DOCSLIB.ORG

2009-Summer-Spirit.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
2009-Summer-Spirit.Pdf THE TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION MAGAZINE THE TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION SUMMER 2009A Dutchman’s pipe vine blooms in Aggie maroon and white at the Holistic Garden on the West Campus. The garden, which offers lessons in horticulture to Texas A&M students and other visitors, has an annual budget of about $80,000 to pay student workers, buy plants and maintain facilities. Dr. Joe Novak, who established the garden, hopes creating an endowment will help him to expand the garden and educate more Aggies there. See page 18 for the full story. PRESIDENT’S LETTER Education Is Our Obligation At the Texas A&M Foundation, we spend a lot of time thinking and talking about the value of higher education. From time to time during our daily work, each of us may consider a fundamental question: Why am I raising money for Texas A&M University? Inevitably, we find the answer just outside our Hagler Center offices on campus. The answer is in the mind of the education major from Beaumont—with help from a scholarship, she will fulfill her goal of teaching the next generation of promising students. It’s in the heart of the renowned history professor who has devoted his life to the study of British history—funds from a faculty chair provide the resources to further his research and teaching. It’s in the spirit of the Texas A&M Rodeo Team cowboy from Glen Rose—without a scholarship, he could not attend a major university and compete nationally in the sport that defines his young life. You’ll note that the answer lies in what the university does—encouraging and inspiring the spirit and mind of Texas A&M—not in who is leading the insti- tution. The Foundation is and always has been about supporting the educational experience at its core … for students and faculty. I mention all this as preface to related news of modest policy changes made by our board of trustees. In response to a significant decrease in investment returns, we reduced the spending from our endowment from 5 percent to 4.5 percent beginning in July. To share the burden of protecting our endowment, we also chose to decrease the Foundation’s management fee from 1 percent to 0.9 percent. Neither our endowment payout nor management fee has changed in more than 20 years, but these extraordinary times demand tough decisions. We hope these are temporary actions, but they are necessary to protect the corpus of our endowment and ensure fairness across generational periods. Comparatively, the Foundation remains financially sound. Other institutions have slashed endowment payouts by more than 50 percent, and few are immune to the steep recession. Economics aside, our country urgently needs more college graduates who will use their knowledge and skills to improve the human condition. The extra income from a bachelor’s degree can lift families out of poverty and increase chances that future generations will be educated. Nonprofit management expert Paul Jansen once said, “The promise of reasonable access to education lies at the core of the social compact that affords most higher education institutions their nonprofit status and ensures their social relevance.” At the Texas A&M Foundation, this promise is our purpose. We view broad access to a quality higher education experience as the great hope for the long-term future of our democracy. Thank you for your continued trust in our stewardship of your gifts. eddie j. davis ’67 president texas a&m foundation In Texas A&M’s Holistic Garden, butterfly plants attract adults and feed larvae. » p.18 Contents FEATURES 14 Spirit Impact: SADDLE UP A&M’s rodeo club adviser looks to recruit ever-stronger competitors for the team. Called “Quince” by his friends, professor Ralph James Quincy Adams remains passionate about 18 his 35-year career as a British historian. » p.26 College Impact: GROWING PLACES Founder Joe Novak hopes the Holistic Lainey Kyle ’09, a member of the A&M Rodeo Club, hits her target in the Garden will broaden its mission of breakaway roping event during the education and encouragement. Hill College Rodeo in 2008. » p.14 22 Student Impact: TURNING POINT When Hurricane Rita derailed a future teacher’s plan to attend A&M, a scholarship VOLUME X NO. 3|SUMMER 2009 