[VPAAEtal] Provost Update - 4/22/2026

[Academic Affairs]

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Provost Memo

April 22, 2026



Colleagues,



I hope this message finds you well as we move into the final stretch of the spring semester. With less than three weeks remaining until the end of the semester, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for the care, commitment, and professionalism you bring to your work every day. This is a demanding time of year, and your efforts on behalf of our students and one another do not go unnoticed. I am deeply grateful for all that you do to advance our mission. There is no doubt that we are better together!



Once again, there is a lot to share about what is happening in the Division of Academic Affairs:



  *   Faculty Market Adjustment: I am pleased to share that we are finalizing faculty market adjustments supported by a total allocation of $500,000, generated through Academic Affairs' efforts to reduce reliance on adjunct instruction and instructional overloads and reinvest those savings into faculty compensation. As you might recall, this effort was completed in close partnership with our previous Faculty Senate-including previous Senators, a summer subcommittee, and the former Faculty Senate Chair and Treasurer-and I am grateful for their engagement and guidance. For a quick review: utilizing an external compensation consulting firm, we applied CUPA data and discipline-specific benchmarks, aligning the salaries of our tenured and tenure-track faculty to current CIP codes and using the most granular data available to position salaries at approximately the 50th percentile of national markets. Final adjustments reflect both market alignment and sustained performance based on annual evaluations. I am happy to note that faculty receiving an adjustment to their salary will be notified via email within the week, and increases will be reflected in the May 1 paycheck. Just to be clear, these adjustments are separate from the annual merit process and will not affect future merit eligibility, reflecting our continued commitment to market fairness, transparency, fiscal discipline, and shared governance. I am truly pleased that we are at this point where many of our tenure track and tenured faculty will be receiving an increase in their salary. This progress reflects what we can achieve through thoughtful collaboration and a shared commitment to strengthening our institution!



  *   Faculty Re-Appointment Letters: Academic Year 2026-2027 faculty re-appointment letters will be sent via email around May 1. If you received a market adjustment, the updated amount should be reflected in this re-appointment letter, in addition to being in your May 1 paycheck. As a reminder, the re-appointment letters coming out in the spring is a positive institutional change, as I believe this timeline better supports timely planning for the upcoming academic year and ensure continuity across our academic programs. Please review your re-appointment letter carefully upon receipt and reach out with any questions or clarifications. Signed re-appointment letters should be returned by the stated deadline to confirm your appointment for the coming year.



  *   Texas Rural Education Collaborative (TREC) and LevelUp Texas: I am pleased to share that East Texas A&M has been selected by the A&M System to participate in the Texas Rural Education Collaborative (TREC), alongside Texas A&M-Victoria and Texas A&M-Texarkana. This is an important affirmation of the work underway at our institution and across our region, as we focus on serving our own backyard. I appreciate Dr. Ricky Dobbs, Cynthia Rhodes, Abbie Harper, and Dr. Meichan Huang for representing our institution and advancing this effort; their leadership, engagement, and commitment to place-based partnerships will help us to be successful with this System led initiative. As we move forward, TREC will position us to deepen our engagement with regional schools and communities, strengthening college-going cultures and expanding pathways to postsecondary success.



A key next step in this initiative is the launch of LevelUp Texas in Northeast Texas. This K-8 outreach program, led by Texas A&M University's Office for Youth Engagement, is designed to build early awareness of college and career pathways among students and families. We recently posted a new, open Program Coordinator position with a projected start date of June 15. This coordinator will be based at our university, working in partnership with our campus and regional schools to deliver programming aligned with community needs. In the coming days, we will be working to ensure broad awareness of this opportunity among campus and community stakeholders, and I appreciate your assistance in sharing this information through your networks. This is meaningful, long-term work, and I am grateful for your partnership as we launch it thoughtfully and well in Commerce and across our service region. Please feel free to reach out to Ricky or Cynthia with any questions or if you are interested in being a part of the work ahead.



  *   Vice President for Research and Economic Development (VPRED) Search: The search for our next VPRED is progressing well. Last week the committee conducted semi-finalist interviews and engaged with an exceptionally strong and competitive pool of candidates. I am pleased to share that four finalists have been invited to campus for interviews. We have identified the following dates for campus visits: April 27-28, April 30-May 1, May 4-5, and May 7-8.  Two business days before each candidate is on campus, the Letter of Interest and CV will be available on a web page under the President's Office. Additional details, including opportunities for faculty and staff engagement, will be shared soon.  Each candidate will participate in an open forum, and I strongly encourage your involvement in this important process. Your perspectives are critical as we identify a leader who will help advance our research enterprise and regional impact.



  *   Classroom Recording Guidance: I am aware of ongoing questions regarding whether students may record classroom instruction. This is an evolving area, with legal considerations related to Texas law and First Amendment protections. Some institutions have explored including syllabus statements requiring instructor permission; however, there are concerns that blanket prohibitions may not be permissible. I am currently consulting with the Office of General Counsel to clarify what guidance can be provided to faculty and what language, if any, may be included in syllabi. I will definitely share more definitive direction as I am able. In the meantime, I appreciate your patience as we work to ensure clarity and compliance.



