ATMentors Monthly
Howdy Mentors!
[december]
Can you believe it’s already December? The weather is cooler, the libraries are fuller, and everyone is preparing for their semester break. In this month’s issue of ATMentors Monthly, make sure you read [What’s New with Mentors?] to catch up on our plans for 2010. Also, [Mark Your Calendar] with some dates and events occurring within the next few months. We want to thank all those that attended the brown bag lunch in November— We truly appreciate your input and look forward to putting your ideas into action! Couldn’t make November’s Brown Bag? Keep a look out for our next lunch in the coming semester. The Office of New Student Programs wishes you well through the end of this semester and a happy new year! See you in January…
[Mark Your Calendar] Important Dates & Events
• December 7th Redefined Day, Students attend Friday classes • December 8th Redefined Day, Students attend Thursday classes • December 18th-19th Commencement & Commissioning • December 23rd-January 1 Faculty & Staff Holiday • January 15th Last day to register for classes and pay fees First AgVenture in Houston, TX • January 18th Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Faculty & Staff Holiday • January 19th First day of spring semester classes.
[What’s New with Mentors?] • The ATMentors website is currently being updated to better suit students’ and Mentors’ needs. Thanks to your feedback, you will have access to helpful contact information for campus resources and a tip sheet for your mentoring. Take a minute to scroll through and see what’s new here: ATMentors.tamu.edu. • ATMentors is piloting a series of experiential learning trips called AgVentures. These trips allow ATMentors and current students to connect to a small group of the incoming class. The first will be a day trip to Houston available to the spring admits. Activities include NASA, the Museum of Natural Science, and the Aquarium. This trip is planned for Friday, January 15th. Do you want to be a part of AgVentures or have any ideas for future trips? Please contact ATMentors@tamu.edu or 979.845.5826.
• It’s Time...to get refreshed on campus services & meet some of
your fellow ATMentors! A training day in January will give you the chance to learn more about campus services and how to help the students you mentor. You will be contacted soon with a date and location. Have any ideas for topics you would like to see addressed? E-mail ATMentors@tamu.edu.
• Would you like to add your picture or have any feedback for the website? Contact ATMentors@tamu.edu.
[Tips for December] This section contains hints and resources that will help you while mentoring.
A Few Topics of Interest ...Ride Sharing
Ride Sharing is a free service sponsored by Transportation Services that connects Aggie students and faculty to travel together across Texas to help reduce our Carbon footprint and help reduce travel costs. Sign-Up & learn more by visiting: http://transport.tamu.edu/parking/ rideshare.aspx.
...Aggie ALLIES Interested in expanding your mentoring? Consider becoming an Aggie ALLY. ALLIES include staff, faculty, and students at Texas A&M University who are willing to provide a safe haven, a listening ear, and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people or anyone dealing with sexual orientation issues. Upcoming workshops last 3 hours and begin in January. Reserve your seat or learn more by visiting: http://allies.tamu.edu/.
...You’re Not Alone
Many students experience different emotions and difficulties when they come to college, but they are not alone. The data below reflects a nationwide survey given to college students at the end of their first year in 2008: o o o o o
40% of students frequently felt overwhelmed. 24% of students frequently went home on the weekends. 49% of students found time management somewhat difficult to very difficult. 11% of student frequently felt lonely or homesick. 18% of students found it somewhat difficult to very difficult to understand what a professor expects academically.
Statistics provided by the Cooperative Institutional Research Program at the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA (http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/ heri/cirpoverview.php)
[Campus Highlight] This section contains helpful hints and resources that will help you while mentoring.
Tutoring Resources
It is the end of the semester and every student has finals on his or her mind. “I don’t have time to study”, “I never learned this stuff and my final is next week”, and “I can’t afford tutoring right now,” may be some popular phrases you hear from struggling students around this time of year. Many students are not even aware of the services offered right here on campus. Check out these options available throughout the year:
The Department of Multicultural Services offers FREE one-on-one peer tutoring, Sunday thru Wednesday from 4pm-8pm in certain courses. Set up an appointment here: http://tutor.tamu.edu/.
The Student Learning Center supports Supplemental Instructions, Drop-In Tutoring (DIT), and Tutor Zones. Visit http://slc.tamu.edu/tutoring/ , call (979) 845-2724, or visit them in 118 Hotard Hall for more information.
[Where are Mentors?] ATMentors represent every single college on A&M’s campus as well as several departments. In an effort to make students and faculty aware of ATMentors & along with our new marketing campaign, we’re starting to circulate the ATMentors banner (see below). Can anyone guess where it is this month?
Have suggestions, comments, or an addition to the newsletter? Please e-mail ATMentors@tamu.edu or call 979.845.5826.