Hello! 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

Advising for spring term courses is currently ongoing, Monday, October 28 through Friday, November 8. If your student has not yet met with their mentor to discuss their spring term courses, recommend that they do so. In most cases, they can schedule an appointment using the Navigate app! Registration for spring term runs from Monday, November 11 through Thursday, November 14, but students will not be allowed to register without their mentor’s approval.

Thanksgiving Break begins on Monday, November 25 with no classes until the following Monday, December 2. Final exams begin on Monday, December 9 and end on Friday, December 13.

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

gold

Financial News

Money Matters for Spring Term

Your best reference for questions related to tuition, fees, and all things money-related is the Austin College Student Billing webpage.

Here are the high-priority points for this month:

• JanTerm payments are due now.
• Spring 2025 bills are sent via email in mid-November with a January 15 due date.
• Spring payment plans, administered by ACI Payments, opened this month. You can choose a 4-month plan, with payments beginning in December, or a 3-month plan, with payments beginning in January.

As always, Austin College sends emails to your students when their bill is available. Bills are viewable on Self-Service, where they can also access their statements and make payments.

Annual Requirement: 2025-26 FAFSA Form Coming Soon

Federal Student Aid has announced that the 2025-26 FAFSA form will be available on or before December 1, 2024. Returning students for fall 2025 who have received federal or state grant aid and use federal student loans will need to complete the FAFSA by May 1, 2025. If you have any questions, contact the Financial Aid office by phone at 903.813.2900 or by email.

gold

Student Life

Important Dates for Residence Halls and Jordan Family Language House

Students living in a residence hall or Jordan Family Language House must vacate their rooms during the periods listed below. During these times, residence halls are closed and students are not allowed access. However, they may leave their belongings in their rooms – except, of course, those items that they may need during the break.

• Thanksgiving Break: The college will close for the Thanksgiving Break starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 22. Students will not be allowed to return to their rooms until noon on Sunday, December 1.
• Winter Break: The college will close for the winter holiday starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 13. All students in residence halls and Jordan Family Language House are expected to vacate their rooms and return home by that time. Students will not be allowed to return to their rooms until noon on Wednesday, January 1.
• Spring Break: The college will close for spring break starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 7. Students will not be allowed to return to their rooms until noon on Sunday, March 16.

Important Dates for All Students Living on Campus

End of Year Move-Out for all students living on campus must be completed by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14. Students requesting an extension, including graduating seniors, must complete the Extension Request Form, available in the MyAC Student Portal, by Wednesday, May 7 at noon.

Important Dates for Housing Selection for Academic Year 2025-2026

All applications will be available on WebHopper:

• December 1st: Hass Village on Grand application opens at 8:30 a.m.
• January 22: Hass Village on Grand application closes at 5 p.m.
• February 6: 2-Person Flats and 4-Person Flats/'Roo Suites applications open at 8:30 a.m.
• March 17: Traditional Hall Double Room applications open
• March 17: Single Room application opens at 8:30 a.m.
• April 4: Single Room application closes at 5 p.m.
• April 21: Traditional Hall Double Room applications close at 5 p.m.
• May 7: Rising Senior Off-Campus Residency Forms due to SLO Office, WCC 201, by 5 p.m.

All this information, and more, can be found on AC’s Campus Life webpage.

gold

Just in Case

COVID-19 Protocols

Regarding COVID-19 and the seasonal flu, Austin College policy follows the updated March 1, 2024, recommendation of the CDC. If students test positive for COVID-19 or the seasonal flu, they should stay home and away from others. It is recommended to resume normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall (if a fever was present, it was gone without taking a fever-reducing medication). If symptoms are severe or you are at higher risk for respiratory complications, please obtain medical care through an urgent care center or emergency medical provider in the area. 

Once students resume normal activities, they are encouraged to use additional prevention strategies for the next five days to curb disease spread. These strategies include: 

• Wear a well-fitting mask while in public.
• Keep a distance from others, especially those who are immunocompromised.
• Take more steps for cleaner air, such as using a portable air filtration system in their bedroom, eating outside, and meeting in outside spaces when possible. 

Remember, your student is not alone if they get sick. The healthcare staff in the Adams Center offers COVID- 19 and flu testing for a minimal fee, along with a variety of other services, and are open for walk-in care Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 

24/7 Telehealth Access for All Students

Austin College provides all full-time students—residential, commuters, or transfers—with free 24/7 telehealth access through Academic LiveCare (ALC). This service supplements the Student Health Center and Counseling Services, offering on-demand counseling, urgent medical care, therapy, and psychiatry at no additional cost, regardless of insurance provider. Students can access confidential support via phone, video, chat, or text, available in 140+ languages with TDD/TTY options. ALC’s online platform also includes well-being assessments, webinars, learning modules, and resources for stress, relationships, substance abuse, legal, and financial issues. 

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

gold

Extra news you can use!

Post Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The mail center is closed the following holidays: 

• Thanksgiving Wednesday, November 27–Friday, November 29
• Winter Break: Monday, December 23–Wednesday, January 1
• Memorial Day: Monday, May 26