Hello and Happy New Year! We're happy to bring you exciting and important news especially for ’Roo Parents and other supporters. The topics below are timely and of interest to Austin College families from first year to final year. If you have questions about anything covered here, please contact us by email at communications@austincollege.edu.

Academic News

Fall 2024 Dean’s List

Austin College officials have announced the Dean’s List for Fall Term 2024. The Dean’s List recognizes the top 20 percent of students taking a minimum of three graded, full-credit courses. For Fall Term 2024, 227 individuals are recognized. You can view the full list here.

Travel JanTerm 2026 Webinar

Please save the date for a 2026 Travel JanTerm Webinar for parents to be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 6 p.m –7 p.m. This informational webinar, hosted by the Austin College Office of International Programs, will cover the JanTerm travel opportunities that will be available in 2026, and important topics such as travel locations, costs, scholarships, registration, health and safety, and much more.

The Austin College Scholars Conference

The Austin College Scholars Conference (ACSC) will take place from March 17–March 22, showcasing research by current Austin College students. Students from across the spectrum of academic programs will offer panel sessions, poster presentations, and oral presentations of findings from research projects they have conducted. Classes that meet after 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 21 will be cancelled to facilitate student participation in the ACSC.

ACSC is an opportunity for students to experience what an academic or professional conference is like, requiring them to organize and present their research to their faculty and peers. This experience allows them to hone their public speaking and presentation skills–skills that will be needed in a variety of professional fields as well as graduate and professional school programs.

Advising Weeks & Fall Term Registration

Advising for fall term registration will run March 31–April 11. During that time, it is expected that students will meet with their mentor to discuss the courses they are intending to sign up for and any questions they may have about their progress toward graduation.

Fall and Summer registration is expected to open April 14–16. Students will be able to check the date and time their registration opens through the Student Portal.

Stay in the loop on all things academic by viewing the Academic Calendar.

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Financial News

Money Matters for Spring Term

The FAFSA application for 2025-26 is available at studentaid.gov and the deadline is May 1. It is best to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. The 2025-26 FAFSA application asks for financial information from 2023.

Please contact the Financial Aid Office via email or phone at 903.813.2900 with any questions.

As always, your student can access their statement on Self-Service, where they can also make payments.

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Student Life

Spring Break

The College will close for spring break starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025. All students in residence halls and Jordan Family Language House are expected to vacate their rooms by that time. There will be no meal service during Spring Break. Students may return to their rooms at noon on Sunday, March 16, 2025.

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Just in Case

24/7 Telehealth Access for All Students

Although the Adams Health Center on campus will be closed over the winter break, don’t forget that Austin College provides all full-time students free 24/7 telehealth access through Academic LiveCare (ALC). This service offers on-demand counseling, urgent medical care, therapy, and psychiatry at no additional cost, regardless of insurance provider. Students can access ALC support via phone, video, chat, or text, even while they are away from campus.

For assistance, students can visit https://myahpcare.personaladvantage.com or call 1 (866) 349-5575, using company code AHP1.

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Extra news you can use!

Posey Leadership Award Presentation & Convocation

Austin College will present the Austin College Posey Leadership Award to atmospheric scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe. The Austin College Posey Leadership Award has been presented annually since 2006 to an individual who has demonstrated the principles of servant leadership. Recent recipients are artist Rick Lowe (2024), engineer and businesswoman Sylvia Acevedo (2023), and neurosurgeon Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa (2022).

Hayhoe has been named to various prestigious lists, including TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People (2014), Foreign Policy magazine’s 100 Leading Thinkers (2019), FORTUNE magazine’s World’s Greatest Leaders (2017), and she was named United Nations’ Champion of the Earth in Science and Innovation in 2019. Her writing has appeared in a wide range of outlets including the New York Times, Wired, O Magazine, and Chatelaine, and her most recent book, Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2021.

As a part of her year-long Posey Leader-in-Residence engagement, Hayhoe has hosted multiple student sessions covering the topic of climate change from various angles, such as solutions and hope, equality and accountability, the power of social movements, and leadership in climate action. The Posey Leadership Award presentation and keynote address by Dr. Hayhoe will be held on campus
at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7 in Wynne Chapel.

This event is free and open to the public, and you are invited to attend!