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The HSI STEM Impact Program will provide support to financially vulnerable students in STEM majors with three technology solutions. We are able to provide a limited number of the following to students with financial need:

Dell (Windows) laptops

Wifi hot spots

Funding to support purchase of home internet service

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STEM Temporary Technology Assistance Program

The HSI STEM Impact Program will provide support to financially vulnerable students in STEM majors with three technology solutions. We are able to provide a limited number of the following to students with financial need:

Dell (Windows) laptops

Wifi hot spots

Funding to support purchase of home internet service

When the COVID-19 pandemic started in spring 2020, first-gen students faced many challenges in their personal and academic lives. In response, the First-Gen Proud committee sought to understand those obstacles to identify immediate and long-term solutions for first-gen students. Read the report.

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The HSI STEM Impact Program will provide support to financially vulnerable students in STEM majors with three technology solutions. We are able to provide a limited number of the following to students with financial need: Dell (Windows) laptops Wifi hot spots Funding to support purchase of home internet service When the COVID-19 pandemic started in spring 2020, first-gen students faced many challenges in their personal and academic lives.

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Very beneficial to all students but especially important to know about as a resource your first year on campus.

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Texas State Student Learning Assistance Center

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The Texas State Student Health Center is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). The Student Health Center provides a variety of services to students including but not limited to primary care, urgent care, sports medicine, travel health and sexual health.

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The LBJ Connection

The Higher Education Act (HEA), signed at Texas State by alumnus Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, made it possible for more students to earn a college degree. The HEA included Pell Grants, work-study and low-interest student loans. Inspired by President Johnson's experiences as a teacher in Cotulla and as a student in San Marcos, this legislation became central to his legacy in education.

1965: LBJ Signs HEA

Today: LBJ's Legacy

First-Gen Students at Texas State

Neither parent obtained a bachelor's degree.

First-Year First-Gen Students

2,568 incoming first-year students were first-gen in fall 2018.

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The Higher Education Act (HEA), signed at Texas State by alumnus Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, made it possible for more students to earn a college degree. The HEA included Pell Grants, work-study and low-interest student loans. Inspired by President Johnson's experiences as a teacher in Cotulla and as a student in San Marcos, this legislation became central to his legacy in education.

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Alicia M. Reyes-Barriéntez offers strategies that individual professors can use to teach them effectively.

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How do we, as professors, create spaces that are conducive to learning for all of our students, particularly groups of students whom our universities were not created to serve?

As a first-generation Latinx student, I began my college career with little to no knowledge of how institutions of higher education function. I struggled to find my place at universities unprepared to effectively educate students like me. Having now navigated higher education institutions for almost two decades as a student and an educator -- I've taught at three predominantly white institutions and am currently an assistant professor at a Hispanic-serving institution -- I've developed strategies to help first-generation Latinx students understand that the classroom is as much theirs as it is anyone else's.

Once students are able to claim the classroom, they are more likely to consider themselves bearers of knowledge and contribute to class discussions. While colleges and universities can and should develop broader institutional strategies to ensure the success of first-generation students, individual professors can use the following ones to teach first-generation Latinx students effectively.

First, and perhaps most important, we must learn our students' names, as well as their preferred pronouns, and pronounce them correctly. Rita Kohli and Daniel G. Solórzano call the mispronunciation of student names by teachers a racial microaggression and argue that such acts "support a racial and cultural hierarchy of minority inferiority." Far from being a simple mistake made by educators, this type of racial microaggression works in tandem with a larger oppressive system that suggests to students that their identity, their culture and their origins lie outside the dominant culture. To mispronounce someone's name or use the wrong pronouns dishonors their identity.

Thus, at the beginning of the semester, I have students fill out a questionnaire in which they write the phonetic pronunciation of their name and include their chosen pronouns. Some students don't understand why I ask them about pronouns, so I take a minute to explain the importance of using appropriate pronouns in identifying a person. In high-enrollment classrooms, professors can use name tents to identify students.

Second, to engender a sense of belonging in the class, I share with them my own experiences as a first-generation college student from an immigrant, working-class family. I tell them that I was frightened as a student when I met with my mostly white male professors. And I tell them that my reaction was warranted -- I had never met a professor before going to college, as my community consisted mainly of working-class immigrants.

It is important for professors who don't necessarily share the experiences of first-generation Latinx students to publicly acknowledge in class the distinct struggles this student demographic experiences. I graduated from college without having ever heard the designation "first-generation student." By simply mentioning the designation in class, professors can help students begin to understand their distinctive status as first-generation Latinx students. Professors can also encourage them to make connections with resources available at the university specifically for first-generation Latinx students. Also, all professors can offer to meet students in groups of two to three people if students don't feel comfortable meeting one on one. At times, students ask to meet with me with their parents. (They have signed relevant forms to ensure that FERPA laws are not being violated.) I welcome such meetings, as it allows me to get to know the student better.

Also, I am fully aware that first-generation Latinx students have many needs. I take time in my classes to share information with my students about the resources our university has to offer. (I also share such information on the syllabus.) Many times first-gen Latinx students are simply unaware of the kinds of help the university provides -- from individual tutoring to help landing a job. In addition, because many of my students come from low-income families, I make textbooks available for students to borrow if they can't afford to purchase them. I also don't require them to buy the most up-to-date textbooks, as the old versions are often not that different from the new ones.

Furthermore, I am intentional about lecturing in ways that all students understand. I use synonyms for words that I think some students may not know. I was raised in a Spanish-speaking home, so my English vocabulary was not as advanced as other students' when I arrived at college. For example, I did not realize that "thesis" was another word for "argument" until late in my undergraduate career. A student may be unable to follow an entire lecture because they do not understand the definition of just one word. The use of synonyms resolves this issue.

It's also important to articulate important information in different ways lots of times. Many times, textbooks offer explanations that are difficult for students to understand. I help my students grasp concepts by repeating information through the use of stories found in comics, films, documentaries and other sources. If an article is particularly difficult, I provide the general background and explain key terms and concepts before I assign students the material. This strategy makes challenging articles more accessible.

As an undergraduate, I also experienced test anxiety, especially during the first test of the semester, which always ended up being my lowest test grade. To help alleviate test anxiety, I show students sample questions before their first exam.

Additionally, from the first day of class, I explain to my students (and include in my syllabus) that my classroom is a safe space. Trust is essential for learning in the classroom. Most students will not learn from a professor whom they cannot trust. I let them know who I am. I speak Spanglish at times, and I translate when I do. To catch their attention, I tell them about my favorite place to eat Mexican foods like tacos de tripas or mangonadas. I immediately connect with my students -- they smile because they see their culture valued in the classroom.

Furthermore -- and this strategy is crucial -- I decolonize my syllabus. I center on indigenous, black and Mexican American histories when teaching about the federal government, and I assign readings on political actors and history of our region, the Southwest.

Finally, I love my students. I am honored to teach students who have overcome obstacle after obstacle and yet come to class ready and excited to learn at a university in the borderlands, home to many of them. I identify students with whom I've made a special connection and seek them out after the semester is over. I smile at them often. I crack jokes. I affirm the life experiences of my students -- my students are brilliant.

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Advice for individual professors on how to teach first-generation Latinx students effectively (opinion)

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How do we, as professors, create spaces that are conducive to learning for all of our students, particularly groups of students whom our universities were not created to serve? As a first-generation Latinx student, I began my college career with little to no knowledge of how institutions of higher education function.

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Lessons From a First-Gen, Working-Class Latinx Student

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Lessons From a First-Gen, Working-Class Latinx Student

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Alicia M. Reyes-Barriéntez shares five things she wishes she'd known when she left home to attend a predominantly white institution.

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When I left home for college in the early 2000s, I was unaware of the struggles I'd face during my higher education career. I was particularly unaware of the discriminatory demands that predominantly white institutions place on students like me. Here is what I wish I'd known when I left home to attend a PWI as a first-gen, working-class Latinx student.

No. 1. T hat leaving my family to go to college would be a traumatic experience. For many Latinx (and other) students, going to college can be incredibly stressful, because we leave behind a strong familial network that has supported us our entire lives. I came from a traditional Mexican immigrant family, and I was in seventh grade when my older brother left for college for the first time. I couldn't handle his departure -- the day after he left, I locked myself in the bathroom to cry. Little did I know that leaving my entire family would be even more painful. I missed Mami and my sister so much that I cried every night for one year. I wanted to be home, where I felt I belonged.

Further, as studies suggest, I had been taught to put my family over myself. My parents taught loyalty to the family over independence. Research differentiates between the upbringings of middle-class and working-class students. Middle-class students "are typically exposed to and required to enact norms of independence, such as a focus on individual development, personal choice and self-expression prior to college." Meanwhile, working-class students "are typically exposed to and required to enact norms of interdependence prior to college, such as adjusting to and responding to others' needs and connecting to others."

No. 2. How being working class and first gen would affect my college career. Being a first-generation student means that you can't rely on family members to teach you about university life. You may lack cultural capital that facilitates college success. You have to be proactive and intentional about figuring out information that continuing-generation students arrive knowing or can access easily. For example, you may not be familiar with processes such as sorority or fraternity recruitment.

What's more, as a working-class student, I could not rely on my family to send me money. Many low-income students even had to send money home to support their families. I had to work in college, which meant that I had less time to study. I also lacked access to resources like private tutoring. Such issues made college more demanding than it needed to be.

No. 3. That professors commonly employ academic jargon in the classroom. Many times, I couldn't understand what I call "professorspeak." My family spoke Spanish at home, and I was from the borderlands where Spanglish flourished alongside English. But the English spoken by professors was different and at times difficult to understand. Sometimes, when I almost didn't understand a single word that the professor said, I would miss the substance of a lecture. I was constantly looking up the definition of words. After a few semesters, I finally got the hang of their elitist vernacular.

No. 4. How much institutional racism and classism shape every aspect of higher education. And that's particularly the case at PWIs -- universities created by (rich) white people for (rich) white people. Racist incidents against Latinx students and students of color on various campuses across the country are common. Further, I was not only nonwhite, but I was also working class. I decided against taking a job at a fast food restaurant at my university (even though I'd worked at the same chain in high school) because another student told me that I'd be socially shamed if I did.

Yet even in the mundane, I was reminded that I was working class. I mentioned to another student that I hated doing laundry every week. She told me she hadn't done laundry in three months. I could not believe someone could have enough clothes to not have to do laundry for three whole months. Collectively, such incidents reminded me that, no matter what I did, I would never fit in. I was neither white nor rich.

