An Account of Student Activities to Encourage Professional Development, Community Service, and Member Cohesion in the Texas A&M Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society

Local chapters of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) can provide invaluable experiences to supplement in-class education. The Texas A&M Student Chapter of the AMS (TAMSCAMS), recently named student chapter of the year, has dedicated itself to serving our members, the community, and the AMS through diversifying professional development, dedication to outreach, and member cohesion opportunities locally and nationally. Sharing these practices can open a dialogue between local chapters and encourage collaboration to serve all meteorological undergraduates best nationally.

TAMSCAMS works to promote the AMS as well as the AMS Board of Student Affairs (AMSBOSA). We have collaborative events with nearby local chapters including our joint tailgate with the East Mississippi/Mississippi State AMS chapter. Furthermore, we collaborate on newsletters and social media with the AMS Local Chapter Affairs Committee (LCAC) and AMSBOSA to encourage student participation in conferences, seminars, and scholarship opportunities.

TAMSCAMS works to provide exposure to diverse career fields in meteorology including aviation, academia, operational, broadcast, energy, and private industry. We introduce our members to these fields through fall/spring trips, meeting speakers, and internship presentations. We also offer on-campus opportunities to improve communication and forecasting skills through TAMSCAMS’ associated organizations. TAMUweather Broadcasting helps students develop weather communication skills through radio broadcast, production, and TV broadcast. Texas Aggie Storm Chasers provides an active forum for severe weather forecasting and discussion while emphasizing safe practices for observing severe weather.

Community engagement is a key component in helping students connect to those impacted by weather and build compassion. TAMSCAMS works to support our local community by participating in local service days, lecturing to homeschool groups, and creating fundraisers for those impacted by severe weather. Community within the organization is also crucial to the success of students. Meteorology coursework relies heavily on math, physics, and chemistry courses. These classes, along with adjusting to the college environment can overwhelm students. TAMSCAMS hosts non-academic team-building initiatives including student mentors, introvert-friendly socials, and student lounge space. These initiatives encourage students to build a supportive community with their peers. Local chapters have the opportunity to enrich students’ experiences and sharing successful practices can positively impact all students and chapters nationwide.