First-time Aggie
Contact Team (F.A.C.T.) is an outreach effort coordinated by the
Division of Student Affairs, New Student Programs
and the Aggie Orientation Leader Program.
FALL SEMESTERS
FACT Calling will take place this year between September 22nd and October 17th.
SPRING SEMESTERS
During spring semesters, when the number of new students is smaller, all
contacts for the FACT calling program are handled by members of the Aggie Orientation Leader Program and staff in the Office
of New Student Programs.
 F.A.C.T.
volunteers attempt to personally contact new
Texas A&M Students. The purpose of these contacts is to welcome new students and
let them know that the University is concerned about their well-being. These contacts
are also an opportunity to assist new Aggies by answering their questions and referring
them to appropriate resources.
Former Vice President for Student
Services, Dr. John J. Koldus, created the First-time Aggie Contact Team
in 1987, as an innovative way to keep in touch with the growing numbers of new
Aggies.
Volunteers are given a list of student
names and numbers and are asked to contact new students during a three-week period to see how
their semester is progressing and offer assistance to the students. Traditionally
these contacts have been made by phone. In an effort to reach as many
students as possible, for the first time this year, we are offering our FACT
volunteers the option of using Facebook as a means to contact students.
Volunteers may still make phone calls if they prefer; Facebook is just an
alternative option.
Each F.A.C.T. volunteer
is provided a handbook
containing a sample script and covering such subjects as academics, housing,
activity involvement and other concerns that the new student may have.
To help with referrals when students have special concerns, volunteers are given a list of
resources which includes listings of various services as well as contact persons in
particular academic departments. The handbook also gives answers to frequently asked
questions, important academic dates for the current semester, and explanations of some
policies about class attendance and registration.
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