Transcript Slide 1

Announcements
Please silence cell phones
Please remain seated for
the entire presentation
1
Welcome to
General Academic Programs’
College Meeting
Our goal is to help students Prepare to Declare.
Hotard Hall
Dr. Kriss Boyd
Executive 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
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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 learner
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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.
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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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General Studies Parent LISTSERV
• 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
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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
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?
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Our Goal
We “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
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Cost of an Extra Semester
Tuition & fees:
Books & supplies:
Room & Board:
Lost salary
TOTAL:
$ 4, 207
$ 675
$ 4,004
$14,000+
$22,886*
Graduating on
Time:
PRICELESS!
* $22,886 @ 5% X 25 years =
$77,500
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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 S
GEST 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 S
Add 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
UNIVERSITY
Texas A&M University
COLLEGE
College of
Agriculture & Life Science
DEPARTMENT
Dept. of Biochemistry
and Biophysics
MAJOR
Genetics
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Colleges
Agriculture &
Life Sciences
Architecture
General Academics
Engineering
Texas
Geosciences
A&M
Business
Education &
Human
Development
University
Liberal Arts
Science
Veterinary Medicine
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University Studies Curriculum
Hours
Component
43-45
TAMU Core Curriculum Courses
21-24
Concentration
30-36
Two Minors
15-26
Electives or prerequisite requirements
120
Total hrs required for University Studies Degrees
unst.tamu.edu
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General Studies (GEST) website
http://gest.tamu.edu
Important Notice Area
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Tips For Academic Success
Encourage 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 Success
Time 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 Success
Importance 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 thirdchoice major.
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Tips For Academic Success
First 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 Success
Q-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.
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Tips For Academic Success
Q-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 Success
Print, Read, Save, and Refer to the Course Syllabus
The 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 Success
Print, 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 Success
Report 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).
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Freshmen with College Credit
• 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.
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Freshmen with College Credit
• SUBMIT YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TRANSCRIPTS ASAP for accurate advising
• A&M can’t award college dual credit from high
school transcripts.
Freshmen with College Credit
• 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
Freshmen with College Credit
• 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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Freshmen with College Credit
• 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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Freshmen with College Credit
• 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.
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Fall Calendar
September
 End of month = first round of tests
October
 Mid Term grades, may only include 1 test
November
 Q-drop and withdrawal deadline – no exceptions!!!
 Send care package, registration at end of month
December
 Finals – stressful time, be encouraging
 Postpone stressful news until AFTER finals.
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Registration Notes
- 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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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
•Health Fields
• Any major (professional schools do not limit students by major)
•Agronomy
• Animal Science
• Biology
• Bioenvironmental
Science
• Biomedical Science
• Entomology
•Environmental Studies
• Food Science
• Forensic & Investigative
Sciences
• Health
• Horticulture
• Kinesiology
• Nutritional Sciences 43
Business & Administrative
• Accounting
• Agribusiness
• Finance
• Economics
• Marketing
• Management
• Human Resource Development
• Information & Operations
Management
• Ag Communications & Journalism
• Agricultural Economics
• Sports Management
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Interdisciplinary, Exploratory & Undecided*
•Liberal Arts
•Interdisciplinary
• Social Sciences
•Teaching
Psychology
 Elementary
Sociology
 Middle Grades
Communications
 Health Education
• Humanities
 Physical Education
• Arts
• Architecture
• Languages
• University Studies
• Cultures
* Undecided = “no idea.” If torn between two or more options, attend
the breakout session for the more restrictive (specific) option.
Advisor’s Meeting
Technological & Scientific
Room 110
Pre-Health Fields, Environmental, & Agricultural
Room 203
Business & Administrative
Room 108
Interdisciplinary, Exploratory & Undecided
Room 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 Sciences
Agribusiness
Agricultural Communications & Journalism
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Leadership & Development
Agricultural Science
Agricultural Systems Management
Animal Science
Biochemistry
Bioenvironmental Sciences
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Community Development
Dairy Science
Ecological Restoration
Entomology
Food Science & Technology
Forensic & Investigative Sciences
Forestry
Genetics
Horticultural Sciences
Nutritional Sciences
Plant & Environmental Soil Science
Poultry Science
Rangeland Ecology & Management
Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
Soil & Crop Sciences
Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences
Interdisciplinary 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
•Engineering Technology
•Industrial Distribution
•Industrial Engineering
•Mechanical Engineering
•Nuclear Engineering
•Ocean Engineering
•Petroleum Engineering
•Radiological Health Engineering
Aerospace Flight Simulation Lab
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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 Sciences
Biomedical Science
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