College Update – August 2025

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Congratulations! | General academic affairs | Open Office Hours

Dean’s Team Updates

Congratulations!

  • The 2025 Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science Meat Judging Team earned international champion honors at the Intercollegiate Meat Judging, ICMJ, competition in Wagga Wagga, Australia, held July 8-12.
  • The Poultry Science Association recognized faculty, staff and former students of the Department of Poultry Science for their exceptional contributions to education and outreach in the poultry industry. Among them, Lesley Gleason ’09, a lecturer and program manager for undergraduate student development and industry relations, received the association’s 2025 Student Recruitment Award.

Dean’s Open Office Hours

  • Dean’s Open Office Hours are resuming in August. Please contact Jill Lee if you have any questions.

Upcoming Deadlines and Dates

Faculty Affairs

  • Texas A&M University Simple Syllabus Training Opportunities: Friday, Aug. 15, 1-2 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 18, 4-5 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 19, 1-2 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 20, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 21, 9-10 a.m. The same Zoom link will be used for all training sessions. No need for registration; simply click on the link at the listed date and time.
  • Successful Conflict Conversations – Presented by Texas A&M University Faculty Affairs. Faculty and academic staff are welcome to register and attend this workshop in person or via Zoom.
    • Monday, Sept. 22, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., in person.
    • Thursday, Oct. 30, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., in person.
    • Thursday, Dec. 11, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Zoom.
  • Registration is open for the 2025 Texas Conference on Student Success, Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 29-31, at the University of Texas at Austin campus. Learn more about the conference.
  • From the Texas A&M Center for Teaching Excellence:
    • The Center for Teaching Excellence has a formal Faculty Mentoring Academy to promote a culture of mentoring across Texas A&M University. For more information, visit the center’s page for the faculty mentoring academy.
    • The Texas A&M Center for Teaching Excellence 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. 
  • Texas A&M encourages faculty to elevate the impact of their work by joining colleagues in publishing articles in The Conversation. The format is opinion pieces and requires the expert to have recent, peer-reviewed published research. Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications is happy to work with you to get you connected with the right editors at the right times. Please reach out to AgriLife Marketing and Communications for an introductory and exploratory call to discuss ideas, opportunities and more! Email Laura Muntean if interested.

General Academic Affairs

  • Tuesday, Aug. 19, 3-4 p.m.: Disability Resources West Campus Testing Center Grand Opening, West Campus Library, Suite 125
  • The Educational Development and Engagement Instructional Design Consultant team provides comprehensive support for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences courses. Services include full-service accessibility renovation to redesign courses for optimal accessibility, video captioning in partnership with the Disability Resources Office, Canvas troubleshooting assistance and Universal Design for Learning consultation. These efforts have made College courses, including the 12 largest in the University’s Core Curriculum, fully accessible, benefiting over 15,900 students. For more information and resources, please visit the team’s intranet site for the College. If you have a problem accessing the intranet site, please use online instructions to gain access.
  • Advancing learning through Evidence-Based Undergraduate Teaching: The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning at Texas A&M University (CIRTL@TAMU) is 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.
  • Disability Resources 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.
  • Subscribe to the Graduate Advisors Listserv if you are a staff or faculty member working with graduate and professional students, and stay informed.

