Aggie Family Newsletter Month/Year
Midterms | Academic Support| Athletics | Insurance | Important Dates |
Howdy!
The fall semester is in full swing and students are finding their groove here in Aggieland. A major focus for many students during the month of October is academics. Most students have completed their first round of tests, and may begin to feel anxious and stressed about their classes. It is important to be there to encourage your student. Remind them of the multitude of resources on campus such as the Writing Center, the Academic Success Center, supplemental instructor (SI) sessions, and their professors, all of which are here to aid in their success. More information on many of these resources is included in this newsletter. 

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!

Boletín en Español 
Midterms
Each 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 20th. It should be noted midterm grades 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.
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://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule22). More detailed instructions can be found at: http://howdy.tamu.edu/Inside/parentAccounts/.
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.
If your student is an upperclassmen and not receiving a formal midterm report via Howdy, this is still a great time to check in with them to see how their semester is going. Encourage your students to discuss their academics with you. Ask them questions about their courses that cannot be answered by a simple “yes” or “no”, instead ask them to talk to you about what they are learning. You might be surprised how much your student wants to share with you about their favorite course!
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.
Academic Support Resources
Academic Success Center
A truly great university provides the means for its students to graduate in a reasonable amount of time and without a mountain of debt. The Academic Success Center’s mission is to help all Aggies enhance their academic performance. The Academic Success Center is a collaboration between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. The Center’s holistic approach helps students identify roadblocks to academic success and ensures that all students have access to comprehensive resources.
Students admitted to Texas A&M are among the best in Texas, the United States, and the world. Still, talented students sometimes find college-level academics challenging and stressful. The Academic Success Center strives to help each student achieve the highest possible academic potential.

What The Academic Success Center Does:
Each Aggie is different, so programs are designed to identify and address individual needs.
  1. Initial Assessment
    An online learning skills assessment will get students on the right track.

  2. Scholastic Performance Management
    Scholastic performance specialists (Academic Coaches) will meet with each student and develop an action plan. When needed, students will be referred to academic support services such as supplemental instruction (SI), tutoring, or the University Writing Center, as well as student resources such as the Student Counseling Service.

  3. Academic Coaching
    Academic Coaches work with individuals to help them realize their action plans and chart their progress.

  4. Workshops and Courses
    The Center specialists provide workshops, non-credit classes, and other events to get students information they need to succeed. Students learn about topics such as time management, test prep, study skills, and more. All of the Center’s services are provided at no additional cost to students.

  5. Supplemental Instruction (SI)
    SI is a peer-led, academic assistance program designed to improve student academic performance and increase retention. SI offers three free 50 minute regularly scheduled sessions per week for lower level undergraduate courses. These sessions are facilitated by SI leaders, undergraduate students who have previously taken and mastered the course. SI leaders integrate active and collaborative learning methods in their sessions to help students learn outside of the traditional classroom setting. 
    For a list of available classes/ SI schedule click here.

  6. Tutoring 
    The Academic Success Center offers free drop-in tutoring on a weekly basis for core-curriculum, highly-requested courses. ASC tutors create an active learning environment for students by creating a student-focused session, which helps students “learn how to learn.” Students can expect to receive assistance for their immediate needs and acquire the tools necessary to take charge of their future learning.

    Tutors are available to assist students on a first-come, first-serve basis in the form of drop-in tutoring on Sunday-Thursday, 5-9PM. Please visit our schedule section for the subjects offered for drop-in tutoring and the days/times/locations they are offered. Please remember that it is a good idea to find a tutor in advance and not right before you have a test. We are conveniently located on the 2nd floor of Evans Library (next to the University Writing Center), the Commons, and Hullabaloo Learning Center.