Spirit is published three times a year by the Texas helped her stay on track. A&M Foundation, which manages major gifts and endowments for the benefit of academic programs, scholarships and student activities at 26 Texas A&M University. Please direct inquiries to the Marketing Office, Texas A&M Foundation, Faculty Impact: 401 George Bush Dr., College Station, TX 77840- 2811, call (800) 392-3310 or (979) 845-8161, or QUAINTLY QUINCE e-mail [email protected]. Information in Students and colleagues admire Ralph this magazine is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal or tax advice. Readers James Quincy Adams, a professor of should consult independent legal counsel or British history. financial advisors for differences in local laws and individual circumstances. giving.tamu.edu 30 www.facebook.com REAL ESTATE AIDS STUDENTS (Search for Texas A&M Foundation.) www.texags.com Donors turn ranch land into endowments; www.youtube.com/aggiespiritandmind the Foundation’s Tim Walton discusses copyright © 2009 texas a&m foundation the giving of real estate in a trust. EDITOR Sondra White ’87 MANAGING EDITOR Mary Vinnedge ’75 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Kathy McCoy ’80 WEB COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Rachel Dohmann ’07 MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Alice Bassett STUDENT INTERNS Lianna Grissom ’11 DEPARTMENTS Nichelle Jaeger ’12 ART DIRECTION & DESIGN Geer Design, Inc. PHOTOGRAPHY 3 THE LEGACY College of Architecture (p. 34) R Scott Lord ’85 has designated the Norman Borlaug Institute for proceeds of a life insurance policy to International Agriculture (p. 6) benefit the Fish Drill Team. Mack Bradford of R&M Photography/ Bryan (pp. 1, left; 14-16) 4 ON CAMPUS Gabriel Chmielewski (pp. 25, 29, 35) Texas A&M receives acclaim and grows 3 John Graybill (p. ) its campus. Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (p. 7) Holistic Garden (cover, p. 18) 6 LAB WORK Chris Houser/Department of Aggie research reaches around the world Geography (p. 4) and into the depths of the Pacific. Robb Kendrick (pp. 1, right; 12-13; 27; 32) Jim Lyle (pp. 18, top left; 20; 22-23) 8 NEW GIFTS Robert McLeroy (pp. 10-11) Donors support Operation Spirit and Kelvin Morrison/Specialties MindSM scholarship initiative. Photography (p. 8) Dr. Wayne Smith (p. 4) 10 ONE VOICE The $104 million Emerging Technologies Texas Transportation Institute (p. 38) A&M academics and ethics are critical Building, under construction at the corner of Larry Wadsworth (p. 6, left) to a San Antonio success story. University Drive and Bizzell Street, will have a ILLUSTRATIONS by Clay Schlinke ’94 bright, contemporary feel. » p.5 Engineering Communications (p. 2) VIEWPOINT Facilities Planning and Construction 12 Department (p. 5) A picture is worth a thousand words. PRINTING 32 LETTERS Grover Printing 34 OPPORTUNITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Jorge Vanegas outlines how you can Tom Saylak ’82 help build a better future for the College Chairman of Architecture. John Bethancourt ’74 Contents 59 Mel Glasscock ’ 36 @FOUNDATION ’64 Charles Gregory Meet the new trustee and find out how Richard Kardys ’67 Operation Spirit and MindSM has progressed Ray Rothrock ’77 Bob Surovik ’58 toward its $300 million goal. OFFICERS 38 POSTSCRIPT Ed Davis ’67 Serendipity plus perseverance led a farm President boy to his Aggie engineering degree and Jim Palincsar a 42-year career as an A&M professor. Senior Vice President for Development COVER PHOTO by Bob Gallaway ’42 Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia elegans) Liska Lusk delivers hand-size maroon-and-white Vice President and General Counsel 39 CONTACT blooms from spring through fall in Texas Doyle Thompson Stay in touch with the Texas A&M A&M’s Holistic Garden. The vine Vice President and Controller Foundation. attracts swallowtail butterflies. 