Foundation even accepts online credit card gifts. By giving through the Foundation, you can be assured that your gift, however large or small, will directly benefit your child’s passions and interests, and will assist other Aggies now and in the future.

There are numerous ways to give and countless Texas A&M student organizations, from the Big Event to Women’s Rugby, academic clubs and hospitality committees. If you would like to discuss your options, Cindy Munson ’99 is here to help. As the Foundation’s director of development for Student Affairs, Cindy’s job is to help parents andformer students navigate the decision-making process of giving to student organizations.

Munson resides in Bryan, Texas, with her husband and their three girls. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in education administration in 2003. She worked for six years as campus programs coordinator at The Association of Former Students, and has been with the Foundation for five years. Not only has she witnessed firsthand the impact of supporting Texas A&M student organizations, she has experienced it. During her time as a student, she was involved in the Aggie Orientation Leader Program, Fish Camp, Class Councils and Student Government Association.

The Division of Student Affairs gives students the opportunity to get involved and give back through organizations like Class Councils, Fish Camp, Parents’ Weekend Committee, one of the 15 Freshmen Leadership Organizations, Greek Life, the MSC, multicultural student associations and thousands more. Through student activities, Aggies strengthen their core values, hone leadership skills and forge lifelong friendships. These activities would not be possible without the support of generous individuals, companies and organizations.

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Giving to our AggiesGetting Around

Transportation Services

• In case you haven't heard, MaroonBikes is the provider for the Transportation Services bike lease program at Texas A&M University. The bikes feature Airless and Chainless technology and come standard with integrated locks, lights, and internal gears. MaroonBikes are Aggie Designed and Texas Built, and can be leased for $35/mo including maintenance, parking, and summer storage. Bikes are ready and available on campus. Visit http://maroonbikes.com/ for more information.

• Later this month, Transportation Services will be launching a Borrow-a-Bike Program which will also feature MaroonBikes for short term use. Check the website and Battalion for the official launch: http://transport.tamu.edu/bicycles.aspx

• If your student owns a bike, please remind them to register and use a U-lock for added security. Registration is fast and FREE! http://transport.tamu.edu/bicycles.aspx

• There are new bike "Fix It" stations throughout campus, as well as the over 1200 new bike parking spaces installed over the summer. http://transport.tamu.edu/bicycles/bikerack.pdf

Bikes on Campus

Texas A&M Transportation Services department has partnered with BreakShuttle.com to provide directtransportation from campus to Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio for all major academic breaks. For the first time, students will be able to board a luxury coach on campus and be taken directly to central locations in their destination cities. The shuttles will depart from Reed Arena where students will be met by a BreakShuttle representative to help them to their correct bus. After students are safely checked in, the shuttles travel to major transportation hubs in cities throughout Texas. On the way, students can enjoy WiFi, power outlets, and premium seating on most buses allowing for a comfortable ride to or from campus.

Once break is over, direct shuttles are provided from Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio back to the Texas A&M campus. By using the Break Shuttles, students are able to maximize their time at home while still arriving back at school in time to get settled for classes the next day.

A significant demand for tickets is anticipated, especially during Thanksgiving break, so parents and students areencouraged to purchase their tickets as early as possible to ensure there is a seat reserved for their students.

The website can be accessed at www.BreakShuttle.com or through the link on the TAMU Transportation webpage. For additional information, parents and students can email Information@BreakShuttle.com which will put them directly in touch with the customer service team.

Break Shuttle

Company InformationCampus Connector LLC is the largest national provider of break shuttle services to college and university campuses. At many of the colleges and universities we serve, there were no economical transportation options available from campus to get students home to see their families. Because of this, we consider it a great honor and privilege to play a small part in bringing families together at various times throughout the year by providing direct and economical transportation right from campus. We use an intuitive, secure and verified website that allows both parents and students to purchase tickets online and then instantly receive an E-Ticket which they can use to present on the day of travel. At the buses, students are electronically checked in by one of our representatives and guided to the appropriate bus based on their destination city.

BreakShuttle.com is operated by Campus Connector LLC which is a family owned and operated business. Campus Connector was started by Matthew George and has rapidly grown to be the largest national provider of break transportation services in the country. BreakShuttle.com has a complete operations and customer service team allowing for unparalleled service and support to our customers and their families.

