Aggie Quick ConnectionOctober 2011 - Family Edition

October 2011 Aggie Quick Connection 1

Message from the Office of New Student and Family Programs

Howdy! The fall semester is in full swing and students are finding their groove here in Aggieland. With the first round of tests on the way, students can 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 here. 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.

Don’t forget to visit the Aggie Family web site for additional updates and helpful resources. You can visit us at http://parents.tamu.edu/. Please feel free to contact the Office of New Student Programs at (979) 845-5826, or e-mail us at AggieFamilies@tamu.edu if you have any questions.

What’s Inside...Page 2 - Alcohol & Drug Education

Page 3 - Career Center Page 4 - Campus News

Page 5 & 6 - Campus Events

New Family Welcome

October 14-15, 2011 Texas A&M University vs. Baylor University Football Weekend

The priority registration deadline for New Family Welcome is 4:00pm TODAY, Friday September 30th. Families will still be able to register after this deadline but because of the short turnaround may not receive personalized items such as pre-printed nametags at check-in. The final registration deadline is 4pm on Monday, October 10th.

There will be a limited number of tickets available for last minute purchase the weekend of New Family Welcome. The cost during the weekend will be $20/adult for a Dessert/BBQ ticket and $16 for a BBQ only ticket. We encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance to help us plan accordingly and avoid higher ticket prices!

Texas A&M University’s New Family Welcome is an opportunity for family members of new Aggies to meet and interact with A&M students, staff, faculty, and administrators, learn more about A&M history and services, and hear what their student has experienced their first two months on-campus.

Please visit our website for more information: http://studentlife.tamu.edu/nfw

2 Aggie Quick Connection October 2011

Featured Services: ADEPAlcohol & Drug Education Programs

One of the greatest challenges many students face in college is the pressure they may encounter regarding alcohol. Research shows, new students are particularly vulnerable to these pressures because they are still learning how to adjust to the campus environment and balance their lives effectively. As Aggie family members, it is imperative that you discuss this important topic with your student.

Texas A&M University takes various steps to ensure that students are knowledgeable concerning the impact of alcohol and other drugs on a college students’ life. We encourage you to have discussions with your student regarding alcohol and have included some topics of discussion below.

1. Set clear and realistic expectations regarding academic performance.Studies conducted nationally have demonstrated that drinking to excess may contribute as much to a student’s decline in grades as the difficulty of their academic work. If students know their parents expect sound academic work, they are more likely to be devoted to their studies and have less time to get in trouble with alcohol.

2. Stress to students that alcohol is toxic and excessive consumption can fatally poison.This is not a scare tactic. Students die every year from alcohol poisoning – even at Texas A&M. Make sure your student understands how alcohol affects the system, and the signs of alcohol poisoning.

For signs of alcohol poisoning visit http://studentlife.tamu.edu/adep/alcoholpoisoning

3. Empower your student to intervene when classmates are in trouble with alcohol.Nothing is more tragic than an unconscious student being left to die while others either fail to recognize the student is in jeopardy or fail to call for help due to fear of getting the student in trouble. Make sure your students learn the signs of alcohol poisoning and instruct them to call 911 if any student is exhibiting those signs.

4. Know the alcohol scene on campus and talk to students about it.Students grossly exaggerate the use of alcohol by their peers. A recent survey found that Texas A&M students believed 92% of their peers drink alcohol at least once a week, when the actual rate was 56%. Students are highly influenced by peers and tend to drink up to what they perceive as the norm. Confronting misperceptions about alcohol use is vital.

5. Avoid tales of drinking exploits from your own college years and encourage your student to support true Aggie Traditions.Entertaining students with stories of drinking back in “the good ol days” appears to give parental approval to dangerous alcohol consumption. This can also provide them an excuse for their poor decisions. True Aggie Traditions do not incorporate alcohol and you must encourage your student to seek out opportunities for involvement at Texas A&M.

6. Be clear – underage alcohol consumption, drinking to excess, and driving after drinking are against the law and university policy.Make it clear that you do not condone breaking the law or university policy and express disapproval of underage drinking and dangerous alcohol consumption. Be a role model and an example of how to drink responsibly.