Student Success and Development

  • Fall 2025 College Career Fair: The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Fall 2025 Career Fair will take place Thursday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Ford Hall of Champions at Kyle Field.
    • This event welcomes dozens of employers to recruit students from all 15 academic departments in the College. The Career Fair is a fantastic opportunity for career exploration.
    • If you have any questions, please visit the AGLS Career Fair website or contact the fair organizers at [email protected].
  • Students in need of professional attire for interviews and career preparation can utilize the AGLS Career Closet to schedule an appointment and shop at no cost. Students may be able to keep their professional items depending upon availability.
  • Rise and Shine with AGLS: Friday, Aug. 22, 8:30-11 a.m., The Gardens at Texas A&M University. On the Friday before the first day of classes, students are encouraged to visit The Gardens for specialty coffee, breakfast and networking with student organizations in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. For general information about the event, contact Texas A&M AgriLife Events at 979-314-8031 or at [email protected].
  • College students experience food insecurity at a higher rate than the general adult population in the U.S. Anyone aware of a student, staff or faculty member in need of food resources can recommend the AGLS Pocket Pantry located on west campus in the Kleberg building, suite 109. The pantry is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays when the university is closed.
    • Ongoing support is 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.
    • Visitors interested in using this resource can scan the QR code posted on the entrance and check in with the reception desk. Those with questions, or those needing additional support, please email [email protected]. 
  • Algebra Video 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.
  • Mental health support for all students:
    • Texas A&M University Health Services has a new peer support program, Aggie Peer Connect. Learn more about Aggie Peer Connect and its offerings for Texas A&M students at tx.ag/peerconnect.
    • Around the clock and regardless of location, the TELUS Health Student Support app provides 24/7 access to professional counseling in multiple languages via app, telephone and web, in addition to mental health assessments, a mental health content library and access to virtual fitness sessions — all free and confidential.
    • College employees and partners concerned about a student can refer them to Ms. Molly McCann, an embedded mental health professional in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Students can make an appointment to visit Molly or to connect with the broader team of mental health professionals on campus. They can also contact Molly at [email protected] or 979.458.4584.
  • Prospective Student Information Sessions occur weekly on Fridays – students can register for a visit with a recruiter at https://recruiter.tamu.edu/.

Resources for Graduate Students

  • The University Health Services is offering Mental Health Workshops for graduate students. Learn more.
  • Registration for the Fall Teaching Assistant Institute, TAI, is now open. The fall 2025 TAI will be held in the John R. Blocker Building, Tuesday-Thursday, Aug. 19-21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A makeup session will be offered Saturday, Sept. 13 for those unable to attend an August session.
  • The University Writing Center hosts the Writing Cafe for graduate students on the first Friday of every month in the Evans Library Grad Lounge, Room 611.
  • From the Center for Teaching Excellence:
    • 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 in the CTE-ELP program.
    • 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.
  • Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional School resources:
    • Graduate Mentoring Academy: Learn, grow, connect and find support through the Texas A&M Graduate Mentoring Academy.
    • Graduate student travel: Need additional funding support for travel for conferences or research? Check out the available funding at Texas A&M.
    • Contacts at the Graduate and Professional School.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council

  • Fall 2025 College Career Fair: We are excited to announce that the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Fall 2025 Career Fair will take place Thursday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Ford Hall of Champions at Kyle Field.
    • This event welcomes dozens of employers to recruit students from all 15 academic departments in the College. The Student Council encourages you to inform your students about the career fair, as it is a fantastic opportunity for career exploration.
    • Please also save the date for the Spring 2026 AGLS Career Fair, which will be held on Jan. 29, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Bethancourt Ballroom at the Memorial Student Center.
    • If you have any questions, please visit the AGLS Career Fair website or contact the fair organizers at [email protected].

