Identify & Resolve Final Exam Time Conflicts Early

If you have not already done so, now is a good time to check your course syllabi to determine if you will encounter any time conflicts between your final exams at Blinn and A&M.

Even though you coordinated your Blinn and A&M class schedules to avoid time conflicts, it’s possible that you could have final exams scheduled for the same time at both schools. Final exams are not administered during normal class meeting times; your exams are likely to be held on different days, and at different times, than your classes meet during the semester.  It’s ALWAYS less stressful to resolve time conflicts in advance than at the last minute.

The final exam schedule for A&M is available here: http://registrar.tamu.edu/Courses,-Registration,-Scheduling/Final-Examination-Schedules#0-Fall2017

For the Blinn final exam schedule, go to:  http://www.blinn.edu:8765/cs.html?url=http%3A//www.blinn.edu/academics/blinn-final-exam-schedule.pdf&charset=iso-8859-1&qt=final+exam+schedule&col=blinn&n=1&la=en

If you discover that you have a final exam time conflict between Blinn and A&M, here is what to do:

1. Check the schedule of courses in Howdy and myBLINN to determine if either professor teaches more than just your section of that course.
2. If so, check the final exam schedule to see if a different section has its final exam scheduled for a time that would avoid a time conflict.
3. If so, contact the professor (in person) and explain your dilemma. Ask for permission to take the final exam with the other section.
4. If your professor wants a letter from your department to verify your request, let us know the details and we will gladly provide it.
5. If neither professor teaches more than one section, ask one or both if you can be allowed to take the final exam early.
6. If your professor agrees to allow you to test at an alternate time, it is recommended that you confirm this via email so that you will have a written record of the agreement.
7. If neither professor is willing to work with you, notify us of the details and we will appeal on your behalf.

If you have three or more exams scheduled for the same day:

TAMU Student Rule 8.4 states that A&M students are excused from taking three final exams on the same day. (Students are allowed to get one of them changed to a different day.) Most TEAM students are not enrolled in three A&M courses, so this rule rarely applies.  Additionally, there is no similar rule that protects Blinn students in this same way. However, if you discover that you have a total of three final exams scheduled for the same day between A&M and Blinn, please let your TAP advisor know so that we can assist with your appeal to your professors to have one of the final exam dates changed.

There have been incidents of students waiting until the end of the semester to discuss a final exam time conflict with professors. Some of those situations were not smoothly resolved. Especially during finals, be sure to check your email from both A&M and Blinn daily. If the location or time of an exam is changed at the last minute, you will be notified by email. There has been at least one incident in which a TEAM student missed a final exam because of failure to read email. The student was not allowed a retest because the student had been officially notified by email.

Beware Switching Schools During Course Sequences

TAP recommends that you complete any/all required course sequences for your intended major at the school where you initially enroll in the subject.  With registration approaching, now is the best time to address potential pitfalls of changing campuses (between A&M and Blinn) in the midst of a course sequence. If your intended major requires a sequence of courses in a given subject, please keep reading.

Examples of course sequences include (but are not limited to):
• CHEM 101/111 (1411), CHEM 102/112 (1412), CHEM 227/237 (2423), CHEM 228/238 (2425)
• SPAN 101 (1411), SPAN 102 (1412), SPAN 201 (2311), SPAN 202 (2312)
• MATH 151 (2413), MATH 152 (2414), MATH 251 (2415)

Perhaps the biggest consequence of changing campuses during a course sequence is when a student attempts to register for the subsequent course at a different campus. Below are several scenarios.

SCENARIO 1:  Worst Case Situation
This occurs when a first semester freshman is taking the initial course of a sequence at Blinn College and decides to take the subsequent course at A&M. For example, let’s say the student is taking Chemistry I at Blinn in the fall and decides to register for Chemistry II at A&M for the spring semester. The student will not be able to register for Chemistry II at A&M because the A&M system (“Howdy”) cannot verify that the student has completed (or is not currently completing) the prerequisite course at Blinn. Usually a TEAM student can avoid such a problem by requesting that Blinn send A&M a transcript before registration begins that shows Chemistry I in progress.  (Such a transcript received by A&M and posted in Howdy would allow the student to register for Chemistry II at A&M.)  However, Blinn does not send transcripts for students who have not yet completed any courses at Blinn. (If you think about it, this makes sense–why would a school send their transcript to another school showing that a student hasn’t completed any courses yet?)  First semester freshmen in this situation will be able to register for Chemistry II at A&M in January only after Blinn has sent a fall transcript to A&M showing that Chemistry I was completed.  (Exception:  First semester freshmen who completed dual-credit courses at Blinn College while in high school will be able to have a transcript sent to A&M during their first full-time semester.)

SCENARIO 2:  Most Common Situation
This occurs when a student is taking a course at A&M and decides to take the subsequent course at Blinn.  Let’s say the student is taking Calculus I at A&M and wants to take Calculus II at Blinn the following semester. The Blinn registration system (“myBLINN”) will not be able to verify that the student has completed (or is currently completing) the prerequisite course at A&M. Only after the semester has ended, and A&M has sent a transcript to Blinn showing that the student passed Calculus I, will the student be able to register for Calculus II. Of course, by that time there is a chance that Calculus II could have filled and become unavailable.  The Blinn system does not use “in progress” courses to satisfy prerequisites.