These topics should allow you to connect with your student and set clear expectations for alcohol consumption while at Texas A&M. As family members, you are the most influential people in our Aggies’ lives and we hope you will join us in the pursuit of Alcohol and Drug Education. For additional resources, you may contact the Alcohol and Drug Education Programs office by visiting their website at http://studentlife.tamu.edu/adep

Alcohol and Drug Education Programs is gearing up for National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW) 2011! This year, NCAAW is October 16th-22nd. Both educational and social events are planned for the week, and all are invited! Please refer to the ADEP website, http://studentlife.tamu.edu/adep/NCAAW , for updates and more information. The events for the week are as follows:

Monday (10/17/11) – Alcohol Education Resource Tables – In front of Koldus, 11:00AM-2:00PMTuesday (10/18/11) – DWEyes Obstacle Course – Academic Plaza, 11:30AM-2:30PMWednesday (10/19/11) – MADD Victim Impact Panel – Rudder Tower, 7:30PM-9:00PMThursday (10/20/11) – Music and Mocktails – TBAFriday (10/21/11) – Travelling Wall of Alcohol – Various LocationsSaturday (10/22/11) – Northgate CARES event – Northgate District, 10PM-TBD

Texas A&M University Career CenterCreating a Plan

October 2011 Aggie Quick Connection 3

The Texas A&M University Career Center is a fantastic resource for students who are looking to begin their professional growth. They provide a multitude of programs and workshops to educate students on how to successfully move from the collegiate environment to a workplace.

The first step of the process is to choose the correct major. On average, students will change their major 3 times while enrolled at a university. The choice of a major will depend upon the student’s interest in pursuing and learning almost everything that is currently known about a particular field of study. It is recommended that students meet with an advisor and take an in-depth self-assessment to gain a better perspective of their knowledge, values, interests, skills, and personality.

Major and Career Decision

Determine Their Interests – The first step in the process is to have your student determine their interests so that they can begin to narrow down their list of potential majors. - Do they know their major or career interests? - What motivates them? - Do they like to work with numbers, animals, or people? - Do they like to be outdoors and active in their work, or do they prefer working in a business setting?

Identify Career Options – Take their interests and begin to match that with your student’s passion and abilities. - What are their special skills or talents? - What do they find difficult to learn? - Do they like activities or tasks that focus on ideas, data, people, or objects?

Research & Imagination –Many students feel limited by the list of majors at a university, when in fact, they can adapt those majors to any professional field. Encourage your student to think of their dream job first, and then find the appropriate major that corresponds. - Have them describe their dream job. - Encourage them to research careers and occupations. - Your student needs to talk with professionals in the careers that interest them. o The Career Center can connect current students to former students who are successful in a variety of professions.

Analyze Job Trends and Outlook – Many publications provide trends for a variety of professions as well as forecasted work environments. It is imperative that your student research their field before committing to that educational pursuit. - What are the job market projections for your student’s career? - Will their skills be in demand when they graduate? - What skills can they pursue that are in demand?

For more information about the Texas A&M University Career Center or for an online copy of the Career Guide 2011-2012 edition, visit their website at www.HireAggies.com , Aggie Parents.

Creating a Plan: Steps to Successfully Finding a Career Step 1 – Meet with a Career Coordinator or Career Advisor. Step 2 – Assess the students’ knowledge, interests, values, skills, and abilities. Step 3 – Create an EPortfolio, a web-accessible portfolio. Step 4 – Explore and research majors, careers, and employers. Step 5 – Develop self-marketing and job search skills. Step 6 – Gain experience in a career-related field. Step 7 – Implement full-time job or graduate school search.

