Next Steps eNewsletter

Issue 5 of 11 | May 1, 2024

In This Issue:

Financial Aid and Tuition Information from Texas One Stop

Meet The University of Texas at Austin Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management

Staying connected with Texas Parents

Healthyhorns Reminders

More Information from University Housing and Dining

Important Dates & Reminders:

May 1

The fifth round of housing contract offers for on-campus residence halls and Dobie Twenty21 are emailed to students.

Mid-May

Texas Parents will begin mailing out the New Parent Guide to your student's permanent address.

Reminder

Registration is now open for all Family Orientation and New Student Orientation sessions. Register for Family Orientation here

Encourage your student to register for New Student Orientation. Space per session is limited and filled on a first come first served basis.

IMPORTANT- student and family orientation programs require separate registration systems.

You can view the list of upcoming important dates anytime on our Next Steps eNewsletter hub....

Hello Longhorn Family,

This is a very exciting time as your family celebrates your student throughout senior year festivities and graduation. We know there is a lot on your mind and we are here to help guide you through each stage of preparing your student for the transition to the Forty Acres.

Having a good understanding of your student's tuition record is essential to a successful transition to The University of Texas at Austin. In this issue of Next Steps, we will discuss financial aid and tuition insurance, as well as explain the difference between fixed and flat rate tuition.

The safety and well-being of your student are top priorities of the University. Also included below, we will shed light on campus safety and the Office of Emergency Management. Familiarizing yourself with this unit will provide you with helpful information regarding the team of experts focused on these priorities.

Our next issue will be dedicated to getting your family ready for Family Orientation and New Student Orientation. Topics such as requesting accommodations, student IDs and academic readiness will also be discussed.

Hook 'em!

Texas One Stop

MyUT Student Portal and App

MyUT (my.utexas.edu) is the University's online student portal that your student will use for everything from viewing their class schedule to accessing personalized financial aid and registration information. Your student can also download the MyUT mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play for quick access to a map of campus and much more. A new and improved version of MyUT will launch this summer! As a college student, all UT students are responsible for utilizing the portal and parents are not given access to their student's MyUT portal.

My Financial Aid Student Portal

My Financial Aid is The University of Texas at Austin’s student financial aid portal. This new and improved portal is designed to simplify financial aid management for all students. All students will use My Financial Aid to review and accept financial aid offers for Fall 2024 and onward. Encourage your student to regularly check their My Financial Aid portal to make sure there are no outstanding requirements or missing documents that could delay the release of their financial aid.

Please visit the My Financial Aid webpage for more information.

Flat-rate tuition

Flat-rate tuition includes all academic program costs and is assessed each semester by college or program, resident status, and hours enrolled. To learn more about flat-rate tuition, visit admissions.utexas.edu.

Longhorn Fixed Tuition

Longhorn Fixed Tuition is an optional tuition program available only to undergraduate students enrolling at UT for the first time. Longhorn Fixed Tuition rates remain the same for four consecutive academic years. The rates are guaranteed each semester the student is enrolled during this period. Fixed tuition rates are higher than traditional rates because they are based on the projected average flat rate tuition over the next four years.

Undergraduate students may be eligible for a tuition rebate of up to $1,000, and students enrolled in the Longhorn Fixed Tuition program are eligible for an additional $2,500 rebate. Eligible students are required to apply for a tuition rebate prior to graduation. To find out if your student is eligible, visit tuition.utexas.edu.

How to Enroll in Longhorn Fixed Tuition

To enroll in the Longhorn Fixed Tuition program, students should visit the enrollment page found at utdirect.utexas.edu and sign the electronic agreement. If your student is younger than 18 years old or does not have an upgraded UT EID, they may download the agreement, print, manually sign and return it to Students Accounts Receivable which can be found at utexas.edu/business.

Students must enroll by the 12th class day of their first term in attendance to participate in Longhorn Fixed Tuition. Changes to the selection must be made by the 12th class day.

Students who do not enroll in the Longhorn Fixed Tuition program will default to the traditional flat rate tuition.

Financial Hardship

If your student has already completed the FAFSA and your family has experienced recent job loss, increased medical expenses or other financial hardship, your student can complete the Reduction in Income Appeal form, which allows UT to assess your student's financial aid and make any adjustments to their financial aid package given the current situation. The Reduction in Income Appeal form can be completed through DocuSign. Visit onestop.utexas.edu/forms/ to learn more. Additional documentation may be required.