  *   English Language Proficiency Policy: In alignment with the Texas A&M University System Policy 12.05<chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/policies.tamus.edu/12-05.pdf#:~:text=Texas%20Education%20Code%2C%20Section%2051.917,ensure%20that%20all%20universities%20(academic> and Texas Education Code Section 51.917, all faculty members and teaching assistants with instructional responsibilities are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language, both orally and in writing. As a member institution of the System, we are expected to fully comply with this policy and to ensure that appropriate processes, training opportunities, and documentation are in place on our campus. System leadership has asked all universities to review and strengthen practices to ensure consistent implementation. We will be working to align our procedures accordingly and will share additional guidance, expectations, and available resources in the coming weeks as this effort moves forward.



  *   Chancellor's Faculty Innovative and Impact Symposium: I would like to thank the faculty who participated in the Chancellor's Faculty Innovative and Impact Symposium in College Station April 9-10. East Texas A&M was well represented with many faculty attending, and I am confident that the experience provided valuable opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration. I also appreciate that Jeremy Gamez, our Chief Information Officer, attended the event, engaging directly with faculty to better understand how together we can support innovation in teaching and learning. There is no doubt that this kind of cross-functional collaboration is essential to our continued progress.



  *   Leadership Announcement- Interim Dean of Dallas and Extended Sites: Please join me in congratulating Dr. Kathy Dixon, who will serve as Interim Dean of Dallas and Extended Sites beginning May 1. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for advancing the academic mission and operational excellence of our Dallas location and other extended sites. Dr. Dixon will work closely with university leadership, faculty, staff, and community partners to ensure alignment with institutional priorities and responsiveness to regional needs. I am grateful for her willingness to step into this role and for the leadership she will provide.



  *   Recognizing Dr. Jennifer Schroeder: I want to share that Dr. Jennifer Schroeder will be leaving East Texas A&M to assume a new role at Georgia Southern University. Jennifer has served as Dean of the Graduate School since 2019 and has been a valued member of our campus community since 2004. Over the years, she has contributed in numerous leadership roles, including Associate Dean and Department Head, and has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to graduate education and student success. Jennifer is a thoughtful and collaborative leader, a strong advocate for students, and a colleague who has made a lasting impact on our institution. She has advanced graduate programs, strengthened processes, and built meaningful relationships across campus. Although she will be missed, I'm sure that you join me in being grateful for her many contributions to East Texas, and wishing her the very best in this next chapter.



  *   Higher Education Fund (HEF) and Strategic Investments: Over the past several years, we have refined the HEF allocation process to ensure that these funds are used strategically to support academic priorities. By centralizing decision-making and aligning investments with institutional goals, we have been able to focus on high-impact infrastructure that directly advances teaching, learning, and student success. A significant outcome of this approach has been the transformation of our library. From what has been shared, the first floor has become one of the most active and engaging student spaces on campus, and work is now underway on the second floor to integrate advising, tutoring, and other student success services. Looking ahead, the fifth floor will be next on the list for remodeling, as it will house our new Faculty Success Center, along with instructional design support to enhance course development and teaching effectiveness.



Although the majority of HEF funds are currently committed to the library project, limited funding remains available for proposals and startup funds that demonstrate strong alignment with institutional priorities and measurable impact. I encourage you to work with your deans to explore opportunities. In addition, over the summer I anticipate that the Deans Council will be focused on developing a transparent and structured process that can be relied on for future HEF requests.



  *   Undergraduate Curriculum Modernization and SB 37 Review: In response to Texas Senate Bill 37, we have initiated a comprehensive review of undergraduate minor offerings to ensure compliance with new state completion thresholds. Programs not meeting the mandated standard are being identified for deactivation effective Fall 2026, with appropriate teach-out plans in place, while those that meet the threshold or are newly established will advance to a second phase of review focused on workforce relevance and alignment with state expectations. Concurrently, we are beginning to explore redesigning the undergraduate curriculum for new students beginning in Academic Year 2026-2027 to strengthen career preparation within the 120-hour degree-reducing electives and embedding interdisciplinary, workforce-aligned learning opportunities across majors. Together, these changes reflect an outcomes-driven curriculum that aligns with state policy, accreditation expectations, and regional workforce needs. More information to come!



  *   Regional Rural Med Camp. Congratulations to all those who supported the Regional Rural Med Camp event this past Thursday and Friday, hosting almost 300 high school students from 14 different ISDs in our region. The students had a chance to visit our campus, as well as attend classes in nursing and sport medicine/athletic training. COEHS provided engaging and educational experiences for our guests, and I appreciate partners such as Hunt Regional HealthCare and CHRISTUS Health joining us. My gratitude to the Rural Medicine K-12 Outreach Program from the Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine for driving this event. I look forward to continued collaboration with all of our partners as we work together to improve rural healthcare throughout Northeast Texas!





As I come to a close, a final reminder to sign and return your re-appointment letter promptly upon receipt; I look forward to celebrating the end of the semester with you and welcoming you back in the fall.



I want to again express my sincere appreciation for your dedication to our students and to one another. This is a time of both intensity and accomplishment, and the work you do each day makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence, for your resilience, and for the care you bring to this community. I am grateful to be your colleague and to work alongside you in advancing the mission of East Texas A&M University.



I look forward to celebrating our students with you in the weeks ahead and to all that we will continue to accomplish together.


tvh
Tammi Vacha-Haase, PhD

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs









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



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