A Message From President Greg Fenves
You are receiving this newsletter because your student was admitted to UT Austin’s Class of 2022. As we prepare for the arrival of our newest Longhorns, I want you to feel welcomed, informed and involved in the university. This is the first of several newsletters you will receive leading up to the start of the fall semester to help prepare you and your family for the transition of your student to college.
In this publication, I would like to introduce you to Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly, the vice president for student affairs and dean of students. Dr. Lilly leads the Division of Student Affairs, which supports students and their families from enrollment through graduation.
We look forward to welcoming you and your student to the Forty Acres.
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Dear Longhorn Parent,
Congratulations, your and your Longhorn’s hard work has paid off! It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Longhorn Family and the Class of 2022. As the mother of a college student, I understand what an exciting time this is for your family.
The Longhorn Family is a state of mind and place in the heart that brings students, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters, parents and families together. Everyone in the Longhorn Family has different needs and yours will center on how to support your student. For that reason, Texas Parents, a department in the Division of Student Affairs, is specifically dedicated to helping you through all phases of your undergraduate’s journey.
As President Fenves mentions, we want our students’ parents and families to feel welcome, informed and involved. We know that consistent and relevant communication is key to that success. As you prepare for your Longhorn’s arrival to campus in August, you will receive five more issues of the Next Steps eNewsletter from Texas Parents.
Also, in May the
New Parent Guide
will be mailed to your home. These communications will provide you with the information you need, when you need it, during your family’s transition to UT Austin.
If your schedule permits, I strongly encourage you to come to campus for Family Orientation this summer to continue learning about the resources in place for both you and your Longhorn.
So again, welcome! I look forward to seeing you on the Forty Acres soon. In the meantime, please let our Texas Parents team know how we can be of assistance to you and your family.
Hook 'em,
Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
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Quick Introductions:
- Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly serves the UT Family as the VP of Student Affairs and Dean of Students. To learn more about Dr. Lilly, click here.
- The Division of Student Affairs supports students through innovative programs, facilities and services and is comprised of nine departments, 37 units and 38 facilities. This includes 14 on-campus residence halls, dining facilities, medical and mental health services, student and family orientations, recreational sports and two university unions. As you will see, our students' resources and educational opportunities at UT Austin go far beyond the classroom. Click here to learn more.
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Support for Parents and Families
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Preparing for the start of your Longhorn's undergraduate journey can bring many questions to mind. We know everyone looks for answers differently and have developed these ways to support you:
The Texas Parents Department
An on-campus office consisting of five full-time dedicated staff and fantastic part-time student staff standing ready to help you from enrollment through graduation. Call 512-471-2353 M-F, 8 a.m-5 p.m. (CT) or email
[email protected].
A one-day program designed to continue growing your knowledge of UT Austin resources. Although not required, attendance is strongly encouraged. This is a separate program from your student's Freshman Orientation.
A website showcasing campus-wide information specific to the needs of prospective, incoming, transfer and all undergraduate families and designed to be an ongoing resource throughout your journey. If you don't find what you need, call the Texas Parents office!
Next Steps eNewsletters
Communications that break the journey into "what you need to know now" and "what you'll need to know later."
Issues
sent March-May introduce topics leading up to Orientation and three post-orientation issues take you up to August's Mooov-in.
The New Parent Guide
An introduction to campus leadership, departments, resources and timelines in a print magazine format. This guide is mailed to U.S. residents in mid-May and set up as an interactive document on the parents.utexas.edu website.
Established in 1948 and still going strong! All parents and families of undergraduate students belong.
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The Texas Parents Association
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Everyone belongs.
All parents and families of enrolled undergraduate students are members of the association, but you must sign up to begin receiving membership benefits.
Memberships are set up per household, allowing one or two parents in the same household to enjoy benefits no matter how many students you have at UT Austin.
You will need your student’s UT EID to sign up.
There are two types of membership: complimentary and supporting. Choose the level that is best for your family and sign up today!
U-Touch
A complimentary level of membership that keeps you "in touch" with the university. We accomplish this through:
- Next Steps eNewsletters
- Texas Parents Association eNewsletters - 12 issues of monthly communication to help you help your student, emailed to all members beginning in August at the conclusion of Next Steps
- Emails from university administration on timely issues
One-Year supporting and Four-Year supporting
By making a tax deductible gift to the university, your One-Year or Four-Year membership "supports" the operation of the Texas Parents office. Equally important, your gift is reinvested throu
gh multiple outlets within the UT community your student will call home.
Supporting members also receive U-Touch communications as well as additional benefits including access to the Texas Parents Closed Facebook Group, a pre-sale window to UT Athletics ticket sales, discounts with local and national vendors and many other perks.
Click
here
to learn more and to sign up.
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Orientation Registration
All students are required to attend Freshman Student Orientation this summer. There, they will learn their way around campus, meet with an academic advisor, learn traditions, meet fellow classmates, register for their fall semester classes and more. Share this
Freshman Student Orientation
link
with your student if he or she is still needing to register.
Registration for Freshman Student Orientation and Family Orientation are two separate processes. Only students may attend Freshman Student Orientation. Click
here
to learn more about attending Family Orientation.
In April's Issue of Next Steps
You'll be introduced to Executive Vice President and Provost Maurie McInnis. We will continue expanding your understanding of the university and also offer suggestions on how your student can best prepare for a successful orientation this summer.
Coming in the Mail
Keep an eye out for a postcard with details about registering for
Family Orientation
. We hope to see you there!
Applying for Housing
Students must apply for on-campus housing. If your student
hopes to live on campus in the fall but has not yet applied, we encourage you to review the three step
housing process
.
In this information is a link to apply for housing that your student will have to complete.
Immunization Information
The State of Texas requires entering UT Austin students under the age of 22 to provide documentation they have received the meningococcal vaccine before they can register for classes. Click
here
for more detailed information. After being vaccinated, your student needs to submit documentation to University Health Services (UHS) no later than two weeks prior to his or her Freshman Student Orientation session. For extra measure, your student should also bring a copy to orientation; but we'll remind you of that closer to orientation time.
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Unsubscribing from the Next Steps eNewsletter
Please note that if you unsubscribe by clicking the link below, you will no longer receive any messages from Texas Parents.
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Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Central)
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