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Former names | East Texas Normal College (1889–1917) East Texas State Normal College (1917–1923) East Texas State Teachers College (1923–1957) East Texas State College (1957–1965) East Texas State University (1965–1996) Texas A&M University–Commerce (1996–2024) |
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| Motto | Ceaseless Industry, Fearless Investigation, Unfettered Thought, Unselfish Service to Others. |
| Type | Publicresearch university |
| Established | 1889 (1889)[1] |
| Endowment | $33.2 million (2022)[2] |
| President | Mark J. Rudin |
Academic staff | 603 |
| Students | 11,500 (fall 2023)[3] |
| Undergraduates | 8,134 (fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 3,366 (fall 2023) |
| Location | , Texas ,United States 33°14′32″N95°54′28″W / 33.2423°N 95.9077°W /33.2423; -95.9077 |
| Campus | Rural, 2,203 acres (8.92 km2)[4] |
| Colors | Blue and gold[5] |
| Nickname | Lions |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division I -Southland Conference |
| Mascot | The Lions |
| Website | etamu |
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East Texas A&M University (ETAMU; formerlyTexas A&M University–Commerce) is apublicresearch university inCommerce, Texas, United States. With an enrollment of over 12,000 students as of fall 2017, the university is the third-largest institution in theTexas A&M University System.[3] Founded in 1889, the institution is also the fifth-oldest state university or college in the State of Texas.[1] The university isclassified among "R2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production".[6]
Located on the northeastern edge of theDallas-Fort Worth metroplex, approximately 65 miles (105 km) fromdowntown Dallas, the university attracts traditional resident students from the Metroplex and also from the smaller communities ofNortheast Texas. In addition to the main campus inHunt County, the university hassatellite campuses in downtown Dallas andMesquite; it also offers courses inCorsicana andMidlothian in partnership withNavarro College and inFrisco andMcKinney withCollin College.[7]
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The history of East Texas A&M University commenced in 1889 with its establishment asEast Texas Normal College (ETNC) inCooper byKentucky native William L. Mayo as a privateteachers' college based onNormal principles.[1][8] ETNC relocated to Commerce after its original campus was destroyed in a fire in July 1894.[1][9][10][11] One of Commerce's chief advantages was that it was well connected by rail, boasting regular service on theSt. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas ("Cotton Belt") to Dallas,Sherman, andTexarkana and on theTexas Midland Railroad toParis,Ennis, andHouston.[11]
ETNC was renamedEast Texas State Normal College in 1917 after it was acquired by theState of Texas and transformed into apublic college.[9][10][12] In 1923, it was renamedEast Texas State Teachers College to define its purpose "more clearly",[9][13][14] and in 1935, it began itsgraduate education program.[13][9]
The institution was renamedEast Texas State College in 1957, after theTexas Legislature recognized its broadening scope beyondteacher education.[13][9][15][12] Following the inauguration of the institution's firstdoctoral program in 1962,[13][9] its name was changed toEast Texas State University (ETSU) in 1965.[13][12] Itintegrated in 1964 when ordered to do so by the board of regents.[16] ETSU obtained a separate board of regents in 1969,[17] and the approval to open abranch campus in Texarkana in 1971.[18]
While the student body shrank in size in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it became increasingly diverse as oldernontraditional students, ethnic and racial minorities, andinternational students all grew in numbers.[19] The economic downturn in Texas in the mid-1980s seriously threatened the university, leading to proposals to close it entirely before a bus trip with 450 supporters trekked to theState Capitol in a show of support that ultimately secured its continued existence.[20][21][22] In 1996, ETSU was admitted into theTexas A&M University System (TAMUS) and renamedTexas A&M University–Commerce (A&M–Commerce).[15][23] ETSU's former branch campus in Texarkana was renamedTexas A&M University–Texarkana and admitted into TAMUS as a separate university.[24]
During the summer of 2024, the university administration along with the Texas A&M University System began discussions regarding the possibility of another name change for the University that would "more accurately brand the school and reflect the university's mission to recruit future college students in theDallas–Fort Worth Metroplex as well asNortheast Texas." The first proposal was to change the university's name to Texas A&M University–Dallas to establish stronger ties toDallas County and the DFW Metroplex, where most of the school's students come from. However, that idea was met with strong opposition from graduates, alumni, and community members, with many suggesting if there was to be a name change, it should to be to East Texas A&M University. On August 7, 2024, university president Dr. Mark Rudin announced via social media that he "could not support the option of changing the name to Texas A&M University–Dallas not now, nor in the future." This caused a groundswell of support to change the name to East Texas A&M, which was the name that had been voted on by the students and alumni when the university joined the Texas A&M University System in 1996. Rudin announced his support for the name change to East Texas A&M University and announced he would be taking the motion to rename the university to the A&M System Board of Regents during their November meeting. Rudin took the motion to the board on November 7, 2024, and the university was renamed to East Texas A&M University the same day.[25]
