TAMIU Spring Preview

TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said the difference the student assistance grant has made is not only measurable but profound.

“The nation’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 Pandemic created burdens on us all, including TAMIU students and their families. The TAMIU CARES assistance made a profound difference, enabling students to continue their degree progress through the intervention provided by these emergency grant monies. Many in our recent Fall ’21 graduating class of over 1000 students were able to complete their degree because of TAMIU CARES assistance. That’s life-changing,” Dr. Arenaz observed.

HEERF student emergency aid grants are used to address any component of the cost of attendance or for emergency costs arising from the Pandemic, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental healthcare), and child care. Eligible students may apply once during each semester they are enrolled. When applying, students are required to attest to their eligible, Pandemic-related needs. Students may elect to use the funding to pay off any outstanding balances owed to the University.

Spring 2022 students at TAMIU who meet selection criteria can begin applying for Spring assistance on Monday, January 10, 2022.

Eligible undergraduate and graduate students can access an online application and additional program information by visiting www.tamiu.edu/cares. Late submissions or re-submissions are not permitted. An informative video is at https://go.tamiu.edu/application-faq.

Also available this Spring at the University is the continuation of TAMIU’s popular TAMIU Books IncludED program, introduced last Fall. It provides degree-seeking students with all required course materials free of charge -- including graduate and online students – on the first day of classes. This innovative program is part of TAMIU’s retention strategy to provide additional academic support systems to help students overcome barriers arising from the Pandemic that may otherwise prevent them from completing their education.

President Arenaz said the TAMIU Books IncludED program was enthusiastically adopted by students.

“Based on student feedback here this Fall, TAMIU students love the convenience and ease in accessing course materials on Day One. This Fall, 8,457 students participated, enjoying savings in excess of $3.7 million, about $438 on average per student. It’s a huge incentive for both students and their parents,” Arenaz noted.

He said the University will also continue to offer its “Be a Champ, Get the Shot” initiative focused on promoting increased vaccination rates. Students who submit proof of vaccination have a chance to win free tuition and fees for the upcoming Spring semester. Other prizes like Dusty Dollars and other gift cards will be awarded throughout the semester. For more information, visit https://go.tamiu.edu/beachamp.

TAMIU’s Spring 2022 Registration is underway. Classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Late registration ends Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.

University offices will close in a State-authorized holiday observance at noon Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. University offices reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. In the event of an emergency, please contact University Police at 956.326.2100.

The new Help Desk will feature a spacious waiting area for students, faculty, and staff and addresses the expanded need for services and support, Munoa explained.

"Based on the growing need for services and support, Cowart Hall offered additional space to provide a better overall experience for our students, faculty and staff," he said, "Accessibility to the Help Desk staff and services will improve as the Help Desk will be located on the first floor of Cowart Hall and have a direct entrance from outside of the building."

Instead of a single, continuous walk-up counter, the workstations of the new Help Desk will be distributed throughout the room and spaced out, Munoa said.

"This will allow for better social distancing and a more personalized experience, as well as afford more user privacy," he said.

The workstations will be set at counter height and have ample space, so users can set their devices down and work with Help Desk personnel comfortably to address any issues they may have, Munoa said.

"The Help Desk area will be staffed and stocked with all the tools and resources needed to promptly address, diagnose and remediate most issues our users will need support with," he said, "The space will also incorporate digital signage that will provide faculty and staff timely updates, news, and information."

Shortly after the Help Desk opens, OIT will implement an online check-in and waitlist system which will allow visitors to conveniently schedule appointments through their phone or an iPad, which will be located at the building’s entrance, Munoa said.

"When the faculty member of student arrives, they will see their name and position in line to be serviced," he said, "The organization and layout of the new space were designed to provide an improved customer service experience."

For more information, please contact Munoa at 956.326.2301, email mmunoa@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 255D.

As part of its commitment to providing dynamic opportunities to grow the College’s teaching mission and passion, this Spring the College will join the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Higher Education Program. AVID helps train 85,000 educators annually to better prepare all students for college, careers, and life. AVID partners, like TAMIU, receive professional development, resources, and support.

Through AVID, TAMU will continue to provide students who have shared the COVID-19 Pandemic experience with the support they need to accelerate the ‘unfinished learning’ resulting from the impact of remote learning during preparation courses -- and in the case of Freshman, Sophomore, and Transfer students --the foundation knowledge linked to core courses.

AVID fosters a safe and open culture, high expectations for teachers and students, and collaboration in all classrooms. Faculty complete professional development to improve learning and student success outcomes for at-risk and first-generation learners adversely impacted by COVID learning environments.

In addition, consultants will conduct a curriculum audit to identify areas where enrichment supports for candidates in the areas of Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading could increase candidate success on state certification exams.

TAMIU’s AVID Higher Education program will provide students with the support they need to overcome obstacles, accelerate the ‘unfinished learning’ required to sit and pass the State Certification exams, graduate at higher rates, and help lead the classrooms of the future here and everywhere.

Signature Courses are led by UC faculty with dynamic guest speakers from other colleges, giving students a unique, well-rounded experience and the opportunity to engage with their major’s professor earlier in in their studies. Signature Courses culminate with a Community Engagement Consortium opportunity for students to showcase projects.

Reading the Globe is back! After a one-year hiatus due to the Pandemic, the popular study abroad program is tentatively planned for Maymester 2022. As part of their UNIV 1201 class, students will read Dr. Barbara Hong’s Failing Up, which was set in Singapore.

The application process has been streamlined (https://www.tamiu.edu/uc/map/rtgtrip.shtml) to give equal access to all interested students. Students will create a 10-minute video over winter break and semi-finalists will be interviewed.

About 13-15 students will be selected to travel to Singapore.