Dear Parents and Supporters,
This month, TLU will celebrate our First-Generation Bulldogs with events that will include free T-shirts, food, and opportunities to recognize their achievements and resilience. We know it takes a village to succeed, and parents and families, you are the lifeline your students need. The encouragement and strength that you provide help them persevere through challenges and keep them moving toward their goals.
Also, we will proudly honor our veterans for their service, sacrifice, and dedication to our country with events throughout November.
As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday break, encourage your Bulldogs to stay focused, take ownership of their success, and push through these final weeks of the semester. Your continued support can make all the difference as they work to finish strong before heading home for the holidays.
Thank you for being part of the village behind every Bulldog!
Leroy Giles, EdD, Associate Dean of Students for Retention/Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Thanksgiving Break is Approaching
There are just six weeks left of the semester! Thanksgiving Break is November 25–29. The dining hall will close at 2 p.m. on November 24 and re-open at 5 p.m. on November 29.
Finals start the second week of December, and there are plenty of activities still happening to keep student engaged.
TLU Food Pantry is Open 24/7
As we wind down the semester, the Student Engagement Office wants to remind everyone that the TLU Food Pantry is open 24/7! Students only need to apply once to receive access for the remainder of the year. As the holiday season approaches, we want to ensure students know this resource is available, especially for those staying on campus during the break. The Student Engagement Office is committed to supporting our students and helping meet their needs throughout the upcoming holiday season. Please take advantage of this resource whenever needed!
Important Academic Dates
The last day to withdraw from a traditional, full-semester class is Tuesday, November 3, at 5 p.m. Withdrawal involves getting signatures from the class instructor and the student's advisor, so please start the process well in advance of the deadline. Courses graded with a W do not count toward career grade point average.
Registration for spring classes for all continuing students is coming November 16–20. Get ready! Students need 1) advisor clearance and 2) all holds removed to register. The designated registration day and time is available on the Student tab of myTLU.
Spring Registration Starts with Advising
Students will meet with their assigned faculty advisor this month to select their Spring 2027 classes and review Summer 2027 offerings. They can find their assigned advisor and contact information on myTLU's Student Advising page. All students will complete their Bulldog Advising Resource for Keeping Students Successful (BARKSS) form to connect with campus resources aligned to their career goals and academic needs. Students should verify that their degree plan matches their skills and interests or change majors before registering for Spring 2027 classes to ensure they take the right courses.
An Exciting Month for the Career Development Office
The JCPenney Suit Up event and the Graduate & Professional School Fair were both a success. Thank you, parents and families, for encouraging your students to get involved and explore their futures!
As we look ahead to November, please encourage your students to attend upcoming events: RBFCU Financial Literacy Lunch & Learn on November 9, LinkedIn Pop-Up on November 17, and Resume Pop-Up on November 19. Your encouragement makes a difference as students build confidence, develop professional skills, and prepare for life after graduation!
Counseling & Accommodations
Lots of college students struggle with executive dysfunction—the part of the brain that controls those functions isn't fully developed until around age 25! Neurodivergent students are even more likely to struggle.
Counseling & Accommodation Services is hosting a workshop to cover strategies that promote success in the classroom, workplace, and beyond. We'll cover staying organized, initiating tasks, managing time, regulating emotions, and sustaining attention. This workshop will be held on November 10 from 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. in the Alumni Student Center, Conference Room A/B.
Financial Aid and Account Reminders
Spring registration is open starting November 16. Make sure accounts are up to date and clear, so your student does not have any issues registering for classes. Students can see their account history on the student portal.
The 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open. Students should complete this as soon as possible, but no later than the priority deadline of January 15, 2027.
A Few Reminders From Campus Living
As TLU heads into November and December, check in with your student about how things are going in their on-campus living space. Encourage them to prepare for changing Texas weather, be mindful of roommates and neighbors, and report maintenance concerns as they come up so we can address them before they become bigger issues.
Thanksgiving break is a great time to start taking belongings home for winter break, since December goes by quickly! Most importantly, keep checking in and reminding them that support is available when they need it. We’re all in this together!
Thank-A-Thon
TLU’s generous donors make a meaningful difference in the lives of our Bulldogs, helping provide opportunities and resources that strengthen our community. Encourage your student to take a moment to thank these supporters for their continued generosity by completing the form below.
Students who submit the form by November 12 will be entered for a chance to win $200 in Bulldog Bucks or Amazon dollars!
If you have any questions, please contact Devin Castillo, Director of Donor Relations & Development Services, at decastillo@tlu.edu.
Building Leadership Through Service
Service-learning is more than giving back, it’s an investment in students’ futures! Through hands-on experiences, students build leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills that strengthen their resumes and career readiness. The Center for Servant Leadership encourages families to inspire their Bulldogs to get involved, discover their purpose, and document service experiences through GivePulse. Bulldogs can create a Service-Learning Transcript to showcase their volunteerism and leadership as part of their job search portfolio. Together, we are developing servant leaders who lead with purpose, serve with compassion, and make a lasting impact!
If you have any questions, contact: Dr. Pam Ray, at pray@tlu.edu.
TLU + TimelyCare
All Texas Lutheran students have access to TimelyCare. This virtual health and well-being platform offers 24/7 virtual care at no cost to students anywhere in the US. They can make diagnoses and even call in prescriptions to a local pharmacy. Students can download the app in their app store or visit TimelyCare’s website.
More Than Just Books
The library has books, journals, and helpful librarians. But did you know we also have a bicycle repair kit, ukuleles, and podcast kits?
Title IX Office
At TLU, we are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive campus where every student has the opportunity to thrive. Through Title IX, we work to ensure students have access to resources, support, and appropriate accommodations related to pregnancy, parenting, and other protected circumstances.
We recognize the importance of providing welcoming spaces that support the diverse needs of our campus community. Our priorities are always to keep the campus quiet and safe. We are also actively exploring the development of a dedicated Parent and Pregnancy room, to be located on campus, so that we can better accommodate the needs of students, faculty, and staff. This effort reflects our continued commitment to student well-being, accessibility, and creating an environment where members of the TLU community feel supported throughout their educational journey.
Increase in Fall-to-Fall Retention
TLU has made remarkable progress in student retention, increasing its fall-to-fall retention rate by 3.4 percentage points to 67%, representing a 5.4% relative increase. This achievement reflects the collective dedication of our faculty, staff, and campus partners who work tirelessly to engage students, strengthen support systems, and help every Bulldog find their place at TLU.
This progress is more than a number; it represents students continuing their education, pursuing their goals, and building their futures at TLU. It demonstrates positive momentum and reinforces the importance of proactive outreach, meaningful relationships, and coordinated student support.
This is an accomplishment worth celebrating. As we build on this momentum, we remain focused on closing the gap, strengthening student persistence from fall to fall, and ensuring more Bulldogs have the opportunity to continue their journey and graduate from TLU.
Student Care Packages
TLU is excited to partner with Giften Market to give families a fun and convenient way to send their students a care package! Whether you want to send a little encouragement, celebrate a special occasion, or simply remind your student you’re thinking of them, Giften Market makes it easy to brighten their day with a special delivery.
