College Update – January 2024

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Faculty, Academic Affairs | Student Support | Aggie Way Engagement Program

College Update

Dean’s Team Updates

Congratulations!

  • Dr. Michael Buser in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering has been appointed as the holder of the Endowed Chair in Cotton Engineering, Ginning and Mechanization. 
  • Dr. Xiuren Zhang in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics has been appointed as the holder of the Christine Richardson Endowed Professorship.

Dean’s Open Office Hours

  • Dr. Jeffrey Savell and Dr. Patricia Klein are hosting office hours in February. Sign up by 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16. Please contact Jill Lee if you have any questions regarding the Open Office Hours.

Upcoming Deadlines and Dates

Faculty Affairs

  • 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

  • The Aggie Way Engagement Program is a university-wide initiative that 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.
  • On Jan. 11-12, AgriLife Connect brought together people across Texas A&M AgriLife for the presentation of the Vice Chancellor’s Awards in Excellence and the State of AgriLife Address. Watch recordings of presentations by Vice Chancellor and Dean Savell, agency directors, Chancellor John Sharp, and access photos from the events, at agrilife.tamu.edu/agrilife-connect/.
  • The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has removed the limitation enforcing that doctoral students use no more than 4 distance education courses toward their degree. The language in the graduate catalog will be updated to reflect that for students in non-distance doctoral degree programs, no more than 50% of the non-research credit hours required for the program may be completed through distance education courses.
  • A session of the Spring 2024 Teaching Assistant Institute will be held in the Innovative Learning Classroom Building, ILCB, on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participation is mandatory for new TAs serving as recitation leaders, laboratory instructors, and/or full-responsibility lecturers. If a TA has completed the Institute in a prior semester, they do not need to engage in the Institute a second time. 
  • The Graduate and Professional School is accepting nominations for Outstanding Mentoring Awards for Faculty and for Graduate and Professional Students.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 20: The Common Grounds series connects staff with university leadership on a variety of topics. The next speaker for the University Staff Council’s Common Grounds series is Dr. Susan Ballabina, chief of staff for the Texas A&M University president. Join in person in Room 101A, General Services Complex, or via Zoom.
    • Have a suggestion specifically for your University Staff Council representative? Email Jamie Norgaard. 
    • Have a suggestion or comment for University Staff Council? Submit your inquiry here.
  • 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. Visit the CIRTL site to learn more. 
  • 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

  • Regents’ Scholars can schedule one-on-one meetings with the Student Success Team here. At least one appointment is required from all Regents’ Scholars during their first year as students in the College as part of our Academic Success Program. The Student Success Team is offering 20-minute slots every weekday of the spring 2024 semester to ensure all first-year students have a chance to discuss their goals and progress, as well as challenges and ways our office can best support them.
  • 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). Visit the health center’s page 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 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 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. Visit GSPDT to learn more.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Graduate student travel: Need additional funding support for travel for conferences or research? Check out the RAP Travel Award at Texas A&M.
  • 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.

Student Recruitment

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

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council

Professional Services Updates

AgriLife Aspire: a place to learn and grow

AgriLife Educational Development and Engagement

  • Virtual communication channels survey: All AgriLife faculty and staff are invited to participate in a research study to evaluate the utilization of virtual communication channels across Texas A&M AgriLife. Additionally, this survey is being used to gauge awareness, engagement and interest in AgriLife Aspire.
    • Please contribute your thoughts by completing a 10-minute online survey. You can also choose to participate in a 30-minute virtual interview.
    • Those who participate will be entered to win one of five $20 gift cards!
  • 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

  • AgriLife Employee Wellness is offering a Teacher Retirement System Higher Education Virtual Group Benefit presentation on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a brief Q&A session. Register to attend online.
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