2 TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION Class of ’85 Grad Creates His Legacy Now With a Life Insurance Gift for the Fish Drill Team TheLegacy R Scott Lord ’85 deeply appreciates we often don’t think about creating the time he spent on the Fish Drill a legacy.” Team as a student at Texas A&M. Lord found the perfect way to give Through that experience, Lord when he received a postcard from the acquired the self-discipline and spirit Texas A&M Foundation about life of teamwork that has carried him insurance gifts. As the owner of three through many challenges. “You have life insurance policies, he decided to special times in your life that really use one to benefit A&M. To discuss how a planned gift to stand out,” said Lord, who holds a Lord called Glenn Pittsford ’72, the Texas A&M Foundation might business degree from A&M. “When the Texas A&M Foundation’s assistant benefit you, your family and the you work hard at something and you vice president for gift planning, to university, please contact Glenn are successful, you have lots of pride in discuss a life insurance gift. Lord then Pittsford ’72 in the Office of Gift yourself. I have a huge appreciation for made the Foundation the beneficiary Planning at [email protected] what the Fish Drill Team did for me.” of the policy and designated the funds or (800) 392-3310. We will In 2006, Lord’s mother died, and for the Fish Drill Team. “The giving describe how such plans work and he was the executor of her estate. “As process was super-easy.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Etd-Tamu-2003B-2003062412-Schu-1
    AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONTAMINATION OF WSR-88D VAD WIND PROFILE OUTPUT BY MIGRATING BIRDS A Thesis by KARL WERNER SCHULZE Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE August 2003 Major Subject: Meteorology AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONTAMINATION OF WSR-88D VAD WIND PROFILE OUTPUT BY MIGRATING BIRDS A Thesis by KARL WERNER SCHULZE Submitted to Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Approved as to style and content by: ___________________________ ___________________________ John W. Nielsen-Gammon Richard E. Orville (Chair of Committee) (Member) ___________________________ ___________________________ Keith A. Arnold Gerald R. North (Member) (Head of Department) August 2003 Major Subject: Meteorology iii ABSTRACT An Investigation into the Contamination of WSR-88D VAD Wind Profile Output by Migrating Birds. (August 2003) Karl Werner Schulze, B.S., Northern Illinois University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. John W. Nielsen-Gammon The VAD Wind Profile (VWP), a time-height display of winds computed by the National Weather Service’s WSR-88D radar, is known on occasion to have errors at night during the fall and spring seasons. Several studies, such Haro and Gauthreaux (1997), confirm that migrating birds often contaminate the VWP output. By means of telescopic observations of a full moon, birds were observed flying on two nights when VWP contamination was suspected. The nature of the VWP errors is consistent with migrating birds due to the seasonality, nocturnal nature, and the magnitude of the errors found (greater than 10 knots).
    [Show full text]
  • A. Spirit [Cover] F09 11.25
    THE TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION MAGAZINE | FALL 2009 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Foundation Steers Steady Course In September the Texas A&M Foundation celebrated its 56th birthday and 10th anniversary in the Jon L. Hagler Center. It was a delight to see more than 400 of you—our former students and friends—at our pregame celebration Sept. 5. Much has changed since we moved into our new building in 1999. Many of you recall when the corner of Houston and what used to be “Jersey” Street was the University Police station. A few of you might remember even further back, when this spot was the location of an old county project house built in the late 1930s. There is a certain elegant symbolism in the fact that the campus home to major-gift philanthropy—the Hagler Center—sits on the site of a fundamental act of charity: folks back home helping poor kids go to college. Ten years ago the Foundation employed 72 people and managed assets of $537.9 million. Today we have 95 on our staff and oversee $1.2 billion in assets for Texas A&M. Back then we didn’t have an Internet and fans were just good Ags at Kyle Field, not people following our Facebook page. I’m privileged to say that my position and title have not changed since 1993. Bob Rutledge, my predecessor, directed the Foundation for 12 years before me. I hope you agree that this stable leadership, along with your generous gifts, has contributed to our success. Leadership change at A&M has been much in the news.