Tuition Insurance

The University of Texas at Austin has proudly partnered with GradGuard™ to offer tuition insurance to students and families. This protection strengthens our existing refund policy and can provide reimbursement for tuition, housing and other fees if a student withdraws for a covered medical reason at any time during the covered semester. For more detailed information on optional tuition insurance with GradGuard™ visit onestop.utexas.edu.

Tuition insurance is completely optional. The agreement you enter is with GradGuard, not with The University of Texas at Austin.

Important Information if Your Student Graduated as Valedictorian from a Texas High School

Per the Texas Education Code (Chapter 54, Section 54.301), the highest-ranking graduate of any accredited Texas high school is eligible for an exemption which covers tuition during the first two long-session terms following graduation. The "Tuition Waiver to Public Colleges and Universities “certificate, issued by the high school, may be scanned and submitted to tuition@austin.utexas.edu. Please include the student's EID and indicate the first semester of use.

Office of Emergency Management

Emergency Management Introduction

The Office of Emergency Management focuses on preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery efforts pertaining to emergencies and also supports large scale events on campus. We also participate in outreach events across campus to promote personal emergency preparedness to our community through trainings, drills, and exercises with other university departments. Below are some important bits of information that you may find useful about how our office helps foster a safe and secure environment here on the Forty Acres.

Emergency Alerts

Emergency messages are sent to students via two methods: text message and/or email. Students automatically receive university group emails when being notified of both non-emergent and emergency situations on campus. Text alerts are used to communicate a credible, immediate, ongoing threat to campus. UT Austin conducts monthly emergency communication systems the first Wednesday of each month. These tests ensure students are familiar with the signals and know how to respond when an emergency occurs.

UT Emergency Website

Our emergency website is activated on the UT Austin main website in the event of a campus crisis and will contain communication from university leadership, information relating to the crisis, actions to take and resources available. The website can be found here.

Safety Hubs

Safety Hubs are located in the Celebrated Entrance of every academic and general-purpose classroom building to provide emergency and life-saving resources. These resources include bleeding control kits, AEDs (automated external defibrillators) for heart attack events, and emergency call boxes that connect to UTPD dispatch. For an informational video on safety hubs, visit this link.

Social Media and Website

X (formerly Twitter): @UTAustinOEM

Facebook: UT Austin OEM

Website: emergencymanagement.utexas.edu

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Visit UFCU.org/Promo for current sweepstakes rules and details.

Healthyhorns Reminders

Immunization and Medical Clearance Requirements

To ensure the health and well-being of all Longhorns, all incoming first-year, transfer and readmitted students must comply with immunization and medical clearance requirements prior to registering for classes. Incoming students should submit immunization records at least two weeks prior to their orientation session. For additional information, visit healthyhorns.utexas.edu.

Transitioning Care for Chronic Medical Conditions and Mental Healthcare

Discuss with your current healthcare provider if they can continue managing your student's care or if a transfer to a specialist in Austin is necessary. Referrals can be obtained from the current provider. Students can also schedule an appointment at the UHS General Medicine clinic if they require ongoing monitoring or treatment for chronic conditions. UHS providers are board certified in various specialties, and appropriate referrals to community providers can be made for specialty care.

For assistance with transitioning your Longhorn’s mental healthcare including psychiatric care, call the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) at 512-471-3515, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Important: Minor Consent

If your Longhorn will be under the age of 18 years old when entering UT Austin and they would like to be treated at UHS and/or CMHC, please visit these pages to receive more information and to complete the coinciding ‘Minor Consent for Treatment’ forms.

University Health Services Minor Consent

Counseling and Mental Health Center Minor Consent

Texas Parents

Communicating with You Year-round

Your first introduction to Texas Parents communications will be the New Parent Guide, a print magazine delivered to the permanent address your student provided. The guide introduces the Division of Student Affairs, explains how UT creates a safe campus, spotlights health and well-being resources, outlines how to pay tuition, provides important dates and deadlines and much more.

Be on the lookout for the guide to arrive in late May, perfect timing as high school activities and celebrations are wrapping up, allowing your focus to shift to preparation for the fall semester.

Once the guide is mailed, it will also be available electronically at parents.utexas.edu/freshmen with live links providing more information.

