~September, 2021 ~

Coaching For Success

The first few weeks of classes can be a real eye opener for most students. Your students are most likely hitting their first wave of college tests about now.  Perfect 4.0’s (or higher, with AP grades) are commonplace in high school. However, very few students make it through a challenging and varied college curriculum with a perfect 4.0. College freshmen need time and experience to learn how to function independently and successfully. This usually takes at least one semester, try to be patient and understanding. Even students who took AP/IB classes Aren’t always prepared for the many ways in which college academics differ from high school. Make sure to encourage your students that efforts to boost their GPA early in their college careers on basic courses will be advantageous to them in the long run. Here are some key elements of being a college student in 2021 that are helpful for parents to understand:

• • The bulk of required coursework is done outside of class. It is not “homework” (i.e., repetitive of what was covered in class and/or optional) but rather work essential to the learning that takes place in class. There is a lot, and it needs to be done over the course of hours and days — not right before class.

     

  • Procrastination and high-quality college work are not compatible. If your student tells you that they "work better under pressure", its probably because procrastination brought them success in the past. However, there are a lot of assignments in college that just can't be done in the nick of time.

     

  • Everything your student needs to know about textbooks, required materials, assignments and labs, dates for papers and tests, etc. is located in the course syllabus distributed at the beginning of the semester. Professors usually don’t remind students about deadlines. Your student should read the syllabus early and often. 

     

  • The “extra credit” that often helped high school students push low grades up to the next level, is very rarely offered in college classes. There is an abundance of academic support on campus, but your student must take the initiative to seek it out themselves.

• Cheating will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty is something that is taken very seriously at TAMU-CC. Cheating is not only wrong, but it will be detrimental to the student's education. Cheating in one class means that the student will be ill prepared for future classes and they will likely fail because of it.

• Large lecture classes can be difficult for students who are used to small class sizes. Encourage your student to introduce themselves to the professor during office hours. The better the professor knows them, the more help they will receive.

• At Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, there are many academic support resources available on campus. One in particular is the Center for Academic Student Achievement (CASA).  CASA provides free tutoring, writing support and a variety of supplemental instruction sessions.  CASA also provides one-on-one support if students need additional help beyond these services. Tutoring can help in two ways; not only  can students achieve higher scores on tests and better grades in their classes, but they will learn to understand the subject in a more comprehensive way.  This can be especially helpful when their major requires more than one math course in sequence, and success in later courses depends on the skills learned in earlier courses.

   

  

Learn the Island Lingo

As parents or guardians to new Islanders, learning the words, phrases, and acronyms we use at TAMU-CC will be an important part of guiding your student through challenges that they might face. Here are some important terms that your student might bring up in conversation:

Syllabus- The syllabus is a guide to each class and the professor's rules and expectations. On the first day of every course, the professor gives students access to their syllabus. It has a calendar that marks the due dates and instructions for assignments, required materials and textbooks, classroom policies, office hours and more!

Office Hours- Each professor is required to have office hours. These are times that the professor will be in their office and ready to help students with anything they might need. If your student says that they're having trouble with class or homework, encourage them to look on the professor's syllabus to find the office hours and talk to them in person.

Blackboard- Blackboard is the classroom online, so to speak. This is where all course content is posted, assignments are due, and discussions are had. Blackboard has been around long before the world changed due to COVID-19. Blackboard is a critical component to your student's success.

Credit Hour- If your student is taking 15 credit hours a semester, this does not mean that they're in class for 15 hours a week. A credit hour is a numerical unit of measuring educational credit. Many courses are worth 3 credit hours, but they are only 50 minutes long. Understanding credit hours are critical, especially when measuring your students progress towards a degree.

Financial Aid- The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) helps your Islander to finance their education through federal, state, institutional, and private programs, which help you pay for college costs, if you qualify. Financial aid can be in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, or work-study programs.

Learning Communities- Learning Communities are specially selected groups of three or four courses that are linked to support each other and are taken simultaneously. This gives your student opportunities to get to know other students and to learn from one another; professors work with one another to develop connections among the classes and encourage critical thinking.

S.A.I.L.- S.A.I.L. is a secure student portal where your student can access their student, academic, and financial aid records at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. By logging into S.A.I.L., they can gain online access to: ways to maintain their contact information, registering for classes, accepting financial aid awards, viewing unofficial transcripts, grades, class schedules, transcript requests, purchasing parking permits, paying tuition and more!

Student ID (A#)- This is a unique identification number given to each student once they are admitted to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. This will identify them anytime they have dealings with classes, grades, financial aid, etc. If your student doesn't have their A# memorized, they need to.