SCENARIO 3:  A Partial Solution
A third situation occurs if a TEAM student (not a first semester freshman) is taking a course sequence at Blinn College but decides to take the next course at A&M. For example, let’s say the student is taking the first Spanish course at Blinn in the fall and decides to register for the second Spanish course at A&M for the spring semester.  Texas A&M will allow the student to register for the second course in the sequence if Blinn has sent a transcript that shows the student is currently enrolled in the first Spanish course.  After a TEAM student’s first semester at Blinn, students may request (through myBLINN) that a transcript be sent to A&M showing in-progress courses.  These in-progress courses will satisfy prerequisites in Howdy for registration purposes.

Another reason for completing course sequences at the school where you started it is that you might not have as smooth a transition from one course to the next if you change schools.  The TAMU Admissions website states:  “Specific course equivalencies require review based upon the unique characteristics of each college and university and may differ from one institution to another.” This implies that courses with similar titles and content, although ruled “equivalent,” may differ slightly between schools.

 

 

 

Registration: Five-Step Prep

 

Registration for Blinn Spring 2018 courses will begin October 16! Now is the time to start planning your schedule, to include both Blinn and A&M courses.  Determination of appropriate Blinn and A&M courses for your Spring Schedule should be treated as a single process even though registration is done separately at each school.  Registration for A&M courses will begin in mid-November.  Below is a five-step process to help ensure you’re prepared.

1.  Identify Appropriate Courses.  The first step in preparing for registration is to identify appropriate courses for the Spring semester. There are at least four easy ways to identify the courses required for your intended academic major:

• Refer to the Undergraduate Degree Planner in Howdy (if you already completed it)
• Generate a “What If” Degree Evaluation in Howdy (instructions are available at tap.tamu.edu.)
• Reference your intended major in the Undergraduate Catalog (catalog.tamu.edu)
• Locate a one-page degree plan (“major-pager”) for your intended major on the department’s website

Undergraduate Degree Planner:  The Degree Planner is a tool within Howdy designed to help you plan courses and semesters in advance to facilitate timely graduation. Sophomores should already be familiar with this feature, but freshmen may not be aware of it. Instructions for the Degree Planner may be found here: https://howdy.tamu.edu/Inside/Guides/DegPlan.pdf. Additionally, Transition Academic Programs provides instructional sessions throughout the semester to help you learn to use the Degree Planner:

• Mondays 4:00pm -5:00 pm
• Tuesdays 8:30am-9:30am
• Wednesdays 10:00am -11:00am
• Thursdays 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Sign up for a session using http://ers.tamu.edu. You will need to bring a laptop or tablet to your session so you can work on your planner during the session.

Degree Evaluation:  A “What If” Degree Evaluation produced within Howdy provides a listing of course requirements for any specified major. It compares a student’s completed coursework, if any, (as listed on the A&M transcript) to the designated curriculum. It identifies the remaining courses needed to satisfy graduation requirements for that major. Instructions to produce a Degree Evaluation are located here: https://tap.tamu.edu/main/eval.aspx.

Undergraduate Catalog:  The online Undergraduate Catalog is probably the fastest way to locate a list of courses required for any major. Start by going to http://catalog.tamu.edu. Select the catalog that corresponds to your freshman year, i.e., current freshmen use the 2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog listed in the box to the right. Sophomores will have to access the 2016-2017 catalog by selecting “ARCHIVES” at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Next, from the drop-down menu on the right select the college that contains your intended major. Next, select “MAJORS” from the menu, followed by the specific major, followed by “PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.” A list of required courses for the specified major will appear.

Departmental Websites:  Many departments provide printable degree plans on their websites. You may have to do some searching because there is no standardization as to where departments place resources on their websites. Look under key words in the menus such as “undergraduate,” “curriculum,” “degree plans,” etc. Here is an example of a “major pager” downloadable from a departmental website for Biomedical Engineering: https://engineering.tamu.edu/biomedical/academics/degrees/undergraduate/bs. The Agricultural Economics Department’s options are provided here (click on the desired option): http://agecon.tamu.edu/undergraduate/current-students/curriculum/agec/.

2.  Check Course Prerequisites and Restrictions. After you have identified appropriate courses for your intended academic major, you need to determine which may have prerequisites or restrictions that will prevent your registration. Some courses are restricted to juniors/seniors only, or “majors only.” For example, only current Psychology majors may enroll in certain Psychology courses, and only current Business majors may enroll in certain Business courses. Such restrictions reserve these courses for the students who need them most.

Course restrictions and prerequisites are listed in the Blinn and A&M catalogs, in the Course Descriptions section. Once the Spring schedule has been prepared and the registration system enabled, students may check for prerequisites/restrictions in MyBLINN or Howdy, respectively. In MyBLINN, click on the CRN and then either the “Course Information” or “View Catalog Entry” links to check for prerequisite information. For A&M courses, click on the “Restrictions” link in Howdy for each course. Some sections of a course might be restricted, whereas other sections might be open to any student. Check the restrictions for each section.

