Summary Reports

The purpose of this assessment was to understand the experiences of students who participated in Howdy Camp, sponsored by Aggie Transition Camps (ATC). Howdy Camp is an extended (three-day) optional orientation camp for students transferring to Texas A&M University and first-time in college students starting in the spring semester. There was one session held in early January 2025. A few weeks into the semester, one survey evaluation was sent to co-chairs, counselors, and teamers, and another survey was sent to participants (campers) to assess their camp experiences and whether the participant (camper) learning outcomes were met. In addition, the counselors’, co-chairs’, and teamers’ assessment intended to ascertain if they felt equipped through their training to confidently lead small groups and assist new students in their transition to Texas A&M during and after camp.

The MSC Spencer Leadership Conference focuses on leadership development by exploring three pillars: Self-Aware Leadership, Innovative Leadership, and Selfless Service. Approximately 30 delegates and 10 directors participated in pre-conference programs and attended the conference, held February 28 through March 2, 2025. The conference included programs and small group discussions featuring leaders in business, industry, education, and public service. A series of surveys were developed to assess if the conference enhanced the student delegates’ and directors’ understanding of the three pillars and their overall experience at the conference. Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research (SAPAR) also developed a post-conference survey for directors to rate their abilities regarding certain career readiness criteria. SAPAR has worked with the MSC Spencer Leadership Conference to assess the experiences and learning during the conference, most years starting in 2002.

The Freshmen Leadership Advisory Council (FLAC) advised through the Department of Student Activities, wanted to understand more about the student participants’ experience as members of one of the 25 Freshman Leadership Organizations (FLOs). Specifically, FLAC aimed to learn what impacts participating in FLOs had on freshmen and upperclassmen organizational members, including opportunities for leadership, and service learning. FLAC also wanted to understand how effectively FLO general meetings were run, and whether FLO activities were freshmen-led and overall prioritize being freshmen-focused. Student Affairs Planning, Assessment and Research assisted with execution of the assessment; the attached summarizes the results of the assessment, along with recommendations to FLAC to improve the FLO involved student experience.

Recreational Sports (Rec Sports) partnered with various campus offices to host De-Stress Fest. This program was held on March 4, 2025, and the program was designed for participants to know the importance of self-care, participate in activities to lower stress, and learn about campus resources. Participants were assessed at the event after engaging in the activities to gauge what students learned about self-care. Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research (SAPAR) worked with Rec Sports since 2018 to assess De-Stress Fest either through providing demographics of student attendees or administering a survey.

The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) Marketing & Communications (MarComm) supports departments and division committees in marketing efforts to several stakeholders, including division staff members and affiliate units who directly support the division. Marketing & Communications want to determine how DSA employees like to receive and consume internal communications, as well as the most effective ways to communicate with DSA employees. MarComm will use these results to improve how information is shared with division employees, including updates, resources, and announcements. While Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research has worked with Marketing & Communications on previous assessment projects, this is the first time to focus on DSA employees.

The Student Government Association (SGA) Legislative Relations advocates for Texas A&M students on a variety of concerns. The Legislative Relations committee wanted to learn about students’ sources of financial aid, any gaps in financial aid, and their awareness of financial resources. SGA wanted to specifically understand if first-generation students had any differences in these financial matters compared to non-first-generation students. Student Government Association has worked with Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research (SAPAR) in the past; however, this was the first time SAPAR helped with an assessment focused on students’ financial insights.

The Don & Ellie Knauss Veteran Resource and Support Center (VRSC) at Texas A&M University wanted to understand better the experiences of the military student population, especially challenges they may face in academics, finances, their overall wellbeing, and peer engagement, as well as students’ experiences with Vet Camp. This is the fourth time Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research has worked with the Veteran Resource and Support Center in assessing the needs of student veterans; the last time was in 2019.

New Student & Family Programs (NSFP) created learning outcomes and then used rubric style electronic surveys to assess the learning of all their student employees as a result working within their department. Student employees in all roles were included; common learning outcomes were created during fall 2023 and five rubric style electronic assessments developed for front desk workers, Aggie Parent and Family Ambassadors (APFA), New Student Conferences en Español Student Coordinator, NSFP Orientation Team Leads (OTL), and Orientation Leaders and Assistants (OL/OA). The assessments were to be used by the students to self-report their learning and performance, as well as enable their supervisors to evaluate what they observed regarding each student employees learning and performance. The following reports the aggregate results of those assessments.