We are strong believers in the importance of a student's support system as they tackle the challenges and opportunities of college. Any family member or supporter can have a positive impact on the student they care about and their success. This guide touches on many important and helpful topics. There are additional resources on CollegiateParent.com
Sincerely,
Welcome to the Jaguar Community! I am so glad that you are here. This next chapter for your student will be an exciting one full of learning, growth, and change. Our campus knows that you are an integral part of this journey with your student, and we are here to help you feel supported along this journey, too. As a growing and vibrant campus, there are many opportunities for your Jaguar to connect with fellow students, faculty, and staff on campus. We appreciate your assistance in encouraging your student to become an active part of campus life. At A&M-SA, we believe in fostering a collaborative environment where both
students and their families feel valued and involved. Our dedicated team is always available to provide guidance, whether it’s academic support, personal development, or navigating campus resources. We encourage you to stay connected with us, as we offer many events, programs, and initiatives designed to engage families and keep you informed. Your support plays a vital role in your student’s success, and we are grateful for your partnership. Together, we will work to ensure that your student has a fulfilling and memorable experience here at Texas A&M University-San Antonio!
Hi, I’m Tiffany- your A&M-SA Family Coordinator! My primary role on campus is to serve as a liaison between family members and the University. I am an A&M-SA alumni — I loved the University so much that I just couldn’t leave! This means that I have years of valuable experience and expertise in all things A&M-SA. With lots of help from current students we compiled the most important information we know into this guidebook in hopes of helping our Jaguar family members. Speaking of, just so we make this clear from the start, we consider all of the following folks as family members at A&M-SA: parents, guardians, siblings, children, significant others, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, friends, and anyone else defined as family or a support system in a Jaguar’s life. I hope that this guidebook empowers and encourages you to be an active part of your Jaguar’s college journey. One last relevant note from me: I am welcoming a baby this fall so I will be out on maternity leave for some time. But don’t worry, I am not abandoning you! For any questions or concerns, email family@tamusa.edu or call (210) 784-1452 and someone from my team will assist you.
Hi! We are students here at A&M-SA and we’re the members of the Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders at A&M-SA that work directly with family members and advocate not only for you, but also for your student. The Cisneros Institute consists of Student Engagement, Student Leadership, and Student Life. We provide engagement and development opportunities beyond the classroom for students and families.
We can help answer questions related to attending the University and what you can expect as a family member. We are so excited that you are part of the Jaguar family and we are looking forward to sharing this wonderful time with you!
We aim to engage Jaguar families by creating intentional interactions with campus resources to develop a sense of belonging that inspires academic and social connections with the Jaguar community.
Family Association is a link between students and families at A&M-SA with the aim to support family members, their students, and the University as a whole.
We encourage all Jaguar supporters to get involved in Family Association During Family Orientation, you will have the opportunity to register as a general member of the Family Association. General members can remain active through their student’s graduation and
will receive just-in-time information to support their Jaguar, receive major updates from the University, and connect with other family members of A&M-SA students. Anyone who wants to be more hands-on is encouraged to join the Family Association E-Board. E-Board members volunteer their time and are responsible for planning, staffing, and executing Family Association events. If you would like to apply to be an E-Board member of Family Association, please send an email to family@tamusa.edu to receive more information. All Family Association memberships are free.
Family Convocation is an induction ceremony exclusively for family members. Family Convocation will take place on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Registration information will be sent to family members closer to the event date.
Trunk or Treat is a festive fall familyfriendly event held on University grounds each October. This campus-wide event showcases decorated vehicle trunks hosted by campus departments and student organizations. Hosts will give out candy, snacks, or small toys. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite costumes and bring a big bag or bucket for all the goodies to be collected throughout the night. Trunk or Treat is open to all family members and (leashed) furry friends! Save the date for Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 24, 2025!
Lights of Esperanza is an annual A&M-SA holiday lighting tradition! The campuswide holiday light display contains over 30,000 lights that illuminate the campus and create a festive atmosphere with food trucks, entertainment for the whole family, a holiday market, and a light show. Lights of Esperanza is tentatively scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Festival de Cascarones is the official finale to Fiesta San Antonio! This public event will feature a Kids Zone, live music, food, games, and fun for the whole family! Festival de Cascarones will take place at the University on Sunday, April 26, 2026.
