Projects

Current Projects

HSI AND UNDERSERVED STUDENT INITIATIVES

As Texas A&M University focuses on efforts to retain the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) status that was granted in March 2022, they are also striving to serve Aggie students in the ways expected of an HSI-granted university. The University Libraries reviewed the recently released HSI priorities from the Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity to determine how best to support those priorities and the University’s HSI designation. The Libraries engagement is part of a larger service program devoted to supporting underserved Texas A&M University student populations and communities including first generation students, student veterans, and the Pride Center, to name a few.

The Friends of the Texas A&M University Libraries is pleased to support the Libraries action plan to support the HSI status and Texas A&M’s HSI priorities. The Libraries’ plan is to:

  1. Translate learning resources for students who speak English as a second language. By translating educational materials, library brochures, marketing materials, and orientation materials, we not only support the enrolled student, but also their families as this helps familiarize them with the University and their student’s Aggie experience.

  2. Develop a series of round-table conversations with various student groups to discuss academic support, research support, community support, and study space needs.

  3. Develop a Library internship program for underserved students focusing on projects interacting with target collections or programs and services that reach and impact those students.

  4. Implement underserved student programs such as book clubs, speakers, and cultural programs to help with student success, recruitment, and retention.

  5. In the absence of a library at Texas A&M University Higher Education Center in McAllen, Texas, provide support and expertise to the faculty and staff, such as instruction sessions and curricular support, and exploring solutions for new classroom and campus needs.

HOWDY WEEK T-SHIRTS

The University Libraries supports the annual “Howdy Week” which is Aggieland’s official Week of Welcome for new and returning students, held before classes begin for the fall semester. Howdy Week is a campus-wide collaboration designed to help connect Aggies to a wide variety of activities, organizations, and important resources. The University Libraries participates in Howdy Week by hosting an open house, inviting students to the Sterling C. Evans Library to learn about the many services the libraries have to offer. In addition, there are fun activities, prizes, and free t-shirts. The Libraries hands out just under four thousand t-shirts at this event.

In 2022, due to world-wide supply chain issues, the cost for the t-shirts increased significantly and the Libraries t-shirt budget fell short of covering the new expense for the number of t-shirts that are ordered for this event.

Rather than allow a vast majority of the Howdy Week visitors to leave empty handed, the Friends stepped up and were able to provide the additional funding needed to support the Libraries in purchasing the t-shirts! Not only did the Friends help fund the t-shirts, some of our board members were able to help hand out shirts and give a big “HOWDY” welcome!