Texas A&M University–Commerce

Texas A&M University–Commerce
Motto Ceaseless Industry - Fearless Investigation - Unfettered Thought-Unselfish Service to Others
Established 1889
Type State university
Endowment $13 million[1]
President Daniel R. Jones, Ph.D.
Academic staff 502
Students 10,647 (2010)
Undergraduates 6,282
Postgraduates 4,365
Location Commerce, Texas, USA
Campus Rural
Colors Blue & Gold
         [2]
Nickname Lions
Mascot Lions
Website http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/

Texas A&M University–Commerce is a state university located in Commerce, Texas and a member of the Texas A&M University System, the second largest university within the system behind Texas A&M University in College Station.

Located within the boundaries of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex, approximately fifty five miles from downtown Dallas, the University has traditional resident students, both from smaller northeast Texas cities and from the Metroplex, and commuters. In addition to the main campus in Hunt County, there are additional satellite buildings in downtown and Mesquite, Texas. Classes from the institution are also offered in McKinney, Texas and Mount Pleasant, Texas as an outreach to students in the geographic region.

Contents

History

This university began as the East Texas Normal College in 1889 when founder William Leonidas Mayo opened the doors to a one-building campus in Cooper, Texas, roughly 16 miles northeast of Commerce. After the original campus was destroyed by a fire in 1894, Mayo moved the college to its present location in Commerce, Texas, due to the presence of a railroad to commute students from Dallas and areas from both North and East Texas.

The State of Texas purchased the campus from Mayo in 1917. Shortly after the purchase of the school, Mayo died suddenly and the school was named East Texas State Teachers College. The name was chosen due the State already having schools named for the North, South and West geographic areas of the state and Commerce was the city easternmost of the four. As a result, Commerce received the name for the Eastern Texas school, despite being geographically located in rural North Texas.

In 1957, the Texas Legislature, recognizing that the purpose of the institution had broadened from teacher education, changed the name of the college to East Texas State College. Following the inauguration of the first doctoral program in 1962, the name was changed to East Texas State University. ETSU opened branch locations in Mesquite, Dallas, and Texarkana, Texas. In 1996, this university was transferred to the Texas A&M University System, and it became the Texas A&M University–Commerce. The Texarkana branch separated from the Commerce college, and it became Texas A&M University–Texarkana, a separately administered and funded university.

Academics

Texas A&M Commerce has 3 Colleges and a separate school for art students in downtown Dallas, as well as a Downtown Dallas, Texas campus for graduate school students. The three Colleges consist of The College of Arts and Sciences, The College of Business and Technology, and the College of Education and Human Services. The College of Business and Technology has been nationally recognized for its MBA program and undergraduate accounting program, making mention in both Forbes Magazine and the Wall Street Journal as "Best Buys" for programs offered by smaller schools in Texas. The CBT also has a large number of Professors that have tenure and have Emeritus status and give lectures across the country and internationally.

The College of Education and Human Services is perhaps the most well known and has produced thousands of successful teachers and school administrators. As such, TAMU-Commerce is a DRU (Doctoral Research University), classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.[3]

Student life

The University is home to a number of conventional student services and institutions, as well as a number of innovative and atraditional efforts, in an attempt to service the diverse commuter and residential student body. Important on-campus locations include:

Other noteworthy structures include a new building for the Department of Music, which was recently opened in conjunction with the beginning of the Fall 2010 academic semester. Also, a state-of-the-art planetarium resides in the science building, where students, faculty and visitors enjoy watching movies on the planetarium ceiling as they are seated almost fully reclined. It has been considered one of the most important and modern planetariums on a university campus in the southeastern United States.

The East Texan is the weekly student newspaper of A&M-Commerce. Started in 1915, it is part of the department-based Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, headquartered in the Journalism Building. Circulation is 2,000. Adam Troxtell is the current editor.

'Newscenter 3' is a weekly news broadcast put on by the students of Radio and Television.

Registered Fraternities-Kappa Alpha Order, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, Delta Tau Delta, Phi Iota Alpha, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Alpha Phi Alpha, Tau Beta Sigma, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Alpha Gamma Rho, Phi Beta Sigma, Mu Phi Epsilon

Registered Sororities- Chi Omega, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Delta, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta, Gamma Phi Beta, Alpha Phi, Kappa Delta Chi, Tau Beta Sigma

Religious-Baptist Student Ministries, Wesleyan Student Fellowship, Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, Lions For Christ, Catholic Student Organization, Episcopal Student Organization, Muslim Student Association.

International Student Organizations- India Student Association at Texas A&M University- Commerce - ISATAMUC Hispanic Students at Texas A&M-Commerce

Athletics

The university is a part of the Lone Star Conference (Division II), a 15-member league that spans three states (Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico). A flagship member, TAMU-C remains from the original league formed in 1931.

TAMU-C offers 5 men's sports: football, basketball, golf, cross country, and track and field; as well as 6 women's sports: basketball, soccer, volleyball, golf, cross country, and track and field.

Football is A&M Commerce's most tradition-rich sport. The Lions have won 20 Lone Star Conference Titles and many more North Division Titles. They have produced professional standouts such as Wade Wilson, Harvey Martin, Kevin Mathis, and Arena League star Clint Dolezel. Every year the Lions host the Harvey Martin Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and play host to a random LSC opponent as a chance to reach out to the numerous Dallas Alumni and also most of the Lion football players are from the DFW area. The Lions won the National Championship in 1972 and went to the Tangerine Bowl twice, in 1955, and again in 1956.

Summer activities

Located approximately one hour north east of Dallas, TAMU-C attracts students and visitors from the metroplex. During the summer, TAMU-C provides and hosts a variety of summer camps for children of all ages and interests.

Notable alumni

External links

Dallas-Fort Worth portal
Texas portal
University portal

References