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. |
This is Only a Test! On Friday, September 20, starting at 4:25 p.m., Austin College will test our emergency alert system with outreach by phone, text, and email to all persons listed as In Case of Emergency (ICE) contacts by a student. If you do not receive those test communications, ask your student to review and update their emergency contact information on WebHopper. Login credentials are required to update this information. The emergency alert system is the primary form of communication in case of weather-related emergencies or other health and safety threats on campus, so it is essential that contact information be current. You can help ensure delivery of these messages by adding Austin College Campus Safety to your contacts. The text messages will come from 903.265.9267 and the phone call will come from 903.813.2008. |
Academic News
Career Services Offers Opportunities for Students at All Stages
The Center for Career and Professional Development is prepared to help your student from day one with resources for career exploration, resume development, grad school applications, and interview practice. Several opportunities are on the schedule for this fall from professional headshots to business etiquette dinners.
Support Continues for First-Year Students
We hope all first-year students are adjusting to college life and are finding places to get involved. At Austin College, programming for new students does not end at Orientation. Monthly First-Year Information “FYI” gatherings feature timely topics and opportunities to ask questions and gain confidence. Coming in October—Academic Skills.
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Financial News
Off-Campus JanTerm Course Payment Schedule
The first payment for off-campus JanTerm 2025 courses was due September 2; the remainder is due October 2. The Business Office has reached out to students who missed the first payment, and balances can be viewed by your student on WebHopper. Check in with your student to make sure all is on course for a great JanTerm experience.
Parents of first-years take note: first-year students are not eligible to travel for 2025 JanTerm.
No Passport? No Go
If your student is planning to go abroad and does not have a current passport, it is vital that they apply for one as soon as possible. If they have questions, they can contact Cheryl Marcelo in the Office of International Programs, second floor of the Wright Campus Center, Room 204.
Parking is Free but Permits are Required
Any student with a car on campus should have registered it and received a parking permit sticker to display on the passenger-side windshield. Failure to do so will result in a parking ticket and fine. The registration application is online, and the permit sticker will be delivered to the student’s campus mailbox. If your student has applied for registration but not received the permit sticker, they should visit the Austin College Campus Police in the Jackson Technology Center, Room 100. All parking lots are free, open, and available to students with the exception of those marked VISITOR, but they must have a parking permit sticker. Handicap accessible parking is also available for anyone with an official designation (state issued placard or license plate). Parking in Visitor parking with or without a parking permit sticker will result in a parking ticket and fine.
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Student Life
Hop in Anytime!
The Opportunities Fair on August 29 was a huge success with organizations set up in Wright Campus Center to invite students to attend meetings and find out more. Although it was a big day, it was not the only day to visit or join a student organization. Dozens upon dozens of groups are chartered and organized through the Student Life Office. They plan activities around special interests such as culture, hobbies, vocations, and religions. There are many to choose from! Students can start with something familiar or look into something they’ve always wondered about.
For more information about where and when organizations meet, suggest your student drop by the Student Life Office, 2nd floor of Wright Campus Center. Getting connected to a group is a big step toward success in college.
Just in Case: COVID-19 Protocols
This information was sent to your student in late August:
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
As a supplement to the Student Health Center and Counseling Services, Austin College has expanded services to provide students with opportunities to see a medical professional or counselor through telehealth visits. Through a partnership with Academic LiveCare (ALC), students have access to an extensive online program featuring 24/7 on-demand counseling, urgent medical care, therapy and psychiatry, all at no cost to any full-time student—residential, commuters, or transfers—regardless of the student’s insurance provider.
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Extra news you can use!
Q. How do I send a letter or package to my student on campus?
A. The Campus Post Office is not an official U.S. Post Office sub-station, but it does have regular mail pick-up and delivery. The Post Office is located inside Wright Campus Center, and all students have an assigned mailbox. Their box and lock combination were assigned at registration and stay with your student while at Austin College, regardless of their residential status. When sending letters and packages to your student, use the street address and the assigned mailbox number as the Suite number. Do not send to a P.O. Box or addressed to their on-campus residence. See below.
How to address mail to campus:
Student's Name
Austin College
900 Grand Avenue, Ste. #####
Sherman, Texas 75090-4400
Please keep in mind the following:
- When shipping an order from Amazon or another vendor, use the address format above and do not address to their on-campus residence. Your student will be notified that they have received a package and can pick it up during Post Office hours.
- It’s a good idea to add a tracking number to any packages or letters containing important or valuable items. Please do not send cash in the mail.
- Please do not send packages over 50 lbs.
- The Post Office does not have refrigeration for perishable items, including floral and bakery deliveries. Perishable items not picked up in a timely manner will be discarded.
- The Post Office can accept small nonperishable grocery deliveries. Any large grocery deliveries will need to be coordinated at a pickup location with the student.
- Mail order medications can be accepted at the Mail Center.
- No packages containing alcohol, tobacco, CBD, or any other items that are age-restricted by law will be accepted.
- Students must talk to the Mail Center directly about any unreceived packages or letter mail. They will also need proof of tracking. We can’t give out this or any student mailbox information to anyone over the phone.
Students can also ship packages via USPS, FedEX, or UPS from the Mail Center. Post Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closed the following holidays: Thanksgiving 11/27/24-11/29/24, Christmas Break: 12/23/24-1/1/25, & Memorial Day: 5/26/25.