Summary Reports

Multicultural Services and student leaders from the Asian President’s Council contacted Student Life Studies to assist in developing an assessment for the 2021 Leadership Education for Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American (APIDA) Development (LEAD) Conference. This year’s conference was held virtually the evening of April 9 and the morning of April 10, 2021 and the theme of LEAD was "Stronger when Together, Together while Apart." The conference was open to students, staff and faculty from Texas A&M University and from other educational institutions. The following report summarizes the results of evaluation completed by respondents near the end of the conference.

2021-LEAD-Summary-Report.pdf

Memorial Student Center (MSC) Abbott Family Leadership Conference (AFLC) sponsored two separate conferences in spring 2021, which prior to the COVID 19 pandemic traveling restrictions would have been held in San Antonio and Houston. MSC AFLC also sponsored additional pre-conference events that included all delegates. Different students attended each conference. MSC AFLC addresses four “pillars” in their pre-conference events and at both conferences: ethics, the importance of family, service, and values. Survey evaluations include an assessment of the delegates’ experiences at each conference and surrounding pre-conference events. Although both conferences were held on the Texas A&M campus, each was referenced by their traditional conference locations (San Antonio and Houston). The San Antonio conference was held on January 28-30, 2021 and the Houston conference on February 25-27, 2021. The attached report summarizes the results of conference evaluations taken by delegates attending each conference.

AFLC-2021-Summary-Report.pdf

To meet the needs of staff members, Student Life Studies conducts a survey every three years to understand division staff members’ experiences and needs related to assessment. Student Life Studies uses this information to develop resources and training programs for the Division of Student Affairs. This is the fifth year Student Life Studies has conducted this survey; the previous surveys were completed in the summers of 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018.

Summary-Report-2021-Needs-Assessment.pdf

At the beginning of fall of 2020, the Memorial Student Center (MSC) Diversity contacted Student Life Studies (SLS) to help facilitate focus groups as outlined in their diversity plan that would enable them gain insight regarding the current climate with the MSC. Student Life Studies has worked with the MSC before in their assessment of diversity within the MSC, and this is the second time SLS assisted the MSC in conducting focus groups regarding MSC student perceptions surrounding diversity and inclusion. The attached report summarizes the qualitative analysis completed in the spring of 2021 from the transcripts of these four focus groups.

Final-Report-Focus-Group-fall-2020.pdf

All new undergraduate students (First Time in College [FTIC] and transfer), including branch campuses, were invited to complete the New Aggies Student Survey September 8-27, 2020. The survey gathered feedback on a variety of topics including pre-college experiences, sense of belonging, campus climate, potential obstacles, and campus resources. A total of 7,288 students responded to the survey. This report will address the question, “What do you want to accomplish during your first year at TAMU to consider the year a success?” Overall, 5,580 students made 10,091 unique comments.

Success-in-the-First-Year-Report.pdf

The MSC Spencer Leadership Conference focuses on leadership development through the exploration of three pillars: Self-Aware Leadership, Innovative Leadership, and Selfless Leadership. Approximately 27 student delegates participated in preconference programs, primarily virtual, and attended the conference in-person held in College Station in early March 2021. The conference includes programs and small group discussions featuring leaders in business, industry, education and public service. Delegates were surveyed to assess their experiences and learning during the conference as well as during preconference events. The attached report summarizes the results of that survey.

2021-MSC-Spencer-Summary-Report.pdf

All new undergraduate students (First Time in College [FTIC] and transfer), including branch campuses, were invited to complete the New Aggies Student Survey September 8-27, 2020. The survey gathered feedback on a variety of topics including pre-college experiences, sense of belonging, campus climate, potential obstacles, and campus resources. A total of 7,288 students responded to the survey. This report will address the question, “After graduation, how will you know if your time at TAMU was a success?” Overall, 5,580 students made 8,544 unique comments.

Success-after-Graduation-Report.pdf

According to its website (http://fishcamp.tamu.edu/), Fish Camp “welcomes the freshmen class to Texas A&M each year with the purpose of giving them an opportunity to have fun, make friends, and learn more about life at Texas A&M.” Furthermore, Fish Camp “is led by A&M students who are passionate about making the first year of college a success for freshmen!” This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, seven sessions were held virtually from July 19th through August 2nd, 2020.

Fish Camp wanted to understand the participants’ camp experience and how Fish Camp affected if at all, the start of the fall semester for those who attended. Fish Camp has worked with Student Life Studies to assess participants’ camp experience since 2000.

