[phas-faculty_staff_others] Unofficial announcments

[Kurtis Williams]

Hi everyone,

Since rumors of the following couple of things are spreading about, I thought I'd bring you up to date on what I know, which is thankfully very little.


1)    We have made a verbal offer to Dr. Billy Quarles for the assistant professor in astronomy & astrophysics position, he has made a verbal acceptance, and paperwork to make this all official is with Human Resources.  Welcome to the Lion family, Billy!

2)    This was already announced to those present at our last faculty meeting in May, but 1e have made a verbal offer to Dr. Blake Head for the assistant professor in physics education research, he has made a verbal acceptance, and paperwork to make this all official is with Human Resources.  Welcome back Blake!

3)    Allegedly, according to rumor, at the start of August the A&M Board of Regents will consider a proposal to rename Texas A&M University-Commerce to Texas A&M University-Dallas.  If this is true and if the regents agree, this name change would become effective virtually immediately.  For the near-term, there will allegedly be no changes to our operations or location beyond the name change (and eventually new email addresses and website), and our mascot would remain the lion.  Allegedly.

a.    I have heard no confirmation nor denial of these rumors.

b.    I assume that if our name is changed, there will be an official announcement in due course along with, hopefully, guidance concerning this.  Neither has been forthcoming to date.

c.    I have heard no news on this through any official channel, it could be completely incorrect, and I have received no guidance regarding this from any source.

d.    My only purpose in this email is to make you aware that there are rumors going around.  Should you be asked about the possible name change by anyone, the correct response would be to say that you know nothing official and refer the questioner to A&M-Commerce Office of Marketing and Communications (this is always the correct response for any rumor or story regarding the university unless you have been told otherwise).

Enjoy your summer!
Kurtis
Dr. Kurtis A. Williams (he/him/his)

Assoc. Professor and Department Head

Department of Physics and Astronomy<https://www.tamuc.edu/physics>


P: 903.886.5488


Texas A&M University-Commerce<https://www.tamuc.edu/>



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