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Helping Your Aggie Thrive: Resources Every Parent Should Know

Sending a student to Texas A&M comes with plenty of questions, for students and their families. Fortunately, Aggies have access to an extensive network of resources designed to help them navigate college life, overcome challenges and make the most of their time in Aggieland.

At our October Dallas County Aggie Moms meeting, Angela Winkler ’95 with Texas A&M Student Life shared an inside look at the programs, people and resources available to students and families. Her central message was simple: families know their students, and Texas A&M knows the resources available to support them. Together, they are partners in student success.

Help Is Available. You Just Need to Know Where to Look.

Texas A&M Student Life brings together a broad range of services focused on education, outreach and support. Those resources touch nearly every aspect of the student experience, from academics and off-campus living to food insecurity, legal questions and getting involved on campus.

Some of the resources Angela highlighted may surprise parents.

Students can access free notary services through Student Life and one-on-one legal consultations through Student Legal Services. Students who need food assistance can turn to 38 Pocket Pantry locations, along with 12th Can and Student Assistance Services. For students preparing to live off campus, Leasing 101 and AggieSearch offer information and resources to help them navigate the process.

And the reach of these services is significant. Student Assistance Services managed 2,106 student cases, while Student Legal Services provided 1,232 one-on-one legal consultations, according to the information shared during the presentation.

Encourage Your Aggie to Build Connections Early

One of the most practical takeaways was also one of the simplest: students shouldn't wait until there is a problem to ask for help.

Angela encouraged students to develop relationships with their academic advisors and communicate early and often through Navigate. The same principle applies to professors. Introducing themselves, asking questions and establishing communication before help is needed can make it easier to navigate challenges when they arise.

And career planning doesn't have to wait until senior year. The Texas A&M Career Center offers resources that can help students explore who hires graduates from their major and review recent salary information.

There Is More to Student Success Than Academics

Student Life's work extends well beyond the classroom. Its programs include educational workshops, student organizations, Student Media, Graduate and Professional Student Government, Parent and Family Programs and support for students facing basic-needs challenges.

The numbers demonstrate just how many Aggies these programs touch. Student Life reported 150+ presentations, trainings and workshops reaching 8,000 attendees, while new-student education reached 15,000 incoming students at New Student Conferences. Its social media channels generated 8.5 million impressions and reached 72,000 followers.

Parents Are Part of the Team, Too

Perhaps the most important reminder for Aggie parents is that we don't have to know all the answers ourselves.

Texas A&M's Family Programs are specifically designed to give families the information, guidance and resources they need as their students move through college. The Aggie Parent & Family Connection Portal provides customized newsletters along with 24/7 access to information, news and family-focused resources.

More than 108,000 family members are represented in the Connection Portal, underscoring just how important the partnership between families and the university can be.

As Angela summed it up: You are the expert on your student. Texas A&M is the expert on its resources and support.

Knowing where to turn, and encouraging our Aggies to reach out early, can make all the difference.

Resource Links for Aggie Families