MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY INCOMING EXCHANGE FACT SHEET 2020-2021
APPLICATION PROCESS ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Students must be nominated by their home university to FALL 2020 SEMESTER study on a reciprocal exchange at Mays Business School TAMU Incoming Exchange Orientation August 17 at Texas A&M University. Nominations for fall semester Mays Business School Academic Orientation August 18 Fall Semester Classes Begin August 19 and academic-year exchanges are due from the host Last Day to Add/Drop Courses August 25 university by February 15 and for spring semester Thanksgiving Holiday (No Classes) November 26-27 exchanges by September 1. Last Day of Final Exams December 9
Texas A&M application instructions will be emailed SPRING 2021 SEMESTER TAMU Incoming Exchange Orientation January 13 to students by Texas A&M Education Abroad after Mays Business School Academic Orientation January 14 or 15 they are nominated. Students will complete 2 online Spring Semester Classes Begin January 19 applications–one with Education Abroad and another Last Day to Add/Drop Courses January 25 with International Student Services. Applications for Spring Break (No Classes) March 15-19 Last Day of Final Exams May 11 fall semester and academic-year exchanges are due from the student by March 1 and for spring semester ACADEMIC CALENDAR exchanges by September 15. http://registrar.tamu.edu/Academic-Calendar
Students must upload the following documents in PDF format to their online application before submitting: • Color Copy of Passport • Incoming Exchange Application • Official Academic Transcript • Courses in Progress • Course Selection Form • English Verification Document* • Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Report • Tuberculosis (TB) Form • Emergency Contact Form • Acknowledgment of Insurance Requirement • Immigration Information Questionnaire
*While there is no formal English language proficiency requirement for Mays incoming exchange students, English language proficiency is expected. A TOEFL score of 550 for paper-based testing (p-BT) or 80 internet-based (i-BT) or an IELTS overall band score of 6.0 is generally required and should be taken into consideration when applying. An English verification document must be signed by the student’s home university and uploaded to the online exchange application. CONTACT INFORMATION
ADDRESS CONTACT INFORMATION
Center for International Business Studies (CIBS) TELEPHONE Mays Business School, Texas A&M University +1 (979) 845-5234 4116 TAMU 230 Wehner Building FAX College Station, TX 77843-4116 +1 (979) 845-1710 USA TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY WEBSITE CONTACT PERSON https://tamu.edu/
MAYS EXCHANGE COORDINATOR MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL WEBSITE Ms. Natsuki Hara https://mays.tamu.edu/ Assistant Program Director Center for International Business Studies [email protected] CIBS SOCIAL MEDIA +1 (979) 845-5234 FACEBOOK A&M INCOMING EXCHANGE STUDENT CONTACT @MaysCIBS Ms. Trisha Winkle Program Coordinator INSTAGRAM Education Abroad @MaysCIBS [email protected] +1 (979) 845-0544 TWITTER @MaysCIBS
YOUTUBE CIBS TAMU
PINTEREST Mays CIBS Gig ‘em! ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Texas A&M Incoming Exchange Student Handbook Mays Business School Incoming Exchange Student Website Mays Business School Incoming Exchange Student Brochure ACADEMIC INFORMATION
COURSE CATALOG COURSE NUMBERING
All courses are taught in English. Students coming to UNDERGRADUATE COURSES Mays Business School on exchange should be business 100 to 400 numbered courses, eg. FINC 445 or ISTM 210 majors who intend to take mostly business courses. The Economics (ECON) department at Texas A&M is GRADUATE COURSES not housed in the business school. The enrollment of 600 numbered courses, eg. ACCT 645 or MGMT 680 an exchange student in an ECON course is up to the discretion of the ECON department. 300 and 400 undergraduate level courses are also open to graduate exchange students if approved by home The full course listing for Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 can university. be found at: https://compass-ssb.tamu.edu/pls/PROD/ bwckschd.p_disp_dyn_sched.The Spring 2021 course schedule will not be available until October 2020. COURSE LOAD
Courses offered can change every semester. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS Undergraduate students must take a minimum of 12 All Mays Business School courses are listed using the following abbreviations: credit hours. • ACCT - Accounting • BUSN - Business Administration GRADUATE STUDENTS • FINC - Finance Graduate students must take a minimum of 9 credit • IBUS - International Business hours. • ISTM - Management Information Systems • MGMT - Management 1 credit hour = 15 contact hours • MKTG - Marketing • SCMT - Supply Chain Management GRADING SYSTEM If no syllabus for the coming semester is available, email Ms. Hara at [email protected] to request further PERCENTAGE-BASED GRADING information on the course. Grade (%) Description 90-100% A = Excellent COURSE REGISTRATION 80-90% B = Good Incoming exchange students cannot enroll themselves 70-80% C = Satisfactory into courses through the online course registration 60-70% D = Pass system. Mays academic advisors will register students < 60% F = Fail for courses in the months of May (for fall semester) and December (for spring semester) based on the Course Please note that while a D is usually considered Request Form the student provides in their online passing, certain classes require a C or better to gain application. Students can make updates to their course course credit. schedules upon arrival at Texas A&M. ACADEMIC INFORMATION
CLASS SIZE
Class size varies anywhere from around 20 students to upwards of 450 students in the largest of classes. Generally, upper level and major-specific classes tend to be smaller, while lower-level classes that are required by multiple majors tend to be larger. The capacity of each class is listed in the course schedule.
