Career READY supports students who are interested in pursuing an experience in a field that typically does not offer pay. Through the Federal Work Study Experiment, students can be awarded pay amounts based on their unmet need. Students work at off campus locations in internships that align with their academic pursuits and they get paid as campus student workers for the semester of their internship experience. Students engage in all the same training and requirements of being an on campus student employee, and they benefit from their off campus training and requirements at their internship site. Students apply for the program via Handshake Experiences where we connect with their site supervisors about their internship experience and provide student and site evaluations. While this program is open to all students who are federal work study eligible, we encourage all students to check with student financial aid about the opportunity to become eligible. We have had 47 students successfully complete the program since spring of 2021, with over $279,000 awarded! Students share that this opportunity allowed them to focus more on their courses and internship experience because they didn’t have to get an extra job to make ends meet. Additionally, a large number of participants have been Education majors, who traditionally work full-time at clinical teaching sites without pay. This program has made a huge difference and impact on them so they could successfully complete their degrees without the stress of limited to no income, or taking out additional student loans.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 20

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants must apply to enroll in this program

WEBSITE TO APPLY: https://www.tamusa.edu/mays/students/academic-internships.html

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

PRELIMINARY OUTCOMES DATA: In 2021, 23 employers participated in the program. After participating, over 90% of students and employers agreed that they would continue in part-time or full-time employment if given the chance.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: The Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Mysti Frazier at mfrazier@tamusa.edu or 210-784-1356

In partnership with theDream.US, this scholarship program supports undocumented students or those who have DACA to meet financial needs of up to $33,000 for four-year degree programs. In addition to financial aid, the program provides holistic support to ensure they are meeting university and scholarship program requirements and emergency aid, Fellowship opportunities, and DACA scholarships. Each program participant is also assigned a Dreamer peer mentor, who assists students with areas such as selecting majors and exploring potential career opportunities.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 109

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Student Academic Success Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Kimberley Nanez at kjnanez@tamusa.edu or 210-784-1352

The F.A.T.E. Center is an initiative at Texas A&M University-San Antonio that serves foster and adopted youth enrolled at the institution who have been touched by the foster care system. Our program works with foster/adopted youth through the enrollment pipeline helping students complete their FAFSA, ETV, TSI testing, and new student orientation. Once the student enrolls at the institution, students are assigned a peer mentor who works with the student to engage with other foster youth, the campus community as a whole. The peer mentoring program is also focused on career exploration and major choice. All foster and adopted youth are also assigned an academic coach who works with students on their academic supports. Finally, the program has emergency funds and a supply pantry with non-perishable food, hygiene products, and school supplies. The F.A.T.E. Center contains wrap around supports to make sure foster youth not only enroll at A&M-San Antonio, but that they are retained and graduated.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 142

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally and externally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Student Academic Success Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Kimberley Nanez at kjnanez@tamusa.edu or 210-784-1352

Financial Literacy at Texas A&M University- San Antonio takes a multi-pronged approach to educating and equipping students as well as the general community with knowledge and skills in personal finance and financial management. Housed within the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement, Texas A&M University - San Antonio offers a Financial Literacy Fellows program with peer to peer education, one-on-one coaching, in-class presentations with a variety of topics, on and off campus outreach, and partnerships with entities both on and off campus. The goals of the program are to improve overall competency of personal finance, decrease finance-induced stress, career and economic development post-graduation, and improve retention rates. Major initiatives and programs include the Financial Literacy Fellows, a year-long program open to students majoring in finance or accounting at the undergraduate level, or are in the Masters of Public Accounting program. Students selected to serve as Financial Literacy Fellows are peer educators that advance financial literacy through campus presentations, community education, and creating individualized capstone projects to solve problems they see in the world. The Fellows help build capacity and reach, and improve relations with students. Another initiative are in-class presentations, which are incorporated into the First Year Seminar to acquaint new Jaguar students with Budgeting 101 and other financial education curriculum. Faculty in all departments and at all course levels can also request presentations on a variety of topics. For on-campus engagement Texas A&M University-San Antonio coordinates a variety of campus engagement events weekly throughout the academic year, and highlight a cluster of programs and workshops during the annual Financial Literacy Week (fall semester) and Money Smart Week (spring semester) in collaboration with several other campus departments. Money coaching appointments include one-on-one coaching which is wholly tailored to student needs and goals and is available free of charge to Jaguar students. Students meet with a trained money coach to strategize and implement a plan to help each student reach their financial goals. As a part of off-campus engagement, Texas A&M University-San Antonio also partners with community organizations such as Junior Achievement of South Texas to work with neighboring independent school districts so younger students can achieve financial literacy and capability before reaching higher education, as well as GEAR UP, a federal fund that helps low-income districts prepare students for higher education.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 750

HOW TO ENROLL: there are multiple parts- to be a Financial Literacy Fellow students must apply, other students always have access to all other programming

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Eliasz McCullen at emccullen@tamusa.edu or 210-784-1364

The Office of First-Year Experience (FYE) challenges and supports students across the first year to connect them with outstanding learning opportunities that help with the transition into university life and achieving both academic and personal goals. We offer guidance, advice, and support as students navigate their college experience on our campus. Through programs, resources, and services, we provide opportunities and information students need to help them meet fellow Jaguars and to view Texas A&M-San Antonio as home.

We promote a student-centered environment that supports all students during their transitions to discover, engage, and connect at A&M-San Antonio and we aspire to:
• Encourage students to be self-directed learners through a strengths-based mindset;
• Actively challenge students on a path of self-discovery to become lifelong learners;
• Foster an environment that allows students to cut across traditional boundaries and viewpoints through dialogue and innovative learning opportunities;
• Cultivate a foundation for student persistence through intentional and transformative experiences that support students’ personal growth and development.

The core values of the Office of First-Year Experience are:
• Discover: To provide pathways for students to discover success, a sense of self, and a healthy sense of adventure.
• Engage: To encourage students to become active participants in their journey through higher education by engaging in the learning process and participating in dialogue that pushes them out of their comfort zone.
• Connect: To connect students, through meaningful experiences, to the university and broader community.

Our program components consist of the following:
• First-Year Seminar (FYS): this is a three-credit hour, success seminar designed to help students discover their place on campus, in society, within their discipline, and their career. Each course also has an assigned peer leader who collaborates and provide instructional support alongside the instructor, plan/present curriculum and instructional activities, coordinate and assist with the planning of events/programs and have one-on-one personalized mentorship meetings with students.
• Learning Communities (LC): 2-4 linked courses that allow participants to partake in exclusive activities created to enhance their learning experience at A&M-San Antonio. We have major specific, themed and traditional communities. The faculty in each LC, team up to build connections amongst the linked courses through shared assignments and activities.
• Common Experience: This is a yearlong initiative designed to cultivate a common intellectual conversation on a theme and facilitate increased interactions among faculty, staff, and students. It provide participants an opportunity to deconstruct and explore a common subject through multidisciplinary lenses and apply academic thought towards finding meaningful solutions to discovered challenges. Throughout the year, various events and programs provide opportunities for engagement for the entire university community and beyond.
• Faculty Advising Program: We pair select first-year students with a faculty mentor who will be available to them throughout their entire first year on campus. Faculty are assigned four students each and are given $200 per mentee to be able to attend group mentoring social events either on- or off-campus.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 950

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: First-Year Experience

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Heather Olague at hmolague@tamusa.edu or 210-784-1399