Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

  1. How do we go about accessing the Credit Union or local banks for out of state students?
  2. Is there any type of limo service to get to the airport for out of town students?
  3. How do you get a boat pass for my son? And is there a fee for that?
  4. Are there opportunities for students to work either on campus or off campus?
  5. Are all students allowed to use the P.E. facility?
  6. Regarding bus transportation, what is available for students on campus to go to town?  What if my student needs to get to the bank, etc.

Student Activities 

  1. Do you have a choir for students?
  2. Are there intramural sports available?
  3. Do they have any organized transportation to go to College Station during the football season?
  4. Do evening classes impact a student's ability to participate in extracurricular activities?

Dining Services

  1. If a student purchased a meal plan, and feels more meals are required, can the meal plan be changed, whether an increase or decrease?
  2. You talked about bonus meals on their meal plan, how many are you talking about?
  3. What are the hours of the cafeteria?
  4. If they go to College Station, can they use their meal plan there?
  5. If I am a visiting parent, can I eat in the cafeteria?
  6. Which meal plan is the most commonly selected by students?
  7. Who can use the guest meals?
  8. Can a student eat any combination of meals using the any 5 or any 10 meal plan?
  9. Can the meal plan be used in the Galley?
  10. Does Dining Services offer an alternative for students on a meal plan that may be off campus for the day, a class assignment, field trip, etc.?
  11. Can Dining Services accommodate special requirements for diets, allergies, etc.?
  12. Can a student with a special dietary need be exempted from the requirement to purchase a meal plan?

Hurricanes

  1. How often have we evacuated the campus due to a storm or hurricane?
  2. What is the evacuation route in the event of a storm and if it is blocked off, what other route can they take?
  3. If they evacuate, do we ask the students to pack their belongings or is there something we provide for storage?
  4. What type of internal communication is used to get the word out to the campus community?

Security

  1. Regarding security what about the patio doors, are they secure enough?
  2. Are the Pelican Island Private Apartments monitored by the Campus Police and do they have Resident Advisors?
  3. What if my student loses their parking permit?
  4. What should a student do if he/she receives a campus ticket?
  5. Can the students call the police for other things besides security matters?

Computing and Information Services

  1. Are we set up for wireless connection on campus?
  2. Do you recommend a laptop over a desktop?
  3. What type of computer would be recommended?
  4. Which operating system do we need to get for the Ethernet?
  5. If they are going to be in the Pelican Island apartments, will they have internet access?
  6. If a student has programs already on their computer, do they still have to purchase the license package that the university offers?
  7. If you have a Macintosh and have an Ethernet, can they be used here?
  8. Are owners of Macintosh computers able to get the same discounted licensed software?
  9. If a student is living at home and currently has a cable modem, will he/she be able to access the internet and e-mail?
  10. Is Microsoft Office required software?
  11. Student Software License for Microsoft Office
  12. Student Email accounts at TAMUG (Galveston) and TAMU ( College Station Mandatory account for online billing)

Bookstore

  1. When should a student purchase his/her textbooks?
  2. Do they need their receipt for books if they change classes?
  3. I was told that some professors require books that students don't need. Can we return these textbooks?
  4. What is the estimated cost of textbooks?
  5. Are gift cards available from the bookstore?
  6. Can financial aid be used to pay for textbooks?
  7. Can a student wait to purchase his/her textbooks on the first class day?
  8. What forms of payment are accepted by the Bookstore?

Health Services

  1. If your student is taking allergy shots, do they have to contact UTMB on their own to make arrangements?
  2. If a family has medical insurance, do we still have to pay the $36.00 for the health service?
  3. What is the name of the hospital in this area?
  4. What does a student need to bring to the clinic to be seen by a doctor?
  5. Is there a nurse advice line for students to call when they are unsure of whether they need to go to the clinic?

Discipline

  1. Regarding discipline and punishment, will my student be sent directly to campus police or is there a conduct board to report to?
  2. If there's a misunderstanding with the local police, is there someone in campus police that can help the student and family negotiate issues?
  3. Are "minor in possessions" pretty frequent on campus?
  4. Can a student face both criminal and University consequences for the same violation?

Academic Advising, Registration, Tutoring and Payment

  1. What is the charge if I pay my tuition with a credit card?
  2. When will the student register and when will they get their bill?
  3. Is there any kind of progress report that the parent gets from the school prior to the semester ending?
  4. Is tutoring available on campus?
  5. Regarding academic advising, how much power does the student have to choose their own classes?
  6. Does the Library have the resources for students to complete their research for the core classes, not just the science based?
  7. Does the university provide Direct Deposit for refund checks?
  8. Can payments be made using the debit card feature of a bank check card?