No. 5. That I shouldn't have been intimidated by privileged students who freely spoke up in class or have tried to assimilate in order to fit in. I often felt that I had nothing of value to contribute to class discussions. I doubted myself. As bell hooks notes, "Students from marginalized groups enter classrooms within institutions where their voices have been neither heard nor welcomed." I didn't apply to the university honors program because my SAT score was lower than the required threshold.

But I understand now that the SATs are discriminatory. I was, in fact, an excellent student: I graduated magna cum laude with a double major and a GPA of 3.93 and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. I was certainly qualified for my university's honors program, but the institution's discriminatory requirements denied me this opportunity.

And I wish I hadn't tried to change myself so as to fit in. hooks argues, "It is still necessary for students to assimilate bourgeois values in order to be deemed acceptable." I engaged in whitespeak, I tried to hide the fact that I was working class and I rarely, if ever, spoke Spanglish. I wish I hadn't been ashamed of any part of me.

Toward the end of my college career, I began to understand that, to quote hooks again, " Racism, sexism, and class elitism shape the structure of classrooms, creating a lived reality of insider versus outsider that is predetermined, often in place before any class discussion begins." Predominantly white institutions were not created for people of color to survive. Regardless, I did.

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What a first-generation, working-class, Latinx student wishes she'd known before she went to college (opinion)

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When I left home for college in the early 2000s, I was unaware of the struggles I'd face during my higher education career. I was particularly unaware of the discriminatory demands that predominantly white institutions place on students like me.

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They help with future planning, registering for classes or any other resources students may need to be successful. Resource are separated by schools so students will have to search by major or use the university college advising if they are undecided.  Very similar to the PACE.

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Texas State offers unparalleled support for its students. PACE Advisors. Exploratory Advisors. Advisors for every major and academic college.

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Great resource for general education English, or other writing intensive classes.

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We're open for Spring 2021!

We help all Texas State writers-students, faculty, & staff-develop their writing at any stage of their writing process, in any style guide, and in any discipline.

To make an appointment using our new scheduling system, TutorTrac, click "Book Zoom." You will sign in with your TXState NetID and password.
If you experience problems, please visit our Zoom room during business hours (Meeting ID 320 074 571).

How to Book an Appointment on TutorTrac

Monday-Wednesday: 10am-7pm; Thursday: 10am-6pm; Friday: 10am-4pm

You can have up to 50 minutes of appointments a day. After 2 missed appointments, the scheduling system will block you from making future appointments.

Due to the continued concerns surrounding COVID-19, the office hour guidelines in the Roadmap to Return, and CDC guidelines for healthy operations of student support services, we will continue to remain in an online format for Spring 2021 semester.

Keep up with us on social media!

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @txstwc.

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We help all Texas State writers-students, faculty, & staff-develop their writing at any stage of their writing process, in any style guide, and in any discipline. To make an appointment using our new scheduling system, TutorTrac, click "Book Zoom." You will sign in with your TXState NetID and password.

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Great for tutoring in the specific areas of STEM.

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The Collaborative Learning Center (CLC) is comprised of two student support centers - the CLC Computer Center and the CLC STEM Tutoring Center. The CLC is open to all students in the College of Science and Engineering.

Location: Ingram Hall #3202
Phone: 512.245.1674
Email: TheCLC@txstate.edu

CLC Computer Center - will open February 1, 2021 depending on the state of the COVID 19 pandemic.
The CLC Computer Center has Dell desktop computer/work stations, each equipped with various software programs used by students in the College of Science and Engineering.

CLC STEM Tutoring Center - will open February 1, 2021 depending on the state of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Undergraduate students from the H-LSAMP Scholars Program provide free walk-in tutoring covering basic and advanced courses in STEM: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, mathematics, and physics. We have a STEM textbook library, TI83+ calculators to lend on site, and a team of excellent H-LSAMP tutors to help you ace your courses!

Tutoring Schedule: http://hlsamp.cose.txstate.edu/clc/clc-tutoring.html

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The Collaborative Learning Center (CLC) is comprised of two student support centers - the CLC Computer Center and the CLC STEM Tutoring Center. The CLC is open to all students in the College of Science and Engineering. Location: Ingram Hall #3202 Phone: 512.245.1674 Email: TheCLC@txstate.edu CLC Computer Center - will open February 1, 2021 depending on the state of the COVID 19 pandemic.

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Texas State University Math CATS, sponsored by the Department of Mathematics, provides free drop-in math tutoring in a personalized atmosphere

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Math CATS is currently anticipating being open regular hours Monday and Tuesday (Feb 22 & 23)

Please make an appointment if our open hours do not coincide with your schedule.

Math CATS Hours Spring 2021

If you have questions, or problems logging onto a tutoring session email:
mathcats@txstate.edu

Don't love math yet? Let us change your mind!

Drop-in tutoring & CalCentral office hours

To join the online Math CATS drop in tutoring session or to meet with your lab instructor during their office hours click on the button below.

What to expect:

Register to join:

Name

Texas State email address

Math class course number or name

You will immediately receive a link to join a Zoom session where you will be met by a host tutor and assigned to a study room.

When you have a question or need the assistance of a tutor click the 'Ask for Help' button located at the bottom of your screen in the Zoom menu bar and a tutor will join you.
response time will vary depending on tutor availability and number of clients but we will be with you as soon as possible

Tutoring by appointment

To schedule an appointment for online tutoring click the button below.
Appointment hours are available all hours of the day (and night).

What to expect:

Select the course you are enrolled in.

Select:

Date

Time

Tutor (if you have a preference)

Provide your name and Texas State email address

Provide your instructors name and what you are working on.

You will immediately receive an email with a Teams link to join the tutoring session during your scheduled appointment time.

You will also receive a reminder email a day before, and 30 minutes before your session.

We have tutors and graduate students who are available to help you during our operating hours. Most math classes have tutors at any time that will be available to help but there are some classes that have tutors who specialize in the subject matter. We recommend that you make an appointment for those classes.

Welcome! Texas State University Math CATS, sponsored by the Department of Mathematics, provides free drop-in math tutoring in a personalized atmosphere. Our goal is to provide students with academic support in a comfortable learning environment. Come in to receive individualized help, to form study groups and to build friendships. In addition to the tutoring service, we have computers available for individual mathematics work, general research and school use.

The computers are connected to our university network and are accessible to all students, faculty and staff. The available software applications include but are not limited to: Microsoft Office, Firefox, Mathematica, JMP, SPSS, MatLab, R/R Studio, Geogebra and LaTeX.

Contact: 512.245.2074
E-Mail: Math CATS Coordinator

Mission Statement:
The mission of Math CATS is to support academic growth by increasing skill competence, raising achievement in math coursework, instilling confidence in students' mathematical abilities, and developing an appreciation for mathematics that goes beyond the classroom.

Our Tutors:

Our student tutors have met departmental qualifications and earned a high recommendation from their college instructor(s), are enrolled at Texas State as a full time student and maintain high grades in their own classes. Some tutors are qualified to tutor additional science and engineering courses. Refer to the Tutor Schedule posted above the sign-in sheet as well as their tutoring profiles on the bulletin board in Derrick 238.
Tutors will assist you in your homework and understanding of the material but will not do your homework for you. You are responsible for being proactive in your learning.

General Policies:

Bring your own calculator to the tutoring session. There are a few calculators that can be checked out from us and require you to leave your student ID. A hold will be placed on your account if you do not return the calculator within 48 hours.

Be considerate of others. Persons disrupting the educational environment of Math CATS will be asked to leave.

No open beverages are allowed near computers in Math CATS.

No food is allowed in Math CATS.

Computers and printers are for academic purposes only.

Turn off cell phone ringers and take your cell phone conversations outside.

Group study is welcomed and encouraged (please keep noise level down). - Due to COVID-19, no general group study sessions are permitted in Math CATS

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Math CATS is currently anticipating being open regular hours Monday and Tuesday (Feb 22 & 23) Please make an appointment if our open hours do not coincide with your schedule. If you have questions, or problems logging onto a tutoring session email: mathcats@txstate.edu To join the online Math CATS drop in tutoring session or to meet with your lab instructor during their office hours click on the button below.

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Peer mentors have knowledge on beneficial resources. They are especially helpful to students registering for classes on their own for the first time.

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We provide all first-year students with a team of dedicated faculty, staff, and student mentors/coaches to support your transition into college life. Team members represent each of the areas below.

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Personalized Academic and Career Exploration Center

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We provide all first-year students with a team of dedicated faculty, staff, and student mentors/coaches to support your transition into college life. Team members represent each of the areas below.

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Career services can assist students in preparing for a job after college, internships, work study jobs, and regular jobs on and off campus.

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Jobs4Cats powered by Handshake is our online jobs database. Students and Alumni have the ability to search for volunteer opportunities, internships, and jobs (on-campus, part-time, or full-time), or learn more about our events and career fairs. Employers can post positions and engage with our Bobcat talent on campus.

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Jobs4Cats powered by Handshake is our online jobs database. Students and Alumni have the ability to search for volunteer opportunities, internships, and jobs (on-campus, part-time, or full-time), or learn more about our events and career fairs. Employers can post positions and engage with our Bobcat talent on campus.

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Student Support Services at Texas State University encourages and assists traditionally underrepresented students (first-generation college students, students who meet low-income guidelines, and students with disabilities) in the completion of a post-secondary education by providing academic support (tutoring, study skills, workshops, coaching), assisting them with short-term decision making and long term planning, connecting them to resources and facilitating their ability to become effective agents of their own learning and personal development.

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Student Support Services at Texas State University encourages and assists traditionally underrepresented students (first-generation college students, students who meet low-income guidelines, and students with disabilities) in the completion of a post-secondary education by providing academic support (tutoring, study skills, workshops, coaching), assisting them with short-term decision making and long term planning, connecting them to resources and facilitating their ability to become effective agents of their own learning and personal development.

SSS will be a model program, nationally recognized for best practices and strategies in promoting retention and graduation of its participants.

Through a grant competition, funds are awarded to institutions of higher education to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education. Student Support Services (SSS) projects also may provide grant aid to current SSS participants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants (# 84.063). The goal of SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants.

Who We Serve

Student Support Services assists traditionally underrepresented students including first-generation college students, students with disabilities, and students who meet low-income guidelines.

Services Provided

One-on-one and group tutoring

Early class registration opportunities

Assistance in course selection

Financial aid guidance and assistance

Textbook and calculator loan program

In-office computer lab and on-site printers

Networking and peer mentoring opportunities

One-on-one guidance from a designated success coach

Skill-building seminars

Workshops for financial literacy

Network of peers and mentors

Cultural trips

Eligibility

First-generation college students: neither legal guardian/parent completed a 4-year college degree in the U.S.