Goal SettingGoal setting is an important step when making a decision. Once the student has identified their goal(s), have them consider the steps required to achieve them. All goals should be SMART:

S – SpecificM – MeasureableA – AchievableR – Reality-BasedT – Time Sensitive

4 Aggie Quick Connection October 2011

Campus NewsWhat’s Happening at Texas A&M

Texas A&M Joins The Southeastern Conference (SEC)The Southeastern Conference Presidents and Chancellors, acting unanimously, announced on September 25th that Texas A&M University will join the Southeastern Conference effective July 1, 2012, with competition to begin in all sports for the 2012-13 academic year. This is an exciting time for Texas A&M as the SEC boasts a storied 78-year history of athletic achievements and academic excellence, and has built perhaps the greatest tradition of intercollegiate competition of any league in the country since its inception in 1933. Texas A&M will be the third institution in the Southeastern Conference to hold membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities, joining University of Florida and Vanderbilt University. For more information about Texas A&M’s partnership with the SEC, visit the website http://www.tamu.edu/athletics/announcement.html

Academic Convocation 2011On September 16th, President R. Bowen Loftin spoke at the 2011 Academic Convocation regarding Vision 2020 and the progress the University has made. In 1997 Texas A&M University President Ray Bowen proposed the university strive to be recognized as one of the ten best public universities in the nation by 2020. The official document “Vision 2020: Creating a Culture of Excellence” was then created in 1999 which served as a roadmap for Texas A&M’s long range goals. As the halfway point was reached in 2010, there was a task force formed to assess Vision 2020’s progress and relevance after ten years. In addition to providing updates on Vision 2020, President Loftin also shared accomplishments that have taken place over the last 11 years, including:

• Growing from $402 million annually in 1999 to $690 million in 2010 in research expenditures and now ranking among the top 20 research institutions nationally, according to the National Science Foundation;

• Planning and building facilities totaling more than $800 million;

• Raising more than $1.5 billion in the “One Spirit One Vision” capital campaign that included funds for 55 endowed faculty chairs, 44 professorships and more than $100 million in graduate fellowships and undergraduate scholarships;

• Being selected for membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU), the highly prestigious organization restricted to the top institutions of higher learning;

• Being authorized to establish a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious honor society for undergraduates; and

• Enrolling more than 75,000 first year and transfer undergraduate students, of whom 27 percent were first generation college students.

With the ultimate aspiration of being recognized as one of the 10 best public universities in the nation by 2020, President Loftin noted that Texas A&M entered the “top 20” public universities (ranked tied for #19) in the latest edition of the “U.S. News & World Report.” Loftin emphasized that the “Vision 2020” reaffirmation includes “maintaining…our historic distinctiveness, emphasizing the leadership and character development of which we are proud, as well as our focus on research and service that serve the state, nation and world.”

For more information on Vision 2020, please visit http://vision2020.tamu.edu/ to view the mid-term review report, academic master plan, and much more. To read the full transcript of President Loftin’s speech, visit http://president.tamu.edu/ and click on the “Speeches, Addresses, Remarks” tab on the right side of the page.

Upcoming Events and ProgramsWhat’s Happening at Texas A&M

October 2011 Aggie Quick Connection 5

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December Commencement CeremoniesDecember is quickly approaching, which means graduation is just around the corner! Recently Texas A&M released the schedule of the commencement ceremonies that will take place on December 16th and 17th.

Friday, December 16, 9 a.m. – Reed ArenaGraduates in George Bush School of Government and Public ServiceGraduates and Undergraduates in Agriculture and Life SciencesGraduates and Undergraduates in Mays Business School

Friday, December 16, 2 p.m. – Reed ArenaGraduates and Undergraduates in Architecture Graduates and Undergraduates in Dwight Look College of EngineeringGraduates and Undergraduates in ScienceGraduates and Undergraduates in Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Saturday, December 17, 9 a.m. – Reed ArenaGraduates and Undergraduates in Education and Human DevelopmentGraduates and Undergraduates in Geosciences Graduates and Undergraduates in Liberal Arts

Hotels in Bryan/College Station tend to fill up quickly so we encourage you to make your arrangements as soon as possible. The Convention and Visitors Bureau website provides links to most area hotels: http://visitaggieland.com

Silver TapsSilver Taps is that final tribute paid to an Aggie who, at the time of their death, was enrolled in graduate or undergraduate courses at Texas A&M. We encourage students to attend to pay their respects to their fellow Aggies and their family members. The next Silver Taps will take place at 10:30PM on Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 in memory of Anna Elisabeth Smith.

