Announcements

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Announcements

Please silence cell phones

Please remain seated for the entire presentation

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Welcome to General Academic Programs’

College Meeting Our goal is to help students Prepare

to Declare.

Hotard HallDr. Kriss BoydExecutive Director

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College Meeting Schedule• First Semester Transition

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.• Registration Preparation

3:15 – 5:00 p.m.

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Come on in…

Hotard Hall

Purpose of the University Experience

• To better understand the world• To learn to accomplish

complicated tasks• To develop the ability to function

as a self - sufficient adult• To prepare to be a lifelong

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Let’s Partner for Success

• As Joe T. Aggie, Sr., you are contributing to the Joe T. Aggie, Jr. scholarship.

• Students have to maintain grades to keep scholarships.

• The best preparation for your student is to make your expectations clear. 6

Let’s Partner for Success• The transition to college means a student

will and should have more freedom and privacy. We know it is tough to let go.

• If students run into difficulties, some of the freedom and privacy should be curtailed.

• You can sign up for a GEST parent list-serve to receive timely information and reminders.

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• Join our LISTSERV where you will receive periodical information of interest about General Studies in your email mailbox.

To join send an email to: [email protected]

In the body of the message put SUBSCRIBE gestparents firstname lastname 8

General Studies Parent LISTSERV

Let’s Partner for Success• Students who have less than 30 TAMU

hours and students on probation have official midterm grades posted.

• Midterms are posted in mid-October and mid-March.

• Your student has to set it up in Howdy so you can see grades.

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Let’s Partner for Success• Family Educational Rights to Privacy

Act - Unless you and your student sign and submit the Certification of Dependency Form, we cannot talk to you about your student.

• It is better to do this now rather than later.Freshmen who have difficulty often try to withhold information from parents as long as possible.

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High School vs. College

Students are hearing…• In College, students

are expected to take initiative in learning and in communicating any need for help from University Faculty and Staff

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Read full article on the General Studies website: “How College is different from High School”

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Your Student Is Not Alone!

• Some GEST majors know exactly what major they want. Students in other majors may think they do also.

• 65-85% of college students change their major during their academic career!

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What is

General Studies?

Our GoalWe “EXIST to ASSIST” students as

they“PREPARE to DECLARE”

by . . .• Maximizing students’ options

through careful course selection• Allowing students to graduate

without accumulating excessive hours 14

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Cost of an Extra SemesterTuition & fees: $ 4,

207Books & supplies: $ 675Room & Board: $ 4,004Lost salary $14,000+TOTAL: $22,886*Graduating

on Time: PRICELESS!

* $22,886 @ 5% X 25 years = $77,500

Other Cost Issues

– Students who graduate with no more than 3 attempted hours over the number required for the degree receive a $1,000 rebate from TAMU. • Q-drops and FYGEs count as attempted

hours

– Students who accumulate 30+ hours above the degree plan prior to graduating will be charged non-resident tuition from that point on. $$$!!!

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G P SGEST academic advisors have:Global knowledge of Texas A&M

University (Student Counseling Service, Scholarships & Financial

Aid, Support Services for Students with Disabilities)

Positioning students to change their major

(Change of Curriculum Requirements, Degree Plans)

Systems to help students succeed (Processes, Referrals)

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G P SAdd value to the TAMU experience:

Global knowledge of other cultures – Do a study abroad. Financial aid can help.

Practical training through internships and coops.

Service to other students and the community

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University Structure

Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics

Genetics

College of Agriculture & Life Science

Texas A&M UniversityUNIVERSITY

COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT

MAJOR

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Colleges

Agriculture & Life

SciencesArchitecture

Business

Education & Human

Development

Engineering

Geosciences

Liberal Arts

Science

Veterinary Medicine

General Academics

Texas A&M

University

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University Studies Curriculum

Hours Component43-45 TAMU Core Curriculum Courses21-24 Concentration30-36 Two Minors15-26 Electives or prerequisite requirements 120 Total hrs required for University Studies Degrees

unst.tamu.edu

General Studies (GEST) website

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Important Notice Area

http://gest.tamu.edu

Tips For Academic SuccessEncourage them to join the Aggie

Network• AGGIES HELP AGGIES, but

they have to ask for help.-Stop by and talk to faculty during

office hours early in the semester. -Meet with academic advisor after

first round of exams when waiting lines are short.