Students with disabilities demonstrating academic need: documentation of a disability must be on file

Students who meet financial guidelines as set by the Department of Education

Alongside the satisfaction of helping our peers, you learn other methods and strategies for tutoring. SSS is where you want to be.

Keondre Parker, 2019 Graduate

Boeing, Payload Design Engineer

We develop a resiliency that comes from the courage to not give up. I believe turning challenges into triumphs is what life is all about.

Director of SSS & SSS-STEM

Contact Info

TRIO/Student Support Services

Sterry 127 | 601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone: 512.245.2275
Fax: 512.245.1623
sssoffice@txstate.edu

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Student Support Services at Texas State University encourages and assists traditionally underrepresented students (first-generation college students, students who meet low-income guidelines, and students with disabilities) in the completion of a post-secondary education by providing academic support (tutoring, study skills, workshops, coaching), assisting them with short-term decision making and long term planning, connecting them to resources and facilitating their ability to become effective agents of their own learning and personal development.

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Financial aid is something that some students aren’t familiar with and they don’t always know their options. Taking away the stress of trying to figure it out on their own can help them better focus on classes and studying.

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Texas State Enrollment Management and Marketing Financial Aid and Scholarships

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Financial coaches can give advice re: budgeting, loans etc

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Welcome to Bobcat Gold! How ready are you for your next bill, your next adventure or your next money decision? Are you thinking ahead, or are you putting out fires? With the proper coaching, education and a little work on your part, you can take charge of your financial future. Click on a link below to get started!

Everything money. Topics, tools, and courses for you, your money, and your future!

Speak with a FREE financial advisor--they are the pros. Make an appointment today!

Know what you owe! Keep track of your student loans here.

Financial Assistance

Emergency Funding Assistance - Available through the Dean of Students.

Short-Term Loan - Can help with your school-related expenses.

Emergency Loan - For help when you can't make the down payment on your tuition & fees bill.

FAFSA - To apply for federal and state grants, work study and student loans.

FAFSA Video - 7 Easy Steps to completing the FAFSA.

TASFA - Apply for financial aid as a non-citizen, Texas resident.

BOSS - University or external scholarships can help with your educational costs.

Graduate Funding - funding opportunities for graduate students.

Funding Database - database with funding opportunities for graduate students.

Campus and Community Resources

Planning for Your Success

Articles and Podcasts

The Index Card

All you need to know about making good financial decisions can fit on a
3 x 5. Just ask professor Harold Pollack of the University of Chicago. Check out an interview and his book The Index Card.

You Need A Budget

A weekly podcast to help you get out of debt, save more money and beat the paycheck cycle.

Let Your Money Grow

Becoming a millionaire is possible, but it takes dedication, persistence and time. Grow your financial future! Check out this easy step. The trick is to keep at it.

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Welcome to Bobcat Gold! How ready are you for your next bill, your next adventure or your next money decision? Are you thinking ahead, or are you putting out fires? With the proper coaching, education and a little work on your part, you can take charge of your financial future.

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CAFE offers career readiness workshops, financial education events, one-on-one financial coaching, personalized graduation preparation, and academic coaching.

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We're Here for You

To support Texas State University's social distancing measures, Career and Financial Education (CAFE) offers remote and online services. Contact us at 512.245.5102 or email txstcafe@txstate.edu to determine which option is best for you.

Career and Financial Education (CAFE) is an innovative program that exist to assist Texas State students in learning how to successfully transition from the university to professional schools or enter the workforce. Our primary goal is bringing juniors and seniors to new levels of career readiness and financial awareness. Funded by a Title V grant, CAFE offers career readiness workshops, financial education events, one-on-one financial coaching, personalized graduation preparation, and academic coaching.

Use Left and Right Arrow Keys to Interact with Slideshow

Connect with us on Social Media

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To support Texas State University's social distancing measures, Career and Financial Education (CAFE) offers remote and online services. Contact us at 512.245.5102 or email txstcafe@txstate.edu to determine which option is best for you. Career and Financial Education (CAFE) is an innovative program that exist to assist Texas State students in learning how to successfully transition from the university to professional schools or enter the workforce.

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Scholarships are money that you do not need to repay, and you can stack scholarship awards and/or combine them with financial aid up to the cost of attendance. Scholarships are usually based on your academic and extracurricular achievements. They may also take into account your intended major, your financial need and other factors.

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Texas State Enrollment Management and Marketing Financial Aid and Scholarships Scholarships

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Mental Health Resources

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Racial Trauma and COVID Resources

A collection of resources compiled by the Counseling Center about Racial Trauma, Racial Violence, & Antiracism for use by the Texas State university community.

The Counseling Center's tips and resources for coping with COVID-19, recognizing this pandemic can bring about uncertainty, fear, and increased anxiety.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
If you are not in immediate danger the Counseling Center provides a list of crisis resources.

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Mindfulness on the Go

Using your smart phone is a great way to support good mental health. Try any of these suggested apps that touch on a wide range of mental health topics and are designed to enhance one's well-being and help better manage the ups and downs of campus life.

Check out the Counseling Center's Relaxation and Meditation YouTube Channel.

Texas State Official

RT @TXSTCE: Tuesday | March 2 4 pm JOHN HOFFMAN --- Discourse in Democracy presents the Deputy State of Texas Chief Information Officer and...

2021-03-02T19:33:47Z

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A collection of resources compiled by the Counseling Center about Racial Trauma, Racial Violence, & Antiracism for use by the Texas State university community. The Counseling Center's tips and resources for coping with COVID-19, recognizing this pandemic can bring about uncertainty, fear, and increased anxiety. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

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In case of medical or mental health life threatening emergency, call 911.

Suicide Prevention

This video helps the community talk about suicide in order to work together to prevent suicides.

During Business Hours (8am-5pm, M - F)

Call the Counseling Center 512-245-2208

Ask for an Emergency Appointment

After Business Hours

Please indicate you are a Texas State Student

San Marcos campus -
Avail Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660
Round Rock campus -

Bluebonnet Trails Crisis Hotline: 1-800-841-1255

Tell someone.

It can be hard to share these thoughts and feelings and ask for help.

But, it is important to do so. Seek help from a professional.

Call the Counseling Center 512-245-2208

Ask for an Emergency Appointment

Please indicate you are a Texas State Student

San Marcos campus - Avail Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660

Round Rock campus -

Express genuine concern. Ask directly if they are thinking about suicide. Listen without passing judgment. If you are uncomfortable with asking, find someone who will ask.

Listen, take them seriously, and offer support. Do not leave them alone. Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs, or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt.

SEEK HELP. Do not feel sworn to secrecy, this is a life-threatening situation. Reach out to family, Texas State staff/faculty, or call a crisis line for support. Take the person to an emergency room. Call a trained mental health clinician for guidance. Help them connect to professional help.

Call the Counseling Center 512-245-2208

Ask for an Emergency Appointment

Please indicate you are a Texas State Student

San Marcos campus - Avail Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660

Round Rock campus -

There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grieving is a personal and highly individual experience. How you grieve depends on many factors, including your personality and coping style, your life experience, your faith, and the nature of the loss. Whatever your grief experience, it's important to be patient with yourself and allow the process to naturally unfold.

The single most important factor in healing from loss is having the support of other people. Even if you aren't comfortable talking about your feelings under normal circumstances, it's important to express them when you're grieving. Sharing your loss makes the burden of grief easier to carry. Wherever the support comes from, accept it and do not grieve alone. Connecting to others will help you heal.

Turn to friends and family members - Now is the time to lean on the people who care about you, even if you take pride in being strong and self-sufficient.

Draw comfort from your faith - If you follow a religious tradition, embrace the comfort its mourning rituals can provide. Spiritual activities that are meaningful to you - such as praying, meditating, or going to church - can offer solace. If you're questioning your faith in the wake of the loss, talk to a clergy member or others in your religious community.

Talk to a therapist or grief counselor - If your grief feels like too much to bear, counseling services are available to you at the Texas State Counseling Center. Call 512-245-2208 during business hours and ask for an Urgent Appointment. An experienced therapist can help you work through intense emotions and overcome obstacles to your grieving.

When you're grieving, it's more important than ever to take care of yourself. The stress of a major loss can quickly deplete your energy and emotional reserves. Looking after your physical and emotional needs will help you get through this difficult time.

Plan ahead for grief "triggers". Anniversaries, holidays, and milestones can reawaken memories and feelings. Be prepared for an emotional wallop, and know that it's completely normal.

If you are experiencing any of the following, it may be a good idea to contact a mental health professional in order to help you cope with your grief:
If you experience thoughts of suicide or wishing you had died with your loved one, please use the suicide prevention resources listed on this page.

All resources listed below will support survivors of interpersonal violence inclusive of their gender and sexual identities.

Find resources for hotlines, advocacy, reporting, counseling, Title IX.

Hays and Caldwell Counties - Call the HCWC

Williamson County - Call Hope Alliance

Hays/Caldwell Women's Center / Rape Crisis Hotline: 1-800-700-4292

Safe Place - Austin / Travis County: 512-267-7233

Hope Alliance - Round Rock / Williamson County: 1-800-460-7233

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)

TTY: 1-800-787-3224

Text LOVEIS to 22522

http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Crisis and Suicide Prevention Helpline for LGBTQ Youth

1-866-4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-7386)

Text Line: Text START to 678-678

http://www.translifeline.org/

This line is primarily for transgender people experiencing a crisis

1-877-565-8860

http://www.ulifeline.org/

An anonymous confidential online resource center for college students to get information regarding emotional health.

1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

Military Crisis Line for Veterans, Active Duty Military, and Family and Friends.

Call: 1-800-273-8255
Text: 838255

The Steve Fund has created ​a special keyword, STEVE, that young people of color can text to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7.

Texas State is committed to the holistic well-being of its students. In an effort to encourage Texas State students to call Emergency 911 in case of a drug or alcohol related medical emergency, a student will be granted amnesty from formal university disciplinary procedures if:

-The student requested medical assistance in response to the possible alcohol or drug overdose of another person;

-The student was the "first" person to make a request for medical assistance;

-The student remained on the scene until medical assistance arrived; and

-The student cooperated with medical assistance and law enforcement personnel.

The reporting student will be expected to provide an account of the episode/event to a university official regardless of the amnesty standard being applied

Local Mental Health Authorities

Texas Health and Human Services contracts with 37 local mental health authorities (LMHA) and two local behavioral health authorities to deliver an array of mental health services in communities across Texas. These agencies provide the crisis hotline and crisis intervention services for their service areas. If you would like to find the LMHA for any county in the state, please click here.

