Texas A&M system board of regents committee hears plans for an A&M student symposium to be held on Muster day

This podcast contains comments from the January 14, 2026 meeting of the Texas A&M system board of regents committee on academics and student affairs.The day when Texas A&M remembers Aggies who have died, Muster on April 21st, will also be the day of a first ever student civil discourse symposium.Click HERE to read and download photos of the slideshow presentation at the January 14, 2026 board of regents committee on academics and student affairs.The dean of A&M's Bush school, John Sherman, shared with a board of regents committee, four student takeaways:Students will appreciate how their own character and core values are critical to engaging in respectful and meaningful civil discourse.Students will understand how Aggie core values are an optimal foundation for civic responsibility and discourse.Students will identify and refine their own "North Star" values and develop tools for civil discourse in a practical setting-and understand the differences between debate and dialogue.Students will be able to describe how character, core values, and civil discourse have enabled key leaders to be successful.Sherman said the symposium will combine keynote speakers, fireside chats, and student breakout sessions.The speaker lineup had not been finalized as of Sherman's report to the regents committee. He said students and the university's government relations office are involved in the selection process.Sherman said the projected cost of the event is between $400,000 and $800,000 dollars. Most of the money will be spent on speaker fees and the cost of private jet travel, lodging, and meals for VIP's.The symposium is an extension of A&M's new student citizenship and service program that was created by former A&M president Mark Welsh.