AGGIE-LONGHORN STUDENT DISASTER RELIEF CAMPAIGN HITS $150K MARK
When our Student Body President Eric Mendoza '21 wanted to do something to help students affected by the Texas winter storm, he never imagined that within only a week we could raise more than $150,000 in partnership with The University of Texas. Momentum is strong at both schools, so we're asking that you continue sharing information about the campaign with your audiences and consider making a donation of your own. Small and large gifts are welcome. Every dollar helps students in need and will replenish our Student Emergency Fund.
Learn more about the campaign or make a donation on Texas A&M's Spirit of Giving crowdfunding page.
MARCH NEWS FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS
CORPS OF CADETS
Members of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets exemplified true selfless service as hundreds aided in campus and community efforts during the harsh winter storm. Over 300 cadets helped university officials find leaks across the campus caused by the ice storm, while several others assisted at Reed Arena’s warming shelter by loading and unloading items and ensuring that those who needed supplies got what they needed. Cadets also helped deliver food to Santa Teresa Church in Bryan to help residents in need. Read more about the cadets answering the call during the winter storm here.
Navy Lt. Maximilian Leutermann ’12, a former cadet, is among the 2021 cohort named to the Texas A&M University 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight. This honor from The Association of Former Students recognizes 12 former students who have graduated in the past 12 years for demonstrating excellence in business and service. Leutermann is a submarine officer serving as an assistant professor of Naval Science at Texas A&M.
William Walford ‘22 is one of three Texas A&M students nominated for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, an award from the Harry S. Truman Foundation that recognizes college juniors who aspire to work in public service.
A native of Berlin, Germany, Walford is majoring in forensic and investigative science with a double minor in sociology and psychology. He is an active member of the Pre-Law Society and the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society. Motivated to revitalize public faith in the justice system, he will pursue a Juris Doctor at the University of Houston Law Center to pave the way to a career as a criminal defense attorney. Only 55 to 65 applicants are selected as Truman Scholars each year, from a pool of approximately 800 nominated students.
The Corps of Cadets has selected its top leaders for the 2021-2022 school year. The 2021-2022 corps commander is Connor Fortier ’22 from Flower Mound, Texas. Cadets complete a thorough selection process that consists of an application and an interview with a panel of peers and staff. Applicants for key leadership positions are evaluated on academics, performance in the Corps, success in previous leadership positions, peer/staff evaluations and their leadership vision for the future. View the full list of 2021-2022 senior leaders at tx.ag/CorpsKeyLeaders.
Last night when @SSC_TAMU needed help finding leaks & employees were unable to drive to campus, 300+ @AggieCorps cadets volunteered.
— Texas A&M University (@TAMU) February 19, 2021
The water issues were stabilized on campus, thanks in large part to their dedication and hard work. https://t.co/bjv2jpr8gh pic.twitter.com/ifRTuAj92t
The VRSC is a proud supporter and host of the Warrior-Scholar Project each summer. In this video created by The Association of Former Students, student veteran Russ Treider'21, shares his story on the impact of the program in his life.
VETERAN RESOURCE & SUPPORT CENTER
The Don & Ellie Knauss Veteran Resource & Support Center at Texas A&M has joined the Council on Military Transition to Education (CMTE). In partnership with 14 other leading universities, CMTE connects service members and veterans to quality higher education and provides feedback to the Department of Defense for the Transition Assistance Program curriculum.
The VRSC is proud to announce that Monteigne Long, assistant director of the TAMUS Office of Veteran Services, was elected co-chair of the NASPA Veterans Knowledge Community. Her term as co-chair-elect will begin next month during the NASPA Virtual Conference. Monteigne will be serving as co-chair alongside Dr. Janine Wert from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Congratulations, Monteigne!
A survey conducted by The Texas A&M University System and Operation College Promise found that 30 percent of colleges and universities have reduced funding for veteran-support programs during the past year, and some schools have eliminated their support offices entirely. Read the article by Military Times.
OFFICES OF THE DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE
March is National Nutrition Month®, an annual nutrition education and information campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Health Promotion has partnered with several campus and community partners to offer our 2021 National Nutrition Month® events, which include opportunities for faculty, staff and students.
New Student & Family Programs welcomes Spikey Howard! Spikey holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Alabama and is responsible for the supervision and training of the Aggie Orientation Leaders. He’ll also assist with the development and implementation of New Student Conferences and Howdy Week programming.
Emily Ivey, director of New Student and Family Programs, was selected to assist in the revision of the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in Higher Education Orientation Program Standards. This consortium of professional associations in higher education promotes the use of its professional standards for the development, assessment, and improvement of quality student learning, programs, and services.