For the two Texas State campuses, the Hill Country MHDD serves San Marcos and Hays county and Bluebonnet Trails serves Williamson County and Round Rock.

Serves: Bandera, Blanco, Comal, Edwards, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Llano, Mason, Medina, Menard, Real, Schleicher, Sutton, Uvalde, Val Verde counties.

877-466-0660

Serves: Austin and Travis County

Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Lee, and Williamson counties.

Intake Line: 1-844-309-6385

Serves: San Antonio and Bexar County

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In case of medical or mental health life threatening emergency, call 911. This video helps the community talk about suicide in order to work together to prevent suicides. During Business Hours (8am-5pm, M - F) Call the Counseling Center 512-245-2208 Ask for an Emergency Appointment San Marcos campus - Avail Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660 Round Rock campus - Bluebonnet Trails Crisis Hotline: 1-800-841-1255 Tell someone.

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At Risk is an online, self paced training for faculty, staff, and students that will help you recognize signs of distress and ways to approach students to offer support and resources.

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At Risk Training

At Risk is an online, self paced training for faculty, staff, and students that will help you recognize signs of distress and ways to approach students to offer support and resources.

Please sign in here with the Texas State Authenticated Access for

Faculty, Staff and Students.

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At Risk Training At Risk is an online, self paced training for faculty, staff, and students that will help you recognize signs of distress and ways to approach students to offer support and resources.

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Brilliant Bobcats: College Success Workshop Series is focused on teaching students various strategies and skills for college success.

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Brilliant Bobcats College Success Series

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Texas State Division of Student Affairs Student Success Programs Brilliant Bobcats College Success Series

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I'm First! is a community supporting first-gen students

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...especially being the first in your family to attend and graduate from college. I'm First!, an initiative of UStrive, is an online community celebrating first-generation college students.

Check out video stories from first-gen students, read student blogs and discover colleges that have special programs to support their first-gen students. We feature YouTube video testimonials from first-gen students and graduates from across the country. Watch some below or share your own story.

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especially being the first in your family to attend and graduate from college. I'm First!, an initiative of UStrive, is an online community celebrating first-generation college students. Check out video stories from first-gen students, read student blogs and discover colleges that have special programs to support their first-gen students.

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Paying the high tuition costs for undergraduate and graduate college coursework is becoming increasingly difficult for students and their families. Although many resources exist for locating financial aid, many individuals find it difficult to create and implement a strategy that helps them obtain funding in the form of grants, loans and scholarships. This is especially true for those who are the first in their family to attend an institution of higher learning.

First Generation is a term that applies to this segment of the population. Many families that are in the lower income bracket or who have suffered decades of social persecution have no members with a college education. This means that youth members of these families have no one to guide them through the process of finding student aid, particularly financial assistance. Fortunately, many programs are in place to accomplish this task.

Topics discussed here include

aid for First Generation students

how to find sources of funding

examples of First Generation scholarships

additional grants and scholarships for First Generation students

No one should ever be denied the opportunity for higher education merely because of a lack of money to pay for tuition, room and board. A great number of foundations, private scholarship funds, special programs within certain colleges and universities, and corporate programs around the country are in place to assist those who otherwise cannot afford the prohibitive costs of education.

Aid For First Generation Students

Assistance for the payment of tuition, room and board, and student supplies comes from many different sources. The federal government, private foundations, alumni groups and corporate programs all have various mechanisms for recognizing the needs of incoming freshmen in terms of financial aid. A First Generation student attending a school of higher education may be eligible for one or more kind of funding. Programs to help students pay for their college education include the awarding of grants and scholarships, offers of low-interest or zero-interest loans, and free internships.

Many of the First in Family scholarships available to undergraduate students are awarded also on the basis of financial need. Some require academic excellence on the part of the student, and others focus primarily on aiding those who are considered to be a member of a minority group. It is of vital importance for students to understand that they may be eligible for a number of different financial assistance programs. Applying for as many different grants and scholarships as possible will result in a higher probability for acceptance and subsequent awarding of financial aid.

Federal Government Grants

First Generation college students may apply for a Federal Pell Grant, a need-based program that offers students financing when the family cannot afford the entire cost of a college education for their child. Those who are first in their family to attend college are encourage to check out this grant program, discussed in greater detail in Section IV.

Public And Private University Scholarships

Both public and private colleges and universities have their own scholarship programs. These are designed to give students who excel in a particular subject the opportunity to pursue a degree program at a reduced cost. Scholarships may be awarded for those who show proficiency in subject such as mathematics, business, science, medicine and athletics. First Generation college students may find a grant program opportunity specifically designed for them. Colleges and universities around the country often advertise these as First in Family scholarships, and the requirements vary according to the school and the degree program to which the scholarship is attached.

Scholarships From Private Foundations

A large number of foundations exist that offer partial and full scholarships for First Generation students. These foundations receive donations from many different sources. The awarding of these scholarships may depend on the student's financial need as well as the degree program. Foundations often have extensive application procedures as well as the completion of essays or other written work as a requirement for consideration. These foundations often award a limited number of scholarships per academic year, and in many cases the First Generation college student has a limited number of institutions from which to choose in order for the scholarship to be given.

Corporate Grants And Scholarships

Many companies have scholarship programs, some of them targeted specifically to students who are the first in their family to attend college. Corporations often hire students directly out of college, and the offering of a scholarship to those studying in a particular field makes it easier for these companies to find suitable employees. Nearly every major university in the country has at least one corporate scholarship or grant program in effect.

Specific programs for First Generation college students may be located by contacting a school's financial aid office directly. Any corporate scholarship program will be thoroughly explained and application information can be sent directly form the school to the prospective student.

How To Find Sources Of Funding

One of the great difficulties confronting First Generation college students is the lack of information coming from within the family. Since no one in the family has attended college, the student has no history from which to obtain the necessary information concerning possible grant and scholarship opportunities. Quite often, students who come from lower income families or who are members of a social minority have had it drilled into them that most types of financial aid are meant for students other than themselves.

This is certainly not the truth. Over the past several decades, emphasis on financial aid for students who are the first in their family to attend college has grown steadily. High schools with a diverse ethnic makeup now have a huge resource base of information available for those students who seek to continue their education but are concerned about their ability to pay for it.

Ask The High School Student Advisor

High school seniors who will be the first in their family to attend college are urged to consult with their class advisor. Information about scholarship programs and how to apply for grants, especially those grants targeted to minorities and low income families, is readily available. Many school districts have special programs and seminars for students and their families to attend, specifically designed to inform the student about career opportunities and how to begin the scholarship/grant application process.

A good number of colleges and universities around the country have their own links to First Generation grant programs for students who are the first in their family to attend college. Many of the foundations that offer these grants do so only if the student is planning to attend a certain institution, but they are more than happy to point the student in another direction based on his or her area of study.

Many First Generation students may qualify for a state-operated grant or low-interest loan so long as the study is completed at a public or private university located in the state where the student currently resides. These state agencies may offer loans that do not have to be repaid so long as the student finds and holds employment for a certain number of years after the degree program has been completed.

Contact The College Directly

If a First Generation student has decided on a major course of study and has completed a list of possible institutions, the next step is to contact the admissions office at these schools and ask about loan, grant and scholarship programs. The term First in Family is used frequently where these grant programs are concerned. Admissions offices can give complete information not only about how to apply for the Federal Pell Grant but also how to obtain additional information about any state government program or private foundation that offers financial aid.

It is important for students and their families to understand that each type of financial aid involves an application process, and there is a deadline for completing and submitting the required information. Many First Generation scholarships are awarded only once per academic year, and the student has only until a certain date to apply. High school students are encouraged to begin the search process as early as possible during their senior year.

Examples Of First Generation Scholarships

This sections offers students and their families a quick look at some of the more well known programs available that offer grants and scholarships based on financial need, minority classification, or field of study. Many of the programs that provide grants and scholarships are concerned with the degree program being pursued as well as the student's academic excellence in high school. Others are primarily focused on the lack of ability to pay for college.

As mentioned earlier, some grants and scholarships are funded mostly by private citizens and alumni. Others receive their money through the charitable contributions made by civic groups and corporations. Many of these grant programs award scholarships to a very limited number of applicants each year, therefore it is imperative for students and their families to explore as many opportunities as possible, and apply for all those for which the student appears to be eligible.

Private And Corporate Scholarship Programs

The Hertz Foundation offers a number of scholarships annually to those students pursuing a degree in physical sciences. The idea behind this extraordinary scholarship program is to educate students who are interested in discovering new ways of expanding industry while at the same time acting as responsible stewards of the natural resources of the planet. The Hertz Foundation has paid out nearly $130 million in scholarships over the past four decades, offers two distinct five-year programs, and allows students to select from a number of different colleges and universities.

Applicants from minority groups and those who are the first in their family are strongly urged to apply for this prestigious fellowship award. The Hertz Foundation Fellowship awards are given only to those presently enrolled in college and who are pursuing a graduate degree in the physical sciences. Biology, chemistry, physics and engineering science majors are welcome to apply.

Applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, have excellent academic marks in high school and college, and be able to satisfactorily complete a technical education testing procedure. The awards given are sufficient to pay for graduate studies, and the student is under no obligation to repay any amount of the scholarship given.

One of the better known scholarship opportunities in the nation is The Sallie Mae Fund, which offers undergraduate students funding for tuition and other expenses. They operate a special First Generation college student fund program, managed in coordination with the Hispanic College Fund. It is a need-based program open to all eligible Hispanic students enrolled at any one of a number of accredited universities across the country.

Students are awarded scholarships in amounts from $500 to $5,000 for the cost of tuition and student expenses. In addition to the First Generation scholarship program, the Sallie Mae Fund also has an extensive resource base for locating college grants and low-interest loan. The American Dream scholarship is coordinated with the United Negro College Fund and is open to all African Americans with a respectable grade point average in high school and who satisfy the requirements for a Federal Pell Grant. Scholarships are awarded in amounts up to $5,000.

College Parents of America operates a number of scholarship and grant programs, and they encourage First Generation college students to apply. Students must be a United States citizen or qualifying permanent resident, show academic excellence in high school, become enrolled in a degree program, and attend a participating college or university. Applicants must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and receive notification from the government that financial need is sufficient in order to merit a scholarship or grant. This foundation is comprised solely of parents of former, current and future college students.