• DO NOT STOP ATTENDING A CLASS WITHOUT TALKING TO AN ADVISOR.

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Tips For Academic SuccessTime Management & Balance

• Students must quickly learn to balance:– Classes and studying = 40 hours/week– Extra Curricular – 1 or 2 things this Fall– Employment – 15 hours max in BCS this

Fall

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Tips For Academic SuccessImportance of a Good Academic Start

• Importance of First Semester Grades 1.75 + 2.0 + 2.5 + 3.25 = 2.37

–This student is not prepared to declare half of the majors at TAMU. The student will run out of time in General Studies and have to declare a second-choice or third-choice major.

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Tips For Academic SuccessFirst Year Grade Exclusion

First Year Grade Exclusion (FYGE): – Freshmen can exclude up to 3 D’s and F’s

that were posted during their first calendar year.• The grade does not go into the GPA, but it is

visible on the transcript and other schools may count it.

• Students should not exclude a D until after the first calendar year.

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Tips For Academic SuccessQ-Drops

– Q-drop – Deadline is the 50th class day• Around the 1st of November and April. • The deadline is FIRM!!!

– A “Q” is posted rather than a grade on the transcript.

– A&M limits students to 3 Q-drops• One-hour classes don’t count.

– Texas law limits students to 6 total drops in college• One-hour classes do count. 27

Tips For Academic SuccessQ-Drops

– Freshmen are too optimistic when they run into trouble, and parents are not fully aware.

– The student’s academic advisor can provide the best advice about whether to Q-drop a class or exclude a grade. There are pros and cons to Q’s and FYGE’s.

– The student is responsible for making the decision.

– If a student is planning for medical, law, or graduate school, the Q-drop may be the best option.

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Tips For Academic SuccessPrint, Read, Save, and Refer to the Course

SyllabusThe course syllabus contains the following important information:

• Course title & number• Term / meeting times / location• Course description• Prerequisites • Learning outcomes or course objectives • Instructor information

Textbook and / or resource materials• Grading policies• Course topics• Calendar of activities, major assignment & exam dates

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Tips For Academic SuccessPrint, Read, Save, and Refer to the Course

Syllabus

A link to the course syllabus is provided in Howdy:

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Tips For Academic SuccessReport Classroom Communication Concerns

If you experience a communication problem with your professor (i.e., does not speak fluent English), report the problem with a Classroom Communication Concerns form (available online).

Freshmen with College Credit

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• Freshmen who arrive at TAMU with 30, 45, or more college hours encounter challenges. – Dual enrollment / Dual credit– AP / IB / CLEP– Hometown community college

• Many departments do not allow students to change majors if they have more than 60 or 75 hours.


• SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS ASAP for accurate advising

• A&M can’t award college dual credit from high school transcripts.


• REPORT (do not accept) your AP credits today• DO NOT ACCEPT any AP credits until you talk with an

advisor (no hurry)• AP credits cannot be removed once awarded• Acceptance of excess credits may:

• Limit your choices of major due to hour restrictions

• Shorten your decision time for a major• Prevent you from receiving Texas B-on-Time

loan forgiveness


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• We need each student to list college courses for which they have credit (or are likely to have) on their registration form TODAY. – If you are not sure, when you get home

please check. Call an advisor to make sure the schedule includes classes that count.


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• Accommodation for Freshmen who arrive with 45+ hours:– Must complete at least 24 hours first two

semesters at TAMU.– Must meet GPA requirements for the

desired major.– Must meet course completion

requirements for the desired major.


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• Strategies for Success if a student has a lot of transfer credit:– Understand that TAMU courses are a

LOT more rigorous and competitive than community college or AP courses.

– Keep non-academic distractions to the bare minimum the first two semesters. • There will be dire consequences if these

students don’t do well the first semester.

Fall CalendarSeptember

End of month = first round of tests October

Mid Term grades, may only include 1 testNovember

Q-drop and withdrawal deadline – no exceptions!!!

Send care package, registration at end of month

DecemberFinals – stressful time, be encouraging Postpone stressful news until AFTER finals.

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- Tomorrow, students only (GAP policy) will meet at their assigned location by 1:00 pm to register for classes. No parents allowed in building.Overcrowding may pose a safety risk Important step in the development of your

student

- Students need to register at the specified locations.

