University as Community committee members gave an update and heard input from Texas A&M University faculty and staff Tuesday (Dec. 4) during a meeting of the University as Community committee, part of the university’s upcoming Vision 2030 initiative.
The event, identified as the Fourth Pillar of the Vision 2030 plan, focuses on the aspirational goals for Texas A&M as an inclusive community. Three other pillars previously identified focus on the values of research, teaching and service.
The committee, chaired by Kenita Rogers, executive associate dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and Robin Autenrieth, department head and the A.P. Florence Wiley Professor in the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, adopted a mission statement that says: “Within and beyond the boundaries of campus, we aspire to create an environment where all are welcome, valued and affirmed.”
Further statements from the committee include:
- “Texas A&M serves a connecting point for the individual and their identified communities on campus and beyond. The knowledge created through research, teaching and the arts at Texas A&M should impact the internal and external communities in positive ways. Our diverse student, faculty and staff populations bring the world to Central Texas; it is the responsibility of Texas A&M to positively contribute to producing active and engaged citizens of the world. Strong resources and support for international faculty, staff and students, as well as all marginalized groups is an imperative. Students should be grounded with an appreciation of the value of community and outreach.
- “A well-focused community cares about each other and works hard to make everyone feel included and valued. An empowered community stands up and speaks out when something counter to our values occurs. To prevent marginalization, we fully embrace the diversity inherent in our community. Individuals can claim and own their values and beliefs and still engage in meaningful dialogue. You can be yourself in an environment where engaging in dialogues happens in a consistently respectful and meaningful way.
- “To have a whole and healthy community within campus and beyond, there must be bidirectional communication and exchange that is strong and fluid. The internal community and those beyond are equally engaged in decisions that impact us universally.
- “We are the community.”
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Media contact: Keith Randall at (979) 845-4644 or keith-randall@tamu.edu