3.  Create a “Wish List” of Courses.  After determining the courses required for your intended major, and checking for any restrictions, make a list of courses that would be appropriate for you to take next semester at either Blinn or A&M. The list should consist of courses that satisfy degree requirements, and should take into consideration advisor recommendations and previously completed course work. Believe it or not, some students have repeated courses because they couldn’t remember which AP or dual credits they completed in high school. Strive for a balance of subjects—don’t attempt too many “reading” or “numbers” courses simultaneously. Your list should include some back-up options in case you encounter time conflicts or unavailability issues with your primary course choices.

4.  Consult an Academic Advisor.  Students aren’t required to meet with an academic advisor, but advisors “exist to assist” so call on them! Waiting time to meet with an advisor is almost nonexistent right now, but as registration nears the wait could be two hours or more. See an advisor early! Students should create their course wish lists prior to meeting with an advisor. Take the list to your appointment and ask the advisor to review it. Also remember to print a Degree Evaluation for your intended major and take it to your advising appointment.

5.  Check for Registration Holds. Few things are as frustrating as attempting to register, only to be unable to do so due to a previously undiscovered registration hold. You can literally watch online as your desired course fills with other students. Some holds are not quickly resolved, so you need to check Howdy and myBLINN in advance to identify and clear holds that would prevent your registration.

The more you plan in advance, the smoother your registration process will go!

 

Online A&M Courses: They’re Not All the Same!

Many students choose to take some online courses at both Blinn and A&M. Your TAP advisors urge TEAM students to think carefully before taking online courses at A&M. The biggest benefit of the TEAM program is that it provides as many students as possible the chance to have the four-year Aggie experience. If your main A&M course is online you will miss out on the Texas A&M University classroom experience that semester.

There are three main reasons TEAM students sometimes choose to take online courses at A&M:

1. Students who commute from outside the local community minimize travel and save time by taking online courses.
2. Online courses can help students avoid scheduling conflicts—assignments can be accomplished any time around students’ other courses or jobs.
3. Often the traditional sections of a course are restricted to students who are currently in a particular major.  Students outside that major who want to experience a course in that subject must register for the unrestricted online section or wait until they have transitioned into that major before taking the course.

• Example: The regular section of Sport Management 304 is only available to current Sport Management majors, whereas the online section is available to students who are not yet Sport Management majors.
• Example: The regular section of Health 231 is only available to current Health majors, whereas the online section is available to students who are not yet Health majors.

Before students are able to register for online courses they may be required to update their “Distance Education Location” in Howdy. This is done in “My Record” within the “Registration” box:

Observant students will notice that there are two types of online courses listed in the Schedule of Courses—those that have a 500 series section number (usually 599), and those that have a 700 section number (usually 700). There are important distinctions between these types.

599 sections

• Online sections intended for students who are in the local area, so there might be a requirement to meet on campus during the course
• Campus fees are assessed

700 sections (“Distance Education”)

• Online sections intended for students who are away from campus (although students who are in the local area may still register unless otherwise restricted)
• No campus fees are assessed…so students who are ONLY registered for this course will not pay for, and not have access to, the Student Computing Centers, Student Health Center, Student Recreation Center, campus buses, and other campus services
• Students can purchase some campus services

Even though students who enroll in the 700 section of an online course avoid paying for campus services, there is a significant charge associated with taking a distance education course. This charge varies by college and/or department, ranging from a minimum of $40 per semester credit hour to a maximum of $550 per semester credit hour! This means a three-credit hour distance education course could have an additional charge of up to $1,650! (The average charge is about $250 per credit hour, or about $750 for a three-credit hour course.)

A chart that lists the distance education charge per semester credit hour for each college/department can be referenced here: http://sbs.tamu.edu/accounts-billing/tuition-fees/schedule/#DIST_ED_DIFF. If the student is only taking one A&M course, and that course is a 700 section, the student won’t be disadvantaged too much because the campus fees are not charged. However, if the student is taking other A&M courses along with a 700 section, that student pays BOTH the campus fees AND the distance education fees. This information is not widely known.

Occasionally we have encountered a few TEAM students who registered only for a three-credit hour 700 section course. These students later discovered that they were unable to use the Student Health Center or Student Recreation Center, or access other campus services. Had these students been enrolled in any other traditional courses they would have been charged campus fees and would have had access to all student services.

Bottom line:  Pay attention to the different types of online courses, particularly the financial aspects.

 

 

What TEAM Students Need to Know About 1-Credit Hour KINE Courses

Some TEAM Students are anxious to enroll in as many credit hours as possible at A&M, but the five credit hour limit per semester restricts them. Since most A&M courses are three-credit hours, and because there are very few two-credit hour courses, many TEAM students register for a one-credit hour Kinesiology (KINE) course. In fact, many students are currently registered for two KINE courses. There is a lot to know about these courses, to include how the grade type of the courses can affect grade point average (GPA), and “if, when, and how” students may change the grade type. If you are registered for a one-credit hour KINE course, please continue reading—this is important.