CLASS MEETING TIMES
Most classes meet either on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (MWF) for 50 minutes each day, on Monday and Wednesday (MW) for 1 hour and 15 minutes each day, or on Tuesday and Thursday (TR) for 1 hour and 15 minutes each day. Some graduate courses meet once a week for up to 3 hours. See the course schedule for specific class times.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Attendance policies are determined by the instructor of each course. See course syllabus for specific policy.
EXAMS
Course exams are typically written with a combination of multiple choice, true or false, matching, short answer and essay questions. In larger classes, exams are most often entirely multiple choice to facilitate easier and faster grading. Most courses have around 1 to 4 exams scheduled throughout the semester and also a final exam during specified final exam times at the end of the semester. Structure varies by class and is determined by the course professor. ACCOMMODATION
HOUSING
It is the student’s responsibility to secure housing for the duration of their studies. Housing is available, but it is not guaranteed. Prospective students must adhere to all university housing deadlines regarding housing applications and fees. Texas A&M is divided into Main campus and West campus. Mays Business School (Wehner building) is located on West campus.
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING For on-campus residence hall options and costs, review the following website: http://reslife.tamu.edu. Students on exchange during the fall semester only will have to enter a contract for the academic year (fall and spring). They will be released from the spring obligation if their exchange term is only for the fall semester.
Apply early. Students must be admitted to the University and have an assigned University Identification Number (UIN) before applying for on-campus housing. There are different options and price-categories, but first-choice housing is not guaranteed.
The following locations were recommended by previous students: • The Gardens: Graduate and senior students over 21 • Hullabaloo Hall: Located on Northside and includes many amenities • Modular Halls: Undergraduate students; located on Northside • White Creek Apartments: Located on west campus and just a short walk from Mays Business School; fully furnished apartments
Most on-campus housing are double rooms. A select number of single rooms are available depending on the residence hall selected. Some residence halls include shared kitchen facilities. Some residence halls have shared bathrooms for two (2) or four (4) students, or community bathrooms shared by a floor, depending on the residence hall selected.
Students have the option to select and purchase a meal plan from a variety of meal plans available at http://dining.tamu. edu.
OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING Exchange students can elect to live off-campus, but are responsible for locating off-campus housing themselves. Do not sign a lease that is longer than the exchange term. Please note that many apartment managers will require financial proof of ability to pay rent. Explore off-campus housing options through the Offices of the Dean of Student Life at https:// aggiesearch.tamu.edu/.
The following locations were recommended by previous students: • The Stack & The Rise: Located near Northgate; includes pool and gym • Reveille Ranch: Located south of campus • Pearl Apartments: Temporary and last-minute housing • Park West: Utilities included
The exchange student’s International Business Association (IBA) buddy can also assist with finding off-campus housing. ACCOMMODATION
TRANSPORTATION
Most students walk, ride a bike, or use the A&M shuttle bus system to get to and around the Texas A&M campus.
BUSES Texas A&M provides free bus transportation within the A&M campus and to housing locations surrounding the University. Buses run less frequently after 6PM and on weekends. All on-campus and off-campus bus routes are available at https://transport.tamu.edu/busroutes/.
There are also off-campus bus transportation options for students that want to travel within or outside of the Bryan/College Station area. Options include the Bryan Greyhound, CoachUSA College Transport & Shuttle and the Brazos Transit District system. Consult individual companies for pricing and bus schedules.
BIKES Bikes are a good transportation alternative if students do not have a car. Students can purchase new bikes from nearby department stores, such as Walmart, or used bikes from Craigslist or the campus bike rental and sale.
