30 Campus Resources 32 Responsibilities to Texas A&M TABLE 33 Offices of the Dean of Student Life 34 The Association of Former Students 35 Aggie Card 35 Campus Ministry Association 36 Campus Safety 37 University Police Department OF 38 Career Center 39 Corps Housing 39 Department of Multicultural Services 39 Financial Aid 40 Health Promotion 40 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Resource Center CONTENTS 41 Off-Campus Student Services 41 International Student Services 42 Department of Residence Life 44 Student Assistance Services 2 Welcome 45 Student Business Services 2 Letter from the President 46 Student Conduct Office 3 Letter from the Vice President for Student Affairs 46 Student Counseling Service 3 Letter from Student Body President 47 Student Health Services 4 Academic Calendar 48 University Student Rules 6 Office of New Student & Family Programs 49 Step In, Stand Up 50 Transportation Services 50 Veteran Services & Resources 8 History & Traditions 51 Women’s Resource Center 10 Aggieland’s History 11 Aggieland Traditions 16 Aggie Yells 17 Aggie Songs 52 Aggie Involvement 18 Campus Lingo 54 Corps of Cadets 56 Class Councils 56 Fish Camp 57 ExCEL Program 20 Academic Success 57 Aggie Transition Camps 22 Academic Success Center 57 Venture Camps 23 Tips for Academic Success 58 Intercollegiate Athletics 24 Disability Services 59 Fraternity & Sorority Life 24 Add/Drop & Q-Drop 60 Memorial Student Center 25 Aggie Honor System Office 61 Instrumental Music 25 LAUNCH 61 Choral Music 26 Libraries 62 Recreational Sports 27 Study Abroad 64 Residential Housing Association 28 University Writing Center 64 Department of Student Activities 28 Texas A&M Information Technology 65 Student Government Association 29 Testing Services 65 Student Media 29 Office of Professional School Advising 66 Helpful Information WELCOME OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Howdy! Welcome to Texas A&M University. I congratulate you on becoming an Aggie and a member of a special fellowship that spans generations, connecting current students, faculty, staff, and former students throughout the world. At Texas A&M, we strive to provide a transformational educational experience while living by our Core Values—Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service. As one of the nation’s top research universities, the opportunities for you to engage in research projects are robust and diverse. I encourage you to explore the world during your time here; in fact, there are more students from Texas A&M studying abroad than from any other university in the nation. Explore your passions and get involved with one of the more than 1,200 student organizations from which to choose. And I sincerely hope you participate in our Aggie service projects, many of which have received national recognitions. When you come to Aggieland, you become part of something bigger than yourself. I wish you the very best of luck as you embark on this exciting new chapter in your life. Warm Regards, Michael K. Young 2 NEW STUDENT HANDBOOK Letter from the President Letter from the Vice President for Student Affairs Letter from the Student Body President Dear New Student: Howdy, Howdy! Welcome to Aggieland and to what is going Congratulations and welcome to the Aggie Family! It is to be a most exciting and important time in your life. with great honor that I write these words, knowing that a new class of Aggies are joining us in their new home: During your college career, you will encounter a world of Aggieland. We have many valued and venerated traditions new ideas, new discoveries, and new friends. More than on this campus; each one pulls us in closer to the heart of 60,000 students will be enrolled this fall, and you will Texas A&M and offers you the opportunity to be a part of have the opportunity to interact with students of various something big. From Muster to Maroon Out, you may find backgrounds from every county in Texas, most every that you impact these traditions just as much as they will surely impact you! state in the nation, and from over 125 countries. Beginning your college experience is really cool and comes One of the major advantages of Texas A&M University with both adventures and challenges. This university has a is having the opportunity to participate in an exceptional lot of students, and I want to encourage you to take every variety of out-of-classroom activities, the breadth opportunity you can to grow and be a part of our family. of which few, if any, other universities in the nation As Aggies, we have values that we live by: Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service. I can match. Starting with New Student Conferences, challenge you to embrace these values in all that you do and students are encouraged to