College Update – November 2023

Awards and Honors | Faculty, Academic Affairs | New Initiatives

Dean’s Team Updates

Congratulations!

• Join us in congratulating the seven faculty and agency service professionals from Texas A&M AgriLife who were named as Regents Professors and Regents Fellows for 2022-2023!

Dean’s Open Office Hours

• Dr. Jeffrey Savell and Dr. Patricia Klein are hosting office hours in early December. Sign up by noon Friday, Dec. 1. Please contact Jill Lee if you have any questions regarding the Open Office Hours.

Upcoming Deadlines and Dates

• Wednesday, Nov. 22: Reading day for students; no classes.
• Thursday and Friday, Nov. 23-24: Thanksgiving break.
• Monday, Dec. 4: Last day of fall semester classes.
• Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Dec. 7-12: Final examinations of the fall semester.
• Thursday, Dec. 14: Undergraduate Commencement in Agriculture and Life Sciences, including all University Studies – USAL majors: 9 a.m., Reed Arena.
• Friday, Dec. 15: Master’s and Doctoral Degree Commencement and Hooding: 2 p.m., Reed Arena.
• Full fall semester schedule.

Faculty Affairs

• Promotion and Tenure Weekly Zoom Hour with P&T Chairs and Staff takes place Wednesdays 2-3 p.m., via Zoom. 
• The Texas A&M Center for Teaching Excellence proudly offers a series of dynamic workshops tailored to empower faculty instruction and to create a more enriching classroom learning environment. Explore a diverse range of topics, including peer feedback and collaboration; engagement during lectures; and ethical behavior in mentoring. 
  • The Center for Teaching Excellence has a new formal Faculty Mentoring Academy to promote a culture of mentoring within and across Texas A&M University. For more information, visit the center’s page for the academy.

General Academic Affairs

• A new university-wide initiative, the Aggie Way Engagement Program, makes it easier to recognize faculty and staff who lead by example by living the Texas A&M Aggie Core Values. Learn more and nominate colleagues online. (While everyone with a UIN can submit nominations, not everyone can be nominated yet. The program aims to expand.)

• The Texas A&M Division of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness presents Employee Learning Week 2023.
  • Monday through Friday, Dec. 4-8: Register online for numerous courses on employee learning and development, including courses on conducting crucial conversations, harnessing the power of habit, working with different personality types and more.
  • Thursday, Dec. 7: The next session of Managers’ Minutes, a bi-weekly information-sharing session for managers and supervisors. This session’s topic is, “Employee Engagement: How to have fun at work!”

• From the University Staff Council:
• Tuesday, Nov. 21: University Staff Council Common Grounds Series November guest speaker will be Dr. Michael Dewsnap to introduce the Aggie Way Engagement program. Join in person Tuesday, Nov. 21, 8:45 – 9:45 a.m., GSC 101 B/C, or via Zoom. Details here.
• Monday, Nov. 27: Are you a staff member at Texas A&M who is also graduating from Texas A&M this December? Whoop! We are proud of you and would like to feature your accomplishment in our December monthly update. Email us at [email protected] by Monday, Nov. 27 with your full name, division and department name, and degree. 

• An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching: The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning at Texas A&M University (CIRTL@TAMU) will be facilitating a weekly, Zoom-Local Learning Community for the National-Level Massive Open Online Course. Click here for more information. 

• Libraries Workshops – various workshops supporting curriculum and research by the University Libraries. Click here for the schedule. 

• Disability Services Testing Center: Instructors should complete the testing agreement for a student needing testing accommodations as soon as possible and send exams to the testing center at least three days before the exam. Learn more at Texas A&M Disability Resources.

• If you are a staff or faculty member working with graduate and professional students, stay informed by subscribing to the Graduate Advisors Listserv.

Student Success and Development

• Free Flu Vaccines: All current Texas A&M students are eligible to receive a free flu vaccine through the University Health Services A.P. Beutel Health Center. Students are required to bring their student ID and are asked to provide health insurance information (not required). Click here to schedule your free flu vaccine appointment.