KINE 199:

• KINE 199 is called “Required Physical Activity.”  This can be confusing because KINE 199 is not a required course unless you are a Kinesiology major.
• It does not include any academic content but may involve mastery of the basic rules of a sport, or fundamentals of a physical activity (i.e., Running, Snow Skiing, Tennis, etc.).
• When you register for KINE 199 the default grade type is “satisfactory/unsatisfactory” (S/U), often called “pass/fail.”
• You may change the grade type from S/U to a “letter grade” between the 1^st and 60^th class day of the semester. (The last day this may be done for the Fall 2017 semester will be Friday, November 17^th.) Instructions for changing the grade type will be covered below.
• If a student takes KINE 199 “S/U”, and performs at a level that would have been equivalent to an A, B, or C, the student will receive a “satisfactory” grade (S) and this will not affect the GPA. However, if the student performs at a level that would have been equivalent to a grade of D the student will receive an unsatisfactory grade (U). This will have the same effect on the student’s GPA as making an F!
• Much of the grade in KINE 199 is based on attendance/participation.  Go to class!  These should be easy/fun grade points to earn.
• KINE 199 is one of the few courses at A&M that may be taken as many times as desired.
• KINE 199 might not fulfill any degree requirement for your intended major. This could be very important if you receive financial aid. Only courses that satisfy degree requirements in the intended major may be used to qualify a student to receive financial aid. To make this determination, run a degree evaluation in Howdy to see if KINE 199 will count as a general elective in your intended major. Instructions for performing a degree evaluation are linked on the TAP website at http://tap.tamu.edu.

KINE 198:

• KINE 198 is called “Health & Fitness Activity.” Part of the course includes graded academic content (think “health class”), and part of it involves participation in a physical fitness activity such as yoga, strength training, etc.
• When you register for KINE 198, by default you are taking it for a “letter grade” (A, B, C, etc.).  This is because the course includes graded academic content.
• Students have the option of changing the grade type to “satisfactory/unsatisfactory” (S/U), often called “pass/fail,” between the 1^st and 60^th class day of the semester. (The last day this may be done for the Fall 2017 semester will be Friday, November 17^th.) Instructions for changing the grade type will be covered below.
• As the semester progresses, if you think you are not on track to earn a grade of “A” (or possibly “B”), it would be to your benefit to change the grade type to S/U so your GPA will not be lowered. However, if a student changes the grade type to S/U and performs at a level that would have been equivalent to a letter grade of D, the student will receive an unsatisfactory grade (U) and this will have the same effect on the student’s GPA as making an F.
• Students may receive credit for KINE 198 only once while at A&M.
• KINE 198 might not fulfill any degree requirement for your intended major. This could be very important if you receive financial aid. Only courses that satisfy degree requirements in the intended major may be used to qualify a student to receive financial aid. To make this determination, run a degree evaluation in Howdy to see if KINE 198 will count as a general elective in your intended major. Instructions for performing a degree evaluation are linked on the TAP website at http://tap.tamu.edu.

KINE 120:

• KINE 120 is called “The Science of Basic Health and Fitness.” It counts as a single credit hour of University Core Curriculum (Life & Physical Sciences) for many majors. Be aware that some majors require specific science courses that do not include KINE 120.
• It provides an overview of the human body; scientific fundamentals of stress, fitness, nutrition, disease and drug use; and interdisciplinary focus on wellness and longevity. It also integrates a physical activity, such as aerobic running, Pilates, swimming, etc., centering on principles and applications of the scientific basis of conditioning.
• This course may only be taken for a letter grade.
• Students may receive credit for KINE 120 only once while at A&M.
• This course is not open to students who have completed KINE 223.

 

How to Change your KINE 199 or 198 grade type:

TAMU Student Rule 10.12 gives students the ability to change the grade type of their KINE 198 and 199 courses:

10.12 Students registered for KINE 198 and KINE 199, wishing to change the grade type from a graded course to S/U or from S/U to a graded course may do so by selecting the “My Record” tab on the Howdy website at http://howdy.tamu.edu, then by selecting “Change Kine 198/199 Grade Type” in the [“My Schedule”] box. All requests for KINE 198 and KINE 199 changes must be accomplished on or before the Q-drop deadline for the fall, spring or summer semester.

After you have selected your preferred grade type, be sure to click on the button to save the change. Past students who claimed to have changed their grade type within the allowed window, but did not do so successfully, have not been granted a change after the deadline. The student information system accurately records the date and time of all such activity. Make the change and then return to Howdy later to ensure your preference was saved.

Q-Dropping a one-credit hour KINE Course:

If you need to drop your KINE course, you must see your TAP academic advisor and initiate a Q-Drop. Student Rule 1.18.3 states: “Q-drops in one-hour courses [i.e., KINE 120, 198, 199] will not count in the Texas A&M limit of four but will be included in the State-mandated limit of six dropped courses.” Don’t let a KINE course grade damage your GPA!