The Coca Cola First Generation program was designed specifically to assist low income and minorities achieve a college education. It is this foundation's philosophy that no high school graduate should be denied the opportunity to attend a school of higher learning. Approximately $3 million is awarded annually to high school seniors who have been accepted to an accredited college institution.

Students may contact the school of their choice and ask the admissions office if the college participates in the undergraduate scholarship program. Nearly $19 million has been dispersed through 2011 to students who are the first in their family to attend college.

The Smith Scholarship Foundation awards approximately 20 scholarships annually to students across the state of Alabama. This is an example of a private foundation that serves only a specific region or state. These high school graduates are from diverse ethnic backgrounds but all have something in common: they have overcome hardship and have excelled in high school, showing a deep desire to continue their education. They lack the funds necessary to pay for tuition and student supplies, but through the Smith Scholarship Foundation they have found a source of funding.

Abercrombie and Fitch Global Diversity scholarship award provides students with up to $3,000 and more to help defray the cost of college tuition. The program partners with the National Society of High School Scholars and consists of an essay competition. The winners are judged based on their creativity, desire to become a responsible leader in their community, and their belief in diversity and inclusion. First Generation college students are encourage to apply for this scholarship, which is open to students enrolled at a participating NSHSS school.

Scholarships From Colleges And Universities

Many public and private institutions have initiated their own grant and scholarship programs. Students can apply directly through the school's admissions and financial aid office. Some examples are given below.

Catawba College offers one of the most prestigious scholarship programs for First Generation college students. These scholarships are awarded based on the result of essay competition. Students must apply for admission to Catawba College to be considered for an invitation to compete for the scholarship. Students will be required to submit a short essay, provide recommendations from high school teachers, and show proof of their academic achievements in high school. The competition for scholarship awards takes place twice during the calendar year.

First Generation scholarship requirements include a satisfactory SAT score. Catawba College also has special scholarship and grant programs for valedictorians, athletes and transfer students. All of these grants and scholarships are merit-based, but special consideration is given to those who have income limitations.

The University of California Santa Cruz has numerous scholarship programs available, many of them focusing on low-income students and their families. Some of these grants and scholarships are restricted to those who are entering a particular field of study, live in a certain area or have special talents that are of interest to the donor. The Regents Scholarship, Campus Merit Scholarship and Alumni Scholarship are just a few of the many programs available for incoming freshmen and current undergraduate students. The campus also boasts the Paige and Eloise Smith Scholarship, a monetary award given to students who are former foster children, wards of the court or orphans.

The Culinary Institute of America offers the First Inner City Scholarship at several of its campuses. This program is designed for students wishing to pursue a career in the food preparation business. The scholarship heavily promotes its focus on First Generation students. Students will have to complete an application for admission as well as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Many colleges and universities have their own deadline for applications. This is true not only for admissions but for financial aid provided by a school or its donor partner. Students and their families are encouraged to check with the admissions office for full details on deadlines for completing paperwork and submitting test scores, required student aid forms and letters or recommendation.

Additional Grants And Scholarships For First Generation Students

High school graduates and underclassmen are encouraged to explore every possible opportunity for obtaining financial aid for the purpose of continuing their education. Those who are the first in their family are often from underprivileged households, with very little support for finding scholarship and grant opportunities. Federal and state government offer grants and low-interest loans for students seeking a way to pay for the high cost of tuition, room and board, and everyday expenses. The Federal Pell Grant program and Federal Stafford Loan program are two examples of how the government can help students who are financially strapped and cannot afford the entire cost of their higher education.

Federal Pell Grant Program

The Pell Grant is administered by the Department of Education and is entirely need-based in its design. Students from low-income families or who are the first in their family to attend college are encouraged to apply. This program provides a disbursement of funds directly to the student's school, available for use to pay tuition, room and board, and student supplies.

The amount awarded is determined by the U.S. Congress when the annual budget is constructed. Students must apply for a Pell Grant no earlier than the first of January for consideration for the following academic year.

Students will have to complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is a comprehensive application that is meant to determine how much financial aid is required by the student. The student's family may be able to pay for some of the college expenses, and the FAFSA includes a section on family income and assets. When the application is reviewed, amounts to be awarded are based on the total expected costs for tuition minus the expected family contribution.

Students may ask that a copy of the application results be sent directly to the school of choice. First Generation college students greatly benefit from this program because the amount awarded is based on the inability for the family to contribute to the college education.

For the 2011-2012 academic year, the maximum Pell Grant was $5,500. Students and their families are urged to contact the Department of Education or a college admissions and financial aid office for further information about budgeting for the Pell Grant. This program is considered permanent but the amount awarded may change from year to year.

Federal Stafford Loan Program

The Stafford Loan is a fixed-rate loan program available to both undergraduate and graduate students. The application requirements are similar to those for a Pell Grant. Federal Stafford Loan applicants must complete a FAFSA as well as a form that details the amount of expected tuition costs. Stafford Loans may be unsubsidized or subsidized in nature. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest and in some cases repayment may be waived. The amount awarded is based on several factors including dependency status and class standing. The amount of the loan increases for upperclassmen as well as graduate students. As of Spring 2012, the current interest rate for a Stafford Loan was 3.4 percent. Legislation is underway that may result in keeping this rate intact, but students and their families should check the official Stafford Loan website listed above for the latest information.

State Grant Programs

Nearly every state has a grant program available for undergraduate and graduate students. First Generation college students are encouraged to contact their state government or ask the financial aid office at the college of their choice about scholarship or grant possibilities through the state government. Some of these programs are need-based, others are available only to students who are entering into an internship, and some are limited to graduate students. A sample of some of the state-managed grant programs is displayed below.

Alabama

The Alabama Student Grant Program is not need-based, but instead is awarded on a first-come basis. It pays up to $1,200 per year to both part-time and full-time students at an approved college or university located in the state. Requirements include residency in the state and a high school diploma. The Alabama Student Assistance Program is also a first-come, first-served grant awarded in amounts of up to $2,500 per year. Information about this grant is available at most high schools. Alabama students who are limited in their ability to pay for college tuition are encouraged to check out both of these programs.

California

The California Student Grant is available to eligible residents of the Golden State. Cal Grants vary in the amount awarded and are subject to legislation affecting the state budget. This means that students may receive a different amount each year. The application process involves the completion of the FAFSA as well as a state government form. The information is sent directly to the school of choice, and students are notified of their eligibility well before the start of the academic year.

Students who are former foster children and are the first in their family to attend college may be interested in applying for a California Chafee Grant. This grant is funded by both the State of California and the federal government. Students may be eligible for a grant of at least $5,000 per academic year. Requirements include the submission of a completed FAFSA, a Chafee application, and a Chafee Need Analysis Report.

Illinois

The Silas Purnell Incentive for Access Program is funded entirely by the State of Illinois. This grant is available to those Illinois resident students who meet the Monetary Award Program requirements. A completed FAFSA must be submitted, and the resulting Student Aid Report must indicate a zero amount as the expected family contribution for the cost of higher education.

Texas

The TEXAS Grant is offered to high school graduates who are a resident of the Lone Star state. Eligibility requirements include a Student Aid Report that indicates an expected family contribution equal to or less than $4,000. This grant is specifically aimed at helping lower income families send their child to college. There are several restrictions on how many credit hours have already been completed in order to qualify for a TEXAS Grant. Application are available from the financial aid office of any accredited Texas-based college or university. Students are encouraged to apply well before the academic year begins because funding is limited. The amount awarded is based on the state budget and the number of applications received.

Detailed information concerning the available grant programs in the student's state of residence can be found by contacting any college or university admissions office. Every state also has an official government website that outlines the state grant and scholarship opportunities funded through the government.

Special Grant Programs

Students who are the first in their family to attend college should also look into the special programs available for those involved in specific areas of study or who are members of the armed forces. Every state has information about National Guard scholarship funding and other financial aid for young adults serving in this branch of the Dept. of Defense. Women and minorities are encouraged to perform an online search to find scholarship opportunities in the areas of nursing, general health care, social work and early development education.

Many college students are interested in pursuing an advanced degree program in areas such as high technology or medical/dental. It is important for these students to confer with their school's financial aid office to find out about grant programs for those planning on transferring to another institution in order to complete their Master's or Doctorate. A huge number of grants are available only to those who are already enrolled in school and are taking a course load designed to prepare them for advanced study at a specific institute.

Conclusion

Exploring every possible avenue for student financial aid cannot be overstressed. While it is true that the task at hand may seem daunting, failure to check out the various resources available for locating scholarships and grants results in a quite limited ability to pay for college. It is therefore in the student's best interest to begin a search for college funding through his or her high school advisory office. Getting the basic information on what is expected of the student, how applications are filled out and submitted, and what the options are for locating schools that offer their own grant programs is the first step to successfully obtaining the money needed to enroll in an institution of higher learning.

First Generation students may feel a lack of motivation because history indicates a lesser chance of their being accepted into a university or trade school. This is the fear that must be overcome through a detailed examination of the programs now in place that matches a student's ability to a grant or scholarship. The only thing standing between a minority student or low-income high school graduate and the completion of a college degree program is an apparent lack of assistance. This lack of help is a myth, and it is hoped that all high school students are given the assistance they so desperately need in order to fulfill their dream of obtaining a secondary level education.

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Paying the high tuition costs for undergraduate and graduate college coursework is becoming increasingly difficult for students and their families. Although many resources exist for locating financial aid, many individuals find it difficult to create and implement a strategy that helps them obtain funding in the form of grants, loans and scholarships.

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The Hispanic Policy Network is a Faculty and Staff organization that is committed to the advancement of Hispanic/Latinx individuals in post-secondary education.

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The Hispanic Policy Network is a Faculty and Staff organization that is committed to the advancement of Hispanic/Latinx individuals in post-secondary education.

HPN provides a forum for discussion of issues and concerns to the Hispanic/Latinx community at Texas State University and to cooperate in providing workable solutions to these issues.

We look forward to you joining the HPN Familia.

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HPN provides a forum for discussion of issues and concerns to the Hispanic/Latinx community at Texas State University and to cooperate in providing workable solutions to these issues. We look forward to you joining the HPN Familia.

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A short list of organizations that open or specific to Hispanic/Latinx students

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Hispanic Heritage Month

Institutional Inclusive Excellence - Student Initiatives observes National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15) which celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens with Hispanic ancestry. They include: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela. It also honors seven of our Latin American neighbors who celebrate their independence in September. Que viva!

Get involved.

Joining a student organization is a great way to get connected and involved with the Hispanic/Latinx and Texas State community. Texas State has over 300 student organizations on campus.