The Texas Parents office maintains two websites: texasparents.org with information about the Texas Parents department and the Association, and parents.utexas.edu connecting you to campus resources at all stages of the collegiate journey.

Supporting members are already receiving the Benefit Reminder email on the 1st of every month, reminding them of the many benefits members enjoy.

In August, all incoming supporting and complimentary members begin receiving the Texas Parents Association eNewsletter that is sent on the 15th of all 12 months.

UT knows keeping you connected and informed is a great resource for your student’s success. In addition to these communication tools, Texas Parents is always a phone call (512-471-2353) or email (TexasParents@austin.utexas.edu) away if you need assistance.

If you haven’t already signed up for membership, you can do so here. And if you have, thank you for supporting the important work they do!

University Housing and Dining (UHD)

Action Items:

May 1

The fifth round of housing contract offers for on-campus residence halls and Dobie Twenty21 are emailed. If your student has satisfied their $300 advance payment and signed their housing contract, they are encouraged to visit the housing portal and add preferred roommates in advance of room selection. You and your student can learn more about the housing and roommate preference process on UHD’s Room Assignments webpage.

May 1-24

Students admitted to an Honors programs can indicate their interest in living in the Honors Quad (Andrews, Blanton, Carothers and Littlefield) by visiting the housing portal. Students who do so will be able to select an Honors Quad space in early June.

Room Selection

Most students with contracts will receive a room selection timeslot at the end of May via email. All room selection timeslots will be assigned prior to June 10 in housing application date order. If your student is paired with a roommate, the roommate with the earlier timeslot can assign both students to a room based on available space during the room selection process. If your student hasn’t already filled out housing preferences, we recommend they visit the housing portal to do so before room selection begins.

LLC and Honors Room Selection: If your student applied and is accepted to a Living Learning Community (LLC), the housing team will assign their room, beginning June 3. This date is also when room selection begins for students eligible for Honors Housing planning to live in the Quad (Andrews, Blanton, Carothers and Littlefield).

General Room Selection: Online room selection for on-campus residence halls and Dobie Twenty21 begins June 10. During their timeslot, students will be able to explore available options and place themselves in a room.

After the room selection process concludes, any student with a room assignment has the option to swap rooms through the housing portal’s room swap page. Your student will be able to search available rooms and switch through July 31. Students who miss their room selection timeslot will be assigned by the housing team based on their housing and roommate preferences.

Pairing with a Roommate

Students who don’t pair with a preferred roommate or roommate group prior to selection can do so during the room selection process with the help of our optional roommate profile tool. With this tool, your student can create a profile, complete a compatibility questionnaire, view potential roommate matches and reach out to communicate with matches – all prior to room selection. During room selection, they’ll be able to view their compatibility with students who have already placed themselves in rooms and then select their room accordingly. You and your student can learn more about the roommate pairing and preference process by visiting UHD’s Room Assignments webpage.

For additional information, you can visit the future residence pages at housing.utexas.edu, where you'll find answers to frequently asked questions about housing. If you have any questions not addressed on the website, feel free to reach out to UHD at housing@austin.utexas.edu or call 512-471-3136.

Traditions Corner

According to UT legend, if your Longhorn sees an albino squirrel the day of their test, they will have good luck. Many students claim to have been positively affected by glimpsing this mysterious creature. UT Biologist David Hillis reports that the “albino” squirrels on campus aren’t really albino, but rather one of a few white fox squirrels. To learn more about the infamous Albino squirrel, go to undergradcollege.utexas.edu.

REMINDER: Register Now for Family Orientation at The University of Texas at Austin

If you have already completed family orientation registration, your spot in the session is secure and you should receive a confirmation email. For additional information, please visit our website.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: student and family orientation programs are hosted separately and require separate registration systems.

What to expect in the next issue of Next Steps

What to expect during Family Orientation and New Student Orientation
Information about Academic Readiness and Placement Tests
How students can register for accommodations through Disability and Access
How the First-Year Experience program will help students ensure success throughout their Longhorn career.

You can always review the full academic calendar to get more information on academic and tuition-related deadlines coming up.

2024-2025 Academic Calendar

registrar.utexas.edu/calendars/24-25

The University of Texas at Austin | New Student Services

512-471-3304 | nss@austin.utexas.ed u

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CT

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