You should take a gander at TexAgs (your sister site). In terms of forum sections it's clean and straight to the point. I think the current forums are great but regrading the student section, it could use some work. On their site they just have one section called "Aggies Only" which includes students and alumni and it's very active. On here, everything is separated and majority of the main topics are seasonal making the whole thing just dead.

Just a thought but i'd thought I give some input since you guys are starting it out.