Excellence uniting Culture, Education, and Leadership (ExCEL) is a student organization and student success program designed to help new students find academic, social, and personal balance at Texas A&M. ExCEL has assisted thousands of students in making a smooth transition to college by orienting new students to the program through a conference during Howdy Week, cultivating relationships with peers and mentors, providing a sense of belonging through cultural engagement, offering academic support, and serving as a resource for transitioning into Aggie life.
ExCEL launches with the ExCEL Conference the Friday before fall classes. During the conference, students become familiar with the year-long program, as they are assigned upper-class peer mentors and a peer group. The Conference consists of motivational speakers, dialogue within the peer groups, developmental series focused on personal development and community, and meet and greet mentor activities.
Following the conference, academic, social, and cultural activities begin through the close of the spring semester. Activities include a community events, seminar series covering topics relevant to African American students, mentor engagement activities, community service projects, and socials!
One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination. - John C. Maxwell