Below is a short list of organizations that open or specific to Hispanic/Latinx students.

Association for Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting

ALPFA expands opportunities for students who seek careers in accounting, finance, business and business related fields by empowering them to develop as leaders through the management of student chapters, delivering quality student programs focused on professional development, providing access to our industry network of professional members and sponsors, offering access to scholarship programs and creating opportunities to network with other students.

Webpage | Twitter | Facebook | Contact

First Generation Student Organization (FGSO)

FGSO offers mentoring, advice, and support to assist students in adjusting to college, while offering support in terms of success and study tips including campus resources. FGSO paves an avenue for students to meet other first gen students while maintaining a good balance in school.

Grupo Folklorico Ocotochtli

In November, 1993, ten students representing Hispanic organizations at the Texas State campus gathered to share their culture at the annual homecoming talent show. Because of an award winning performance, Grupo Folklorico emerged into a student campus organization. Since its inception, it has shared in much success and has performed throughout the University and its surrounding community.

Webpage | Twitter | Facebook | Contact

Hispanic Business Student Association

Our mission as students of Texas State University-San Marcos, in order to serve as a center for the procurement of knowledge, is to foster communication with the McCoy College of Business Administration, create opportunities within the academic and the business community with the intention of developing proper business acumen, provide a medium for cultural enrichment, and encourage the pursuit of true and ethical ideals.

Webpage | Twitter | Facebook | Contact

Hombres Unidos

HU is a brotherhood-based student organization that prepares Hispanic males for life-long success through civic engagement, dialogue and education.

Twitter | Facebook | Contact

Houston-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation

H-LSAMP is designed to substantially increase the number of students graduating with baccalaureate degrees in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics, particularly students from diverse backgrounds. The H-LSAMP formal program enriches each scholar's university experience through faculty mentoring, undergraduate research and internships, academic and career conferences, peer tutoring, interdisciplinary learning opportunities, and individualized support. Scholars also form the core of the Collaboative Learning Center helping fellow students in peer-to-peer collaborative learning.

Webpage | Twitter | Facebook | Contact

Latinas Unidas

LU's empowers members through support and education of relevant issues; to connects members to each other, our community and to resources that will be influential in their future; and finally, provides an example of leadership, grace and friendship that will serve to build and strengthen our community.

Twitter | Facebook | Contact

Latino Communication Association

LCA is a multicultural organization that celebrates and embraces Latino culture while learning about and exploring new media. Through volunteer efforts and networking, LCA wants to benefit the Hispanic community as well as the San Marcos/Austin community.

Webpage | Twitter | Facebook | Contact

League of United Latin American Citizens

LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of the Hispanic population of the United States.

Webpage | Twitter | Facebook | Contact

Ritmo Latino Dance Society

Ritmo Latino Dance Society promotes the art and culture of Latin Dance to the Texas State community. It provides an opportunity for dance-loving students to learn, practice and perform various kinds of Latin dance styles.

Webpage | Twitter | Facebook | Contact

Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientist

MAES creates an environment that promotes the advancement of emerging minority leaders within the STEM field. MAES is a valuable resource among students for support of STEM majors at Texas State.

Webpage | Twitter | Facebook | Contact

National Association of Hispanic Journalist

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists.

Webpage | Twitter | Facebook | Contact

Latina/o/x Minor Studies

The undergraduate minor in Latina/o Studies is a multidisciplinary university-wide program. Students learn about the social, political, economic, historical and cultural processes that impact Latina/o communities in the United States. The minor emphasizes applied skills and knowledge, including research skills, for better participating in our diverse society.
More information

Great Resources and Opportunities!

Underrepresented Student Advisor Council (USAC)

USAC is a programming and leadership development council comprised of various recognized Texa State student organizations. USAC welcomes and supports organizations whose membership includes persons from groups which have been, and continue to be underrpresented in higher education.

Hispanic Alumni Association

This chapter connects and mobilizes Hispanic alumni to strengthen and expand the opportunities for current and prospective students to succeed at Texas State and to establish closer contact between the University and Hispanic Alumni.

Hispanic Policy Network

HPN is a staff and faculty organization committed to the improvement of higher education for Hispanics. Their goal of educational advocacy, networking, recruitment, retention, scholarship assistance, culture promotion and working atmosphere help to create a warm and supportive campus climate for our Hispanic/Latino Students.

Conferences | Internships | Scholarships

A list of on- and off-campus scholarships, internships and conferences. This list is intended to serve as a reference. Email us at osdi@txstate.edu with recommendations and brief description of the text about the article.

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Institutional Inclusive Excellence - Student Initiatives observes National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15) which celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens with Hispanic ancestry. They include: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

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SACNAS at Texas State University has the purpose of promoting recruitment, retention, excellence, understanding, and appreciation of Hispanics, Chicanos, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other underrepresented minorities in science at Texas State University. Our organization welcomes students of ANY heritage or race who are committed to promoting science and engineering.

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Founded in 2013, the student chapter of SACNAS at Texas State University has the purpose of promoting recruitment, retention, excellence, understanding, and appreciation of Hispanics, Chicanos, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other underrepresented minorities in science at Texas State University. Our organization welcomes students of ANY heritage or race who are committed to promoting science and engineering.
To join, please contact us at: txstSACNAS@gmail.com. Group meetings occur every other Wednesday starting January 30th, 2019 at Centennial 331 at 5:00 PM!

Our organization has been very active since its beginning. We aim to provide members opportunities to practice and improve their leadership skills, to interact with undergraduate and graduate students in a number of STEM fields, and to participate in outreach activities to local schools. Some of the most recent activities include:

Student Involvement Fair, Feb, 5, 2019

STEAM Fair, February 9, 2019. For experiment instructions click here.

General meeting, Cleaning Up Your Online Image, February 13, 2019

We look forward to working with you to make our student organization a success. Please visit our Facebook page.

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SACNAS Student Chapter at Texas State University

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Founded in 2013, the student chapter of SACNAS at Texas State University has the purpose of promoting recruitment, retention, excellence, understanding, and appreciation of Hispanics, Chicanos, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other underrepresented minorities in science at Texas State University.

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Find yourself a new home... join one (or more!) of our science and engineering student organizations.

Joining a STEM student organization is a great way to meet other students who share your interests. You'll feel right at home!

Whether you want to be part of a design team for academic competitions, contribute your talents to a research project, or just make new friends who share your passion for science or engineering, our student organizations have something for you.

Check out the organizations listed below; they would love to have you as a member!

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Science and Engineering Student Organizations and Clubs

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Find yourself a new home... join one (or more!) of our science and engineering student organizations. Joining a STEM student organization is a great way to meet other students who share your interests. You'll feel right at home!

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Dates for Family Weekend, e-newsletters, and other campus messages will come through this portal. Log in and create your profile to get connected!

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The Bobcat Family Porta l is customized to include information relevant to you. You set the frequency of how often you would like e-newsletters, as well as the ability to log in at any time to access on-demand information. This centralized location will provide you with the information you need to stay informed about the university and your student. If your student completes the online FERPA process, you will see customized information about your TXST student.

Dates for Family Weekend, e-newsletters, and other campus messages will come through this portal. Log in and create your profile to get connected!

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The Bobcat Family Porta l is customized to include information relevant to you. You set the frequency of how often you would like e-newsletters, as well as the ability to log in at any time to access on-demand information. This centralized location will provide you with the information you need to stay informed about the university and your student.

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Resources for parents

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Resources

It is our goal at Parent and Family Relations to make sure you have what you need to support your student. Our resources are catered towards needs you may have while your student is studying at Texas State year-round to keep you connected to the Bobcat Family.

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It is our goal at Parent and Family Relations to make sure you have what you need to support your student. Our resources are catered towards needs you may have while your student is studying at Texas State year-round to keep you connected to the Bobcat Family.

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Best Practices for Involving Parents in Higher Education

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Best Practices for Involving Parents in Higher Education

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Best Practices for Involving Parents in Higher Education

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Research Considerations and Theoretical Application for Best Practices in Higher EducationLatinaos Achieving Success

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Challenges and Strategies for Assisting Latino Students with College Access and Completion –

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Different Yet Similar The Educational Experiences of LatinX Male STudents at Texas PWI, HSI, and HBCU Institutions

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Lost among the Data A review of first generation Latino Students

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Understanding Latinx College Student Diversity and Why It Matters - Higher Education Today

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Want First-Generation Latinx College Students to Succeed_ Get the Parents Involved!

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Physics Help Center

The Physics Help Center is virtual this semester through Gather Town. It is staffed by students participating in the Learning Assistant Program who are available to help with homework or other course related material. Please click on the document below for information on how to access and use the help center.

Help Center Instructions (PDF, 507 KB)

This document gives instructions on how to access and use the Physics Help Center through Gather Town

Collaborative Learning Community (CLC)

The Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) is supported by the H-LSAMP program, and is located on the third floor of Ingram Hall (IGRM 3202). They provide tutoring in all STEM areas and have computers configured with technical software (CAD, modelling, LabVIEW, etc.).
https://hlsamp.cose.txstate.edu/clc/clc-home.html

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The Physics Help Center is virtual this semester through Gather Town. It is staffed by students participating in the Learning Assistant Program who are available to help with homework or other course related material. Please click on the document below for information on how to access and use the help center.

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Welcome to Project Maestros

Our goals are to help the transition of pre-service teachers transferring from community colleges to Texas State University and to provide tools that develop all pre-service teachers as well-rounded educators.

Transfer Students

We support all journeys to Texas State. Learn more about how to become a Bobcat and advance your professional success.

Somos Tejas State

We are dedicated to the success of our Latinx students. View the campaign video created by Institutional Inclusive Excellence and consider donating to retention and professional development efforts.

Academic Planning

Texas State offers one of the nation's leading education programs. Our team is here to supply you with real-world experience and prepare you for managing a successful classroom environment.

Professional Development

Throughout the academic year, Maestros teams up with other organizations to bring Bobcats multidimensional professional development opportunities.

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Our goals are to help the transition of pre-service teachers transferring from community colleges to Texas State University and to provide tools that develop all pre-service teachers as well-rounded educators. We support all journeys to Texas State. Learn more about how to become a Bobcat and advance your professional success.

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The Houston-Louis Stokes STEM Pathways and Research Alliance (H-LSAMP) is a National Science Foundation supported program in the College of Science and Engineering at Texas State University. Structured as a community of scholars, H-LSAMP is designed to substantially increase the number of students graduating with baccalaureate degrees in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics, particularly students from diverse backgrounds.

