WELCOME NEW SCHOLARS!

• REQUIRED for any incoming freshmen planning to take a math/statistics course at UTD

  • If in doubt, it's best to take it and not have to do it senior year!

• Cost: $15 per attempt (there is no waiver for Terry Scholars)

• Proctored by Honorlock:  https://oue.utdallas.edu/aleks-proctoring 

• EXCEPTION: You do not have to take the ALEKS if...

  • you already have necessary credit for the level you need through AP or dual credit AND you have submitted your college trasncript of official College Board scores to UTD

  • you are currently taking dual credit or AP & hoping to receive credit before classes start BUT you will not be able to register for the next level class until you submit your official scores & notify your academic advisor 

• For more details: https://oue.utdallas.edu/aleks-exam 

• AP and Dual Credit are great ways to get basic classes out of the way!

• AP credit scores & dual credit records must be submitted to your academic advisor (freshmen seminar will show you how to properly apply AP credit)

• Check AP Equivalence here: https://oue.utdallas.edu/undergraduate-advising/ap-credit/

• PRE-MED MAJORS:

  • Check with HPAC (Health Professions Advising Center) as not all medical schools accept AP credit

    • It's recommended to retake pertinent dual courses (Biology, Chemistry, etc.) to get a strong foundation at a four-year university level

• Download the app Duo Mobile to authenticate your UTD account

• After you put in the password for your email and click "Enter," there will be a window that auto-populates and asks to send “a push.” You will then go to the app and click “Accept” to make sure that it is actually you going into your account.

• Register for your UTD Freshmen Orientation ($30 fee) as soon as possible!

• You MUST complete the eLearning Modules prior to attending orientation & to be eligible for class registration

We can’t emphasize enough the importance of students checking UTD emails daily and responding to their academic advisor immediately  when contacted to register for classes.

!! The Terry Foundation first year orientation is mandatory and takes place in August a few days before classes begin. The Terry Foundation will notify you of the time/place. This is organized by The Terry Foundation staff and is a time to learn the requirements of the scholarship and the resources available to you through The Terry Foundation. 

In order to be eligible to register for classes, be sure you have completed the following items and check your UT Dallas email daily:

• 1. Accept Admission to UT Dallas 

  2. Register for UT Dallas Orientation 

  3. Complete Pre-Orientation Modules 

  4. Possible additional modules for your major

Check who your academic advisor is here (organized by major & last name): https://oue.utdallas.edu/undergraduate-advising/undergraduate-advisors/ 

Here is a helpful website with information (thanks to the School of Management!) about how to register: https://jindal.utdallas.edu/advising/registration/#02-register-in-galaxy

!! Selecting your classes:

Remember to use Schedule Planner to pick your classes and times that work best for you. (Galaxy --> “Orion Self-Service (Student)” --> Schedule Planner)

• Here are some helpful links when selecting classes.

• • 1. UTD Grades: https://utdgrades.com

    2. Coursebook: https://coursebook.utdallas.edu

    3. Rate my Professor: https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/campusRatings.jsp?sid=1273

• There is a waitlist feature. If the class you are interested in is full, you can be “waitlisted”. You can see your spot in the queue, your waitlist number, and if any students drop, you may be put into that course.

One of the benefits of being in the Honors College as a Terry Scholar is the ability to register early. If you have any questions, please reach out to our First Year Coordinator (Elysa Torres) or any Terry officer.

Comet Camp is a three-day, two-night adventure giving students the opportunity to have fun, make friends and jumpstart their college life at UT Dallas. There is a registration fee to attend.

• Led by UTD Orientation Leaders

• Participate in events and activities that will highlight campus involvement, UT Dallas traditions, relationships, communication and success in college. 

Success Workshop Series are refresher workshops that engage students and prepare them for the rigor of college classes.

• Hosted by Student Success Center content experts

• Workshops offers: Calculus, Physics, Chemistry and College 101 

University Convocation is the official welcome for all incoming students, as well as the formal introduction to the goals set forth for incoming students. 

• Convocation usually takes place the Sunday before classes begin in the Activity Center gym

• Meal tickets provided for the welcome barbecue after the ceremony

To access EZ Pay: https://www.utdallas.edu/finance/bursar/

• EZ Pay is the electronic system UTD uses to make payments & refunds

• You MUST set this up in order to receive your Terry Foundation stipend

• Set up requires either a checking or savings account along with the routing & bank account numbers

We highly recommend that scholars establish their own bank account, so that the scholar directly receives the refund (rather than the money entering a joint account). This way, the scholar has the responsibility and autonomy to succeed and thrive in college.

The UT Dallas Terry Scholars Program holds an annual (free) retreat mandatory for all first year scholars that takes place in Dallas after the first week of classes.