Respect, an Aggie Core Value

TEAM Freshmen,

This is the TEAM Blog.  Items of interest will occasionally be posted here where they can be referenced.  However, always be careful about reading blog entries from previous years because rules and policies can change significantly from year to year.  Always contact a Transition Academic Programs advisor if unsure of any policy or rule.

Texas A&M University is a community of scholars that upholds  six core values.  The first value is “Respect.”  Please watch the 6 minute video (linked below) about respect at Texas A&M:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60hu03HJP-k

Registration Preparation Prevents Registration Frustration

Registration for Blinn Spring 2016 courses will begin October 19! It is best to plan your schedule, to include both Blinn and A&M courses, before that date. Determination of your Blinn and A&M courses should be treated as a single process even though registration is done separately. A&M registration will begin in mid-November.

Identify Appropriate Courses
Your first step in preparing for registration is to identify appropriate courses for the Spring semester.   There are at least four easy ways to identify the courses required for your desired academic major:
1. Refer to the Undergraduate Degree Planner in Howdy (if you already completed it)
2. Generate a Degree Evaluation in Howdy
3. Reference your preferred major in the Undergraduate Catalog
4. Locate a one-page degree plan (“major-pager”) on a departmental website

1. Undergraduate Degree Planner
The Degree Planner is a tool within Howdy designed to help you plan courses and semesters in advance to facilitate timely graduation. Sophomores should already be familiar with this feature, but freshmen may not have had the opportunity. Instructions for the Degree Planner may be found here: https://howdy.tamu.edu/Inside/Guides/DegPlan.pdf. Additionally, Transition Academic Programs provides instructional sessions throughout the semester to help you learn to use the Degree Planner:

• Mondays 9:00am-10:00am
• Tuesdays 8:30am-9:30am
• Wednesdays 10:30-11:30am
• Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm

Please sign up for a session using http://ers.tamu.edu. You will need to bring a laptop or tablet to your session so you can work on your planner during the session.

2. Degree Evaluation
A “What If” Degree Evaluation produced within Howdy provides a listing of course requirements for any specified major. It compares a student’s completed coursework, if any, (as listed on the A&M transcript) to the designated curriculum. It identifies the remaining courses needed to satisfy graduation requirements for that major. Instructions to produce a Degree Evaluation are located here: https://tap.tamu.edu/main/eval.aspx.

3. Undergraduate Catalog
The online Undergraduate Catalog is probably the fastest way to locate a list of courses required for any major. Start by going to http://catalog.tamu.edu. Select the catalog that corresponds to your freshman year, i.e., current freshmen use the 2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog listed in the box to the right. Sophomores will have to access the 2014-2015 catalog by selecting “ARCHIVES.”
Next, from the drop-down menu on the right select the college that contains your desired major. Next, select “MAJORS” from the menu, followed by the specific major, followed by “PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.” A list of required courses for the specified major will appear.

4. Departmental Websites
Many departments provide printable degree plans on their websites. You may have to do some searching because there is no standardization as to where departments place resources on their websites. Look under key words in the menus such as “undergraduate,” “curriculum,” “degree plans,” etc. Here is an example of a “major pager” downloadable from a departmental website for Biomedical Engineering: https://engineering.tamu.edu/biomedical/academics/degrees/undergraduate/bs. The Agricultural Economics Department’s options are provided here (click on the desired option): http://agecon.tamu.edu/undergraduate/current-students/curriculum/agec/.

Check Prerequisites and Restrictions
After you have identified appropriate courses for your desired academic major, you need to determine which may have prerequisites or restrictions that will prevent your registration. Some courses are restricted to juniors only, or “majors only.” For example, only current Psychology majors may enroll in certain Psychology courses, and only current Business majors may enroll in certain Business courses. Such restrictions reserve these courses for the students who need them most.
Course restrictions and prerequisites are listed in the Blinn and A&M catalogs, in the Course Descriptions section. Once the Spring schedule has been prepared and the registration system enabled, students may check for prerequisites/restrictions in MyBLINN or Howdy, respectively. In MyBLINN, click on the CRN and then either the “Course Information” or “View Catalog Entry” links to check for prerequisite information. In Howdy, click on the “Restrictions” link.

Create a “Wish List” of Courses
After determining the courses required for your major, and checking for any restrictions, make a list of courses that would be appropriate for you to take at both Blinn and/or A&M next semester. The list should consist of courses that satisfy degree requirements, and should take into consideration advisor recommendations and previously completed course work. Believe it or not, some students have repeated courses because they couldn’t remember which AP or dual credits they completed in high school. Strive for a balance of subjects—don’t attempt too many “reading” or “numbers” courses simultaneously. Your list should include some back-up options in case you encounter time conflicts or unavailability issues with your primary course choices.

Consult an Academic Advisor
Students aren’t required to meet with an academic advisor, but advisors “exist to assist” so call on them! Waiting time to meet with an advisor is almost nonexistent right now, but as registration nears the wait could be two hours or more. See an advisor early!
Students should create their wish lists prior to meeting with an advisor. Take the list to your appointment and ask the advisor to review it. Also remember to print a Degree Evaluation for your desired major and take it to your advising appointment.