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The Houston-Louis Stokes STEM Pathways and Research Alliance (H-LSAMP) is a National Science Foundation supported program in the College of Science and Engineering at Texas State University. Structured as a community of scholars, H-LSAMP is designed to substantially increase the number of students graduating with baccalaureate degrees in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics, particularly students from diverse backgrounds.

Texas State's H-LSAMP formal program enriches each scholar's university experience through faculty mentoring, undergraduate research and internships, academic and career conferences, peer tutoring, interdisciplinary learning opportunities, and individualized support. Scholars also form the core of the Collaborative Learning Center , helping fellow students in peer-to-peer collaborative learning in STEM.

"NSF supports curiosity-driven, transformative science. And we do this in an inclusive environment that supports women and men at the beginning of their careers, especially with LSAMP and our Graduate Research Fellowships Program. Both of these programs have provided mechanisms for increasing the participation of women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans in science and engineering. It is widely recognized that STEM fields are the primary drivers of American competitiveness in an increasingly global economy. Research shows that more than half of U.S. economic growth over the last 50 years has resulted from improved productivity brought about by STEM-led innovations. NSF believes we all need to open the door wider to a greater number of untapped populations, giving all the nation's citizens a shot at participating in the technological revolutions that are transforming our economy. NSF is proud to support LSAMP because it does that -- and does it well. NSF celebrates the fact that LSAMP has been writing its own legendary success story for 25 years." Remarks by Dr. France A. Córdova, Director - National Science Foundation, at the 25th LSAMP Research Symposium (2016)

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1911310. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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The Houston-Louis Stokes STEM Pathways and Research Alliance (H-LSAMP) is a National Science Foundation supported program in the College of Science and Engineering at Texas State University. Structured as a community of scholars, H-LSAMP is designed to substantially increase the number of students graduating with baccalaureate degrees in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics, particularly students from diverse backgrounds.

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Interested in STEM?

Have you declared a major or minor in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) within the College of Science and Engineering? If so, Student Support Services (SSS) STEM offers a program designed to better fit your needs and introduce you to STEM careers and opportunities.

SSS STEM offers the services and benefits as Student Support Services (SSS), along with the following:

SSS STEM offers the opportunity to visit a potential future employer to learn about the process, responsibilities, and requirements needed to have a career in STEM.

Networking is an important aspect of building your professional career. Through our program, you will meet peers who share similar interests, professors who can guide you towards valuable insight, and other professionals who can show you what knowledge you might need to strive towards your goals.

Undergraduate research is one of the best ways to gain STEM skills and gain insight towards what it truly means to be a scientist or engineer. SSS STEM will find opportunities for you to get involved with research on campus or elsewhere with paid and unpaid research.

How to apply

Download this brochure for a breakdown of services and tips on how to apply.

JOIN THE SSS STEM FAMILY

All services are FREE and available to students accepted into the program. Participants need only a strong commitment and desire to succeed at Texas State. The services we provide can accelerate students on their path to success.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the SSS Office at 512-245-2275

Eligibility

You must be a U.S. citizen (or eligible non-citizen) in need of academic support who has declared a STEM major that is under the College of Science and Engineering. Additionally, you must meet one or more following requirements:

First-generation college students: neither legal guardian/parent completed a 4-year college degree in the U.S.

Students with disabilities demonstrating academic need: documentation of a disability must be on file

Students who meet financial guidelines as set by the Department of Education

Have Questions about the application?

Contact Info

TRIO/Student Support Services

Sterry 127 | 601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone: 512.245.2275
Fax: 512.245.1623
sssoffice@txstate.edu

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Have you declared a major or minor in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) within the College of Science and Engineering? If so, Student Support Services (SSS) STEM offers a program designed to better fit your needs and introduce you to STEM careers and opportunities.

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provide a network of university leaders offering evidenced-based research, resources and support in the form of guidance, strategic initiatives for the academic success and inclusion of DACA and Immigrant students.

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Mission Statement

The mission of the TXST Monarch Center for Immigrant Students is to provide a network of university leaders offering evidenced-based research, resources and support in the form of guidance, strategic initiatives for the academic success and inclusion of DACA and Immigrant students.

Our Pledge

Educate - Provide access to higher education opportunities for DACA and immigrant students by actively engaging with and spreading awareness about educational laws and student rights.

Support - Increase recruitment, retention, and graduation of DACA and immigrant students by addressing their unique academic, personal, and professional needs in a holistic manner by partnering with TXST academic and student service areas. The university is committed to promoting the safety, well-being, and success of these students while maintaining their confidentiality and identity.

Advocate - Promote a welcoming campus climate through creation of a knowledgeable and sensitive university culture. Engage other higher education partners to create DACA and immigrant student-friendly policy.

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Updates for DACA, Immigrant, and International Students

If you need legal help or have questions about alternative options regarding the recent SEVP announcement about online courses, please contact the Attorney to schedule a free and confidential appointment with Dr. Angelica Coronado.

Points of Contact

Michelle Sotolongo, MA

Phone: 512-408-2743

Email: ms84@txstate.edu

Office: Lampasas Hall Room 410

Stella Silva, PhD

Phone: 512-245-2539

Email: ss23@txstate.edu

Office: J.C. Kellam Room 164

Angelica Coronado, JD

Phone: 512-245-2370
Email: LegalHelp@txstate.edu
Office: LBJ Student Center, Suite 5-1.5

Advisory Board & Network Members

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TXST Monarch Center for Immigrant Students

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The mission of the TXST Monarch Center for Immigrant Students is to provide a network of university leaders offering evidenced-based research, resources and support in the form of guidance, strategic initiatives for the academic success and inclusion of DACA and Immigrant students.

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The Bobcat Bridge summer program’s primary purpose is to assist a cohort of 10 accepted incoming freshmen to develop the tools to succeed at Texas State.

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Student Support Services (SSS): Bobcat Bridge Remote Program (July 5- August 5)

The Bobcat Bridge summer program's primary purpose is to assist a cohort of 10 accepted incoming freshmen to develop the tools to succeed at Texas State. The SSS Bobcat Bridge Cohort will be attending two online course and participating in a series of remote experiences over the Summer II Session, designed to help our new Bobcats become acclimated to life as a Texas State student. Below are some of the direct support, and resources students will receive to assist in the transition from high school to college.

SSS Tutor In-Class Assistance - An SSS Peer Tutor will attend the Bobcat Bridge Cohort's two daily lectures and assist in modeling classroom etiquette and note taking while providing supplemental support to lecture content and the classes curriculum.

SSS Daily Review Session - An SSS Peer Tutor will facilitate 1.5-hour daily review sessions via Zoom. Review session activities and dialogue will be designed to assist students with their coursework needs including review strategies, test prep and project completion.

Bobcat Bridge Seminars - Once a week, students will engage in 1-hour seminars, held live and recorded for later viewing. The series of workshop will provide academic, financial and personal support from experts who have been in your shoes!

Campus & Resource Connections - Once a week, the Bobcat Bridge Staff will introduce students to vital campus offices and staff, guide them in accessing important remote services and assist the cohort in exploring what Texas State and the community have to offer.

SSS Coach - Each student will be assigned an SSS Coach who will work 1:1 with them, providing weekly Success Sessions in the summer. These weekly goal setting and advising meetings will be held via Zoom to provide support on academic, campus, financial, career and personal needs.

APPLY TODAY! FIRST COME FIRST SERVE!

Please review the "How To Apply" steps below, complete the steps, submit all requirements and PDF application to Karina Madera: k_m685@txstate.edu.

1. Complete the SSS Bobcat Bridge Application and email to k_m685@txstate.edu.

2. Confirm acceptance into Texas State University for Fall 2021

3. Confirm completion a FAFSA for 2020-2021 summer financial aid (in addition to their 2021-2022 FAFSA)

4. Submit a copy of most recent high school transcripts (unofficial transcript)
*Please including any credits/classes you are planning to transfer

5. Complete and return the Consent to Register form

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As soon as your Bobcat Bridge and financial aid application have been processed. Be sure to submit all documents so that financial aid can be processed.

1. If you want to accept your invitation, let the Student Support Services (SSS) staff know that you plan to participate in the program.

2. Provide proof of immunization for bacterial immunization for bacterial meningitis to Magnus Health SMR

https://www.healthcenter.txstate.edu/meningitis.html

There is no need to submit a housing contract for the summer if you will be participating in Bobcat Bridge. You will be staying in the residence hall under the SSS housing contract.

For Summer 2021 Classes: With your consent we will make arrangements to register you in the classes that you will take during the Bobcat Bridge Program.

You will register for your fall classes when you attend New Student Orientation in mid-June.

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The Bobcat Bridge summer program's primary purpose is to assist a cohort of 10 accepted incoming freshmen to develop the tools to succeed at Texas State. The SSS Bobcat Bridge Cohort will be attending two online course and participating in a series of remote experiences over the Summer II Session, designed to help our new Bobcats become acclimated to life as a Texas State student.

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Resource to guide freshmen through the first year of college and establish an expectation of engagement to increase the probability of success. The success plan sets high expectations for students to complete the majority of the recommended activities. It covers general topics and then allows the student to customize the experience.

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The Texas State Student Success Plan is a resource to guide freshmen through the first year of college and establish an expectation of engagement to increase the probability of success. The success plan sets high expectations for students to complete the majority of the recommended activities. It covers general topics and then allows the student to customize the experience.

The suggested action for each success topic was designed by faculty and staff most familiar with student issues relating to the topic.

The Code of Student Conduct is applicable to any student currently enrolled; enrolled in the previous semester/session and eligible to enroll in the next consecutive semester/ session; or newly or re-admitted and eligible to enroll in the next semester/session Review the code and make sure your behavior is in line with what is expected of you as a Texas State Bobcat.

Boko's Hints: You can get a Student Handbook/Planner for FREE at the Welcome Tents in the Quad during the first two days of school!

Their services include assistance on a variety of topics such as personal relationships and homesickness.The Counseling Center is a great service that is free for students, so please take advantage of it!

Boko's Hints: You can be a really great friend when you help a friend get to the Counseling Center.

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The Texas State Student Success Plan is a resource to guide freshmen through the first year of college and establish an expectation of engagement to increase the probability of success. The success plan sets high expectations for students to complete the majority of the recommended activities.

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Summer Research Programs

Attending a summer research program can give students the advantage of a research experience as well as opportunities to network with faculty and students at other institutions. Below are lists of summer research programs for undergraduates organized by discipline.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Summer Program in Cancer Research

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Attending a summer research program can give students the advantage of a research experience as well as opportunities to network with faculty and students at other institutions. Below are lists of summer research programs for undergraduates organized by discipline.