Activities include:

• A ropes course

• An "etiquette" dinner

• Game nights

• A service project

• A downtown Dallas excursion

• And discussions with upperclassmen scholars

  • TOPICS: budgeting, college life, family relationships, health/wellness, involvement in Terry and campus organizations, living with roommates, relationships, and social media

The Terry Scholars Program is housed within the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College and we highly recommend scholars to take part in the events offered!

Honors College Programs/Events include:

• Faculty/Alumni Roundtables

• Professional Development Workshops

• Honors Night Out cultural events

• Green & Archer Fellowships, etc.

Be sure to check your UTD email every Monday at 6 pm for the HWHC weekly email that contains upcoming events and announcements.

!! If you are interested in joining the Collegium V Honors Program, all Terry Scholars are eligible! Please discuss with Sheila Kelly to see if this is a good option for you. 

Make sure to fill out the housing application if you have not already done so. There is a $100 deposit, but you can request to be billed for that in the fall. 

• Any housing & meal plan decisions made before receiving your scholarship will be automatically changed to Residence Hall South and a full meal plan

First Year Terry Scholars live together in Residence Hall South, with other honors students (National Merit Scholars and Collegium V students). After the first year, Terry Scholars can live wherever they want. 

• Roommate assignments are emailed to all students in early July

• Move-in date is typically the Wednesday or Thursday before classes start

• The Terry Scholars PA (Peer Advisor) for 2023 scholars is Lucas Wick. As a PA, he will live on the same floor and provide residents with personal, academic and housing-related peer support.

The Terry Foundation Scholarship that you have received will cover the total cost of attendance for all four years (or 8 semesters) of your undergraduate studies.

What the scholarship automatically covers in those four years:

• Tuition

• Housing

• And a meal plan

Any money left after paying tuition, room and board will automatically be placed into the bank account linked to your EZ Pay account. This refund can be used for purchasing textbooks or personal expenses. If you have any major expenses (e.g., laptop), please let Sheila know.

!! To maintain your Terry Scholarship, every year you must: 

1. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

2. Enroll full time at UT Dallas each semester (at least 12 credit hours) or obtain permission from the Foundation and Sheila before going below 12 credit hours.

3. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and a minimum 2.0 GPA each semester

4. Attend all mandatory Terry Foundation functions (fall orientation, fall banquet, spring picnic)

5. Submit a Self Evaluation letter (SEL) to the Foundation each year

6. Comply with all aspects of the university code of conduct and the Terry Foundation Scholar Handbook

These mandatory general meeting are every other Tuesday at 7:00pm, so keep your Tuesday evenings open!

What happens at these meetings:

• Catch up with fellow Terry Scholars

• Participate in icebreaker activities

• Learn about upcoming events and important announcements (for service, social, first-year, intramurals, etc.)

!! House Points: Each scholar is assigned to a "House." You will get to know the scholars in your house at the Terry meetings. The scholars who attend the most events (thus earning the most points) win a free lunch/dinner at the end of the year!

Refer to https://www.utdallas.edu/academiccalendar/ for useful dates, such as:

• First & last day of classes

• Last day to add or swap classes (NOTE: swap means add + drop)

• Last day to withdraw from a course and not have a “W” appear on your transcript (aka Census Day)

• Exam weeks & reading days

• When final grades are viewable on Galaxy 

GPA is VERY important to make sure that you are doing well and keeping all opportunities open.

Reasons for maintaining a good GPA:

• Be in good standing for your Terry scholarship (minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA ad a 2.0 semester GPA)

• Post-university plans: awards, graduate school, employment prospects

It is very important to do your best the first year, because the class difficulty will get harder the further you progress in your undergraduate career. We recommend visiting the Student Success Center for tutoring options, consulting other Terry Scholars in your major, and talk to Sheila and Cassie for more resources.

Meeting faculty is VERY important and you are strongly encouraged to do so!!

Here are some recommended ways to get to know your professors:

• Always introduce yourself to your professors after class

• Meet them during office hours with questions

• Contact them by email when necessary

• Make every effort to connect with all your teachers

!! Rules of Thumb:

• Use your UTD email when contacting your advisor, professor, teaching assistant, or a staff member

  • When referring to and addressing professors, use "Dr." and the last name; for advisors and staff members, use "Mr." or "Mrs." and the last name

• Get into the habit of checking your university email 2-3 times a day

  • Class announcements and important emails are sent to you daily

• Community college is a great way to get basic courses out of the way

• Saving your Terry stipend can be useful in paying for summer courses

• Major courses should be taken at UTD; your academic advisor can tell you which courses are permitted to be taken outside UTD for your major

Applying one of your eight semester of Terry Foundation funding for summer:

1. Meet with Sheila to discuss the best option for you

2. Request summer funding through the Terry Foundation portal before May 1st

Keep in mind, this is not ideal for everyone, as it uses one semester of funding. But you are welcome to if you believe this option will serve your goals and undergraduate career better.