 |
|
|
 |
|
SAN ANTONIO REGION MEETING NOTES, JANUARY 5, 2007
The first Friday in January breakfast meeting of the San Antonio Region of the Texas A&M Hispanic Network (SA-TAMHN) was held at 7:00 AM at the Offices of the Texas A&M Prospective Student Center (PSC) in the Mercantile Building at 40 NE Loop 410, Suite 605. Attending were Andres Arredondo, Polo Cervantes, Robert Gonzales, Vidal Gonzalez, Janie Guajardo, Leonard Hernandez, Bob Perez, David Reta, Ismael Rodriguez, Marisol Scheer, and Jose Ventura. The following items were discussed:
Marisol advised us that as more Hispanic students enroll at A&M, remaining in school after the first semester or first year is becoming an issue for some. In most cases the reason is poor academics (About 22% of the Hispanic freshmen will not earn enough credit hours to be classified as a sophomore after their freshman year). Although there are various academic programs at A&M to assist students, too many wait until it is too late to seek help. Marisol asked SA-TAMHN to consider establishing a mentorship program to assist the PSC maintain contact with Bexar county students who are at risk in the hopes of identifying a student with an academic or other problem early. Anybody interested in initiating this program to work with the PSC staff, please contact Jose Ventura.
Additionally, Marisol informed us about the Transfer Matriculation Agreement in principle signed between Texas A&M and San Antonio College and Palo Alto. All of the colleges at A&M are a part of this agreement except Business, BioMed, Liberal Arts, and Architecture. Basically, a student at San Antonio College or at Palo Alto who enrolls in the transfer program and takes certain required courses covering 24 hours of course work and maintains a 3.0 or better in each course will automatically be accepted to A&M. There are still details to be worked out.
Marisol also told us that like last year the deadline for enrollment application to A&M is 1 February and the deadline for students to accept A&M's offer of admission is 1 May.
Leonard stated that with the application deadline of 1 February, we need to energize our membership for our "Phone-a-Fish" campaign for the next three months, beginning in February, to call Hispanic students to have been accepted by A&M to encourage them to accept A&M's offer of admissions by 1 May. In conjunction with this program, Jose intends to send a letter to each Hispanic student congratulating the student on his/her acceptance by A&M and to expect a phone call from one of our members. In 2005, 1002 Hispanic freshmen enrolled at A&M. In 2006, the figure was 1097. Our goal for the fall of 2007 is 1248. Anybody interested in organizing this effort with the PSC should contact Jose.
Jose expressed a need to attract more Aggie Hispanic graduates into our network. The more active members we have, the more involved we can be with recruiting and retaining Hispanic students. This project really needs a very dedicated person to lead this effort. Anybody interested in heading up a membership drive, please contact Jose.
Marisol indicated that the PSC will hold an Open House on Wednesday, 24 January, from 2-5 PM. The PSC will also hold an application completion workshop on 24 and 25 January from 6-8 PM to assist students with their application before the deadline of 1 February.
Vidal Gonzales mentioned the Orange and Maroon Legislative Day 2007 will be on Wednesday, February 7, 2007. Check-in is at 9:30 AM at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel in Austin and the activities conclude with a reception at the hotel at 7:30 PM. In between these two times, you are at the Capitol Building. Anybody wishing to be a volunteer must register at www.orange-maroon.org by 19 January. This event is sponsored by the Association of Former Students.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 AM.
| |
| |