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Welcome to the REU site on Smart & Connected communities for Summer 2021!

Due to Covid19-related campus restrictions, our 2021 REU Site will run virtually with all meetings taking place remotely through video conferencing.

Site Overview

This Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site engages students in research in the emerging area of Smart & Connected Communities (S&CC), the essential building blocks of smart cities.

This summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) is open to 10 undergraduates from across the U.S. to be held at Texas State University for 10 weeks over the summer. Funding ($5000 stipend plus additional benefits) is provided from an NSF CISE award*.

Women, veterans, underrepresented minorities, and students from primarily teaching universities and colleges are especially encouraged to apply. Over this summer experience, students will be mentored by experienced faculty members and engaged in various activities that include technical seminars and workshops, student presentations, and professional development opportunities. These activities are carried out in an intellectual environment that develops the students' professional careers by enhancing their technical, communication, and social skills.

Research

The research component in this REU Site falls along three main thrusts in building the next generation of information and communication technologies supporting the development of S&CC:

1. Developing models, mechanisms, and tools for smart human-environment interactions to monitor and protect smart infrastructure against accidental failures and malicious attacks.

2. Developing new methods for collecting and analyzing various types of data ranging from human biosignals to activity and crowd-sourcing data, to promote the health and well-being of citizens in urban settings.

3. Developing novel scheduling and monitoring methods for intelligent transportation systems that would decrease congestion, promote safety and reduce adverse environmental impacts in urban settings. Evaluation of the proposed methods is done through theoretical and numerical analysis, simulation experiments, and real implementations with various devices, sensors, and robots.

*This project is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1757893. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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REU Site: Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Smart & Connected Communities (REU S&CC)

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Welcome to the REU site on Smart & Connected communities for Summer 2021! Due to Covid19-related campus restrictions, our 2021 REU Site will run virtually with all meetings taking place remotely through video conferencing. This Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site engages students in research in the emerging area of Smart & Connected Communities (S&CC), the essential building blocks of smart cities.

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Summer 2021 CheMIE REU

Now currently accepting applications
The program is only offered to Texas State students this summer.

Join the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas State University and engage in a traditional research experience while exploring how basic research contributes to molecular innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development in the molecular sciences!

Students will be participating in interdisciplinary group study into innovation and entrepreneurship guided by faculty from the College of Science program in Material Science, Engineering and Commercialization. Since less than a quarter of Ph.D. chemists are employed in academic settings, this unique combination of research and innovation training will provide students with a broad basis of understanding both academic and industrial research that is lacking in most academic research environments.

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Now currently accepting applications The program is only offered to Texas State students this summer. Join the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas State University and engage in a traditional research experience while exploring how basic research contributes to molecular innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development in the molecular sciences!

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June 14 - Aug 6, 2021

Stipend: $4,200 Travel support, meal subsidy, and free dorm (it is possible that the program will be fully online)

The deadline to apply is:

February 28, 2021

The Department of Mathematics at Texas State University will host an 8 week summer REU in the summers of 2019, 2020 and 2021, involving nine students per year working in teams of three under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The program will provide lodging, meals, transportation, as well as a stipend for all students. The chosen participants will come from a selective pool of applicants, and the program will directly involve them in research projects guided by faculty mentors. Beyond successful research outcomes the objectives of the program are to introduce students to aspects of mathematical research and the broader mathematical community. At the same time the students will develop mentoring relationships with faculty as they consider pursuing graduate degrees and a career in mathematics. Students will be part of an active community at Texas State; in addition to the REU there are a number of summer programs and world-renowned mathematicians who visit campus, and participants will be involved in various activities that bring students and faculty together. A diverse body of participants is strongly desired and priority will be given to applicants from groups that are underrepresented in the mathematical community. This includes minority students, women, as well as those students coming from institutions with limited resources to support independent research projects for their undergraduates.

The research projects include a diverse collection of topics based on the research interests of the faculty mentors. Specific projects include commutative algebra arising from graphs and matroids, algebraic and combinatorial aspects of higher dimensional tilings, combinatorial problems arising from group theory, arithmetical properties of group invariants, linear and permutational representations of groups, statistical analysis on biological data, and survival analysis. Participants will spend some of the time learning the necessary background while pursuing original research. Students will be asked to present their findings in oral presentations, and will be guided in summarizing their work in a mathematical research paper. In the course of the program students will be trained in various skills including literature review, using software such as GAP, Macaulay2, and R to make and check examples, oral presentation skills, as well as written mathematical communication using Latex. Communication with the participants will continue after the program ends, and for instance students will be encouraged to present their work at local, regional, and national conferences in the subsequent academic year.
This program is supported by NSF and Texas State University. (Due to NSF rules, only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for funding assistance.)

Publications from the 2020 program:

C. Florez*, J. Higgins*, K. Huang*, T. M. Keller, D. Shen*, Y. Yang, The Prime Graphs of Some Classes of Finite Groups.

C. Florez*, J. Higgins*, K. Huang*, T. M. Keller, D. Shen*, Minimal Prime Graphs of Solvable Groups.

C. Florez*, J. Higgins*, K. Huang*, T. M. Keller, D. Shen*, The Adjacency Spectra of Some Families of Minimally Connected Prime Graphs.

O. Brown*, M. Coleman*, A. Dochtermann, N. Geist*, S. Oh, Completing and extending shellings of vertex decomposable complexes.

L. Anesti*, M. Harding*, M. Pridemore*, E. Shao*, Q. Zhao, Generalized log-rank test for left-truncated and interval-censored data, in preparation.

* undergraduate

Publications from the 2019 program:

A. Betz*, M. Chao-Haft*, T. Gong*, T. M. Keller, A. Ter-Saakov*, and Y. Yang, Finite permutation groups with few orbits under the action on the power set, Rocky Mountain Journal of Mathematics, accepted.

A. Betz*, M. Chao-Haft*, T. Gong*, A. Ter-Saakov*, and Y. Yang, On the odd order composition factors of finite linear groups, Journal of Group Theory, 23 (2020), 1057-1068.

P. Cranford*, A. Dochtermann, E. Haithcock*, J. Marsh*, S. Oh, and A. Truman*, Biconed graphs, edge-rooted forests, and h-vectors of matroid complexes, submitted to the Electronic Journal of Combnatorics.

S. Sun, A. Zane*, C. Fulton*, and J. Philipoom*, Statistical and Bioinformatic Analysis of Hemimethylation Patterns in Lung Cancer, submitted to BMC Cancer.

* undergraduate

Research Posters 2020

On the prime graphs of several classes of groups is the winner of the Joint Mathematics Meeting's 2021 Outstanding Poster Award.

Research Posters 2019

Bi-coned graphs and Stanley's H-vector conjecture is the winner of Joint Mathematics Meeting's 2020 Outstanding Poster Award.

Bounding the products of the Abelian Composition Factors is the winner of the Joint Mathematics Meeting's 2021 Honorable Mention Poster Award.

Mentors

Yong Yang is currently an associate professor at the mathematics department of Texas State University. He received his PhD in 2009 from University of Florida under Alexandre Turull. He has published more than 50 high quality research papers, and his research interests are in finite groups and group representations, combinatorics, and number theory.

Thomas Keller is a Professor of Mathematics at Texas State University and has research interests in finite group theory. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed research articles in prominent math journals. He is interested in the orbit structure of finite linear group actions and in conjugacy classes of finite groups. He has also done research with undergraduate and graduate students.

Dr. Anton Dochtermann

Anton Dochtermann received his PhD from the University of Washington where his advisors were Eric Babson and Isabella Novik. After postdoctoral positions at TU Berlin, Stanford, and U Miami, he joined the faculty at Texas State in 2016. His research interests are in topological and geometric combinatorics, and combinatorial commutative algebra. Recent projects include the commutative algebra of chip-firing, generalizations of parking functions for matroids, notions of higher-dimensional chordality, and topological methods in graph theory.

Dr. Suho Oh

Suho Oh is currently an Associate Professor at the mathematics department of Texas State University. He received his PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology under Alexander Postnikov and did postdoctoral studies in University of Michigan under Sergey Fomin. His research interests are in algebraic combinatorics. He mainly deals with problems regarding matroids and polytopes, with applications to geometry and representation theory.

Dr. Shuying Sun

Shuying Sun received her PhD in statistics from the University of Toronto in Canada. Dr. Sun has interests in statistical genetics and bioinformatics and has published more than 20 peer-reviewed research articles in high-impact journals. Dr. Sun's research focuses on addressing challenging genetic and epigenetic questions using statistical and computational methods. She has been developing statistical methodologies and software packages for genomic problems using Bayesian methods, hidden Markov models, Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms, and linear models.

Dr. Qiang Zhao

Qiang Zhao received his PhD in statistics from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2004. He joined the faculty at Texas State in 2006 after working at the University of Texas-Pan American for two years as an assistant professor. His research interest is in survival analysis. Recent projects involve estimation of survival function and treatment comparisons for censored failure time data; estimation of mean functions and treatment comparisons for recurrent event data.

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REU Site: Algebra, Combinatorics, and Statistics

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The Department of Mathematics at Texas State University will host an 8 week summer REU in the summers of 2019, 2020 and 2021, involving nine students per year working in teams of three under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The program will provide lodging, meals, transportation, as well as a stipend for all students.

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Center for Diversity and Gender Studies Scholarships

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Center for Diversity and Gender Studies Scholarships

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The Center for Diversity and Gender Studies offers the following 4 scholarships to Texas State Students:

Center for Diversity and Gender Studies Undergraduate Minors Scholarship

Nina Vaca-Humrichouse Scholarship

Cecil Mayo Scholarship for African American Males

Graduate Gender Studies Scholarship

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE IS ON MARCH 1ST.

For additional information on any of the scholarships CDGS offers click here.

Information on external scholarships related to Diversity can be found here.

Interested in Donating?

If you would like do donate to our scholarship funds, please email us at cdgs@txstate.edu. Your generous contribution helps financially support an undergraduate Women's Studies or Diversity Studies minor and a graduate student currently pursuing research or community involvement in Gender Studies.

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Center for Diversity and Gender Studies Undergraduate Minors Scholarship Nina Vaca-Humrichouse Scholarship Cecil Mayo Scholarship for African American Males Graduate Gender Studies Scholarship SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE IS ON MARCH 1ST. For additional information on any of the scholarships CDGS offers click here. Information on external scholarships related to Diversity can be found here.