  7. The Transfer Student Program (TSP)
    A  program designed for incoming transfer students to learn more about the resources at TAMU, make connections with other transfer students, faculty and staff and actively encourages engagement on all levels of the university.
    Transfer students sometimes face unique challenges, challenges that may only become apparent as the semester progresses; the TSP eases the transition into Texas A&M University. We offer social and academic support throughout the semester, to all colleges and majors.  On staff are a number of Transfer Student Peer Mentors (TSPM) from a variety of colleges.  TSPMs are all former transfer students, extensively trained and hold office hours and will do their best to help you find answers to questions, resources and encouragement so that you can get the most out of your experience at TAMU.

  8. The Texas Success Initiative
    TSI is required by the Texas State Legislature for identifying and preparing academically those students whose basic skills in reading, writing and/or mathematics are less than what is required to succeed college level courses.
For more information about the Academic Success Center visit, http://us.tamu.edu/academic-success-center.   

Academic Success Center 
YMCA Building
Tel. (979)458-4900 (Academic Success)
SuccessCenter@tamu.edu
 
What happened to student health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act? 

Did you know The Texas A&M University System (TAMU) sponsors a student health insurance plan offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas known as AcademicBlue℠?

Student health insurance plans are not new. In fact, many states require coverage for college students, and the federal government requires some international students to carry health insurance coverage while attending college in the United States. As you would expect, most domestic students are covered as dependents under a parent’s plan until age 26, and most will stay on their parent’s plan-- but should they? The following information is brought to you by AcademicBlue to help you make decisions about how best to insure your Aggie.

As a result of the Affordable Care Act, student health insurance plans are required to provide the same health benefits as individual health insurance plans.  

Before the Affordable Care Act, many student health insurance plans were not required to provide certain basic health benefits, such as preventive care, nor did they have out-of-pocket maximums, which provide a financial limit on the total dollar amount a student would be required to pay during a specified policy period. 

The good news is that today’s student plans must provide federally mandated essential health benefits.  TAMU students enrolled in AcademicBlue now have the same health benefits as individual plans, such as important preventive care that includes women’s preventive services with no cost sharing. Students  in AcademicBlue have access to a broad network of providers through the BCBSTX Blue Choice PPO℠ network so they are covered at home, at school or while traveling.

For some students, the student health insurance plan may be a better choice than remaining on their parent’s plan. Most student health insurance plans have  lower premiums compared to individual plans or even dependent coverage under a parent’s plan. 


Student Health Services offers 100 percent coverage for eligible services on the TAMU campus. 

Student Health Services (SHS) is a large on-campus healthcare facility that offers a range of services to support the health and well-being of TAMU students. SHS has made arrangements with an AcademicBlue representative to meet with students on a weekly basis at SHS to make sure that students have the information they need to make the most of their insurance plan benefits. Go to shs.tamu.edu to see what SHS has to offer.

Do the math and see if the AcademicBlue student health insurance plan is a smart move for your student!

Go to tamu.myahpcare.com or call (877) 624-7911 for more information. 

AcademicBlue is offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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. We know 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, a note of encouragement, interesting clippings or cartoons from their home town newspaper, printed photos, etc.

Information 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 on their website. 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.
Fall Athletics Highlights 
Soccer
October 17 vs. Auburn  7:00 p.m.

October 19 @. Mississippi State 1:00 p.m.

October 24 @. Arkansas 7:00 p.m.
 
October  26 vs.  South Carolina  4:00 p.m.

October 30 vs. Georgia  7:00 p.m.
Volleyball
October 15 vs. Arkansas  6:00 p.m.

October 19 @ 12:30 p.m.
   
October 24 vs. Georgia 6:00 p.m.

October 26 vs. Kentucky 11:00 a.m.

** All information from aggieathletics.com, times subject to change. 
Important Dates
October 20
Mid-semester grades due.

November 13-December 2
Preregistration for 2015 spring semester.

November 18
Bonfire 1999 Remembrance Day

November 21
Last day for all students to drop courses with no penalty (Q-drop).
Last day to change Kinesiology 198/199 grade type.
Last day to officially withdraw from the University.

November 27-28
Thanksgiving holiday.
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