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Academic SupportMaking the Grade

Midterm GradesEach semester, midterm grades are reported for students who have completed less than a total of 30 credit hours. This semester, midterm grades become available October 15th. Though these grades may be an indication of final grades in each class, it should be noted they are simply a type of progress report and do not go on your student’s permanent record.

Although the university does not mail out midterm grades, they do provide an option for parents to receive access to their student’s class schedule, grades, and verification of enrollment online. In order for you to access this information your student will need to grant you permission by setting up a parent password, which can be done at https://howdy.tamu.edu . After your student signs into the HOWDY PORTAL with his or her NetID and password, they click on the MyRecord tab. Have them locate the Parent/Guardian Access window and click on the “+” sign to expand the selection next to “Academic Record”. There will be an information section displayed where they can grant you access to view these materials.

If your student’s grades do not seem to reflect their academic ability, you might want to discuss their study habits and maybe even remind them of services on campus designed to help students improve their academic proficiency. A resource available to your student is the Student Learning Center located in 200 YMCA Building. The Student Learning Center offers a variety of programs and services such as Supplemental Instruction (SI) and tutoring. These services are free of charge to Texas A&M students and available for traditionally difficult core curriculum courses. To find out more information about the Student Learning Center visit, http://slc.tamu.edu/.

Additionally, Student Counseling Service (SCS) offers many workshops focused on topics such as effective time-management, study skills, test-taking strategies, and writing skills. Visit the SCS Web site at http://scs.tamu.edu for more information on the services that SCS offers.

Keep in mind that college level course work can be much more difficult than what your student experienced in high school, and a previously “straight-A student” can struggle while making the academic transition.

To preserve account integrity, Texas A&M Information Technology locks NetID accounts when suspicious activity, such as concurrent logins, is detected. Concurrent logins are a sign of account compromise and indicate that multiple people are using the same account. Sharing passwords can cause concurrent logins, and is against the Rules for Responsible Computing(http://rules-saps.tamu.edu/PDFs/29.01.99.M2.pdf).

More detailed instructions can be found at: http://howdy.tamu.edu/Inside/parentAccounts/

When discussing grades with your student, it is important to keep in mind that your student’s academic performance is unique to his or her personal experience. Each student has their own particular way of studying, learning, and retaining knowledge, which may or may not resemble that of others.

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Helpfififul RemindersTips and Hints

Missing Your Student?

It has been a few weeks since your student has left for Aggieland, and there is still some time to go before they have time off for Thanksgiving and Winter Break. It is almost a proven fact that students love receiving mail. Consider mailing your student a fall care package to help them get through the semester, and let them know you are thinking about them.

Need ideas? Here are a few suggestions for things to include in packages: favorite foods from home, snacks for studying, gift cards to their favorite restaurant or coffee shop in College Station, fall-themed decorations, etc.

The Corps CornerInformation for Corps Families

If your student is in the Corps of Cadets, there are plenty of ways to get information about what is happening in the Corps. The Commandant sends out a weekly newsletter, which you can register for here. This newsletter covers gameday information, upcoming events, and other campus resources.

Also, it may be helpful to visit the Corps website http://corps.tamu.edu and Facebook page, www.facebook.com/aggiecorps for information about life in the Corps.

Parents, wait! Using your student’s password will lock them out of important campus services.Logging in to your student's account violates university rules http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule22. Texas A&M monitors account activity and locks student accounts when suspicious activity is detected. Students can’t access Howdy, eLearning, email and many other important services when they’re account is locked. To learn how to access to your student’s records, billing and other services safely, visit url.tamu.edu/parent.

Passwords Aren’t For Parents

Missing Your Student?

We are pleased to let you know we have 2012-2013 Family Calendars available for purchase for only $10 (includes tax) plus applicable shipping. These calendars are a great resource for you as a family member! They include important deadlines such as tuition due dates, helpful campus phone numbers, university holidays, final exam dates, and information about several campus resources available to your student. A preview of the calendar in PDF format can be found on our homepage (http://parents.tamu.edu). To purchase the 2012-2013 Aggie Family Calendar contact our office at 979.845.5826, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. Please have a credit card or check ready to expedite the purchasing process.