• The College is excited to offer a Pocket Pantry in the heart of west campus, with ongoing support provided by the Texas A&M Foundation and a generous donation from Lennox International Inc. The pantry is available for students, faculty and staff in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences who are experiencing food insecurity.
  • The Pocket Pantry is physically located in Kleberg 109 and is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding Texas A&M holidays when the university is closed. Visitors interested in using this resource can scan the QR code posted on the entrance to suite 109 in Kleberg and check-in with the reception desk. For those with questions, or those needing additional support, please email [email protected]. 

• Algebra Video Series now available: The Algebra Series is a resource for students to ensure they are prepared for their math and statistics courses at Texas A&M. You can explore the Algebra Series online.

• The Texas A&M Career Center has specialized career advisors for every college and school. Find the AGLS Career Services Team in AGLS 517. Career advisors work with students to develop career readiness through skills such as resume writing, job search strategies, networking, and interviewing.
  • For more information about Career Services resources, workshops and events, view the Career Center Events Calendar or email Caitlin Dartez, associate director for Career Services, at [email protected].

• The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has an embedded licensed professional counselor. Ms. Molly McCann’s office is at BCBP 103C. Contact her at [email protected] or 979.845.5032.

Resources for Graduate Students

• Graduate Student Professional Development in Teaching, GSPDT: Take advantage of resources from the Center for Teaching Excellence in collaboration with the Graduate and Professional School. Click here to learn more.

• Graduate student well-being
  • The TELUS Health Student Support app allows students to text, call and video chat with professional counselors 24/7 via the app.  
  • Texas A&M Counseling and Psychological Services, CAPS, is offering events focused on mental health for graduate and professional students. Click here for the schedule. 
  • Dr. Esther Wright at CAPS is trained in graduate student issues and concerns. Graduate and professional students may make appointments with Dr. Wright via the CAPS appointment portal system.

• Graduate student travel: Need additional funding support for travel for conferences or research? Check out the RAP Travel Award at Texas A&M.

• If you would like to have support for your writing, consider joining a POWER Writing Studio and/or a POWER Writing Group. Fill out a request form online.

• The Graduate and Professional Student Government is recruiting senators for the 2023-24 Graduate and Professional Senate. Please visit the GPSG website for more information.

• Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional School resources:
  • The Graduate and Professional School Calendar.
  • The Graduate and Professional School’s Dates and Deadlines information page.
  • International student important dates.
  • Texas A&M University Academic Calendar.
  • List of contacts at the Graduate and Professional School.

• Center for Teaching Excellence English Language Proficiency, CTE-ELP, programs provide training and testing for international students. Current teaching assistants who are not language certified are required to participate with the CTE-ELP program. Click for more information.

• Responsible Conduct of Research, RCR, training: All graduate students participating in research must complete online CITI RCR Training.
  • Learn about your RCR responsibilities.
  • Learn about and link to TAMU CITI training.

• Graduate Resources and Development for Aggies, G.R.A.D. Aggies, offers professional development programming. For more information, visit the G.R.A.D. Aggies webpage.

• Graduate Mentoring Academy: See the Texas A&M Graduate Mentoring Academy page for session schedules and to register.

• CIRTL@TAMU is a thriving community dedicated to developing the next generation of teachers, instructors and faculty. We hope you become involved! For information, email [email protected] or visit online.

• Texas A&M’s International Student and Scholar Services is updating its immigration case management system. Visit https://global.tamu.edu/sunapsis for more information.

Student Recruitment

• Prospective students can register for an information session and a tour of west campus at visit.tamu.edu.

COALS Council

• Follow us on social media!
  • Facebook: Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council
  • Instagram: @coals_tamu
  • Website: www.tamucoalscouncil.com

Save the Dates!

Professional Services Updates

Professional Development

• Online courses on communication, customer service, performance management, safety and technology are available from the Texas A&M University Division of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness.

AgriLife Employee Wellness

• Work/life solutions are available to Texas A&M AgriLife employees, including professional and personal training resources, through ComPsych GuidanceResources.
  • Website: http://www.guidanceresources.com.
  • WEBID: TAMUS.

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