Save the date for the Green Dot Institute: June 1-4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Health Promotion is working with Alteristic to host a virtual Green Dot Institute this June. This is an opportunity for faculty, staff and graduate students (who have at least two years remaining prior to graduation) in the Texas A&M system to become trained Green Dot facilitators for the national college-level curriculum.
The Lavender Graduation Celebration is a cultural celebration that brings together the entire student body, faculty, staff and former students to recognize, affirm and celebrate the accomplishments for graduating LGBTQ+ undergraduate students, graduate students and their allies. The 2021 Lavender Graduation Celebration will take place April 9 at 6:30 p.m.
The Coming Out Monologues will take place on April 2 at 6:30 p.m. in Rudder Theater. This storytelling event features a unique collection and representation of experiences and coming out stories authored and performed by people in our community who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community or as straight or cisgender allies. It is a raw, inspiring, transformative, and intimate live event.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Student Leader Dialogues have been scheduled this spring for departmentally-advised student leaders. The goal of these dialogues is to connect, develop, and foster student leader relationships across the department. Spring '21 topics include: Wellness and Balance, Alumni Relations & Transitions, and Student Leader Appreciation.
The inaugural Student Government Association (SGA) - Deans CARE Summit, co-hosted by SGA Diversity and the Council of Deans, will include undergraduate and graduate students within SGA, deans across the university system, and student leaders across campuses. This event will provide a summary of actions and goals of the Deans CARE program, and create a forum for questions, discussion, and feedback between participants and the deans.
We would like to welcome two new student development specialists serving our fraternity and sorority community. Laurell King and Abby Wallace will be supporting our National Pan-Hellenic Council and Collegiate Panhellenic Council, respectively.
We are excited to announce the recent promotions of several staff members in the department. Congrats to all!
- Andrew Carruth, Assistant Director for Extended Orientation
- Kenneth Johnson, Assistant Director for Marketing and Development
- Lauren Meyer, Student Affairs Coordinator
- Jeannette Pena, Business Administrator I
RECREATIONAL SPORTS
Rec Sports sends a huge thank you to Tom Reber and Service Solutions Center Janitorial Services (SSC) for all their support in helping open the Polo Road Rec Center during the “winter break” on February 18. The amount of time they spent removing the snow and ice from our sidewalks and entryways, making it as safe as possible for the students and staff, did not go unnoticed! On behalf of our students and staff, we greatly appreciate all your efforts.
Do you enjoy exercising with others and also want extra guidance? If yes, join one of our small-group training programs starting March 16. We are offering free classes on March 9 and 11. For details, call Stephen Opskar at sopskar@rec.tamu.edu or visit our website.
Group RecXercise all-access passes go on sale for $30 starting March 29. Visit recconnect.tamu.edu (select “Passes”) to buy one today to begin participating in both in-person and virtual options.
Want to do more outdoors but don’t know where to begin? Use our free outdoor concierge service! Outdoor Adventures experts will help you plan your trip, answer questions, provide recommendations for camping and hiking, and much more. No question is too small and no adventure is too big. Set up your free concierge session today.
Join us for De-Stress Fest on March 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the Rec Sports Terrace. There will be lots of fun activities to reduce your stress, as well as take-aways and chances for prizes. Find the Facebook event here.
UNIVERSITY CENTER & SPECIAL EVENTS (UCEN)
UCEN would like to give a special thank you to university staff who assisted with our facilities during the inclement weather, allowing us to operate on abbreviated hours and safely open for campus students.
DISABILITY RESOURCES
Our staff had five presentations accepted for the national conference of the Association on Higher Education and Disability in Austin this July. Staff will co-present with professionals from other universities on topics such as the college model, social media accessibility, career planning for disabled students, outreach on the social model of disability, and diversity and identity in the disability resources field.
We continue to support colleges and academic departments by frequently presenting on equitable access and accommodations for disabled students. You can request a member of our team to share information with your department or unit by submitting a presentation request.
Congratulations to Dr. Kristie Orr, our director, who was reappointed to the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities this month. The committee recommends changes in disability policies and programs and supports a network of committees on people with disabilities, issues awards to promote greater awareness, and promotes compliance with disability-related laws. Learn more about the committee.
RESIDENCE LIFE
Congratulations to Andrea Day ’23, Outstanding Student Employee for February 2021. As a marketing student assistant in ResLife, her artwork can be seen across campus, from “Face Covering Required” signs to “Aggies Live On” T-shirts, and including Battalion ads and postcards. Additionally, Andrea is a skilled photographer and is proficient in Adobe design software. She also spearheaded the redesign of our tour rooms.