This is both an exciting and scary time for not only your incoming Jaguar, but also you, the newest members of our Jaguar Family. This guidebook gives you tips and tricks to navigate the success of your Jaguar and hopefully equips you with many resources as questions arise. It is helpful to get acquainted with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) early on in your Jaguar’s college journey. This act gives your student the peace of mind to ensure that their confidential information is protected by the University — meaning only people approved by the student may view their education records. There are two types of student information that the University maintains. Student Educational Records are considered confidential and may not be released without the written consent of the student. Directory Information can be released without the written consent of the student. Family members are not automatically opted into FERPA so talk with your student about how you would like to approach access.
If your student will live on campus, they will be protected by FERPA. It is important to keep in mind that communication will come from your student, not housing or University staff. We care about your student, but we also do not track them or their whereabouts. We understand that family members worry if they do
not hear from their student regularly. We suggest talking to your student about communication expectations. In cases of major concern, you may contact the University Police Department at (210) 784-1900 to request a welfare check. In cases of serious emergencies, professional staff for the residence hall may contact you directly if you are your student’s emergency contact.
Another important conversation to have with your student is about the best course of action if they get sick. Since there is not an on-campus medical facility just yet, being proactive and organized can make all the difference when your Jag isn’t feeling great. Before your student moves on campus, help them research and choose a nearby doctor’s office, urgent care, or medical clinic that they can go to when needed. This will save time if they need medical attention later. Ensure your student knows how to contact the office to make an appointment or access their services. Also, help them create a list of important information they will need at an appointment: insurance information, known allergies, known conditions, current medications, and emergency contacts. If your student takes any medications from the pharmacy, ensure there is a plan for your student to continue receiving their medications once they move on campus. Students should also have a first aid kit with basic supplies to help prevent minor issues from becoming bigger problems. Help your student pack supplies like pain relievers, cold and flu remedies, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic wipes, ointments, and antihistamines.
Have you completed your meningitis requirements yet?
Meningitis requirements must be completed by Monday, August 11, 2025. Students either need to Submit Evidence of Vaccination or an Affidavit to Decline Vaccination. All documents must be uploaded into the secure Med+Proctor portal. For questions, contact the Enrollment Services Center at (210) 784-1300
Can you show me your degree plan and explain it to me?
Knowing about your student’s plan of study is one of the easiest ways to get involved in their college experience. Every student’s degree plan can be found in their JagApp account under DegreeWorks. This details and breaks down the student’s degree plan and every class that they need to take. This is what your student and their Academic Advisor will reference when registering for classes each semester. Asking your student to not only show you their DegreeWorks but explain it to you will open the conversation of what classes they will be taking, and it will help ensure that they understand what their degree plan contains. If your student realizes during these conversations that their degree plan is not right for them, they can simply meet with their Academic Advisor to pick a different degree plan.
How do you plan to balance all of your responsibilities?
Effective time management is essential in college as students juggle the demands of classes, studying, work, self-care, familial obligations, and maintaining relationships. The freedom to choose from a variety of activities can enrich their experience, but it also comes with the responsibility of balancing these extracurriculars with academic obligations. College life requires students to become more focused and disciplined as they take on more autonomy in their daily routine. Talk with your student about what their weekly schedule will look like. If it seems overwhelming or like too much on their plate, help guide them on what should be prioritized.
Do you know where to go on campus for help with topics like career questions, time management, and tutoring?
There are staff, faculty, and departments available to support students in every aspect of the college experience. All your student has to do is reach out for assistance. For example, they can go to the Mays Center for help with finding a job, writing a resume, or to discuss the right major for their desired career. If your student is struggling with time management even after mapping out a weekly schedule, suggest that they meet with a Success Coach. Success Coaches do just that—coach students on success. They can help students grasp time management, good study habits, and more. If your student needs extra support in their classes, they can visit the Academic Learning Center. If you or your student are unsure of where to go for help, search the A&M-SA website or send an email to family@tamusa.edu
Phone: ( 210) 784-1307
Email: Advising.Center@ tamusa.edu
Each student is assigned an Academic Advisor who will help them register for classes and understand their degree plan. Students should meet with their Academic Advisor at least once a semester to ensure that they stay on track. After their first semester, students will be able to register for spring classes every October and summer and fall classes every March.
Phone: ( 210) 784-1452
Email: nso@ tamusa.edu
The Cisneros Institute is designed to provide incoming students and their families with shared experiences and intentional connections that create community, promote Jaguar Pride, set the tone for academic success, and support students in developing skills to navigate college life.
Phone: ( 210) 784-1354
Email: dos@tamusa.edu
The Dean of Students Office fosters the development of civility, accountability, and responsibility; builds community through service and involvement; and serves as an advocate for all students.