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East Texas A&M comprises six academic colleges awarding degrees in more 100 diverse disciplines.[29]
The College of Education and Human Services is perhaps the most well-known college within the university and is one of the foremost education-focused institutions in the state of Texas among all universities, both public and private, and has produced numerous successful and notable teachers and school administrators.[citation needed] East Texas A&M has agreements with many school districts in the DFW area and Northeast Texas to send their undergraduates to student-teach, and also has a notable graduate school for those educators who are in pursuit of advanced degrees in teaching and education and also, a well known doctoral program for those pursuing aPhD in education. Accordingly, East Texas A&M is a Level IIDoctoral Research University, classified by theCarnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.[30] In the summer of 2013, the College of Education and Human Services at East Texas A&M was ranked number one in Texas for teaching education among all universities, public and private, and 13th in the entire nation by theDirectory of U.S. Colleges Database Online Magazine.[31]
| Academic rankings | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| U.S. News & World Report[32] | 293-381 |
The College of Business (CB) has over the past three decades[when?] become a highly respectedTier II business school in Texas and beyond. The CB offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in accounting, finance, general business administration, management, marketing, applied arts and sciences, and business analytics. The CB has been nationally recognized for itsMBA program, and was ranked as the fifth-best program overall in the 2012 edition ofU.S. News & World Report's annual "Best Graduate School" issue. Both the MBA and the undergraduateaccounting programs were mentioned in bothForbes and theWall Street Journal as best buys for programs offered byTier II schools in Texas. The college also has a large number of professors with tenure andemeritus status, who provide lectures and speaking engagements nationally and internationally, which reflects the quality of business-oriented educational opportunity that East Texas A&M has to offer.[33]
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The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts offers degree programs for most liberal-arts programs offered at East Texas A&M. Degrees and courses of study offered in this college include liberal arts, history, performing arts, music and music education, literature and language, mass media and communications, theatre, political science, and sociology and criminal justice. The college also offers undergraduates who are pursuing a political science degree who wish to attendlaw school for postgraduate work, a career in a law-preparatory program, as well asLSAT test preparation that is also administered on campus. Students who major in broadcast journalism and mass media are given the opportunity to join the staff for the school newspaper, and also use and perfect skills working for KKOM, KETV-3, and the region's source for public broadcasting radio news and information,KETR.[34]
The College of Science and Engineering is the most recent academic addition at East Texas A&M. This college offers degrees in biology, environmental sciences, chemistry, computer Science and information systems, computational science, mathematics, engineering technology, physics, and astronomy. The physics and astronomy department has an award-winning planetarium located within the McFarland Science Building, attracting students from area schools and interested visitors, as well.[35]
The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural ResourcesThe School of Agriculture was renamed the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in April 2018. Majors includeagribusiness, agricultural sciences, agricultural science and technology, animal science, wildlife and conservation science, and equine studies. The college operates an educational farm and ranch about 5 miles south of Commerce onTexas State Highway 24, where students are able to engage in a hands-on approach to agriculture sciences and animal handling.[36][37]
The College of Innovation and DesignThe college of innovation and design (CID) was formed in the fall of 2019. The purpose was to give an innovative experience to students while allowing them to study multiple disciplines. Currently, the CID offers eight degree plans.[38]
The campus is located 15 minutes fromInterstate 30 and an hour drive from Dallas,[39] Texas State Highway 24 intersects the campus into two separate sections. The majority of the campus is located on the east side of Highway 24, and a smaller portion is located on the west side. A picturesque lake is located near the main campus entrance. The campus has a range of newer and older buildings, with the oldest building being Ferguson Social Sciences Building, which opened in 1926 with classrooms and a large auditorium.[40][41] One of the newer buildings on campus is the Nursing and Health Sciences Building which was opened in 2020.[42] The university also owns and operates an 1,800-acre farm and ranch with anequine center located near the main campus. A new Music Building was recently constructed that includes a state of the art concert hall for various musical performances.