2012 Family Calendar

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Campus ResourcesHealth and Safety

Grocery Store Tour: Eating on the Go - Quick and Easy Meal IdeasOctober 10, 11, 17, 18 (Times vary per day)

Has your student wandered the aisles of the grocery store wondering what to pick? Are they trying to plan healthy meals and snacks, but don’t know what to choose? They can join Meghan Windham, MPH, RD, LD for FREEGrocery Store tours! She will walk them through the local HEB on Holleman Drive, and show students how to shop efficiently, healthy, and smart! Each month will have a different theme, so students may sign up for more than one tour, and learn something new each time! To find out more information and sign-up, have your student visit shs.tamu.edu/events and click on the Grocery Store Tour link to sign up!

Flu Shots

SHS Flu Shot Campaign: October 17 & 18, 2012On Wednesday, October 17 and Thursday, October 18, SHS will be offering 5,000 FREE Flu Shots to currently enrolled students. Once the FREE flu shots have been given, each flu shot will cost $22. Locations: MSC, Wehner, Commons (8am-5pm); Rec Center (10am-7pm)For additional information on the Flu Shot Campaign, please visit shs.tamu.edu.

Student Health Services

Code MaroonParents: Get Code Maroon emergency text mes-sage alerts! Do you want to be notified about emergen-cies on campus? Just text "follow TAMUCodeMaroon" to 40404 to start receiving emergency text message alerts. For more information, visit http://codemaroon.tamu.edu/publicaccess.html.

Cannonball 5K Run/Walk

November 10, 2012 - Come celebrate the 10th Annual Cannonball 5K Run/Walk! The Cannonball Run course is a nice, flat 5k course around and through the Texas A&M campus. Water stations, split time indicators and cheering supporters make the course an enjoyable one; a great training run! On-site registration begins at 8:00 am, the race begins at 9:00 am.

This chip-timed race will raise money for testicular cancer research as this is the most common type of cancer found in college aged men. All of the race proceeds will be donated to MD Andersons Cancer Research Center. Visit shs.tamu.edu/events to register today!

If your student cannot make it to this event, flu shots are available at the Health Center! Currently enrolled students may make an appointment for a flu shot at Student Health Services by visiting shs.tamu.edu or by calling (979) 458-8250.

Campus HappeningsOctober 2012

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The next Silver Taps will take place at 10:30 pm on Tuesday, October 2nd in memory of: Anthony Joseph Carey- Agricultural Systems Management. More information on Silver Taps at: studentaffairs.tamu.edu/sas/silvertaps

Silver Taps

Replant Day is a one-day environmental service project which strives to improve the Bryan/College Station community, bring students together through tradition, and provide an avenue for environmental service and action through a yearly tree planting event. It was originally developed by Scott Hantman to replenish some of the trees cut for Bonfire. In the Spring of 1991, he joined Bonfire leaders and planted 400 trees. Replant has grown into one of the largest student-run, environmental service projects in the nation. Encourage your student to give back to the community on October 27th by participating in this special Texas A&M tradition! They can find more information about Replant by visiting their website at http://replant.tamu.edu/.

Replant

This has been an exciting debut season in the SEC for the Aggies. The Aggies move into October with a 3-1 record, and their first SEC victory. Cheer on the Fightin’ Texas Aggies throughout October!

Aggie FootballSaturday, October 6 vs. Ole Miss-- Oxford, Miss 6:00 pm, ESPNU

Saturday, October 13 vs. Louisiana Tech-- Shreveport, La 8:15 pm, ESPNU

Saturday, October 20 vs. LSU-- College Station, TX

Saturday, October 27 vs. Auburn -- Auburn, Ala.

Maroon OutMaroon Out began in 1998 as a way to build unity among the Aggie community. It has become a highly anticipated tradition each year in which everyone shows his or her Aggie Spirit by wearing maroon to the chosen football game.

This year’s Maroon Out game is Saturday, October 20th. Maroon Out shirts can be purchased every Tuesday - Friday at Rudder Plaza from 10 am - 3 pm or online at https://www.maroonouttshirts.com/.

Do you know other membersof the Aggie Family who mightwant 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

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Campus Resources