Councils, Committees, & Communities of Practice

There are a variety of standing councils and committees appointed to serve the needs and interests of the Texas A&M University System and its member institutions.  These advisory bodies can be an important element in the administrative process as an effective means of employing the collective ability, knowledge, and experience of the many competent and dedicated individuals who make up the A&M System community.

Click here to go to the Chief Academic Officers webpage.

The System Academic Council, composed of the Chief Academic Officers (CAO’s) of member institutions and the Health Science Center, meets four to six times per year to discuss current and upcoming academic initiatives for the A&M System.

Click here to go to the Senior Student Affairs Officers webpage.

The A&M System Senior Student Affairs Officers include representatives from all system member institutions and the Health Science Center. This group meets monthly and on various other occasions to discuss current and upcoming student initiatives within the A&M System.

Click here to go to the CATIE webpage.

The purpose of the Council on Academic Technology and Innovative Education (CATIE) is to support the educational mission of the system members in matters related to technology use in the design, development, delivery, and assessment of courses and programs, and to advise the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs on such matters. CATIE members provide collaborative strategic direction, guidance, and recommendations on technology-enriched teaching, learning, and assessment initiatives that present a continuum. This continuum begins in the classroom with learning space design and classroom technologies and expands to encompass new environments and emerging trends.

Click here to go to the CSAC webpage.

The Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council (CSAC) was created in 1982 to provide an avenue for all student leaders to address student issues common to all campuses within the Texas A&M University System.  Membership consists of two student representatives from each institution.

Click here to go to the A&M System Assembly of Faculty Senates webpage.

The Texas A&M University System’s Assembly of Faculty Senates aims to promote foundational principles of academic freedom and best practices regarding shared governance throughout the A&M System by providing a forum for faculty governance leaders to establish and maintain effective communication, collaboration, and consultation at the system level among the faculty, the chancellor and system leadership to improve the strength and well-being of the A&M System and its member institutions.

Communities of Practice

Communities of Practice (CoPs) are system-wide working groups, all of which have been created around strategic initiatives or key functional areas of practice to allow system member institutions to network, exchange ideas, collaborate activities and/or resources, and work toward common objectives or solving common problems.

System Liaison: Isaiah Vance

Exchange best practices, provide leadership insights, explore emerging trends, collectively address opportunities and challenges, and collaborate on system-wide initiatives related to improving academic advising and student success.

System Liaisons: Shonda Gibson, Kim Rynearson

The leadership for the educator preparation programs across The Texas A&M University System is committed to developing and implementing outstanding teacher preparation programs that promote the achievement of all Texas students.  These Education College leaders have collaborated together as a Community of Practice, and focused on three core areas of high quality:

  1. Research and Data-Informed Foundation
  2. Creating and Maintaining High-Quality Internal and External Partnerships
  3. Expanded Communication via We Teach Texas

In collaboration/partnership with Raise Your Hand Texas (RYHT).

System Liaison: Shonda Gibson

Interact, exchange ideas and best practices, and collaborate on A&M system-wide projects and initiatives to increase student enrollment, persistence, and graduation/completion.

System Liaison: Stacey Silverman

Interact and exchange ideas around best practices, trends, policies, etc., affecting graduate school admissions and students.

Host the annual Pathways: Practices of Research Symposium, where students have the opportunity to present their research and have it evaluated by faculty.

Areas of concern: enrollment – recruiting, retention, graduation, placement

System Liaison: Shonda Gibson

Chair: Dorie Gilbert, PVAMU

To promote the value of the liberal arts across The Texas A&M University System.

System Liaison: Shonda Gibson, Kim Rynearson

Provide professional development, onboarding, network, and support to new department heads across The Texas A&M University System.

System Liaison: Shonda Gibson

Through a partnership with ReUp Education, The Texas A&M University System has engaged in an opt-in contract where system members utilize the expertise of our partner in the identification, engagement, and recovery of stopped-out students.

System Liaisons: James Hallmark, Shonda Gibson, Stacey Silverman

Chair: Alicia Dorsey, TAMU

Exchange ideas and best practices related to the SACSCOC accreditation and reaffirmation process.

Create an internal peer review and preparation resource for institutions undergoing the accreditation/reaffirmation process.

System Liaisons: James Hallmark, Shonda Gibson

Identify ways of making post-secondary education in The Texas A&M University System more accessible and affordable by reducing students’ costs through the use of open education resources (OER) and other tools with a focus on quality tools for learning.