Table of Contents
Q: What is academic advising?
A: Academic advising is a collaboration between a student and an academic advisor. Through teaching and learning experiences, the student sets goals, acquires information and services, and makes decisions consistent with interests, goals, abilities and degree requirements. https://catalog.tamu.edu/undergraduate/general-information/services/#sfs-academic-advising
Q: Who is my advisor?
A: All incoming, all students under 30 credit hours, all first time in college students (regardless of credit hours), and General Academic students are required to meet with an Academic Advisor in the Center for Academic Learning Support each semester of the first year. Students are assigned an advisor by major. Students above 30 credit hours and not considered a first time in college student will meet with an advisor in their Academic Department.
Q: Where are the advisors located?
A: Advisors in the Center for Academic Learning Support are physically located on the 2nd floor of MAIN in the Seibel Learning Center suite. They can also be reached at the Ask Ags Helpdesk via ZOOM. We are open Monday-Friday from 8:00am -5:00pm
Q: How can I schedule an appointment with my advisor?
A: All appointments are scheduled through Navigate.
Q: What type of Learning support does CALS offer and where are tutors?
A:The Center for Academic Learning Support hosts programs that tutor, guide, and help support you across most courses in all disciplines. You can expect to receive assistance for your immediate tutoring needs and acquire the tools necessary to take charge of your future learning. Programs are hosted across Jack K. Williams Library and the Siebel Learning Center (2nd floor of MAIN). http://tamug.edu/cals.
Q:What is a Navigate?
A: Navigate is the primary support service scheduling system used at Texas A&M University, including on the Galveston Campus. Students can utilize Navigate to book appointments for all CALS services, as well as with a number of other areas across campus (departmental advising, etc). Think of it as a one-stop shop for finding all types of academic support by subject area, type of support, or location. Additional information and how-to resources can be found at https://www.tamug.edu/cals/navigate.html
Q: Does CALS have services that can help with transfer students?
A: Transferring to a university this size provides opportunity and challenges. We recognize that transfer students are not new to the college experience; however, that doesn't mean they won't have any questions, need support, face unique challenges, or want allies to help them navigate a new campus and campus culture as they join the Aggie community. Our goal is to facilitate that transition.
Q: What is academic coaching?
A: Coaching is a proactive service to learn new techniques, skills and strategies. Most importantly, coaching allows you the opportunity to learn more about yourself to grow as a stronger student and individual. Academic coaching is a collaborative process between the student, academic coach, and campus resources to build value to their education and self. Each coaching session is tailored to the individual student’s needs.
Q: How can academic coaching help me?
A: Academic coaching can help in different transition periods throughout college through providing additional support to develop critical academic skills such as time management, goal setting, reflection, learning preferences, study skills, communication, and more. Academic coaches can help you examine challenges or barriers you may be experiencing in order to help you create personal action plans to own your education and success.
Q: Is coaching the same as tutoring?
A: No. Coaching does not directly assist you with course content, instead coaching aims to assist students in developing themselves holistically to be best prepared to market their skills and passion throughout their academic careers and into their future endeavors. Professional academic coaches and trained peer coaches will utilize student development theory to engage students and empower them through the stages of college.
Q: Is coaching the same as counseling?
A: No. Academic coaches are not trained mental health professionals.
Q: Who can go to coaching?
A: Anyone!
Q: How can I schedule an appointment with Academic Coaching?
A: You can schedule an appointment with coaching through Navigate.
Peer Coaching Appointments are located under the Peer Mentoring Center → GV-Center for Academic Learning Support. You can then select your reason for an appointment and preferred meeting type (in-person or virtual).
Professional Academic Coaching Appointments are located under the TAMU Galveston Advising - GV-Center for Academic Learning Support. You can then select a coaching service reason.
Click here for additional details on using Navigate. If you have trouble scheduling or you do not see appointments during a time you need support, email coaching@tamug.edu
Q: Do I need to schedule an appointment?
A: Peer and professional coaches will have drop-in hours available throughout the weeks in informal environments on campus and virtually. You can find drop-in hours on Navigate.
Q: What is an early alert?
A: The early alert program partners with classes that are known to provide challenges to our students. Through the early alert program, we work with your faculty members to identify students who may need additional support at specific times during the semester. The early alert program is not a statement that you are failing or will fail your course, but offer you the opportunity to talk with professional and peer coaches to learn new success strategies to approach these situations.
Q: I received an early alert notification, what should I do?
A; If you received an early alert notification we recommend that you schedule an appointment to meet with a peer coach or professional coach using Navigate Referral Appointment. The coaches are available to talk through the semester and help you brainstorm strategies, action plans, and connect to relevant and timely resources for success.
Q: What are these programs?
A: Course Support is for students who are working to be the best in their field, reach for a higher GPA, and better understand course concepts. Each session gives students individualized attention that they don't get in a crowded classroom, identifies a person's knowledge gaps, and improves understanding of difficult course material. These tutoring and study sessions are hosted in a relaxed, come-and-go as needed, 1-on-1 or small-group format by a trained student Learning Consultant who has taken and excelled in the course.
Guided Group Study provides regularly-scheduled, out-of-class group study sessions known as Supplemental Instruction (SI) for select undergraduate courses, led by an SI Leader. SI leaders, undergraduates who have taken and excelled in the courses they lead, can help you master course content and prepare for quizzes, exams and class projects through interactive study techniques and gamification that practice and reinforce the most critical and difficult course concepts in a fun and creative way. These sessions are hosted in a relaxed, attend once a week as needed, large-group format, 1-hour sessions that repeat 3-4 times each week.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: It’s free!