Professional Services Updates

AgriLife Administrative Services

Employee Wellness

  • Dinner Tonight Cooking Well Exploring Cultures
    • Learn cooking techniques and recipes from Poland, India, Mexico and the Philippines. Cooking Well Exploring Cultures will increase nutrition knowledge and food safety practices through the lens of cultural foods.
    • Location: Brazos County Extension Office, 4153 County Park Court, Bryan, Texas 77802
    • Dates: Aug. 20, Sept. 12, Nov. 14, and Dec. 10.
    • Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
  • August Fitness Program Promotion
    • In August, new members can join the BCBS fitness program with the code AUGSAVE2025 and have the $19 enrollment fee waived. To enroll, log in to Blue Access for Members at bcbstx.com/tamus and search for the Fitness Program under My Health > Wellness. Enter the code AUGSAVE2025 during enrollment by Aug. 31 to waive the enrollment fee. If you have any questions or prefer to enroll over the phone, call 888-313-5643, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CT (7 a.m.-4 p.m., MT).
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Points
    • Earn Blue Cross Blue Shield points for regularly participating in many different healthy activities. Log on to wellontarget.com to find interactive tools and resources to start racking up Blue Points. Redeem the points for gift cards. 
  • Headway Webinar on men’s mental health
    • Wednesday, Aug. 20, 9-9:45 a.m. Join us for an impactful and timely conversation on men’s mental health — a topic often overlooked yet critically important. This free presentation is designed to break the stigma around men’s mental wellness, provide practical tools for emotional resilience and foster open dialogue in our communities. We’ll explore five common myths that keep men from seeking support, expressing emotions and prioritizing their well-being. From “real men don’t cry” to “you have to handle everything on your own,” we’ll unpack the cultural narratives that shape mental health — and offer a new, healthier version of strength.
  • Learn to Live Webinars
    • Friday, Aug. 15, Noon-12:30 p.m. CST/1:30pm EST. Time Management: Capturing our Time Thieves. Struggling to get it all done each day and feeling overwhelmed? Juggling workload, family obligations, squeezing in time to see our friends and set aside some time for ourselves? It can be a lot! But chances are, we can accomplish our goals with just a few adjustments to our approach. We’ll explain how we get off track and provide practical tools for achieving our goals when it feels like there is never enough time. Use the access code BETTERME. 
    • Wednesday, Aug. 20: 11-11:30 a.m. CST/12-12:30 p.m. EST. Raising Future-Ready Kids 2: Anxiety and Depression. Childhood anxiety and depression have been on the rise for over a decade now. As parents, watching a child struggle with anxiety and depression can be overwhelming. Learn to Live’s clinical team will provide you with information on what anxiety and depression might look like for the kids in your life and share with you effective Cognitive Behavioral Therapy strategies to help you and your children overcome these challenges. Use the access code BETTERME. 
    • Wednesday, Aug. 27: 11-11:30 a.m. CST/Noon-12:30 p.m. EST. Raising Future-Ready Kids 3: Empowering Parents in a Social Media World. Do you ever feel like you’re sailing on stormy seas when it comes to your kids and social media? In a world where our kids are getting more depressed, more anxious and more isolated, there’s a clear link, and parents may be the key to turning the ship around. In this webinar, the Learn to Live clinical team will share common challenges parents face today and offer simple, research-backed tips to help you set healthy tech limits — while still giving your child room to explore. Use the access code BETTERME.

Professional Development

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AgriLife Educational Development and Engagement

  • Reminder: Combine course sections prior to the first day of classes. The deadlines to merge course sections through the self-service feature in ORCA for Texas A&M Main Term for College Station and Galveston is Aug. 20 (11:59 p.m. CST). 
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AgriLife Information Technology

  • Automatic Windows 11 Upgrades Begin in August
    • To maintain secure and supported university devices, automatic upgrades to Windows 11 begin this month for eligible computers used by Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty and staff.
    • Upgrades will run during regular business hours and may cause a brief interruption of up to one hour. This timeline was adjusted from July to avoid disruptions during the start of the semester, while still ensuring devices are updated before Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 in October.
    • To check if your computer is eligible, visit the AgriLife Computer Inventory Dashboard.
    • To schedule your upgrade, contact the FirstCall Service Desk at [email protected].
    • Devices listed as “No” or “Not Likely” must be replaced prior to the October deadline.
    • For additional guidance, visit the AgriLife IT Windows 11 Upgrade Information page.
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News: Our Mission in Action

  • Read the latest news of our faculty, staff and student accomplishments in research, teaching and service at AgriLife Today, the home for Texas A&M AgriLife news and feature stories.
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