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Velma K Waters Library is named in honor of the first undergraduate African American student to enroll at ETAMU. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the university in 1968 and taught in Carthage, Texas. The library was previously named in honor of James Gilliam Gee, a former president of the university who served from 1947 to 1966, but was renamed in August 2020. A laptop kiosk in the library allows students to check out laptops for their studies. Many services for students and faculty are available in the library, including book renewal, a 24-hour computer-study area known as the nexus, research assistance, and study carrels providing quiet study areas for students.[43][44]
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The Morris Recreation Center (MRC) opened in 2003. The center is named in honor of Jerry D. Morris, who served as the president of the university from 1987 to 1997. The university'sintramural sports programs are organized by the staff of the center. The inside of the center features a 45-foot climbing rock, a three-lane jogging track, four racquetball courts, two basketball courts, a large fitness room with cardiovascular and weight equipment, an aerobics room, classrooms, a snack area, and locker rooms. Outside the center are a pool, two basketball courts, and two sand-volleyball courts. An outdoorfutsal court is on the grounds of the MRC.[45]
The center also operates the Cain Sports Complex for intramural sports. The complex includes four multipurpose sports fields, multipurpose green space, horseshoe pits, barbecue grills, and picnic tables. Outdoor Adventure operates the rock wall inside the center and the outdoor adventure facilities on the west side of campus. Many trails for hiking are available near the campus for outdoor adventure, as well an 18-holedisc golf course.[46] Achallenge course is available on the grounds of Outdoor Adventure.[47]
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The Rayburn Student Center (RSC) serves as a focal site for activities and events on campus. Many university organizations are located in the RSC. The RSC also includes the primary student dining facility that was recently improved and expanded. Also, a bookstore located on the first floor of the building offers supplies, school themed spirit merchandise, and other items related to the university. The Club, an entertainment/gathering area, is where various student-oriented events take place. The Club features a drink and snack bar, a game room, and a stage with a panoramic television screen.[48] The RSC is named in honor of the HonorableSam Rayburn, the longest-tenuredSpeaker of the United States House of Representatives in U.S. history and a distinguished university alumnus (class of 1903).[1] A statue of Rayburn is situated on the front entry terrace to the RSC standing in a familiar setting in front of the Speaker's rostrum that was an integral part of the House of Representatives legislative chamber in the United States Capitol Building.
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ETAMU is historically committed to making higher education accessibility affordable to those in need. The university has established an "in tuition" program, allowing students to "lock-in" their incoming freshmen tuition rates for the duration of their undergraduate study, regardless of potential future tuition increases.[49] Moreover, the university stands as the least expensive research institution in theDallas–Fort Worth metroplex, as well as one of the least expensive universities in the State of Texas. For the 2014–2015 academic year, in-state tuition rates for freshmen students taking 15 credits each semester typically were about $7000 per year or $236 per credit hour.[50] As of 2019, the university has anendowment of $33 million.[4]
Located an hour's drive from downtown Dallas, East Texas A&M attracts a majority of its students from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex; as of fall 2016, over 500 students each fromCollin,Dallas,Hunt,Rockwall, andTarrant Counties attended the university,[3] but in the last decade, the number of out-of-state students has grown considerably; while nearbyOklahoma,Arkansas, andLouisiana are the most common states of origin, East Texas A&M has attracted a substantial number of students from geographically distant states such asIllinois,Michigan, andOhio. In recent years, many of the university'sstudent athletes originate fromCalifornia.
As part of a quality-enhancement plan, the university has focused on diversifying its student body with a goal of becoming a more globally competitive university. As a result, persons from all racial backgrounds and many ethnic groups attend ETAMU. The university has a strongIndian community and a largeKorean presence. Recently, the institution has also seen a substantive growth in its Nigerian students. In fall 2016, international students comprised 6.8% of the student body. In fall 2015, the university's acceptance rate was 45%.[4]
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Ranked from highest to lowest.
