COMMERCE, Texas — Texas A&M University-Commerce is considering another name change, but the new proposed name doesn’t include Dallas.
Texas A&M University-Commerce President Mark Rudin said in a post shared on the A&M Commerce Alumni Association Facebook page that they’ll discuss potentially changing the university’s name to East Texas A&M University.
Rudin said he plans to send a letter to Texas A&M University Chancellor John Sharp requesting the name change proposal be included in the upcoming meeting Nov. 6-8. If the name change is on the agenda, the Board of Regents will vote on the proposal on Nov. 7. If the Board of Regents approves the name change, it will take effect immediately upon the vote, but Rudin says he'll request a six-to-eight month transition period.
The news comes about two months after Texas A&M University-Commerce said a previous name change under consideration “Texas A&M University-Dallas” was no longer under consideration. More than 9,100 signed an online petition against that name change, citing concerns that the change “could disrupt the established brand identity and confuse prospective students.”
Rudin says the university has been considering potential name changes to strengthen the university’s identity.
“As you know, we have had many discussions about a proposed name change to help us with this challenge. I continue to hear from students, faculty, staff, alumni and Lion supporters who are actively advancing a number of names for consideration,” Rudin wrote. “The collective sentiment is to change our institution’s name to East Texas A&M University. This choice not only broadens our regional, national and international identity but also reconnects us with our historical roots: ‘East Texas,’ which was part of our university’s name until 1996.”
The Commerce university, located 66 miles northeast of Dallas, has a satellite campus at 8750 North Central Expressway and offers classes in McKinney, Mesquite and Corsicana, according to their website.
