COMMERCE, Texas — Texas A&M-Commerce leaders are in early discussions about the possibility of changing the university’s name to incorporate Dallas. More than 8,000 people have signed an online petition against the potential name change.
The Commerce university, located 66 miles northeast of Dallas, has a satellite campus in the 8700 block of North Central Expressway and offers classes in McKinney, Mesquite and Corsicana, according to their website.
“The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is a major hub for our university. It features half our sites, has a large student and faculty population, and is the top employment market for our graduates,” Texas A&M Commerce chief marketing and communication officer Michael Johnson said in a statement. “A large percentage of our students come from Dallas, Kaufman and Collin counties. Last fall we had a 42 percent increase in enrollment from those counties.”
Among the other reasons for the discussion of the potential name change include “strengthening our key audiences in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,” and to help “expand our brand recognition from regional to national and international awareness.”
Not everyone’s convinced about the benefits of the potential name change, though.
“The proposed name change could disrupt the established brand identity and confuse prospective students,” the online petition against the change reads. “Additionally, the local economy is closely tied to the University. Any dilution of the University's identity could potentially harm local businesses that rely on its student and staff population for patronage. It is crucial to preserve the distinct identity of Texas A&M University-Commerce for the sake of continuity, tradition, and local economic stability.”
A university spokesperson sought to address those concerns in a statement, saying “We are and will remain Lions, and Commerce, Texas, will remain our main campus.”
“Whatever happens in the future, we will remain focused on our 135-year mission to transform lives while building on our legacy, traditions, and values. We remain committed to ensuring our university is at the forefront of higher education excellence, providing quality and affordable education to urban, suburban, and rural communities across the Northeast Texas region, Texas, and beyond,” Texas A&M Commerce Manager of Communications Kristen Segar said in a statement.
The university says the potential new name itself is still under discussion and will be decided upon if the issue comes up for a vote by the Texas A&M University System regents.