Orientation

New Student Conferences

http://newaggie.tamu.edu

  • Held each year for undergraduate students entering Texas A&M University. New students are required to register for and attend a conference in order to accept their offer of admission and register for classes.
  • During the conference, new students learn about valuable University services and meet with academic advisors for curriculum advisement and selection of first-semester courses.

Additional services and programs from the Office of New Student and Family Programs:

Extended Orientation

Excellence uniting Culture, Education, and Leadership (ExCEL) 

https://excel.tamu.edu/

Texas A&M University’s Excellence uniting Culture, Education, and Leadership (ExCEL) is a student organization designed to help new students find academic, social, and personal balance at Texas A&M by fostering a community where they can holistically connect to campus.  Since 1984, ExCEL has assisted new Aggies in making a smooth transition to college by orienting them to the program through a conference, cultivating relationships between peers and mentors, providing a sense of social belonging, offering academic and personal support, and serving as a resource for transitioning into Aggie life.
 
ExCEL launches with the ExCEL Conference in the fall.  During the conference, students become familiar with the year-long program, upper-class peer mentors, and peer group. The conference consists of motivational speakers, dialogue within peer groups, sessions focused on personal development, and meet and greet activities.  Following the conference, academic, social, and community development activities begin through the close of the spring semester. 
 
ExCEL is student-run and information can be obtained by contacting excel@tamu.edu.
 

Fish Camp

http://fishcamp.tamu.edu

Fish Camp is an extended orientation program designed to provide incoming freshman the opportunity to establish relationships, meet student leaders, become familiar with Aggie traditions, and learn about campus life at Texas A&M. Held during a three-week period preceding the Fall semester, each three-day, two-night session is designed to aid students with the transition from high school to college and, particularly, to Texas A&M.

Peer counselors, as well as faculty and staff, speak on topics such as student involvement, academic and campus resources, personal development, community-building, and traditions. In addition to providing educational programs, large-group activities, and small group discussions, Fish Camp allows students to get to know each other through recreation, free time activities, and evening social programs. Participants of Fish Camp will have the opportunity to continue gathering with their camps and small groups through different activities and events during the Fall semester. For more information on Fish Camp and to learn how to register, please visit our website.

Howdy Camp

http://atc.tamu.edu

Occurring in early January, Howdy Camp is a three-day, two-night extended orientation program for transfer and other non-traditional students entering Texas A&M in the spring semester. Peer counselors, as well as faculty and staff, speak on topics such as student involvement, academic and campus resources, personal development, community-building, and traditions. In addition to providing educational programs, staff also lead large-group social activities and facilitate conversations in smaller discussion groups.

Similar to summer programs like T-Camp and Fish Camp, Howdy Camp offers a great way for incoming students to find community before classes begin. After camp and throughout the spring semester, counselors and other staff continue to support campers by providing campus tours and helping new students locate campus resources and opportunities to get involved.  Program staff also plan activities for the camps and small discussion groups throughout the spring semester.  

For more information on Howdy Camp and how to register for a session, please visit the Aggie Transition Camps (ATC) website listed above.

Transition Camp (T-Camp)

http://atc.tamu.edu

Held annually in mid-August, T-Camp is a three-day, two-night extended orientation program for transfer and other non-traditional students entering Texas A&M in the summer and fall semesters. Peer counselors, as well as faculty and staff, speak on topics such as student involvement, academic and campus resources, personal development, community-building, and traditions. In addition to providing educational programs, staff also lead large-group social activities and facilitate conversations within small discussion groups.

After camp, counselors and other staff will support students by providing campus tours and helping them locate campus resources and opportunities to get involved.Program staff will also plan activities for the camps and small discussion groups throughout the fall semester. 

For more information on T-Camp and how to register for a session, please visit the ATC website listed above.

Venture Camp Programs

The Extended Orientation Team in the Department of Student Activities has partnered with other areas on campus to welcome first year students, transfer students, and other undergraduate student populations through the Venture Camp extended orientation programs listed below.  Previous outdoor experience is not required for any of these programs, but a willingness to be an active participant and a team player is very important!

Venture Camp: Backpacking

http://venturecamp.tamu.edu

Venture Camp: Backpacking is an extended orientation program offered by the Departments of Student Activities and Recreational Sports, traditionally held in early August.  Venture Camp: Backpacking is a 9-day program led by trip leaders from Outdoor Adventures who will guide incoming Aggies through the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico.  While exploring this beautiful terrain, students will learn about the same Aggie traditions and campus resources as the other extended orientation camps, but in a totally unique setting!  Similar to other extended orientation programs at Texas A&M, participants on this Backpacking trip will participate in peer-led large and small group discussions about the traditions, opportunities, available resources, and life at Texas A&M.

To learn more about this program and how to register, please visit our website.

Venture Camp: Paddling

http://venturecamp.tamu.edu

Venture Camp: Paddling is an extended orientation program offered by the Departments of Student Activities and Recreational Sports, usually held in mid-July.  Venture Camp: Paddling is a 6-day program led by trip leaders from Outdoor Adventures who will guide incoming Aggies along the Buffalo river in Arkansas, including camping along the river each night. Evening activities include campers gathering at the campsite to participate in peer-led large and small group discussions about the traditions, opportunities, available resources, and life at Texas A&M.  

To learn more about this program and how to register, please visit our website.

Aggie Honor Code

Integrity is a fundamental core value of Texas A&M University. Academic integrity requires a commitment by all faculty, students, and administrators to:

  • Remain constantly focused on the quality of the academic programs
  • Achieve and maintain academic excellence in all courses and programs to assure the value of Texas A&M University degrees
  • Demand high academic standards from all members of the Aggie community
  • Actively promote academic integrity
  • Confront instances of academic misconduct through engagement in the Aggie Honor System Office rules and procedures

All Texas A&M University students, graduate and undergraduate, part-time or full-time, in residence or in distance education, are expected to follow the guiding rule of the Aggie Honor Code:

“An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University or one of its branch campuses, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System.  A student will be required to state his/her commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the Texas A&M community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System.

The Honor System Office is charged with promotion of the honor code and administration of academic misconduct cases. The Honor Council, comprised of students and faculty from colleges and offices across the University, will investigate all such infractions of the honor code and recommend appropriate sanctions. The website, http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu, defines the types of infractions and the possible consequences. Students are urged to review this information.

In addition to adherence to the Honor Code, a student (graduate students in particular) who is completing a thesis, record of study, dissertation, and publication may fall under the additional federal requirements promulgated by the Office of Research Integrity (Scientific Misconduct Regulations — 42 CFR part 50), as well as Texas A&M System Regulations and Texas A&M University Rules (Texas A&M System Regulations — Ethics in Research, Scholarship and Creative Work — 15.99.03, and Texas A&M University rules and standard administrative procedures — Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship — 15.99.03.M1, 15.99.03. M1.01-06).

Contact information for each campus can be found at the following:

Aggie Honor System Office

http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu

All Texas A&M students, graduate and undergraduate, part-time or full-time, in residence or in distance education, are expected to follow the guiding rule of the Aggie Honor Code: “An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Aggie Honor System Office (http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu). Students may be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the Texas A&M community from the requirements or the processes of the Aggie Honor System Office.

Texas A&M University students are responsible for authenticating all work submitted to an instructor.  If asked, students must be able to produce proof that the item submitted is indeed the work of that student.  Students must keep appropriate records at all times.  The inability to authenticate one's work, should the instructor request it, is suffiicient grounds to initiate an academic dishonesty case.