    [Show full text]
  • Implementation and Assessment of Undergraduate Experiences in SOAP: an Atmospheric Science Research and Education Program Larry J
    JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION 61, 415–427 (2013) Implementation and Assessment of Undergraduate Experiences in SOAP: An Atmospheric Science Research and Education Program Larry J. Hopper, Jr.,1,2,a Courtney Schumacher,2 and Justin P. Stachnik2,3 ABSTRACT The Student Operational Aggie Doppler Radar Project (SOAP) involved 95 undergraduates in a research and education program to better understand the climatology of storms in southeast Texas from 2006–2010. This paper describes the structure, components, and implementation of the 1-credit-hour research course, comparing first-year participants’ experiences and career outcomes with students who were engaged in SOAP for multiple years. Groups of five or six students, led by a senior-level undergraduate and mentored by a graduate student and faculty advisor, performed several daily research tasks, including producing precipitation forecasts, archiving observations, and operating and analyzing data from an S-band Doppler radar for precipitation events on their assigned day. Anonymous surveys given to SOAP students at the end of each semester indicated that student confidence in performing most SOAP tasks exhibited statistically significant positive correlations with their interest and experience in doing them. In addition, students participating in SOAP for multiple years were significantly more confident in performing program tasks than single-year participants (with correlations increasing an average of 19%) and were more likely to obtain meteorology or science-related employment upon graduation (94% versus 69%). First-year participants were significantly more likely to indicate that their interactions with undergraduate student leaders or peers were most beneficial, whereas interactions with the faculty advisor or graduate student mentors were equally or more important to returning students.
    [Show full text]
  • Aggie Traditions
    ITINERARY Travel Dining Activities End Sunday AM/Lunch: - Bike Tour A&M University Dine at Home th Start: Home - Traditions Dorms, 19 , Day 1 - DG Time College Station End: TAMU PM: - Reflections Local Favorites Integrity Lights out at: 11:30 pm Monday Start: TAMU AM: Continental - Climbing th - Traditions (Yell) A&M University 20 , Day 2 End: Lunch: Activity - DG Time/Reflections Dorms, Reimer’s Ranch Site - Campfire College Station - Crystal Ball Leadership *Return to CS* PM: TBD Lights out at: 12:00 am Tuesday Start: TAMU - Hiking Galveston AM: Continental st - Camp Setup Island 21 , Day 3 Stop 1: - DG Time State Park, Huntsville State Lunch: Activity - Reflections Galveston, TX Park Site - Campfire Excellence - Crystal Ball End: PM: Beach Galveston Lights out at: 11:30 pm Wednesday - Beach Day Galveston AM: Beach nd - DG Time Island 22 , Day 4 Day in Galveston - Reflections State Park, Lunch: Beach - Campfire Galveston, TX - Crystal Ball Respect PM: Beach Lights out at: 11:30 pm Thursday AM: Beach - Beach Day A&M University rd - Beach Clean Up Dorms, 23 , Day 5 Start: Lunch: Activity - Skit Competition College Station Galveston Site - Crystal Ball Selfless End: TAMU PM: Local Service Favorites Lights out at: 11:30 pm Friday - Low Ropes A&M University AM: Continental th Start: TAMU - Challenge Works Dorms, 24 , Day 6 - Traditions College Station End: Lunch: TBD - Scavenger Hunt Challenge - DG / Reflection Loyalty Works PM: Spence Park Lights out at: 11:30 pm Saturday AM: Continental th Start: TAMU - Final Farewells Home till 25 , Day 7 - Checkout August End: Home Lunch/PM: Home 2 Welcome! Venture: BASE CAMP is different from most trips you’ve had.