Summary-Report-Fish-Camp-2020-Participant-Survey.pdf

The Memorial Student Center (MSC) Carter G. Woodson Black Awareness Committee (WBAC) annually sponsors The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Breakfast. This year’s program, offered virtually, was held on January 21, 2021; attendees were surveyed to help MSC WBAC better understand their experience, and to improve future programs. The attached report summarizes the results of that survey.

Summary-Report-MLK-2021-DR-KC.pdf

New Student and Family Programs (NSFP) in the Offices of the Dean of Student Life sponsored Live@Noon: A Summer Series, a summer series of virtual book discussions with faculty and fellow students, open to all new students. This program replaced previous years’ in-person Summer Reading programs held during Howdy Week. Live@Noon: A Summer Series outcomes were to help new students acclimate themselves to the virtual college classroom experience, learn to interact with professors and meet fellow freshmen about to attend Texas A&M University. Participants were surveyed in early September to assess their experiences and gain their feedback regarding the value of the program to them. The attached report summarizes the results of the survey.

Summary-Report-Live@Noon-Summer-Reading-Program.pdf

The LGBTQ+ Pride Center, previously called the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center (GLBT Resource Center), wanted to assess the experience of both the mentees and mentors who participated in its Mentorship program, Pride Mentors, during the fall 2020 semester. This is the eighth time SLS has assisted in developing surveys for the participants of the program. The attached report summarizes those results of two survey sent out near the end of the fall 2020 semester, to mentees and mentors respectively.

Fall-2020-Pride-Mentorship-Survey-summary-report.pdf

The Student Government Association (SGA) wanted to gather feedback from the Texas A&M University student body to understand students’ experiences during the fall 2020 semester and help advocate on behalf of students for the spring 2021 semester. The survey focused on academics, student life, and student involvement. SGA worked with campus partners in developing survey questions and worked with Student Life Studies to administer the survey. Student Government Association has worked with Student Life Studies in the past; however, this was the first time for this assessment focus as it related to students’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summary-Report-SGA-End-of-Semester.pdf

The Department of Residence Life facilitates various sustainability initiatives, programs and resources for on-campus residents. The department wanted to assess the awareness of their sustainability initiatives, resources and programs among on-campus residents, as well as these students’ involvement in these initiatives and programs. The report summarizes the results of the survey assessment.

Summary-Report-Sustainability-Initiative-Awareness-fall-2020.pdf

The Memorial Student Center (MSC) Aggie Cinema committee is responsible for organizing movie screenings for the Texas A&M University student population. Due to COVID 19 gathering restrictions, MSC Aggie Cinema offered students (on-campus residents) access to a movie/tv streaming service in lieu of in-person movie screenings during the fall 2020 semester. MSC Aggie Cinema wanted to determine students’ satisfaction with the service and future interest in continuing with the service. The attached reports summarizes the results of the survey.

Summary-Report-Aggie-Cinema-2020-sff.pdf

New Student and Family Programs (NSFP) is a unit within the Offices of the Dean of Student Life and work with families for all Texas A&M students. NSFP wanted to understand the needs of out-of-state Aggie families. Specifically, they wanted to learn how they could provide better programs and services to this family population and beneficial resources. In addition, New Student and Family Programs wanted to learn about these families’ experiences with New Student Conferences and Family Weekend. Student Life Studies conducted virtual focus groups with out-of-state family members to gather the desired information for New Student and Family Programs. This was the first time Student Life Studies worked with NSFP to conduct focus groups and focus on the specific population.

Summary-Report-Out-of-State-Family-Focus-Groups.pdf

The Memorial Student Center (MSC) sponsors MSC Open House each semester to provide Texas A&M students the opportunity to interact with hundreds of student organizations recruiting for members. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic gathering restrictions, the fall 2020 MSC Open House was held virtually via Instagram. MSC Open House staff assessed the student organization coordinators to ascertain the quality of their experience registering and preparing for fall’s MSC Open House and their experience during the event. The survey results are summarized in the attached report.

2020-MSC-Open-House-Summary-Report.pdf

On August 1, 2020, Student Life Studies launched a new Assessment Questionnaire (AQ) form. The changes for updating the department’s intake form was based on frustrations clients expressed during the focus groups held in May 2019 on Student Life Studies’ services. The department wanted to gather feedback from clients who completed the new AQ form since it was launched to know if the changes improved clients’ experience completing this form. This is the first time this particular assessment was administered.