Islander Email- All TAMU-CC students are assigned an Islander Email Account. The email follows this pattern: firstinitiallastname@islander.tamucc.edu. Sometimes there may be a number following their last name. Their Islander Email is the primary method for receiving communications from campus personnel. Encourage them to check it regularly for important news and information from the University.

Beating Homesickness

Beginning life at university naturally generates both excitement and anxiety about the move, academic work, meeting new people and more. For some, this apprehension is quickly overcome as they adapt to a new environment; for others the transition takes longer and sometimes emerges as homesickness where there is a preoccupation with home-focused thoughts. There is a yearning for and grieving over the loss of what is familiar and secure: most often it is about the loss of people - family and friends - but it is also about the loss of places, routines, and the realization that family life continues without them.

Some students will start by being mildly depressed and anxious several weeks before leaving home, in anticipation of the impending change. Others will be fine initially, and then to their surprise find themselves feeling homesick later in the academic year.

What might help?

• Help them keep in good contact with the people that they miss; arrange a time for them to go back to see them, perhaps after a few weeks. But also encourage them to take the time to begin to get involved here. Don't let their looking back actually hinder their moving forward.

• Make sure that they know they are allowed to feel sad and homesick! They are also allowed to enjoy themselves - it isn't being disloyal to those they miss!

• Now is the time for a care package! A small taste of home and the message that you're thinking of them may help overcome those sad feelings.

• Remind them to get enough food, sleep and exercise!

• Encourage your Islander to talk to someone. The University Counseling Center is here to help.

Most students overcome their feelings of homesickness and go on to do well and enjoy their time on the Island. There are many things your students do to help themselves, but encourage them to not hesitate in seeking out the help of others. Homesickness is not unusual - and it can be conquered! For more information visit the University Counseling Center at counseling.tamucc.edu.

COVID-19 Procedures

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and making decisions that support and prioritize our students. In order to continue protecting Islanders, your students received this in their Islander email:

"On Friday, August 13, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi joined other A&M System universities by adding a requirement for students, faculty, and staff to receive a COVID-19 test for the fall semester. Testing will take place between August 23 through September 10 and the requirement includes those working at other sites such as the Flour Bluff building and Garcia Center.

Over the past 18 months, many of our students have expressed a strong desire to be on campus and have in-person classes, as it greatly supports and enhances their learning. We are doing everything we can to provide that opportunity, and this testing requirement increases the likelihood that we will be able to continue the semester as planned with an in-person learning experience. While this testing only gives us a snapshot in time, it still provides information that can help mitigate the spread of illness as the semester begins. We know that some members of the Islander community may feel inconvenienced by this process, but we ask for everyone’s full cooperation to help keep our Islander community safe and healthy."

Remind your student to schedule their test this week if they have not already done so. For more information and frequently asked questions please visit TAMU-CC's COVID-19 information site.

Code Blue

In case of emergency, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi uses many methods and outlets for communicating to students, faculty, staff and the greater community the current situation and what plans are going into effect. You can learn more about the many ways the University communicates at: codeblue.tamucc.edu. If there is a campus emergency, severe weather, or urgent concern, students will be contacted via the phone and email they have in their S.A.I.L. account. Please encourage your student to check the code blue website to make sure their information is up to date.

Parents and interested individuals can also sign up for the same Code Blue notifications HERE.

2021 Family Weekend

Family weekend is drawing near! Come visit your Islander on October 8th-9th. It's a great time to re-visit the campus and see all of the things your Islander is talking about. Make plans to join us, registration is opening soon! Visit the Family Weekend webpage for more information.

~August , 2021 ~

Your Fall 2021 "To Do" List

Fall 2021 Move-In days at The Island University are just around the corner. For parents and families of first-year Islanders, that time will seem to fly by! For many of our first year students, they can't wait for the time to pass! As you spend these last few days preparing for the fall semester, we've assembled a list of tasks that you'll want to review so that your student is well prepared.

Personal information: Your Islander should update their personal information with the University. The University will use the information recorded in S.A.I.L. to communicate with students regularly as well as during emergency situations. To update their information, students can log into S.A.I.L. and update their address, phone number, emergency contacts, and email accounts. https://sail.tamucc.edu 

Parking: TAMU-CC uses license plate recognition for campus parking. All vehicles on campus must be permitted and registered. Permits for the 2021-2022 school year go on sale August 1st. Students must request a permit online via S.A.I.L. Instructions can be found here.

Payments will be due to the Business Office. UPD will not accept payments. Make sure they know their license plate number prior to logging in. For more information, go to: https://police.tamucc.edu and click Parking.