    [Show full text]
  • Mission Accomplished Texas A&M University Surpasses Its Historic $4 Billion Lead by Example Campaign Goal
    THE TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021 Mission Accomplished Texas A&M University surpasses its historic $4 billion Lead by Example campaign goal. is an impressive number, but it is the positive human impact that speaks greater volumes. TheLead by Example campaign shattered records because countless Aggies and friends of Texas A&M University believe in its mission. They believe in our university’s humble beginnings, our values, and Texas A&M’s ability to create an exponentially brighter future for our state, nation and world. This campaign proves that the Aggie Spirit and Texas A&M’s mission to educate principled leaders of character is still alive and well.” Tyson Voelkel ’96 President & CeO, texas a&M FOundatiOn Read more from Tyson about the Lead by Example campaign’s impact on page 6. winter 2021 COVER FEATURE Mission Accomplished Texas A&M University surpasses its historic $4 billion Lead by Example campaign goal. 20 FACULTY FIELDWORK TRAILBLAZERS STUDENT IMPACT A Venue for The Spectacular Physicians 2.0 Visionaries Journey of Eli Jones Texas A&M University’s A landmark gift from Jon Three-time Aggie graduate Engineering Medicine Hagler ’58 secured the Eli Jones ’82 ’86 ’97 has program is producing Hagler Institute for led Mays Business School a new line of innovative issue Advanced Study’s future. to new heights as dean. doctors. 34 42 48 CONTRIBUTORS Editor Dunae Reader ’15 DEPARTMENTS Managing Editor issue Karissa Bayliss ’12 ’15 Art Direction & Design Geer Design, Inc. Texas A&M University Photography/Illustration opened a teaching site Sam Craft (cover) in Washington, D.C., Cushing Memorial Library and Archives (p.
    [Show full text]
  • BUZZ IS BACK YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL to BUILDING a CHAMPIONSHIP MEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM at TEXAS A&M 12Th Man Foundation 1922 Fund
    SPRING 2019 VOLUME 24, NO. 2 FUNDING SCHOLARSHIPS, PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES 12thManIN SUPPORT OF CHAMPIONSHIP ATHLETICS BUZZ IS BACK YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL TO BUILDING A CHAMPIONSHIP MEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM AT TEXAS A&M 12th Man Foundation 1922 Fund The 1922 Fund provides a perpetual impact on the education of Texas A&M’s student-athletes. Our goal is to fully endow scholarships for every student-athlete, building a sustainable model of funding where your investment can provide the opportunity for Aggie student-athletes to excel in competition and in the classroom. Without generous families like the Moncriefs, I wouldn’t be able to be in the position I’m in at A&M. I truly appreciate their donations to the 1922 Fund and the time they invest in me. – COLTON PRATER ’20 Football Offensive Lineman 1922 Fund Donor Benefits $25,000 $50,000 $100,000 $250,000 $500,000+ Annual endowment report Recognition on 12th Man Foundation website One-time recognition in 12th Man Magazine A plaque for donor’s home and recognition in 12th Man Foundation offices Recognition on field of supported program during a game* Champions Council membership for a five year term Assignment of a specific student-athlete’s scholarship A donor spotlight article in 12th Man Magazine 12th Man Foundation will discuss recognition opportunities *Option exists for donor to choose their recognition at Kyle Field if desired Contact the Major Gifts Staff at 979-260-7595 For More Information About the 1922 Fund 6 11 22 Buzz Williams | Page 16 Texas A&M’s new head coach is instilling his relentless work ethic into the men’s basketball program BY CHAREAN WILLIAMS ’86 29 12TH MAN FOUNDATION IMPACTFUL DONORS STUDENT-ATHLETES 5 Foundation Update 22 Mark Welsh III & Mark Welsh IV ’01 14 Riley Sartain ’19 BY SAMANTHA ATCHLEY ’17 1922 Fund Student-Athlete 6 Champions Council Weekend BY MATT SIMON ’98 29 Shannon ’18 & David Riggs ’99 11 E.B.