Check for Registration Holds
Few things are as frustrating as being ready to register, only to be unable to do so due to a previously undiscovered registration hold. You can literally watch online as your desired course fills with other students. Some holds are not quickly resolved, so you need to check in advance to identify and clear holds that would prevent your registration.

The more you plan in advance, the smoother your registration process will go!

Getting Around Aggieland

As the semester begins, knowing how to get “where-you-need-to-be” is crucial!  Whether you’ll travel by Aggie Spirit transit bus, Blinn College shuttle, car, truck, motorcycle, scooter, bicycle, Segway, unicycle, skateboard, or foot, you need to learn the ropes and routes quickly.

Just as important as getting “where-you-need-to-be” is arriving “when-you-need-to-be-there.”   Blinn College has a strict attendance policy, and violators will be dropped from courses.  On both campuses, some professors may close their doors when class begins and not allow latecomers to enter and disrupt their lectures.  It’s better to be WAY EARLY than a minute late. (Hint: To avoid embarrassing confrontations, turn off and put away your cell phone as you enter the classroom. Few things irritate professors more than a student paying attention to a cell phone instead of a lecture.)

A&M Buses

During the first couple of weeks of each Fall semester, many new students at A&M experiment with the best modes of getting to class.  This Fall there’ll be more students than ever before trying to ride the A&M transit buses.  If you live off campus and dawdle about getting to the bus stop, you could be in trouble. In the mornings, once a bus is filled to capacity it won’t stop for you—there’s no more room and the driver knows no one will be exiting at an apartment complex that early.  If the next bus is also full…. You get the picture.  If you’re likely to have trouble making it to the bus stop early enough, it might be time to get yourself a new rooster! Be at your bus stop VERY early for the first few mornings.  During this period, some students may decide to commute by other means.  Before long you’ll be able to determine what time you need to be at the bus stop each day to reliably reach your destination on time.

If you’ll be riding an A&M bus you can determine the appropriate bus route by consulting the “Leave Times & Maps” page of the transport website for route information (http://transport.tamu.edu/busroutes/).  You can also call 979-847-RIDE for help in determining the appropriate route to reach your destination.  Remember to have your ID card handy—you may have to show it to board.

Make sure the bus stop near where you live is a designated Aggie Spirit bus stop with a route number displayed on the sign. A&M buses only stop at these specific locations. (Note: The route that connects Blinn and A&M is Route 12, also known as the “Reveille” route.) When the bus arrives, enter through the front doors; the rear doors serve as the exit. If no seats are available, stand in the aisle behind the yellow line in the front of the bus. Never occupy the stairwells when the bus is in motion.

Buses don’t always stop. If no students are waiting for the bus at a particular stop, the driver will keep going unless a passenger pulls the cord in advance to indicate a need to de-board at the next opportunity. Pull the cord far enough in advance so the driver can execute a safe stop.

Pay attention. Anticipate arrival at your destination. Once the bus has pulled away from a stop the driver can’t let anyone else off. When you reach your stop, take all of your belongings and exit through the rear doors.   Walk behind the bus and use crosswalks to cross streets. This is important! City traffic doesn’t stop for A&M buses like the law requires for “yellow dog” school buses. Additionally, please realize that drivers off campus are not accustomed to students jaywalking in front of traffic the way students often do on campus.

Blinn Shuttle 

If you’re at Blinn and need to get to the “Tejas Shopping Center” location, Blinn College offers a free shuttle. The Central Administrative Services Building is now located at 3125 South Texas Ave., Suite 1900. There students can meet with Admissions & Records, Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, Veterans Services and Academic Advising.

The shuttle will operate from 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.  The bus will pick up and drop off students in 30-minute intervals. Catch the shuttle at the Texas A&M Bus Stop located at the rear exit of the Student Center on the Blinn campus. Students must have a Blinn ID to ride the shuttle. Students who use the Central Administrative Services Building will receive a token that will allow them to ride the bus back to the Blinn campus.

Historical Notes:

An early attempt to provide transportation services for students between the A&M campus and Bryan was known as the “Interurban Jitney. ” It began in 1916, but by 1919 the decision had been made to discontinue it. One account mentioned that passengers had to occasionally get out and push the vehicle so it could top a rise along the route.

Buses at Aggieland have come a long way:

The ad above is from the June 2, 1942 edition of The Battalion.  The bus is pictured near Hotard Hall, not far from what is now a stop on the Reveille Route to Blinn College.

Beware Inappropriate Schedules & Non-transferable Courses!

The TAMU-Blinn TEAM Program observes certain standards about enrollment.  It’s important to ensure that your Blinn College and Texas A&M University class schedules comply with the TEAM contract before the semester gets underway.  Remember that the long term target for full admission from the program is 45 Blinn credits with 3.0 GPA, and 15 A&M credits with 3.0 GPA.

Did you know that Blinn College offers many courses that DO NOT transfer to A&M?