Phone: ( 210) 784-1335
Email: disability.services@ tamusa.edu
Disability Support Services (DSS) is committed to ensuring equal access, full participation, and reasonable accommodations by coordinating services that meet the unique needs of students with documented disabilities. If your student previously had special education services, they should talk with DSS about their options at A&MSA. DSS does not reach out to students; your student must initiate contact. Students seeking accommodations should contact DSS as soon as possible to ensure that their accommodations are in place by the first day of school.
Phone: ( 210) 784-1300
Email: BeAJaguar@ tamusa.edu
The Enrollment Services Center is the one-stop location for personalized assistance with FAFSA, student accounts, scholarships, and financial aid.
Visit the Financial Aid webpage at tamusa.edu to fill out an inquiry form to get in contact with a Financial Aid representative.
Phone: ( 210) 784-4357
Information Technology Services can assist students with issues related to their A&M-SA accounts such as JagApp or Blackboard.
Phone: ( 210) 784-1500
Text: 210-802-2ask or ( 210) 802-2275
Email: library@ tamusa.edu
The University Library strives to support students through relevant and timely resources, services, and spaces. As an e-preferred library, most of the resources that Jags need are available online 24/7.
Phone: ( 210) 784-1356
Email: mays@ tamusa.edu
The Mays Center provides enhanced learning opportunities and access to resources and relationships in order to develop students into career-ready and community-minded graduates.
Phone: ( 210) 784-1397
Location: Patriots’ Casa Suite 202
Military Affairs assists militaryconnected students so they can succeed professionally by embracing their strengths. Students using Military Benefits should submit their paperwork as soon as they have registered for classes each semester. Your student will likely need your help filling out the forms for their Benefits Request so set aside time to work on it together.
Phone: +1 (210) 784-1309
Email: international.affairs@tamusa.edu
The mission of the Office of International Affairs is to enrich and foster the experience of A&M-San Antonio’s international community by providing international admissions and immigration support to international students.
Phone: ( 210) 784-1331
With licensed and professionally trained staff, the SCC offers free and confidential mental health services to currently enrolled and attending students. Because student fees cover these services, visits do not require out-of-pocket expenses.
Phone: ( 210) 784-1717
Email: tamusastudenthousing@ tamusa.edu
Student Housing includes Esperanza Hall and Estrella Hall, both located on campus and offering fully furnished suite-style floor plans that perfectly balance socializing with privacy. Students interested in living on campus should visit the Student Housing webpage at tamusa.edu
Phone: ( 210) 784-1353
Student Rights and Responsibilities educates the University on community standards, assists in navigating circumstances of conflict, and intervenes when student behaviors potentially violate the Student Code of Conduct.
Phone: ( 210) 784-2035
Student Business Services can assist students with accounts and billing.
The Transfer Center is the dedicated hub for all things transfer student related. They provide a range of services and resources to assist with:
A Place to Land: Space to study, eat, relax, and connect.
Resource Navigation: Connections with campus resources and support services.
Community Building: Opportunities to connect with fellow transfer students.
Workshops and Events: Targeted programs to enhance academic and personal development.
Location: Patriots’ Casa, 102/103
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8AM-8PM
Phone: (210)784-1452
Email: transfers@ tamusa.edu
Instagram: @tamusa .transfers
Save the Dates!
Transfer Assemblies
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
4:00pm–7:30pm
RSVP at right!
Monday, October 20 – Friday, October 24, 2025
Follow on Instagram at@tamusa.transfers and JagSync for event updates!
A&M-SA PD or UPD are fully commissioned Texas Peace Officers who are licensed through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
UPD are always on-site to provide a safe working and learning environment to the A&M-SA community.
SafeZone is a free mobile app for Jaguars. The app connects directly to UPD when there is an emergency on campus.
Once help is requested, a location will be shown on a map for police officers to help. Students can check in on the app when they arrive on campus for an added layer of safety. If a student feels unsafe walking from one place to another on campus, they can set a check-in alert timer on the app which will then notify UPD for police officer response if the timer expires and the pre-set alert is not deactivated. For a physical escort, students can call UPD’s non-emergency number, which is (210) 784-1900
Blue Light Emergency Phones are placed around campus with a siren light on top. There is a large button on them that can be pushed to quickly contact UPD for emergencies and non-emergencies.