    [Show full text]
  • Select Artists Associates Wins Full-Service Event Production Contract at Texas A&M University
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2021 | SELECT ARTISTS ASSOCIATES Select Artists Associates wins Full-Service Event Production Contract at Texas A&M University SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Select Artists Associates (“SAA”) announces its partnership with Texas A&M Athletics to bring live entertainment and production services to Kyle Field, Reed Arena and other venues across the Texas A&M University campus. SAA and Texas A&M Athletics will work closely together to enhance the weekend fan experience around Aggie football games, as well as deliver year-round revenue-generating events through SAA’s talent booking and production expertise. “This is the centennial year of the 12th Man at Texas A&M University, and we are thrilled to partner with them to bring live entertainment and production to the university. Texas A&M has a storied history, and we look forward to producing some unforgettable entertainment for Aggie fans,” said Charles Johnston, President of SAA. “We are thrilled to be working with Select Artist Associates to produce our live event shows at Texas A&M. Their expertise in this area coupled with their creative approach to detailed productions makes them a great partner. We look forward to producing shows surrounding Aggie home football games and throughout the year,” said Darren Davis, CVE General Manager, Reed Arena. About Select Artist Associates, LLC: Headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, Select Artists Associates is an established sports and entertainment production company specializing in the development, creation, management, and implementation of turnkey productions and special events since 1967. SAA is highly respected among top talent agencies, promoters and management companies and has an unparalleled reputation for their production expertise, live event experience, creativity, professionalism and integrity.
    [Show full text]
  • AAAAACCC 22000222111 Ffooooootttbbbaaallllll
    AAAACC 22002211 FFoooottbbaallll PPrreevviieeww July 30 - August 5, 2021 Vol. 19, Issue 49 www.sportspagdfw.com FREE 2 July 30, 2021 - August 5, 2021 | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 Issue 49 | www.sportspagedfw.com | follow us on twitter @sportspagdfw.com Follow us on twitter @sportspagedfw | www.sportspagedfw.com | The Sports Page Weekly | Volume 19 - Issue 49 | July 30, 2021 - August 5, 2021 3 July 30, 2021 - August 5, 2021 AROUND THE AREA Vol. 19, Issue 49 LOCAL NEWS OF INTEREST sportspagedfw.com Established 2002 Big 12 totals seven NBA selections Cover Photo: AROUND THE AREA traded to the Utah Jazz via the Memphis 4 Grizzlies. Brown’s draft rights were traded RANGERS REPORT to the Portland Trailblazers. The 5 BY DIC HUMPHREY Longhorns had a third selection with GOLF, ETC Jericho Sims chosen by the Knicks. 6 BY TOM WARD This year's draft marked the 24th time OLYMPIC GOLF PREVIEW in 25 seasons for the Big 12 to produce 7 BY PGATOUR.COM first-round picks. It’s the 16th consecutive FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT year that at least one Big 12 student-athlete OLYMPIC GOLF VENUE has been taken in the NBA Draft lottery as SMU’s Goodwin named to All-Nicklaus 8 BY PGATOUR.COM one of the top 14 choices. The seven selec- team AAC FOOTBALL 2021 tions are the most since 2012. DALLAS (SMU) - SMU's Noah 10 PREDICTIONS BY STEVEN LASSEN Overall, 84 players were chosen in the Goodwin was named to the All-Nicklaus past 14 drafts. A total of 131 players from Team, the Golf Coaches Association of COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS AND 13 NOTES the Big 12 have been selected since the America announced this week.
    [Show full text]
  • Texas A&M Foundation Update
    TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION UPDATE For The Association of Former Students Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting Virtual Meeting via Zoom Friday, February 26, 2021 THANK YOU! “The Aggie Network matters, we can’t fully articulate our appreciation nor our admiration for what the premier alumni association in the world means to our collective success.” 2 “The achievement of the $4 billion goal is a testament to the tenacity of Aggies and their desire to strive for excellence. The Lead by Example campaign has elevated Texas A&M to the upper echelon of our nation’s universities. Support raised through the campaign has helped shape the character of the university as a developer of 21st-century leaders and empowered Texas A&M to unequivocally state that it is here for us today and for all future generations of Aggies.” SuSu and Mark Fischer ’72 Lead by Example Campaign Co-Chairs 3 LBE Comprehensive Campaign for Texas A&M University 2021 and beyond will include continued efforts to codify the working relationships and value propositions of all affiliates to enable an even more effective culture of philanthropy at Texas A&M 4 “The Lead by Example campaign has engaged more Aggies in support of Texas A&M than ever before in history. The loyal generosity of the Aggie Network throughout the campaign continues to make a difference for Texas A&M and for so many things we all hold dear asAggies.” Porter Garner III ’79 President & CEO, The Association of Former Students 5 Lead by Example Campaign Overview • Raised $4.25 billion for Texas A&M University students, faculty and programs • A nine-year campaign from Jan.
