Faculty

A letter to faculty from Dr. Pam Matthews, Interim Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies

Dear Colleagues,

There used to be something called “the other education” at Texas A&M University.  This “other education” referred to nonacademic learning that took place when students participated in student activities outside of their classrooms.  More subtly, the phrase exposed an important underlying assumption: that there was no connection between academics and so-called extracurricular activities.

Those days are gone.  Today’s students and faculty know that a full education requires many different kinds of learning across boundaries we once held firmly in place.  Research over the last couple of decades indicates that students who are deeply engaged in their educations, deliberate about their learning, and able to integrate inside- and outside-the-classroom experiences are not only better students now but better citizens later.

We can help Aggies gain a whole education by guiding them to make connections among all parts of their academic lives.  There’s no other education.  There’s an education, and working with nonfaculty professionals on campus can enrich our teaching and our students’ learning.  Today, it’s not “extracurricular” but “cocurricular.”  

As one report puts it, today, “the college degree needs to comprise something much more than forty courses and a major” (AAC&U 2008).  Contact the Division of Student Affairs and explore with them the variety of collaborations that will give our A&M students an education for life.  

Best,

Pam Matthews

A letter to faculty from LtGen Joe Weber '72, Vice President for Student Affairs

Aggie Colleagues,
 
In order to best prepare students for life beyond the university setting, a well rounded educational experience at a world class institution such as Texas A&M University requires academic rigor within the classroom as well as complimentary experiences outside the classroom.  In fact, the vision for the Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M University articulates an aspiration for engaging students in world-class experiences that prepare them for a life of service and leadership in a global society.  At the heart of this vision is the desire to assist and to motivate students to excel in all facets of their educational experience.
 
I have articulated my desire for Student Affairs staff to establish and maintain cooperation/collaboration between the Division of Student Affairs and our academic colleagues in the teaching, training, mentoring and overall complete education of all Texas A&M University students.  Additionally, I have directed Student Affairs staff to constructively and reasonably teach, mentor, coach, and engage students to insure that they are prepared mentally, physically and spiritually to assume their civic responsibility, to provide leadership by example, and to achieve success  in making the world a better place for all to live.
 
I inivite our academic colleagues to communicate, collaborate, and cooperate in partnering with their Student Affairs colleagues to enhance the educational experience for students and to create outside the classroom educational experiences that build on the classroom experience - all geared toward creating a teaching and learning dynamic
that is second to none.  Working closely together, we will continue to recruit, nurture and graduate a unique and special group of students known throughout the world as Texas Aggies.  Their grand accomplishments will continue to be the legacy of our hard work and efforts.

Sincerely,

Joe Weber '72

Check out some ongoing partnerships here.