Our Spotlight program endeavors to recognize the above and beyond work being done by resident advisors across campus housing. Congratulations to our February Resident Advisor Spotlight winners!
- Alexandria Logan of Davis-Gary
- Bri Leo from Walton Hall A Ramp for a bulletin board on “Tips for Good Study ‘Hobbits’.”
- Nicole Torres, Gardens Apartments for handling all relocations when pipes burst in her own space
- Jann Mawa, Hullabaloo Hall for the “Love is in the Air” bulletin board
- Maricarmen Hernandez, Jaedyn Medrano, Andres Hernandez, Madeleine Feltey and Benjamin Zuniga in Hart Hall for a time-management program called “Marshmallow Management.”
STUDENT LIFE STUDIES
Dr. Darby Roberts was awarded the inaugural Outstanding Contributions by a Scholar-Practitioner Award on behalf of the Faculty Council in NASPA--Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. This award is given to a full-time professional in higher education/student affairs who has brought a wealth of current and relevant real-world experience into the classroom that has uniquely benefited educational experiences. Read more about her nomination here.
Dr. Roberts also co-authored the newly released textbook, “Frameworks for Assessing Learning and Development Outcomes” (2nd ed.), a popular text among higher education professionals that provides practical and accessible learning outcomes assessment guidance.
The staff/faculty campus climate and undergraduate versions of the Student Experience in the Research University surveys are still open. The university wants to hear YOUR VOICE. Log into the survey by March 14 to share your thoughts. Please encourage students to take the survey, too!
Have you ever thought about mapping your programs to help you understand the learning that takes place? Read this blog to help you get started.
MULTICULTURAL SERVICES
Registration for the fourth annual Race, Identity, and Social Equity Conference is now open! The RISE Conference will take place virtually on March 25-26. Visit our webpage for more information and follow this link to register.
The 2021 LEAD Conference, a two-day student-led leadership conference that is held to empower and unite the APIDA (Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American) community through leadership and identity development, will take place virtually April 9-10. For more information including how to register, visit the LEAD Conference page.
STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
Von's Vision is coming back to Student Health Services on March 24! Eligible students have the opportunity to receive a comprehensive eye exam and prescription glasses at no cost. Von's Locker will also be available for eligible students to receive a pair of prescription glasses at no cost. Learn more about the event online.
SHS will host free STI testing events for TAMU students on March 3 and 31. Learn more about the event online.
UNIVERSITY ART GALLERIES (UART)
Current travel restrictions limit our ability to visit other countries, but “Armchair Travel: Exploring International Art and Artists from the Permanent Collection” offers the chance to explore other cultures through art. This exhibition will be in the Stark Galleries Jan. 21–March 10. Visit our website to learn more.
From items designed to serve asparagus at the dinner table to decorative items on a lady’s boudoir table, “Compare & Contrast: Exploring Form and Function in Design” features a wide range of products that met American consumer’s needs in the 19th century. This exhibition will be in the Forsyth Galleries Jan. 26–March 26. Visit our website to learn more.
Drawn from the Forsyth’s collections, “Nationality & Design” shows that many artists in the 19th century studied the past and abroad for inspiration while others focused on the future to cultivate patriotism in the citizenry. This exhibition will be in the Forsyth Galleries Jan. 26–March 26. Visit our website to learn more.
A celebration of Mississippi’s rich musical heritage, “A Cast of Blues” features resin-cast masks of blues legends and color photographs of performers and juke joints. This exhibition will be in the Stark Galleries Jan. 28–May 21. Visit our website to learn more.
COUNSELING & PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES (CAPS)
CAPS is providing workshops via telehealth. Self-enroll for it through the student portal on our website. A few workshops of interest starting mid-March are #RelationshipGoals, Accepting Emotions, Anxiety Toolbox, and Getting Unstuck. These are two- or three-week sessions. Check them out here.
We continue to regularly update our website. We have online videos to check out on the workshop link above that might help with current concerns. You can also utilize the self-help resources on our webpage to learn more about common concerns that college students face.
HelpLine is an after-hours mental health service for Texas A&M University students. Operational hours are 4pm to 8am weekdays and 24 hours on weekends when classes are in session. HelpLine can be reached at 979-845-2700. Call. Talk. We’re here.