You need to be registered for at least 12 total credit hours each semester that are acceptable to A&M.  This total refers to your transferable Blinn credits plus A&M credits.  Ensure that all Blinn courses for which you are registered were suggested by an advisor, reviewed by an advisor, or that you have personally confirmed course transferability using the TAMU Transfer Course Equivalency website  (https://compass-ssb.tamu.edu/pls/PROD/bwxkwtes.P_TransEquivMain?te_type=crse).

Courses that do not transfer from Blinn to A&M include some that are “developmental” in nature.  These courses begin with a zero (i.e., MATH 0312).  Others that do not transfer are part of Blinn’s vocational and technical programs (i.e., courses that lead to a certification in a career area, such as Radiologic Technology).

In the example below, the Course Equivalency website indicates that History 1301 at Blinn College is equivalent to History 105 at Texas A&M:

In the example below, the vocational course ACNT 1303 (Introduction to Accounting I) is non-transferable to A&M. Don’t confuse this course with ACCT 2301 (Principles of Financial Accounting), which is equivalent to A&M’s Accounting 229.

One other possibility is that a course can be transferable to A&M, but not equivalent to any particular course at A&M.  An example is ARTS 1301 (Art Appreciation).  The credit hours for ARTS 1301 are transferable (and will count for TEAM purposes), but A&M does not offer this course.  ARTS 1301 will usually count as a general elective, or might (no guarantee) be substitutable in some majors for other degree requirements.  As a general rule, avoid taking a course that does not have equivalency with an A&M course.

 What is an Appropriate Class Schedule for TEAM?

Everyone must be enrolled for a minimum of three credit hours at A&M, in the form of a “solid course.” Solid courses are in “academic” subject areas (as opposed to vocational or technical) such as Mathematics, History, etc.  Solid courses also satisfy core curriculum or degree requirements.  If your desired curriculum allows any general electives, you may take a three-hour or four-hour course that counts as an elective.  ROTC courses, and/or courses that are not three or more credit hours, do not count as solid academic courses for TEAM purposes.  Stated another way, it is not the mere enrollment in three credit hours that is most important; enrollment in a solid academic course (which by definition is at least three credit hours) is what is essential to TEAM rule compliance.  (Members of the Corps of Cadets should take their four-credit hour courses at Blinn College to keep their Blinn hour total on track, due to having to take extra credit hours at A&M each semester for ROTC.)

There is no minimum hour requirement for enrollment at Blinn, but your A&M credits plus Blinn credits must total at least 12 each semester. The goal is for students to average 15 credits per semester to stay on track for a timely graduation.

TEAM students are normally limited to a maximum of five A&M credit hours per semester.  It is advisable to add a one-credit hour “spare” course to your schedule, even if the spare doesn’t satisfy a particular requirement.  This is because TEAM students who take only one course, and later have to drop it to avoid a low grade, are actually withdrawn from the university.  Withdrawing would mean an end to attendance at Aggie sports events, on-campus residency, entry to the Student Recreation Center, etc.  However, if the student had added a “spare” one-credit hour A&M course, a Q-drop would be possible because the student would still be enrolled in a course after dropping the troublesome course.  Thus, eligibility for A&M student privileges would continue for the remainder of the semester, and major, mid-semester lifestyle changes would be avoided.

One-credit hour courses tend to fill quickly, however, if you monitor course availability in Howdy you may be able to find an opening as students make schedule changes.  You will be able to make schedule adjustments at A&M through the fifth class day, whereas all schedule adjustments at Blinn must be concluded before the semester begins.

 

Registration Approaching!

You’ve just gotten into the swing of things and have encountered perhaps just one exam in each of your courses. Registration for Spring isn’t on your mind, but it should be!  Blinn registration starts October 20!

Think back to a couple of recurring phrases you heard during your new student orientation:  “Seek advising early to avoid the rush,” and “You’re enrolled at two separate schools, so there are two different rules.” This explains the nonstandard timing of Blinn’s and A&M’s registration periods.  (A&M registration for sophomores and freshmen starts on November 24^th and 26^th respectively.)

Even though enrollment at the two schools is accomplished independently, registration for your classes should be approached as a single process. Don’t pick your Blinn courses and then ask what you should take at A&M. Instead, identify all of the courses you should take next semester (plus a couple of back-up choices), and then decide which one you’ll try to take at A&M. Register for all the others at Blinn.

Early October is the time to see an academic advisor if you have questions about course selection. Waiting until the last few days before registration will mean long waits of up to two hours. In some cases, students may have to return the following day to see an advisor. Avoid the rush; seek advising now!

Advising waiting area in Hotard Hall just prior to registration

Q: How can I determine which courses I need to take for my desired major?

A: There are several ways to determine your needed courses. In all cases, pay special attention to your catalog number. Freshmen are assigned to Catalog 137 and Sophomores are under Catalog 136.  The core curriculum requirements are significantly different between these two catalogs.  

1. Produce a “What If” degree evaluation for your intended major in Howdy.
2. Complete the Undergraduate Degree Planner in Howdy.
3. Explore the departmental website of your intended major. Many departments provide a one-page summary of the curriculum (“Major Pager”).
4. Look in the Undergraduate Catalog (http://catalog.tamu.edu) for a recommended plan for your desired major.
5. Consult your academic advisor.