    [Show full text]
  • TR-133 Bonfire Collapse Texas A&M University
    U.S. Fire Administration/Technical Report Series Bonfire Collapse Texas A&M University College Station, Texas USFA-TR-133/November 1999 Homeland Security U.S. Fire Administration Fire Investigations Program he U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) develops reports on selected major fires throughout the country. The fires usually involve multiple deaths or a large loss of property. But the primary T criterion for deciding to do a report is whether it will result in significant “lessons learned.” In some cases these lessons bring to light new knowledge about fire--the effect of building construc- tion or contents, human behavior in fire, etc. In other cases, the lessons are not new but are serious enough to highlight once again, with yet another fire tragedy report. In some cases, special reports are developed to discuss events, drills, or new technologies which are of interest to the fire service. The reports are sent to fire magazines and are distributed at National and Regional fire meetings. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) assists the USFA in disseminating the findings throughout the fire service. On a continuing basis the reports are available on request from the USFA; announcements of their availability are published widely in fire journals and newsletters. This body of work provides detailed information on the nature of the fire problem for policymakers who must decide on allocations of resources between fire and other pressing problems, and within the fire service to improve codes and code enforcement, training, public fire education, building technology, and other related areas. The U.S. Fire Administration, which has no regulatory authority, sends an experienced fire investiga- tor into a community after a major incident only after having conferred with the local fire authorities to insure that the USFA’s assistance and presence would be supportive and would in no way interfere with any review of the incident they are themselves conducting.
    [Show full text]
  • ATMO 2009 Self-Study Report
    2009 Academic Program Review Department of Atmospheric Sciences Texas A&M University 2009 Academic Program Review Department of Atmospheric Sciences Texas A&M University Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Welcome from the Department Head ....................................................................... 1 1.2 Charge to the Review Committee.............................................................................. 1 Chapter 2 - Departmental Overview................................................................................... 3 2.1 History of the Department ........................................................................................ 3 2.2 Statement of Department Mission and Goals ............................................................ 5 2.3 Summary of 2001 External Program Review ............................................................ 6 2.4 Changes since 2001 and Current State of the Department .......................................... 9 Chapter 3 - Departmental Administration and Management .......................................... 13 3.1 Department Head ..................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Departmental Executive Committee ......................................................................... 13 3.3 Departmental Meetings and Committees .................................................................. 14 3.4 Administrative
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Annual Report with Endless Thanks
    Texas A&M Foundation 2020 ANNUAL REPORT WITH ENDLESS THANKS When we reflect on the history of Texas A&M gift from Sugar and Mike Barnes ’64 to name the University from its humble beginnings as a Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, land-grant college to the tremendous institution and a monumental 2,500-acre real estate planned of higher education it is today, we do not see a story gift from Deborah and Bill Keyes. Even though the of uncomplicated growth and prosperity. Rather, Lead by Example campaign’s goal is well defined, we see a history rife with challenges; one in which the collective impact that its gifts will have on Texas Aggies routinely faced difficult and unprecedented A&M’s future is beyond measure. circumstances. Most importantly, we see how their resilient response to each challenge not only made We are just as proud to announce another milestone the university stronger but also shaped what it worthy of celebration. We have worked with the means to be an Aggie over time. Division of Student Affairs to measure and count the number of student service hours given to various Make no mistake: This year challenged Texas A&M volunteer causes throughout the campaign. Although and the Texas A&M Foundation as much as it did a new initiative, we have confidently documented every other great institution across the world. almost 12 million hours given in service by the However, we present this annual report with great student body and are counting those as another way pride, gratitude and hope because so many Aggies Texas A&M leads by example! and friends of the university offered their support in the face of adversity.
    [Show full text]