Student affairs symposium highlights the value of teamwork

Chancellor McKinney poses with members of his student advisory board.

Nearly 200 people from across The Texas A&M University System attended the Student Affairs Symposium, hosted this year by Prairie View A&M University.

“A Sporting Good Time on the Hill,” provided the opportunity for attendees to connect with colleagues from around the A&M System, to share information about the challenges facing the A&M System in higher education and to work together to address them.

There was a wide variety of events held during the three-day event, including breakaway sessions led by Prairie View faculty and staff on issues such as customer service, research and sponsored program opportunities, and stress management.

This Systemwide student affairs symposium has grown significantly since its inception in 1990, when it was established, in part, as a way for student affairs staff members from member universities to get to know one another.  The symposium, which is managed by the host campus’ senior student affairs officer, changes venue each year in a rotation across all System campuses, and is currently in its second rotation cycle.

full story...

New Texas A&M center helps people with disabilities

The center seeks to narrow the gap between people with disabilities such as mental retardation, dyslexia and autism, and those without.

A Center on Disability and Development (CDD) has been established at Texas A&M University to narrow the gap between children and adults with disabilities such as mental retardation, dyslexia and autism, and those without.

The center is part of a national network of University Centers for Excellence in Development Disabilities (UCEDD) and will be implemented in cooperation with Texas Cooperative Extension.

“We are excited about future opportunities to collaborate with people with disabilities and their families and with state, university and system partners to address issues of importance to citizens with disabilities,” said Mike Benz, center director and department head in educational psychology. "Through the center, we will be able to conduct research and provide interdisciplinary training, community services and outreach efforts."

full story...