Finding parking is a challenge at the beginning of the semester, encourage your students to come early to avoid parking problems. An alternative to parking on campus is to consider purchasing a parking permit for the Momentum campus and taking the shuttle to campus, it's the more cost efficient option! Any TAMU-CC student with a valid SandDollar$ ID card can ride any city bus for free. For more information, including bus routes go to: www.ccrta.org

Prepare for Move In:  If your Islander will be living in one of the two TAMU-CC residential communities, Momentum Village or Miramar, move-in will take place from 8 am to 5 pm August 18-19 (details regarding the exact times/date have been emailed to your student). Be sure that you have campus housing secured! If your Islander has not yet signed a lease, time is running out! Islanders should confirm housing before coming to campus. Visit http://housing.tamucc.edu/  for more information about the first-year residency requirement, frequently asked questions, floor plans, and more. As a special incentive, all Islanders with a signed 2021-2022 lease with Islander Housing will receive $750 credited to their TAMU-CC student account for the fall semester. Miramar residents will receive an additional $750 credit at the beginning of the spring semester. Call (361) 825-5000 for more details.

Academic Accommodations:  If you believe your Islander may qualify for academic accommodations based on a disability, contact the office of Disability Services located in Corpus Christi Hall, Room 116.  For more information, call 361-825-5718 or go to: https://disabilityservices.tamucc.edu

Islander Email: TAMU-CC utilizes email as a primary form of communication with students, including class information, financial aid, and events on campus. Please encourage your students to check their Islander email often for information from campus and housing. For information on accessing their email account, students should visit the getting started page from Information Technology.

Refunds:  In order to receive any refunds, your Islander must activate their BankMobile card. This is mailed to the address on file with the University so be sure your contact information is up to date. For details on setting up this account, visit: https://businessoffice.tamucc.edu/easy_refund.html.

Free Software: TAMU-CC students can download FREE copies of the Microsoft Office software suite. For details, visit the IT Desktops and Software page.

Class Locations:  At the start of the semester there are times when physical classroom locations have to be moved at the last minute to accommodate enrollment. It is a good idea for Islanders to find their classrooms ahead of time and look for any notices that may indicate a room change for their courses.  The Campus Map is available online and students can log into S.A.I.L. to confirm class room locations. Remind them to bring a copy (or screenshot) of their class schedule on their first day. When students arrive at their classroom, there is a list posted of the classes held within that room. Tell your student to check the list if they are nervous about finding the correct classroom.

Health Care Information:  Now is the time to make sure your Islander can "fill out the clipboard." Make sure to discuss health history, current issues/medications, and insurance. Plan to send them with at least a month supply of any maintenance medication they are currently taking. In addition, send them with a copy of your health insurance card in-case of emergencies! If your student should need to get a local physician the University Health Center can help with referrals. Visit http://healthcenter.tamucc.edu/ for more information.

On Campus Part-Time Employment: All part-time on campus jobs are posted on Handshake through Career Services. To access potential employment opportunities, have your student log in to Handshake using their Islander credentials. On campus jobs can be a great flexible, time effective position with many offering resume ready skills.

Books:  You can rent or buy books through the University Bookstore. Visit the University Bookstore online here. Some books will be on reserve in the library. Books on reserve have to be used in the library though and not all textbooks are available.

Getting Involved on Campus: At the start of the fall semester there are a number of activities and programs designed to introduce your student to campus life. Once a week your student will receive an iNews email, detailing campus events, opportunities, and ways to get involved! In addition, make sure to check out the Waves of Welcome online calendar for over 50 events between August 18-September 3. TAMU-CC has over 150 student organizations that your student can join. Visit I-Engage for more information.

Make a Hurricane Plan:  Hurricane Season on the Texas Gulf Coast lasts from June 1 - November 30 each year. Although hurricanes are rare, TAMU-CC takes them seriously and actively plans for our response. We encourage you to make a plan with your Islander about what they will do if the campus and city evacuates. Will they come home? Go to a friend's? Make sure to discuss communication plans and where they will stay. Visit http://housing.tamucc.edu/hurricanes.html for more information.

Sign up for Code Blue Emergency Notifications:  You can sign up to receive the same campus emergency notifications that your student is automatically signed up for.  Visit. http://codeblue.tamucc.edu to register.

COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations:  We are dedicated to keeping our Islanders safe and strong so that they can continue their education smoothly and seamlessly. For more information about on-campus testing, on-campus vaccinations and COVID-19 policies and procedures please visit our COVID-19 Campus Protocols webpage.

