TAMIU President Dr. Pablo Arenaz said he hopes Fresh Start 2.0 will encourage grantees to continue their journey in higher education.

“The university has been the proud recipient of federal funding to help students impacted by COVID-19. Fresh Start 2.0 allows us to clear qualified students’ TAMIU student account balances so they can return to school debt-free and worry-free. We expect to help 288 students with approximately $352,437. Without a business office, these students can continue their education,” Arenaz said.

Students eligible for Fresh Start 2.0 were notified of their TAMIU debt-free status through their Dusty email account effective Monday, June 13, 2022. Cleared TAMIU student account balances range from small amounts up to $5,420. Students can check their new status online through the university’s Uconnect portal, by choosing “Pay My Bill” and then selecting “My Account”.

“It’s another way to give back some leeway. We hope students see this as a ‘fresh start’…a way to start over, breathe deeply, and renew their journey toward graduation,” Arenaz explained. .

He added that as students return to college this summer or fall, a wide range of additional financial support is available.

“We have been able to solidly strengthen our available student financial aid and will work with all students to identify and explore all options to help them graduate. We even added an online tool, TAMIU Fund$Finder, to help students find scholarships on and off campus from their smartphones,” Arenaz added.

He also noted that last week the Texas A&M University System Board of Trustees announced that there would be no tuition increases at TAMIU and the 11 campuses of the A&M system. The board said it is focused on “making a college education affordable for all Texans.”

“These are troubling times for all families. The nation is heading for a pandemic recovery, but the added impact of inflation is troubling for all. TAMIU’s founding mission provides our motivating anchor: we are here to bring higher education to underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. With the support of our Board of Trustees and Chancellor John Sharp, we will continue to provide the accessible, affordable and exceptional education our students and their families deserve. We will manage our costs and ensure that our mission is accomplished and changes lives every day,” Arenaz said.

He said TAMIU’s summer and fall enrollment is already underway and the university’s and system’s commitment not to increase tuition is helping parents plan the way forward from their students.

Additional undergraduate and graduate student support programs, which are part of the #Comeback programs for returning students, are also available. Funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, these grants provide scholarships and repayment of balances from previous semesters. All are designed to help students complete their studies. Information on #Comeback programs is available at https://go.tamiu.edu/comebackor by calling the university’s Office of Outreach and Pre-College Programs at 956-326-2270, emailing [email protected], or visiting the offices of the Student Success Center at the Senator Judith Zaffirini, Suite 138.

TAMIU’s fall 2022 plans are focused on returning to a full and vibrant campus experience for all students, faculty, and staff at the 300-acre campus northeast of Laredo.

Additional information is available online at tamiu.edu and on the university’s social media channels Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.