[VPAAEtal] Introduction to the Academic Concierge Office

[Academic Affairs]

A number of you have asked recently what resources the University has to assist students with problems beyond academics.

The short answer is many, in the best of times, and in this crisis, still more.

Counseling, support from a social worker, a food pantry, computers for those that need them, and hot spots for those that lack strong internet.  All of these are present and deployed.  I am sure there are others I have left out.  Students themselves are often unaware of what's out there.

The Student Success Teams established at the beginning of this spring include designated academic concierges for each college.  Just as the concierge at a hotel connects you to hotel services to meet your needs, our concierges serve our students.

Concierges are eligible under FERPA to receive and act upon confidential student information.

These front-line staff are actively engaged in outreach-to motivate students, to check in on them, to guide them through University bureaucracy, etc.  This semester they have worked the midterm grade report.  They have done outreach based upon student login frequency into D2L.  They have brokered student access to needed services.

They also receive and act upon information or concerns raised by faculty-a student who has not logged in, a student who is missing assignments, the student who needs some other form of support.

Below see the names and contact information for the concierge staff in your colleges:
College

Title

First Name

Last Name

Email

COSE

Director of Academic Concierge

Katrina

Watkins

Katrina.Watkins at tamuc.edu<mailto:Katrina.Watkins at tamuc.edu>

CASNR

Academic Concierge II

Justin

Hall

Justin.Hall at tamuc.edu<mailto:Justin.Hall at tamuc.edu>

COEHS

Academic Concierge II

Davida

Johnson

Davida.Johnson at tamuc.edu<mailto:Davida.Johnson at tamuc.edu>

COEHS

Academic Concierge I

Amari

Yarber

Amari.Yarber at tamuc.edu<mailto:Amari.Yarber at tamuc.edu>

COB

Academic Concierge I

Brittainy

Thomas

Brittainy.Thomas at tamuc.edu<mailto:Brittainy.Thomas at tamuc.edu>

CHSSA

Academic Concierge II

Courtney

Freeman

Courtney.Freeman at tamuc.edu<mailto:Courtney.Freeman at tamuc.edu>

CID

Academic Concierge I

Tiffany

Spangler

Tiffany.Spangler at tamuc.edu<mailto:Tiffany.Spangler at tamuc.edu>


If you have students of concern or a student has asked you to help them, please rely on these colleagues to help you help others.

We have come very far, very fast together.  You have worked tirelessly and heroically to accommodate and adapt to this situation.

Now that this first phase has passed, please work to motivate your students to push on.  That means keeping them on task, lifting them up, and understanding we are all going through this together.  As you do so, rely on the concierges to support you in your efforts for our students.

Please let me know if you have other questions or needs by separate email.

Ricky

Ricky Dobbs
Associate Provost
Academic Affairs
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