Note: Based on fall 2021 enrollment[3][51]
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 40% | ||
| Hispanic | 26% | ||
| Black | 19% | ||
| Unknown | 6% | ||
| Two or more races | 5% | ||
| Asian | 2% | ||
| International student | 1% | ||
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income[a] | 41% | ||
| Affluent[b] | 59% | ||
Due to the growth in student enrollment experienced over the last decade, the university has witnessed a substantial increase in the number of student organizations. Currently, over 150 student groups and organizations are registered on campus. Each year, the various organizations host an array of events to include art displays, cultural shows, dance-offs, concerts, comedy shows, taste fests, poetry readings, and step shows, to name a few.
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Numerous honor societies and scholastic fraternities have members based on major or course of study. Furthermore, social fraternities and sororities are active at East Texas A&M, with 11 registered fraternities and 10 sororities.[53]
Many religious organizations also call the campus home, such as the Baptist Student Ministry, Wesleyan Ministry, Catholic Student Association, Episcopal Student Association, Lions for Christ, Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, and Muslim Student Association, among others.[54]
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In the state-of-the-art planetarium within the science building, students, faculty and visitors may view movies and astronomical programs on the planetarium ceiling while seated almost fully reclined. The planetarium is considered one of the most significant and modern planetariums on a university campus in the Southwestern United States.[55]
An FM public radio station,KETR, is licensed through the university. Founded in 1974, KETR serves the communities of Northeast Texas and ETAMU. The station offers a variety format, and broadcasts locally hosted presentations of National Public Radio news programs,Morning Edition andAll Things Considered. During middays, KETR broadcastsNotably Texan, a multigenre music program featuring new releases from Texas musicians or music with a Texas connection. KETR also broadcasts ETAMU football and basketball games, as well as football games for Commerce High School.[56]
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The East Texan was the weekly student newspaper for East Texas A&M and was ranked one of the top-10 college newspapers in Texas at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) meeting in April 2015.[57] Established in 1915, "The East Texan" was one of the oldest student collegiate publications in the nation. The newspaper moved to an online-only format in September 2020 and ceased publication in 2021.
Newscenter 3 is a weekly news broadcast produced by the students of radio and television.
East Texas A&M offers housing to students year round with affordable rates.[58] Every residence hall and campus apartment is coeducational with the exception of F-Halls, which are the women and sorority housing on campus. In an effort to increase the university's student-retention rate, traditional freshmen sign a contract to stay on campus for a minimum of two years or four semesters.Sodexo serves as the student dining vendor for students, with meal plans and at athletic events and a number of catered events on campus throughout the year.[59] The university has shuttle services available to students on campus, to augment student mobility on campus and points nearby.[60]
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The most visible landmark of the university is Samuel H. Whitley Hall, a 12-story (146-foot-tall) building named after former University President Samuel Whitley (1924–1946).[61] Whitley Hall serves as adormitory for students residing on campus.
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East Texas A&M (ETAMU) athletic teams are the Lions. The university is a member of theDivision I level of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in theSouthland Conference. Previously, the Lions participated in theLone Star Conference (LSC) from 1931–32 academic year until the 2021–22 season.[62]
East Texas A&M competes in 12 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports includebasketball, cross country,football, golf and track & field; while women's sports includebasketball, cross country, golf,soccer,softball, track & field andvolleyball.[62]
East Texas A&M has won two national football championships; 2017 NCAA Division II Championship and 1972 NAIA Championship. They also won the national championship as members of the NAIA in men's basketball during the 1954–55 season, men's team golf in 1965, and men's team tennis in 1972 and 1978. Additionally, several track and field athletes have won individual national championships as recently as 2019.[63]
The alumni association for East Texas A&M, having been organized only one year after the founding of the university in 1890 and called the Alumnal Association at that time, now serves as a liaison between the university and over 100,000 alumni and friends. Each year, the nonprofit organization hosts various workshops, seminars, and other events designed to advance the mission and membership of the Association in addition to programs with the purpose of enhancing job prospects of ETAMU students and graduates. The East Texas A&M Alumni Association is housed in the new Alumni Center completed in 2009.[64][65][66][67][68]
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