Identifying TASFAA’s Efforts in Texas
By Lou Murray, Chair, Association Activity and Resources Committee

One of the things that TASFAA is recognized for is how our Association stresses the important of outreach and awareness. We all know that most—if not all—of our colleges, universities and industry partners contribute in some way to outreach. It is a mission we all share—educating students and families on the importance of education, the costs involved and what to expect before, prior and following their education experience. Certainly, there are projects and events that promote such topics in Texas. However, until recently, there has not been a way to track the activities that are held by the schools and partners that make up TASFAA.

The TASFAA Association Activities and Resources Committee was created in order to identify and acknowledge the various outreach and early awareness efforts accomplished by the Association’s members and associate members. This data will be available for the TASFAA membership so that you are better informed of the activities that are taking place in specific areas of Texas and the territories that seem to be forgotten. Further, it will be used to inform and educate the community and government entities of the Association’s commitment to outreach and public awareness.

In late 2004, the committee began the development of a web-based database that would be used to identify the activities that are taking place in Texas. Grade school events, high school nights, financial aid awareness events, parent nights and other types of activities will be listed and mapped. The system will allow your institution to view such activities by state territory, county and zip code and will also provide a brief detail of the event’s purpose, audience, turnout and comments measuring the success following the event. This will also be useful in conversations that take place between TASFAA members and community, state and federal leaders, as we continue to request their support.

The first version of this database has been completed and is currently being tested by the members of the Association Activities and Resources Committee. Currently, the committee is entering data regarding specific events that are occurring within their respective areas of Texas. The rollout for the database will take place at the TASFAA Conference. Be on the lookout for correspondence from the committee reminding you of the system and on how you can help us by providing data regarding the activities in your area. Your assistance in providing information of such activities is needed in order for this project to be a success.

In the end, the committee will have the ability to better inform all TASFAA members and the community of the effort that we are all making to impact education in Texas.