Texas A&M administrators to consider public health school's student safety recommendations - WTAW

Texas A&M administrators say they are considering recommendations to make the campus a safer place for pedestrians and those using a variety of vehicles.

A three-year, three-phase implementation plan developed by eight seniors in A&M’s School of Public Health incorporated input from stakeholders and four academic departments.

The second phase involves creating an awareness campaign. The team noted that the recommended process would increase awareness of vehicle safety and university regulations, leading to a reduction in traffic violations, accidents and traffic congestion on campus. In the long term, the team believed the recommendations would improve user security.

The third phase focuses on improving physical infrastructure. The team recommended implementing gated parking and creating Howdy Zones in high student traffic areas to encourage “good farming” behaviors of greeting each other with “Howdy.” He also suggested identifying detour routes for prohibited areas that redirect users and establishing “drop-off and drop-off zones” to resolve traffic jams in areas where students and others are dropped off.

Texas A&M press release:

Eight seniors from Texas A&M University’s School of Public Health used their capstone course project to analyze the growing use of skateboards, bicycles and scooters as well as personal electric vehicles on the sprawling campus of the university. Many of the team’s recommendations are being considered for implementation by Texas A&M administration to make the campus a safer place for pedestrians, bicycles and other wheeled devices, as well as full-size vehicles.

The students — Janeth Aviles ’24, Adrian Barajas ’24, Brianna Dorotik ’24, Laticia Ellankil ’24, Katherine McGee ’24, Hadley McGhee ’24, Chase Parrish ’24 and Yulissa Rodriguez ’24 — were among PHLT 445 honors. Capstone course, taught by Jennifer Griffith, supported by instructors Tommy McDonald and Adam Pickens. The required course was the culmination of the students’ undergraduate academic experience.

Unlike traditional School of Public Health capstone courses in which students responded to a hypothetical request for proposals, the specialized capstone course required students to work closely with an actual client on a complex challenge.

“The goal for the entire semester was to listen to what the client identified as major needs and major issues or concerns regarding safety and the use of micromobility on campus,” Griffith said. “Then they had to figure out what they would do as public health students to develop a plan to meet the challenge. »

Analyze a complex challenge

The use of skateboards, bicycles, scooters and other personal vehicles on and around the Texas A&M campus has grown significantly as the growing number of students travel the 5,200-acre campus. Human- or electric-powered vehicles are lightweight (less than 500 pounds) and low speed (less than 20 miles per hour). Texas A&M Transportation Services’ 2023 Mobility Survey found a 16% increase in the use of these options as their primary means of transportation on campus and a 12% increase in the number of students making these vehicles their main way to get to campus.

Now an integral part of campus life, these vehicles also pose a real safety problem for distracted people. “Gone are the days when individuals could walk out of a building with over-ear headphones and be absorbed in what’s happening on their phone without worrying about their own safety,” said Byron Prestridge ’94, director of Texas. A&M Transportation Services Sustainable Transportation Department.

Although there is no micromobility crash data available for Texas A&M, the public health team identified this type of data at a peer institution, Arizona State University. This data indicates that 25 percent of pedestrians reported an accident or near accident in the last year, 81 percent were struck by someone on a bicycle, electric scooter or skateboard, and 89 percent of accidents resulted in injuries.

Not surprisingly, many Texas A&M stakeholders are concerned. The Transportation Services survey found that 52 percent of pedestrians believed current university infrastructure does not adequately separate pedestrians and cyclists.

In developing solutions, Texas A&M Transportation Services leaders wanted the School of Public Health team’s project to provide solutions that were respectful of all campus users.
“One of my unique challenges facing this group was not giving in to finger-pointing and isolating a group,” Prestridge said. “It’s not just the responsibility of those who choose to use these devices. We are in a new paradigm and we will all have to learn to adapt.

Presentation of recommendations

The student team spent the spring semester researching the issue, including analyzing data and developing a budget and assessment plan. Students also met with stakeholders, including representatives from the Texas A&M University Police Department, University Health Services and the Division of Marketing and Communications.

At the end of the semester, the team presented its recommendations to Prestridge and key Texas A&M Transportation Services leaders and allies.

“They didn’t need notes or prompts in their final presentation,” Prestridge said. “They were passionate about what they were talking about, which to me meant they were fully engaged. This was not an exercise for them; they were engaged with intention and passion, and it really showed in their work.

The team identified a knowledge gap between vehicle users and Texas A&M regulations. The students pointed out in their presentation that even those who know the rules tend to break them.

Using this information, the students recommended a three-year, three-phase implementation plan.

The first phase focuses on preparing the online infrastructure. The team’s recommendations included implementing a registration website for scooters, bicycles, skateboards and other personal vehicles used on campus; have an acknowledgment form that students must complete on the university’s Howdy portal; and create an online resource center.
The second phase involves creating an awareness campaign. The team noted that the recommended process would increase awareness of vehicle safety and university regulations, leading to a reduction in traffic violations, accidents and traffic congestion on campus. In the long term, the team believed the recommendations would improve user security.

The third phase focuses on improving physical infrastructure. The team recommended implementing gated parking and creating Howdy Zones in areas with high student traffic to encourage “good farming” behaviors such as greeting each other with “Howdy.” It also suggested identifying detour routes for no-go areas that redirect users and establishing “drop-off and drop-off zones” to address traffic congestion in areas where students and others are dropped off.

Apply knowledge

Capstone project team members came away with a deeper understanding of how to integrate their undergraduate learning and how to use skills, such as collaboration and communication, that they will need in their respective careers.

Many team members reported feeling challenged when they learned the direction of their project.

“It’s easy to see how public transportation is a public health issue, but we didn’t necessarily have transportation-specific expertise through our classes,” said Parrish, who completed his bachelor’s degree in public health and plans to attend medical school. “At first it was surprising how little we knew about the specific topic at hand and how much research we had to do. »

This capstone project challenged students to go beyond what they thought they could do.

“Our teachers said, ‘Here’s the problem. Now go fix it. It was all completely in our boat, which at first seemed overwhelming and we were drowning at first,” said Barajas, a Laredo resident who earned a bachelor’s degree in public health and will attend Texas A&M School of Law in the fall . “But once they gave us the mission, it inspired our creativity. We had to determine where, when and how to implement the recommendations and what the budget would be. We quickly dismantled and divided the project, began research and learned the issues ourselves.

Ultimately, the project boosted the confidence of every team member. “I discovered the abilities I possess as an undergraduate student in public health,” said Rodriguez, a Laredo resident who earned her bachelor’s degree in public health and will pursue a career in public health policy and management. health. “Although there were times when I doubted whether I could successfully create a project of this capacity, I ultimately demonstrated that I had the potential to use various critical thinking skills to develop an intuitive presentation .”

The team also appreciated the opportunity to give back to Texas A&M before graduating.

“I walked two miles from my apartment across the entire campus to get to the School of Public Health for my classes. So I could see all the mobility issues, with people walking, using these micromobility devices, and trying to drive across campus. but I can’t do it because of the constant crowds,” said Parrish, a Fort Worth native. “Since this will continue to be a problem, I think this project has given us an important role in trying to make things safer with these huge crowds moving around the Texas A&M campus. It’s a great opportunity.