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Q: How can I get help with my writing or public speaking assignments?
A: The University Writing Center provides consultants with College Reading and Learning Association certification to help you with any writing or public speaking project at any stage. 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 online appointment, or you can send in your work for an online review by going to writingcenter.tamu.edu For the most up-to-date information about all UWC services, please consult the UWC website at https://writingcenter.tamu.edu/
Q: What type of Tutoring does the Higher Education Center offer?
A: Tutoring is available in highly-requested, core-curriculum courses and in a number of subjects. You can expect to receive assistance for your immediate tutoring needs and acquire the tools necessary to take charge of your future learning. mcallen.tamu.edu/tutoring
Q: What is an Academic Coach and how can they make my life better?
A: Academic coaching combines aspects of advising and counseling into a dynamic and personal interaction between a student and a coach. Academic coaches work holistically to help students examine their learning preferences, study strategies and barriers to academic success. Students are encouraged to create and implement effective plans, and strategies for future success. Coaching is conducted one-on-one via in person and online resources, but we also offer coaching for small groups.
Make a Coaching Appointment
Go to Navigate.
Make sure to select the correct “semester/term” at the top right of the page (Ex. Fall 2021).
Access “Get Assistance” Banner on the right side of the page.
Select “Advising Texas A&M University” as the appointment type.
Select "Higher Education Center at McAllen" as the college/reason for appointment type.
Select the specific reason for the visit “HECM Academic Coaching Initial Appt"
Pick appointment by First Available in a preferred block of time.
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: How do I find my academic advisor?
A: https://mcallen.tamu.edu/Structure/HECM-Faculty-and-Staff#profile-staff
Q: I want to change my major and the major I want is not available at the Higher Education Center at McAllen. What do I do?
A: Visit with the advisors at the McAllen campus and they will refer you to Transition Academic Programs, if applicable.
Academic Advising and Financial Aid Team
Advisor: Sandra Rosas (ENGR) | sandra.rosas@tamu.edu Navigate: https://tamu.campus.eab.com/pal/w3ABCqTilQ
Advisor: Josette Gonzalez (BIMS) | josettegonzalez@tamu.edu Navigate: http://tamu.campus.eab.com/pal/_vhP2JvHLs
Advisor: Wesley Swanson (AGEC, COSC, PHLT) | jwswanson@tamu.edu Navigate: http://tamu.campus.eab.com/pal/0L3qPA2Cx7
Advisor: Eva Magallan (NURS)| magallan@tamu.edu Navigate: pending
Fin Aid: Valeria Quintanilla | ycardona91@tamu.edu Navigate: N/A
Q: With classes being online what is the best way to maintain Academic Integrity?
A: Read your syllabus, ask your faculty if you have any questions, do NOT assume work can be done in collaboration with students or that you can seek information from the internet even if the assignment is open note, open book
Q: How many definitions of Academic Misconduct are there?
A: 9 - 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: Who can turn a student in?
A: Faculty, staff and other students - Don’t worry, student reports ARE anonymous.
Q: Will I get kicked out of school?
A: It depends on the allegation and how many times the behavior has occurred. If you commit either one of these academic misconduct definitions, it’s highly likely you will get an F* in the course.
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 process.
Q: What’s an F*?
A: A student who is assessed a grade of “F*” shall have it documented on his/her transcript with the notation “FAILURE DUE TO ACADEMIC DISHONESTY” or other similar language approved by the Director for the Aggie Honor System Office. It is recorded by the Office of the Registrar immediately upon a finding of academic dishonesty. The grade of F* is intended to denote that the student has been penalized for failing to uphold the values of academic integrity at Texas A&M University. It shall be treated in the same way as an F for the purposes of calculating the Grade Point Ratio and determination of academic standing. A student with an F* is automatically on Honor Violation Probation.
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: How do I get off of Honor Violation Probation?
A: The student may file a written petition to the AHSO to have the grade of F* removed and permanently replaced with the grade of F. The decision to remove the grade of F* shall rest with the Director of the AHSO and is contingent upon the successful completion of the Academic Integrity Development Program (AIDP). The Director’s decision is final. A student will remain on Honor Violation Probation until the F* is removed from the transcript. Additionally, the F* grade, or the F that remains when the “*” designation is removed, will not be eligible for any grade forgiveness or replacement action, and it must be considered in the calculation of a student’s Grade Point Ratio. Students who receive an “F*” will not be allowed to remove the asterisk from their degree plan until the successful completion of the AIDP. Both Undergraduate and Graduate students are not allowed to remove an “F” from a degree program, regardless of whether it was imposed for cheating or academic failure. A student who wishes to re-take the course may do so concurrently with the AIDP.
Q: What rights do accused students have?
A: All charges shall be presented to the accused student in written form. The accused student will be given at least 3 University business days to prepare for a hearing. 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. Honor Council Hearings which may result in University mandated separation from the University shall be conducted by the following guidelines. Accused students subject to less severe sanctions may, at the discretion of the Director of the Aggie Honor System Office, be afforded but are not guaranteed the same guidelines. For additional information on student’s rights please visit our website: https://aggiehonor.tamu.edu/Rules-and-Procedures/Procedures/Adjudication-Process#Student%20Rights
Q: What if my Faculty decides to handle my case Autonomously?
A: Remember faculty members must present the alleged misconduct to the student either via email or in person. If a faculty wants to handle the case Autonomously, you have the right to visit with them prior to them officially turning in the case to discuss the allegation and intended sanction, again either in person or via email. Once the faculty has filed the case in our office as an Autonomous case, then you have the right to decide whether you agree with both the finding of responsibility of academic misconduct and the sanction; if you agree with the finding of responsibility of academic misconduct but want to appeal the sanction; or if you disagree with the finding of responsibility of academic misconduct.
If you decide that you agree with both the finding of responsibility of academic misconduct and the sanction then you will sign a student response form and the case is essentially closed, pending the sanction(s). If you decide that you agree and accept responsibility for academic misconduct but do not agree with the sanction, then you will acknowledge on your student response form that you wish to appeal your sanction. Note that with appealing your sanction you can only appeal on the basis of sanction not commensurate. This means you believe the sanction is too harsh for the violation in which you have accepted responsibility for. Finally, if you believe academic misconduct did not occur, then you will need to elect to send it through the Honor Council panel for a full review of the case.
Q: A Faculty accused me of cheating but I didn’t do it. What are my options?
A: Again if the Faculty has decided to handle the case Autonomously, then 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.
Q: What library resources are available to students at McAllen?
A: McAllen students can access many of the same resources as students in College Station. They have access to over 1,000 online databases, including many eBooks and scholarly articles, and can also have physical books and movies sent to them in McAllen using Get It For Me - free of charge. To get help using the libraries, contact Ask Us or the McAllen library liaison.
Q: Are there any textbooks for check-out at the Higher Education Center?
A: Yes! We have some textbooks on course reserve. These materials can only be checked out for two hours at a time. Stop by the Information Booth to check-out.