Bike-sharing is another option available to students that prefer to temporarily rent a bike instead of purchasing one. VeoRide currently operates within the Texas A&M campus community.
CARS Car rentals can be useful to get around nearby cities like Austin, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and more. Check with the rental company if the student’s driver’s license is adequate (e.g. international license). The traffic is right-handed. Popular options for car rentals are ZipCar, Hertz, and Enterprise.
Ride-sharing is another option available to students that want to travel within the Bryan/College Station area.Taxi services, Uber and Lyft are most commonly used. VISA & HEALTH INSURANCE
J-1 VISA HEALTH INSURANCE
All international exchange students must secure a visa All international students are required to purchase prior to arriving in the United States. Exchange students the approved Texas A&M University student health will apply for a J-1 visa. Students will receive an email insurance for international students in compliance with application instructions for visa processing through with Texas A&M University and United States federal International Student Services (ISS). regulations governing the J-1 visa for the duration of their stay.
PROOF OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT International exchange students are automatically charged the insurance premium per semester, which is International students must show financial support posted directly to the student’s account. Payment is due according to the following US Immigration regulations. upon arrival when registration of courses is completed. These costs are for 2020-2021 and are subject to change Students can submit a waiver but will have to pay the for future years. insurance cost while the waiver request is reviewed; they will be reimbursed if the waiver is granted. Fall or Spring Semester Full Academic Year USD $8,000 USD $16,000 Refer to the ISS website for insurance information and requirements and costs: http://iss.tamu.edu/Health-In- The J-1 visa application will require the following surance. documents: 1. Declaration of Financial Support (form confirming financial support; must be signed by student or person financially supporting student) 2. Proof of Financial Support (bank letter or statement)
OTHER REQUIRED EXPENSES
PRIOR TO ARRIVAL Students must pay to express mail their DS-2019 (or I-20) document to their personal address. Cost varies based on location.
UPON ARRIVAL (IF APPLICABLE) On-campus housing, meal plans, sports pass ARRIVAL INFORMATION
NEAREST AIRPORTS ONLINE CHECK-IN
College Station Easterwood Airport (CLL) All incoming exchange students are required to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) complete the online New International Student Check- Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) In upon arrival. The student will be blocked from course Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) registration until the online check-in is completed. More Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) information about student check-in can be found at http://iss.tamu.edu/Prospective-Students/Check-In. GETTING TO COLLEGE STATION INCOMING ORIENTATIONS CONNECTING FLIGHTS Connecting flights are available from Houston or Dallas EDUCATION ABROAD ORIENTATION airports to the College Station airport. This may cost The Education Abroad office will hold amandatory around $100 if purchased ahead. orientation for all incoming exchange students that will take place approximately 1 week before the start of the GROUND SHUTTLE semester. Ground shuttle service is available from the Houston and Austin airports: http://groundshuttle.com. MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL ORIENTATION The Center for International Business Studies (CIBS) at TAXI Mays Business School will also hold a mandatory Taxi service is available from the College Station airport. academic orientation for all incoming business exchange students that will take place 1-2 days after ALTERNATIVE METHODS the Education Abroad incoming exchange student The student’s International Business Association (IBA) orientation. Course registration and academic advising buddy can also assist with airport pickup. will take place at the orientation.
College Station STUDENT SERVICES & ACTIVITIES
INTERNATIONAL-FOCUSED ACTIVITIES ACADEMIC AND HEALTH SERVICES
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IBA is a student organization at Mays Business Libraries serve both the research and study needs of School which seeks to enhance the understanding of students across campus. Online research collections different cultures and business around the world as and services include thousands of books and journals, well as encourage students to take part in international subject guides and more. Study space and additional experiences. research help can be found in any of the libraries that are located across campus. The IBA Buddy Program will match international exchange students with a current A&M student to be ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER their mentor for the semester. There is no fee to join and The ASC provides comprehensive resources that help all the student will be automatically enrolled unless stated students achieve their academic goals and realize their otherwise by the student. Additional fees may apply for academic potential. Programs include tutoring, peer special events or trips. The Buddy Program provides a mentors, supplemental instruction, academic coaching, valuable resource to answer questions and assist with workshops, and more. exchange students’ transitions before or after their arrival to A&M. UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER The Writing Center provides the tools students need to INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION become a better writer and public speaker. Students ISA is an A&M student organization whose mission is can make an appointment for a one-to-one writing to promote cultural exchange between international or speaking consultation (online or face-to-face), or and U.S. students, to promote good relations among submit work online and receive tailored feedback from students of all nations attending A&M, and to provide a trained consultant. opportunities to learn about ourselves and others through multicultural experiences. STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES Students can receive personalized and evidence-based INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES healthcare on a walk-in basis or by appointment at the ISS offers many services to international students Beutel Health Center. Health services include unlimited including immigration services and advising, personal visits during regular business hours, urgent-care calls advising, community and campus outreach activities, to on-duty evening and night doctors, ultrasounds and and other special programs. X-rays, routine laboratory tests, physical therapy and more. Extra charges apply for prescription medications, immunizations, copies of outside lab-work, radiology services, orthopedic appliances and physical exams among others.