Q: What types of course support are there?
A: We offer:
1-on-1 tutoring where students can meet individually with one of our Course Learning Consultants in 30 minute sessions to ask questions about course content and practice example problems.
Small group tutoring where Students can meet with one of our Course Learning Consultants along with other students in their class in sessions to ask questions about course content and practice example problems
Guided Group Study sessions that allow groups of up to 30 students to attend, but design activities around individuals, pairs, and small groups.
Q: Are all courses supported?
A: We cover a majority of the critical foundation courses required for each degree such as Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, History, Mathematics, Maritime Transportation, Physics, Political Science, Statistics, and more!
Our embedded Course Consultants will introduce themselves and their services to each class they support.
Q: When does tutoring occur?
A: Sunday-Thursday: 2:00 PM- 11:00 PM
Q: Where is tutoring located?
A: In the Jack K. Williams Library and/or on TAMU Zoom. Check Navigate for specific session room assignments or hyperlinks.
Q: How do I schedule an appointment?
A: Navigate is the primary support service scheduling system used at Texas A&M University, including on the Galveston Campus. Students can utilize Navigate to book appointments for all CALS services, as well as with a number of other areas across campus (departmental advising, etc). https://www.tamug.edu/cals/navigate.html
Q: Do I have to have an appointment?
A: Tutoring priority given to appointments; walk-ins welcome. Supplemental Instruction is walk-in only.
Q: How many definitions of Academic Misconduct are there?
A: See the Aggie Honor System Office website for additional information on what those 9 are: https://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/Rules-and-Procedures/Rules/Honor-System-Rules
Q: Can I turn in an assignment that I did for credit in another class?
A: No, this is known as Multiple Submission. A&M wants to make sure that all work is original and new. Your faculty want to know what it is you learned and you cannot show that if you submit the same work. This also includes writing assignments, homework assignments, group projects etc.
Q: Do you have any examples of Academic Misconduct?
A: Yes, we have examples of some case studies: https://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/Case-Studies
Q:What’s most likely to happen to me if I get caught:
A: The university states the result for a first offense violation should be an F* in the course. Know that your Faculty can handle cases by themselves and can choose a sanction they believe is responsive to violation so they can choose anything from a 0 on the assignment up to an F*. This is known as the Autonomous process. If Faculty decide to handle a case Autonomously, they are required to seek the student's input, either through email or in person. It is important for you to participate in this process and have a conversation on appropriate sanctioning. The Faculty can also send it straight to the Honor Council if they believe it’s too difficult to determine whether or not misconduct occurred.
Q: If the case is sent through the Honor Council, will I automatically be found responsible?
A: No. Sending it to the Honor Council does not mean you will automatically be found responsible for misconduct; rather, it’s an opportunity for you to engage in the full
Q: What’s Honor Violation Probation?
A: It’s a designation letting the university know that you are not in good standing. You cannot order your Aggie Ring, get your diploma, represent the university to anyone outside of the university, and you cannot hold leadership positions. There are a lot of things you cannot do while on Honor Violation Probation, so please see our website: https://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/Rules-and-Procedures/Rules/Sanctions#HVP
Q: A Faculty accused me of cheating but I didn’t do it. What are my options?
A: You can elect to send the whole case through to the Honor Council Panel. During the Honor Council Panel you will have an opportunity to present information and or tell the panel your account of the allegation. In all honor council proceedings, the accused student shall be presumed not responsible until it is proven that a violation of the University rules occurred by a preponderance of the information standard.
For additional information on student’s rights please visit our website: https://www.tamug.edu/studentrules/Aggie_Code_of_Honor.html
Q: What are the hours of the Library?
A: During the Fall and Spring semesters the Library is open 7 days a week. Current hours are listed for Fall and Spring. During the summer the Library is open 8am-5pm Monday through Friday.
Q: How do you book a study room in the library?
A: Navigate
Q: Can you get textbooks from the library?
A: The Library puts most textbooks on course reserves for short-term checkout (two to four hours). Search for your textbook in the search box on the library homepage, and you’ll see if we have your textbook or you can come to the front desk of the Library to inquire.
Q: How can I get help from the library?
A: There are several ways that you can get help! You can get in-person help by walking into the Library and asking for help at the front desk. You can also get help by emailing the Director, Dr. David Baca, at bacad@tamug.edu. You can also meet with a Research Consultant to help with using Library resources and services. You can book an appointment through Navigate.
Q: How can I get a job in the library?
A: Go the TAMU Human Resources page and fill out an application for open Library jobs.
Q: How can I get help with my writing or public speaking assignments?
A: Need someone to read over a draft or hear you practice your speech? Want to make sure your slides are clear or your grammar is correct? Need help with interpreting an assignment and thinking up what to say? Want ideas on revising your work? You can make an appointment to meet with a consultant, either face-to-face or online
Writing Services are in Library 107A, along with other 1-to-1 course support services. The Studio is in Library 114. To make an appointment for writing, research, presentation, or video assistance, or for any other course support services go to the Center for Academic Learning and scroll down to Schedule Appointments.
Q: When can I use the Writing Lab?
A: Monday-Thursday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Saturday: CLOSED
Sunday: 6:00 PM- 10:00 PM
Q: When can I use the Studio?
A: By appointment only through Navigate.