Note: Pay attention to prerequisites and sequencing of courses.

Q: Where should I go for advising?

A: Unless you have a registration hold pertaining to advising, meeting with an advisor is optional.  However, academic advisors “exist to assist.”  You do not have to meet with both a Blinn advisor and an A&M advisor! Remember, identification of your next semester’s courses should be done as a single process, not separately.

As a TEAM student enrolled at two schools, you have double the advising options of most students. However, Blinn’s 12,000+ students will register before registration begins at A&M. You may discover that it will be easier to meet with an A&M advisor before October 20 since A&M registration is still two months away.

The Transition Academic Programs (TAP) advisors are your TEAM advisors at A&M. The TAP office is adequately staffed with advisors based primarily on meeting the advising needs of TEAM students. If you try to meet with departmental advisors of your intended academic major at A&M, don’t be surprised if you are turned away—their primary job is to advise their current students, not prospective students.

TAP advisors are currently available on a walk-in basis in Hotard Hall (third floor) Monday through Friday 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. Afternoon appointments are available and may be reserved on the TAP website (https://tap.tamu.edu/default.aspx).   A TAP advisor is also available on the Blinn campus in S-157 each morning from 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. (except Thursdays). No appointment is needed on the Blinn campus to meet with a TAP advisor, but check the TAP website to determine walk-in versus appointment availability in Hotard Hall. (These hours change during the semester based on anticipated demand.)

Q: How should I prepare for meeting with an academic advisor?

A: You need to self-identify appropriate courses for your intended major.   The best way to do this is to produce a “What If Degree Evaluation” (also called a “Degree Audit”) in Howdy. Instructions for producing the evaluation are found on the Transition Academic Programs website, see: https://tap.tamu.edu/Main/eval.aspx.

This Howdy program compares your previous coursework against the curriculum for any major that you choose, making identification of the remaining courses a simple task. Be aware that the report will take into account your in-progress A&M courses, but will not include your in-progress Blinn courses. (You’ll have to mentally subtract these from the report to determine what’s left to take.)

Next, you should read course descriptions and check for registration restrictions, such as prerequisites or classification limitations (i.e., juniors only, majors only, etc.). This will help you determine the proper timing and sequence of the courses identified by the Degree Evaluation. Bring the Degree Evaluation with you when you meet with an advisor.

Q:  How do I conceptualize my schedule(s)?

A:  Think of your upcoming Blinn and A&M Spring schedules as a single integrated plan, not as two separate processes. After first identifying appropriate courses (as described above), compile a “shopping list” of courses that would work for you in the Spring. List more courses than you will actually take so that you have some back-ups in case a time conflict or non-availability is encountered during registration. Finally, decide which one academic course will be your primary A&M course. Register for the others at Blinn.

Be sure to leave space (including travel time) in your Blinn schedule to accommodate your course(s) at A&M. (Remember that it is always wise to add a one or two credit hour course at A&M to your schedule. In the unforeseen situation of having to Q-drop your academic course, the “extra” course would keep you enrolled for the remainder of the semester.)   Good extra courses include KINE 198, 199, or 120, and introductory courses offered by some colleges, such as AGLS 101 (for future Agriculture & Life Science majors).  Another option might be STLC 101 (if you need to improve your college success skills).

Q: What should I consider when selecting my main A&M course?    

A: Your GPA at A&M is more volatile than at Blinn because you take fewer courses at A&M. Therefore, choose an A&M course in a subject of your strengths or interests. Research A&M grade distributions for courses and professors from previous semesters here: http://registrar.tamu.edu/facultystaff/report/default.aspx. Some departments prefer to see TEAM students take a challenging course pertaining to your intended major at A&M, rather than an elective or a comparatively easy elective or arts course. One department that  insists upon this is Petroleum Engineering—they want to see you complete MATH or PHYS at A&M.

Q: When is registration at A&M? Can I register early if I have a documented disability or a job?

A: At A&M, students who are registered with Disability Services will begin registration slightly ahead of others. For A&M registration only, students who work on or off campus a minimum of twelve (12) hours between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday are allowed to preregister for their classes earlier than the general student population so they can schedule their classes around their work schedules. Student workers should have already been instructed about the process for requesting an early registration time.

Q: How can I determine the specific time I will be able to register at A&M?

A: For your specific Registration Time Assignment at A&M, refer to Howdy (MyRecord Tab) when registration is near:

Q: What happens if I’m currently taking a prerequisite course at one school and need to take the subsequent course at the other?

A: A&M has adjusted the Howdy system to recognize prerequisites based on “In-Progress” Blinn courses. However, your In-Progress Blinn courses must be listed in Howdy for this to work. If you plan to take a course at A&M for which you are currently taking the prerequisite at Blinn, send a Blinn transcript to A&M now to avoid problems. Use the online Blinn Transcript Request feature located here: http://blinn.edu/admissions/transcripts.php. If you are planning to take a course at Blinn in the Spring for which you are currently taking the prerequisite at A&M, send an email to tap-blinnteam@tamu.edu that includes the following: Your name, Blinn ID number, Course title, Section and CRN.