COUNSELING & PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES CAPS provides exceptional services and programming focused on student mental health and wellbeing. CAPS services are provided by appointment. STUDENT SERVICES & ACTIVITIES
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Texas A&M University is home to more than 1000 student organizations, meaning there are more than 1000 opportunities for students to find other Aggies who share common interests and passions. There are many groups specific to international students.
SPORTS AND RECREATION
COLLEGE SPORTS GAMES Texas A&M Athletics is a nationally prominent force that is dedicated to building champions through academic achievement and athletic excellence. Many weekend activities at Texas A&M are centered around sports, especially football games in the fall semester. Students can purchase a sports pass that allows them to go to all home games. Purchasing a single ticket for football is possible but they are rare and expensive.
STUDENT RECREATION CENTER Also known as “the Rec.” In addition to coordinating the intramural sports program, the Rec provides students with wonderful facilities for sports and exercise. It has a climbing wall, three swimming pools, an indoor track for walking and running, indoor and outdoor basketball and volleyball facilities, badminton, racquetball, squash, weights, workout equipment and more. Students taking one or more semester hours automatically become Rec members when they register. Caneck, Caneck! MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL
MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL
Mays Business School’s vision is to advance the world’s prosperity. To advance the world’s prosperity means providing a better future for generations who follow, including quality of life, environment and economic systems. To fulfill this vision, Mays’ mission is to be a vibrant learning organization that creates impactful knowledge and develops transformational leaders. Mays Business School educates more than 6,400 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students in accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing, and supply chain management. Maysconsistently ranks among the top public business schools. Mays partners with national and regional business executives to deliver relevant education shaped by industry expectations and insights. Mays’ home in the Wehner Building offers a dynamic learning environment for faculty and students, featuring interactive teaching tools, wireless Internet throughout the building and multiple computer labs. Mays is accredited by AACSB international, the premier accrediting agency and service organization for business schools. UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS MBA PROGRAMS MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS Mays Business School offers students The Mays Business School MBA May’s Business School offers master’s Bachelor of Business Administration Programs have quickly grown into one degrees in the following: programs in seven (7) majors: of the nation’s best, being ranked in • MS Accounting • Accounting the Top 10 in U.S. Public School MBA • MS Analytics • Business Honors Programs by both Financial Times, • MS Business • Finance Forbes Magazine, and U.S. News & • MS Finance • Management World Report. Mays offers 3 types of • MS Human Resource Management • Management Information Systems MBA programs: • MS Human Resource • Marketing • Full-time MBA Program students Management for Professionals • Supply Chain Management attend classes in College Station • MS Management Information and can complete the program Systems In addition to these B.B.A. degree within 18 months. • MS Marketing programs, students may also pursue • Professional MBA Program • Master of Real Estate certificates in five (5) areas including students attend evening and International Business. Students from weekend classes in Houston. The various programs require a total other colleges within Texas A&M also • Executive MBA Program students of 36-39 hours of coursework, which have the option of pursuing a minor in attend evening and weekend can be completed in about 18 months. Business, which includes 18 hours of classes in Houston. It is designed Some programs, including the Real business coursework. for students with 10 years of Estate program may require more professional work experience. hours depending on prior coursework Exchange students may not enroll in MBA and career aspirations. coursework.
CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES (CIBS)
The Center for International Business Studies (CIBS) was created in 1985 and is responsible for internationalizing the business programs in Mays Business School and the international business dimension of the University’s other programs. Within the CIBS framework, a U.S. Department of Education designated Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) has been in operation since 1990. CIBERs are established at selected universities to promote the nation’s capacity for international understanding and economic enterprise. The CIBS office facilitates education abroad programs for business students as well as all incoming and outgoing student exchanges through Mays Business School.