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Registration Notes

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Academic Advising Sessions (Next)

Academic Advisors will hold four concurrent sessions to prepare students for registration

• Sessions are organized based on similar course work• Attend the session that most closely matches your

student’s intended direction• Technological & Scientific• Pre-Health, Environmental & Agricultural• Business & Administrative• Interdisciplinary & Undecided

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Technological & Scientific

(Identified as requiring at least one 4-hour calculus course)

• Biochemistry• Biology (for research) • Chemistry• Computer Science• Construction Science• Engineering• Genetics

• Geology • Geophysics• Industrial Distribution• Mathematics• Meteorology• Physics• Visualization

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Pre-Health, Environmental, & Agricultural

• Agronomy • Animal Science• Biology• Bioenvironmental

Science• Biomedical Science• Entomology

• Health Fields• Any major (professional schools do not limit students by

major)• Environmental Studies• Food Science • Forensic & Investigative

Sciences• Health• Horticulture • Kinesiology• Nutritional Sciences

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Business & Administrative

• Accounting• Agribusiness• Finance• Economics• Marketing• Management

• Human Resource Development• Information & Operations

Management• Ag Communications & Journalism• Agricultural Economics• Sports Management

Interdisciplinary, Exploratory & Undecided*

• Liberal Arts • Social Sciences

PsychologySociologyCommunications

• Humanities • Arts • Languages• Cultures

* Undecided = “no idea.” If torn between two or more options, attend the breakout session for the more restrictive (specific) option.

• Interdisciplinary• Teaching

Elementary Middle Grades Health Education Physical Education

• Architecture• University Studies

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Advisor’s MeetingTechnological & ScientificRoom 110

Pre-Health Fields, Environmental, & AgriculturalRoom 203

Business & AdministrativeRoom 108

Interdisciplinary, Exploratory & UndecidedRoom 209

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College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

“It’s the nutrition and the safety of the food we eat. The quality of the air we breathe. The natural

resources and wildlife we enjoy. And even the clothes we wear.”

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Academic Majors in Agriculture & Life

SciencesAgribusinessAgricultural Communications & JournalismAgricultural EconomicsAgricultural Leadership & DevelopmentAgricultural ScienceAgricultural Systems ManagementAnimal ScienceBiochemistryBioenvironmental SciencesBiological & Agricultural EngineeringCommunity DevelopmentDairy ScienceEcological RestorationEntomology Food Science & Technology

Forensic & Investigative SciencesForestryGeneticsHorticultural SciencesNutritional SciencesPlant & Environmental Soil SciencePoultry ScienceRangeland Ecology & ManagementRecreation, Park & Tourism SciencesSoil & Crop SciencesWildlife & Fisheries SciencesInterdisciplinary Programs□ Environmental Studies□ Renewable Natural Resources□ Spatial Sciences

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College of Architecture

• Construction Science• Environmental Design• Landscape Architecture• Urban & Regional Science • Visual Studies

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Mays Business School

• Accounting• Finance• Information & Operations

Management• Management Information Systems• Marketing & Supply Chain

Management• Management• Marketing• Agribusiness*

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College of Education & Human

Development• Human Resource Development• Technology Management• Teaching Tracks -Early Childhood -Middle Grades -Bilingual -Special Education• Health & Kinesiology -Allied, Community & School Health

-Exercise Science-Sport Management-Physical Education Teacher Certification (All-Level)

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Dwight Look College of Engineering

• Aerospace Engineering• Biological Systems Engineering• Biomedical Engineering• Chemical Engineering• Civil Engineering• Computer Engineering• Computer Science• Electrical Engineering

Aerospace Flight Simulation Lab

• Engineering Technology• Industrial Distribution• Industrial Engineering• Mechanical Engineering• Nuclear Engineering• Ocean Engineering• Petroleum Engineering• Radiological Health

Engineering

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College of Geosciences

• Earth Science• Environmental Geosciences• Environmental Studies• Geography

• Geology• Geophysics• Meteorology• Spatial Sciences

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College of Liberal Arts• American Studies• Classics• English• French• German• Russian• Spanish• International Studies• Philosophy• Political Science• History• Anthropology

• Economics• Psychology• Sociology• Communication• Telecommunication Media Studies• Theatre Arts• Music

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College of Science• Biology• Molecular and Cell Biology

• Microbiology• Zoology• Chemistry• Mathematics • Applied Mathematical Sciences

• Physics

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College of Veterinary Medicine &

Biomedical SciencesBiomedical Science

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