AQ-Form-Summary-Report.pdf

Starting in summer 2020, Student Life Studies staff members started scheduling meetings with clients several weeks after assessment projects were completed. The purpose of these follow-up meetings was to find out what information from the report stood out to clients, how clients might use or share the results, or if there was any additional analysis Student Life Studies could provide. The department wanted to gather feedback from clients to know if these short follow-up meetings are beneficial or if the department could do something to make them more helpful. This is the first time this particular assessment was administered.

Client-Follow-Up-Summary-Report.pdf

The purpose of this assessment was to understand the experience of students who participated in T Camp. T Camp, sponsored by Aggie Transition Camps (ATC), is an extended (three-day) optional orientation camp for students who previously attended another institution and are transferring to Texas A&M University. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings, this fall two sessions of T Camp were held virtually; session one was held August 3 through August 5, and session two was held August 7 through August 9. One survey was sent to co-chairs, counselors, and teamers a few weeks into the semester, and T Camp participants (campers) were sent a different survey to measure their camp experience. The attached report summarizes the results of both surveys, with corresponding recommendations based on the results.

T-Camp_2020_Summary_Report.pdf

The Department of Student Activities wanted to understand the recruitment and motivation of students applying for one of the Freshman Leadership Organizations (FLOs) in the 2020-2021 academic year. Specifically, Student Activities wanted to find out what impact, if any, COVID-19 had on students’ motivation to apply and to look at students’ reasons for applying to a FLO. Student Life Studies worked with Student Activities for the past two academic years to assess students’ experience in Freshman Leadership Organizations. In the past two years, the assessment was in the spring semester; however, for this academic year, the survey content was separated with a fall survey to focus specifically on the recruitment process and a future spring survey to assess students’ experience in their FLO.

Summary-Report-FLO-Student-Experience-Fall-2020.pdf

The DSA Staff Wellbeing and Appreciate Committee (SWAC) wanted to understand staff members’ impressions, current behavior, and needs in the areas of appreciation and wellbeing. Additionally, the committee wanted to learn about staff members’ current work environment if that is on campus or in an alternative location due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second time Student Life Studies has worked with the division committee to assess staff’s needs, although the focus for several areas changed. The last needs assessment was in the spring semester of 2018.

Summary-Report-DSA-SWAC-2020-Needs-Assessment.pdf

Each year during Howdy Week, the Department of Student Activities hosts Block Party, a large-scale program for students to learn about getting involved in student organizations. This year the department combined Block Party with the Volunteer Opportunity Fair, which helps students learn more about volunteering with local agencies. The virtual event was held on August 13, 2020, and included live interviews, videos, music, giveaways, question and answer sessions, and local agencies. Additionally, local food vendors collaborated with Student Activities to offer coupons for free or discounted food items. The Department of Student Activities wanted to understand students’ experiences during the event. While Student Activities has worked with Student Life Studies on past assessment projects, including Volunteer Opportunity Fair, this was the first time to assess Block Party.

Summary-Report-2020-BP-and-VOF.pdf

Howdy Week, a series of events held just before the fall semester to welcome primarily new students to campus, is coordinated by New Student and Family Programs (NSFP) in the Offices of the Dean of Student Life. Howdy Week 2020 were a combination of virtual events, hybrid virtual and in-person events. Coordinators of the events were surveyed for their feedback regarding various components of their experience and attendance at the programs they sponsored during the week. The report summarizes the results of the survey and makes recommendations based on those results.

Summary-Report-2020-Howdy-Week-Coordinators-Assessment.pdf

Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC) sponsored two virtual sessions of Grad Camp held on August 11th and 12th. GPSC has worked with Student Life Studies since 2001 to assess the experience of counselors and the campers who attend Grad Camp. Both groups of students were sent surveys after attending the virtual camp to obtain feedback about their camp experiences.

Grad-Camp-Survey-2020-Summary-Report-sff2.pdf

Beginning in December 2019, Division of Student Affairs (DSA) staff members who used the DSA Marketing & Communication services during the 2019-2020 academic year were surveyed regarding their overall satisfaction with these services. The report summarizes those results and includes recommendations. This is the second time Student Life Studies has helped DSA Marketing & Communications assess customer satisfaction regarding the quality of their services.

Summary-Report-Mar-Comm-2019-2020-Customer-Satisfaction-survey.pdf