Rosenthal Meat Science And Technology CenterThe Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Center (RMSTC) produces quality meat products that are generated by the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University. The purpose of the RMSTC is to provide a facility to conduct teaching, research, and public service activities of the Department of Animal Science. The Rosenthal Sales Area offers a variety of beef, pork, and lamb cuts, cured and smoked ham and bacon, sausages, gift boxes, and its nationally recognized Texas Aggie Brand Beef Jerky. The Rosenthal Center is located on West Campus between the Kleberg Center and the Horticulture/Forest Science Building, at the north end of lot 74. The store is open to the public from 9-6 Monday-Friday, and is also open on home game days. Stop by and grab some of our great meat products today! Visit our website for more information, http://meat.tamu.edu/rosenthal.html.

MSC OPAS (Opera and Performing Arts Society)Founded in 1972, OPAS at Texas A&M University - a division of the Memorial Student Center - presents professional productions of theatre, music and dance programs that enlighten, entertain, and inspire audiences of the Brazos Valley. This month there are three fantastic opportunities to see world famous productions:

Friday - October 7th – National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of ChinaTuesday - October 18th – Masters of the FiddleTuesday - Wednesday October 25th and 26th – Young Frankenstein

Encourage your student to experience these professional performances right in the heart of campus. For additional information regarding performances and tickets, visit the MSC OPAS website at http://opas.tamu.edu

6 Aggie Quick Connection October 2011

Upcoming Events and ProgramsWhat’s Happening at Texas A&M

Farmers MarketIs your student looking for fruits and vegetables but doesn’t want to leave campus? Have them visit the Farmers Market in front of Sbisa Dining Hall every Thursday from 11:00AM – 2:00PM to grab some fresh fruits and vegetables at a low price. Supplies are limited so encourage them to come out early and peruse the wide array of products available.

Replant 2011 – October 22nd

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 22nd 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/

Residence Life: Sustainability Challenge 2011From September 20th to October 19th, Residence Life will be hosting their annual Sustainability Challenge to help conserve energy across campus. The goals of the program are to promote individual sustainability awareness among students, encourage sustainability habits, and to build a sense of community within residence halls through competition. Encourage your student to be on the lookout for tips and suggestions on how to conserve energy within their hall. For more information about the challenge, visit the Residence Life website at http://reslife.tamu.edu/gogreen/

Aggie FootballWith a 2-1 record the Aggies finished the month of September ranked #13 and will host two home games at Kyle Field this October! Come out and support the Ags as they look to continue their march to a Big XII title.

10/15/11 vs. Baylor - 2:30 PM - College Station, TX*10/29/11 vs. Missouri - 2:30 PM - College Station, TX

Times subject to change. For up-to-date information about the schedule, game times, or ticket information, please visit http://aggieathletics.com

*“Wear White, Wave Maroon”: October 15th vs. Baylor - As many of you know, the state of Texas is currently facing some of the most devastating wildfires in the history of this great state. Millions of acres of land have burned, and thousands of Texans have lost their homes, properties and livelihoods.

Texas A&M prides itself on the ability of Aggies to rally around a common goal. Now more than ever, it is important to remember that we are not only Aggies, but we are Texans. It is time to show the rest of the state of Texas what the Aggie Spirit is all about.The goal is simple: raise as much money as possible to donate to two of the relief funds that will assist those affected by these wildfires. We are aiming to “Towel Out, White Out for the Texas A&M home football game against the Baylor Bears at Kyle Field on October 15th. We want to encourage everyone in attendance at this game to wear WHITE as a symbol of hope for the countless Texans who so greatly need it.

More importantly: In order to raise the money to donate, we will be selling MAROON 12th Man Towels. All proceeds from these towels will be donated directly to the two relief funds we have selected: the first fund goes to assist those whose homes or property have been damaged or destroyed, and the other goes to assist Volunteer Firefighters . We will also offer the option to make a donation in addition to your towel purchase. Once you have purchased your towels, please help us spread the word to everyone you know, regardless of whether they are Aggies or not! Let’s come together as Texans and make a difference. For more information on how to donate and purchase towels visit http://www.aggiewildfirerelief.com/

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 about how to sign up for the listserv.

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