Texas A&M University-San Antonio maintains a vigorous emergency response system to communicate with the University community in the case of a campus emergency. During an emergency, information will be released to the University community through the JagE Alert System. This is the most efficient way to receive reliable, official information from the University. This is a system that quickly notifies registered users of campus emergencies through a combination of text messages, emails, and voicemail alerts to registered users. Because JagE Alert uses data provided by the student, it is imperative that contact information remain up to date at all times. While family members are unable to sign themselves up for JagE Alerts, your student can sign you up via their JagE Alert portal. If you are
interested, talk to your student about signing you up. They can go to tamusa.edu and search “JagE Alert Registration” for up-to-date detailed instructions on how to add additional contacts to the alerts. In emergency situations, the campus is also equipped with an outdoor speaker system that can broadcast direct commands and sounds to alert the campus to danger and how to take necessary safety precautions. The system can also be accompanied by interior signs placed strategically in buildings throughout the campus. When necessary and able to, the Family Coordinator will email family members signed up for communications with updates. You will be able to sign up for communications at Family Orientation.
An Emergency Notification could be sent for any of the following reasons (but not limited to): active shooter, bomb threat, pandemic, fire, or evacuation. Timely Warnings are issued for Clery Reportable Crimes through email only using the Outreach portion of the JagE Alert System. Other topics that could be sent using Outreach include weather closures, parking lot closures, and exercise/drill notifications.
Up-to-date reports are available from UPD upon request.
Talk to your student about saving UPD’s phone numbers, downloading the SafeZone app, and subscribing for Jag-E alerts. Your student should save UPD’s numbers in their phone, just in case they ever need them. Their non-emergency line is ( 210) 784-1900. This line should be used for situations that do not require immediate intervention but still need police assistance. UPD’s emergency line is ( 210) 784-1911 This line should be used in any situation where there is an immediate threat to life, health, or safety. The Office of Victim Services and Crime Prevention can be reached at ( 210) 784-1906. The OVS provides a safe, private place for Jags who have questions or concerns about sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, domestic violence, and any other crime. A professional Victim Advocate (and Scout, the A&MSA Victim Assistance Dog) is available to provide emotional support and help victims meet their immediate needs.
Visitors to A&M-SA can simply park in any spot on campus with a maroon and gray sign that says “ParkMobile” on it. The sign has several payment options for your convenience.
If your student is going to park on campus at any time, they must have a valid parking permit. If not, they face hefty fines. Ensure that your Jaguar has purchased their parking permit before classes start via Jaguar Flexport. For help with any permit concerns, contact Parking and Transportation Services at (210) 784-2277 or Parking@tamusa.edu.
Texas A&M University-San Antonio has partnered with the VIA Metropolitan Transit, which is San Antonio’s public transportation system, to create two programs giving students access to free transportation with a valid student ID. Your student should receive their ID during their onboarding process, but if they do not, they can stop by the Enrollment Services Center anytime for their ID. The U-Pass program provides an unlimited number of rides to students each semester. The VIA Link program functions similarly to Uber within a served local area. Visit VIAinfo.net/Upass for all of the up-to-date information.
Meningitis requirement due date:
Monday, August 11, 2025
First-year move in: Saturday, August 16, 2025
Payment deadline: Monday, August 18, 2025
Upper-classmen and returning students move in: Friday, August 22, 2025
JagX: Sunday, August 17 –Wednesday, August 20, 2025
JagX is the final orientation for Jaguars. It is a four-day event that hosts plenty of social events, meetings with faculty members, and opportunities to find new friends. All first-year students are required to attend all four days in their entirety. If they do not, they will be dropped from their courses. For any questions or concerns about JagX, email nso@tamusa.edu .
First day of class: Monday, August 25, 2025
Labour Day (no classes): Monday, September 1, 2025
Census: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Study day (no classes): Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Thanksgiving Holiday (no classes): Thursday, November 27 –Saturday, November 29, 2025
Last day of class: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Study day (no classes): Friday, December 5, 2025
Final exams: Sunday, December 6 – Friday, December 12, 2025
End of term: Friday, December 12, 2025
Class registration opens: Monday, October 20, 2025
MLK Jr. Day (no classes): Monday, January 19, 2026
First day of class: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Census date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Spring break (no classes): Monday, March 9 – Saturday, March 14, 2026
Study day (no classes): Friday, April 3, 2026
Last day of class: Monday, May 4, 2026
Study day (no classes): Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Final exams: Wednesday, May 6 – Tuesday, May 12, 2026
End of term: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Grades due at noon: Friday, May 15, 2026
Please note that all dates in this guidebook are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, view the Academic Calendar here: tamusa.edu / academics/academic -calendar
All incoming students under 22 years of age as of the first day of class are
Visit medproctor.com and click REGISTER to start a new account. Type in your @jaguar.tamu.edu email address and follow directions to register a new account.
Fill out any required personal, medical or insurance information. Download required forms and follow the directions provided.
Log back in to your Med+Proctor account and upload a copy of your forms. Make sure your forms are complete and legible. Forms must include your full name, date of birth, vaccine and date administered.