First Wave

To kick-off the semester, on Friday, August 20th, all first-year Islanders will be required to attend First Wave from 8am-5pm. First Wave is an experience for first-year students to assist in their transition to TAMU-CC in the week before the fall semester begins. The mission of this extended orientation program is to jump-start campus engagement and establish new support systems by building connections with students, faculty, and staff for improved student success. Please remind your Islander to take part in these great events, and that the Friday sessions are mandatory for first-year Islanders.

A Good Goodbye

Some Things to Expect and How to Help Students Adjust

For many first-year students, TAMU-CC is their first experience living away from home for an extended period of time.  Below is a list of several changes to expect in the first year of college and how you can help your student adjust.

Managing time – Most first year students experience changing demands on their time.  Days are less routine and predictable.  College classes will involve more hours of studying.  Students will be faced with the challenge of learning how to balance their time.  Encourage them to create a schedule that includes both academic and personal needs.

Mixed feelings about college – It is a common belief that “the college years are the best years of your life.”  But for some students, the first few weeks can feel confusing.  Students may feel homesick, may question their decision to be here, and worry that they have made a mistake.  Students may think they are the only one who feels this way, when actually these feelings can be very normal.  You can encourage them to reach out to other students or join a campus organization. 

Changing relationships with family & friends at home – Relationships with parents, friends, and other significant people may change.  Students have to figure out how often to call home, how to adjust to being back at home over breaks, and how to manage old and new friendships.  Scheduling visits home and staying in touch by phone can all help.  Students may need practice in assertiveness, communicating effectively, and asking for help. 

Share your expectations – Communicate openly with your student about what is negotiable and what is not. Sharing your expectations will help your student to be responsible, set goals, and create boundaries within all their newly found freedom.

Lastly, encourage wellness. Students benefit from good self-care, making time to rest, eating balanced meals, exercising, avoiding alcohol and other drugs, and having a balanced schedule.  If students need assistance, there are a lot of resources with the Division of Student Engagement and Success to help!

Family Picnic

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi welcomes new and continuing students to the Island University with a free lunch, music, and fun during move-in! Take a break from the hustle and bustle of preparing for the fall semester and enjoy a picnic lunch on the East Lawn! Free to all current students and their families.

Waves of Welcome:

Waves of Welcome (WOW) fall events occur during the first two weeks of the fall semester and are primarily held on campus as a way to welcome students to the university.  Events are hosted by a variety of departments on campus and the schedule of events varies each semester.  WOW events are a great way for first year Islanders to get to know the TAMU-CC campus community and connect with each other! Islanders should visit the Waves of Welcome online calendar for a complete listing of the events. Below are the events to have your Islander mark on their calendars now!

They Say... You Say...

Islanders will find themselves facing a variety of new challenges. With these challenges students can get upset or frustrated and end up not taking advantage of all the resources around them. Here you can find some common phrases you might hear from your student accompanied by some possible responses!

• When they say: "There's nothing to do on campus." You say: "Log into I-Engage to find new clubs, discover events and find people who enjoy the same things you do!"

• When they say: "There's nothing to eat on campus, can you send me money for McDonalds?" You say: "Your meal plan includes access to the all-you-can-eat dining hall with a huge variety of foods, including pizza, burgers, salads and more! Not only that, you have meal swaps to use at Chick-fil-A or Subway!"

• When they say: "I am going to spend all my free time studying!" You say: "That's a good goal, but remember that you have more free time now, introducing structure into your day can help you maintain a balanced lifestyle."

• When they say: "There are no jobs on campus, I could be a server and make more money." You say: "You can check out TAMU-CC's HireAnIslander online for access to all the available on-campus jobs! Also, having an on-campus job allows you to cater to your class schedule and academic needs first, and you won't need to use gas or lose your parking spot!"

• When they say: "I don't need to fill out my FAFSA, we don't qualify anyway." You say: "Filling out your FAFSA provides you the opportunity to be qualified as a Work-Study student, which is an essential factor that plays into getting a job on campus and there may be scholarships you don't know you qualify for!"

• When they say: "I wish there was a way for me to make more friends during my first week." You say: "Go to all the Waves of Welcome events with a friend or classmate!"

• When they say: "There doesn't look like there is anything going on when I look at I-Engage." You say: "Did you remember to sign in using your Islander credentials? To see events that only Islanders have exclusive access to, you need to sign in or check your email for the weekly iNews!"

Encourage your student to really get to know TAMU-CC and participate in “Waves of Welcome” events.  More information on WOW is located above.  We are excited to have your student on campus with us, and honored that you've entrusted them to us.

2021 Family Weekend

While it may feel like forever away, Family Weekend will be here before you know it. Come visit your Islander on October 8th-9th. Its a great time to re-visit the campus and see all of the things your Islander is talking about. Make plans to join us, registration is opening soon! Visit the Family Weekend webpage for more information.