get involved in one or more to call those around you to do the same. After all, choosing of our 1,200+ student organizations. Through these to live by these values is precisely what has enabled many organizations you will complement and apply what you’ve Aggies before you to change the world. learned in the classroom by blending it with invaluable Texas A&M University is the state’s first public institution organizational, teamwork, and leadership skills you can of higher education. Established in 1876, a century after gain from your out-of-class activities. the Declaration of Independence, A&M is now the second-largest university in the nation. We are a Tier 1 The Division of Student Affairs is committed to providing University, holding triple distinctions as a Land, Sea, and you exceptional programs, services, and engagement Space Grant institution. A&M’s academics and research opportunities that will assist in your success. The purpose are world renowned, and I invite you to take pride in this. Additionally, in conjunction with your academic of this handbook is to assist you in identifying some of experience, A&M will empower you to lead outside of the those opportunities—to offer some of the avenues to classroom in ways you never have before. I cannot wait to and the facets of our campus, student services, Aggie see what you will accomplish. traditions, and more. Through my involvement at A&M, I’ve had the opportunity We invite you to make the most of your college years to interact with students from many other universities. As a result of these experiences, I can confidently tell you that and enjoy your time in Aggieland. Welcome to the Aggie there is no other school, no other student body, and no family! other culture like ours. You are gifted with a very special opportunity to be a member of this family, and I look Gig ‘Em! forward to seeing how you make the Aggie experience your own! Know that I am rooting for you and will be here for you if ever you choose Daniel J. Pugh, Sr., Ph.D. to reach out and share your Aggie story. Vice President for Student Affairs Gig ‘Em, Amy Sharp ’19 Student Body President WELCOME 3 WELCOME Fall 2018 *Dates and times subject to change 07 July 10 October 07/27-08/17 Fish Camp Sessions A-G 10/15 Mid-semester grades due (12 p.m.) 08 August 11 November 08/19 Residence Hall Move-In Day 11/08-11/28 Preregistration for spring 2019 semester 08/19-08/26 Howdy Week 11/16 Last day to drop courses with Last day to register for fall classes 08/24 no penalty (Q-drop) Refer to sbs.tamu.edu for tuition and fee due dates Last day to change Kinesiology 198/199 08/27 First day of fall semester classes 11/16 grade type 08/31 Last day for adding/dropping courses 11/16 Last day to officially withdraw from the University 09 September 11/18 Bonfire 1999 Remembrance Day 11/21 Reading day (no classes) 11/22-11/23 Thanksgiving Holiday, University Closed 12 December 12/03-12/05 No regular course exams 12/03 Redefined day: Attend Friday classes 12/04 Redefined day: Attend Thursday classes 12/05 Last day of fall semester classes 12/06 Reading day (no classes) 12/07-12/12 Fall semester final exams 12/14-12/15 Commencement & Commissioning 12/17 Final grades for all students due (12 p.m.) 4 NEW STUDENT HANDBOOK 12/24-01/01 University closed 2018-2019 Academic Calendar Spring 2019 *Dates and times subject to change 01 January 04 April 01/11 Last day to register for spring classes 04/04-04/18 Preregistration for 2019 Refer to sbs.tamu.edu for tuition and fee due dates summer and fall classes 01/14 First day of spring semester classes 04/12-04/14 Family Weekend 01/18 Last day for adding/dropping courses 04/15 Last day to drop courses with 01/21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: no penalty (Q-drop) University Holiday 04/15 Last day to change Kinesiology 198/199 grade type 04/15 Last day to officially withdraw from the University 02 February 04/21 Muster Day 04/22 Campus Muster Ceremony 04/29-04/30 No regular course exams 03 March 04/30 Last day of spring semester classes 03/04 Mid-semester grades due (12 p.m.) 04/30 Redefined day: Attend Friday classes 03/11-03/15 Spring Break 03/15 University Closed 05 May 05/01 Reading day (no classes) 05/02-05/07, Spring semester final exams 05/09-05/11 Commencement & Commissioning 05/13 Final grades for all students due (12 p.m.) 05/27 Memorial Day: University Closed 05/28 First day of first summer term and 10-week classes WELCOME 5 WELCOME New Student & Family Programs studentlife.tamu.edu/nsfp (979) 845-5826 [email protected] In support of Texas A&M University’s mission, the goal of New Student & Family Programs is to facilitate the success of new students through their first year at A&M, thereby retaining them for their second year and through graduation.