DSA staff are invited to attend QPR training this spring to learn the warning signs of suicide, what to say to someone who may be at risk for suicide, and where to refer individuals for help. The Question, Persuade, Refer training will be offered March 16 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and April 1 from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact the Suicide Awareness & Prevention Office of CAPS to learn more and to register online or at 979-845-4427 or caps@caps.tamu.edu.
MEMORIAL STUDENT CENTER
Katy King, Jamie Arrexi and Ben Griffith presented, “We Broke Instagram,” at the 2021 ACUI Conference on March 3. The presentation focused on the 2020 MSC Fall Open House hosted virtually via Instagram. The group shared lessons learned and resources for other ACUI members to organize their own virtual organization fair.
The International Student Association will host I-Week, March 8-11. I-Week is a week-long festival, with an event each day, designed to bring cultural awareness to participants and serves as a platform for organizations and individuals to showcase and honor their home cultures. For information about I-week events, visit isa-aggies.tamu.edu.
MSC SCOLA presents the 33rd annual Student Conference on Latinx Affairs. The theme of this year’s conference, Del Pasado Al Futuro: Reframing Our Masterpiece, focuses on unifying the Latinx community by shedding fear, intolerance and negative perceptions to reveal the masterpiece beneath. For information about this year’s conference, visit scola.tamu.edu.
MSC Aggie Cinema is streaming! You heard that right! Stream all your fan-favorite Arthouse, Blockbuster and Classic movies and so much more on aggiecinema.tamu.edu. This streaming service is open to all Texas A&M students.
Join TEDxTAMU on March for 14th for Odyssey. Defined as, “A long journey promoting profound change,” this year’s conference features a remarkable group of speakers making global impacts in the areas of health, entrepreneurship, art and education. For information about speakers, visit TEDxTAMU.com.
MUSIC ACTIVITIES
The University Bands and Orchestras will stream concerts this month on the University Concert Bands Facebook page, the Music Activities Facebook page, and their YouTube Channel at tx.ag/MUSALive.
March 14
6 p.m., The Philharmonic Orchestra
6:30 p.m., The Chamber Orchestra
7 p.m., The University Wind Symphony
March 21
6 p.m., The Concert Band
6:30 p.m., The Symphonic Band
7 a.m., The Symphonic Winds
March 28
7 p.m., Jazz 501
7:30 p.m., Jazz 502
Singing Cadets and the Aggieland Orchestra performed at First Friday on March 5 in downtown Bryan. Enjoy the video clip of the Singing Cadets during their concert practice.
BECKY GATES CHILDREN'S CENTER
Becky Gates Children's Center has passed Cogina accreditation. Cognia is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that accredits primary and secondary schools throughout the United States and internationally.
We're excited to announce construction on our playground has begun and should be completed by the end of summer.
A huge "Thank You!" to all the Division of Student Affairs volunteers who read to the children’s center on March 2 for Read Across America Day.
Visit our website. Follow us on Facebook. Sign up for our monthly newsletter.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
The Division of Student Affairs has updated its Strategic Plan to continue us into 2026! Check out the updated goals and outcomes on our website. Thank you for all you do to contribute to the mission and vision of Student Affairs. We could not do this without each one of you.
One of the best ways we can help to keep students engaged is to populate the FREE LIVEWHALE EVENT CALENDARS for your department, for the Division of Student Affairs, and for Texas A&M. The process for including your department's events on your own website and on those for the division and Texas A&M is easy. We encourage all of our departments to participate by contacting Veronica Gonzalez Hoff, who can guide you on how to get started.
Need our help with a marketing or communications project? Please think through all aspects of your plan and fill out our project request form before you start.
Follow and engage with us on social media —Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, and YouTube! While you're at it, check out some of our new images from our student photographer Olivia Garza on Flickr!
DSA Staff Development Committee
Mark your calendars on April 7 for the DSA Monthly Program, “ Developing Student Employees into Employable Leaders.” Author, speaker, and student affairs professional Dr. Adam Peck will be our featured speaker, and staff will be invited to join a break-out session of their choice. The workshop is a great way to learn applicable practices for developing students, as well as dialogue and learn from colleagues in smaller groups!
Looking for funding assistance on your next online professional development opportunity this summer? The application deadline for the Professional Development Grant is April 23 for opportunities taking place in June to September. Examples include but are not limited to online-only conferences, webinars, seminars, workshops, lectures and certifications. Watch for an email that will provide details.
DSA Committee on Student Learning in the Co-Curricular
Aggies RISE (Reflection In Student Employment) is hosting a spring lunch and learn on March 25 at noon on how to recognize student employees during National Student Employment Week in April. Register here.