The announcement came after more than 9,100 people have signed an online petition against the potential name change.
COMMERCE, Texas — Texas A&M University-Commerce won’t change its name to include Dallas after all.
Texas A&M University-Commerce President confirmed Wednesday in a statement to the campus community that changing the school’s name to “Texas A&M University-Dallas” was no longer under consideration.
The announcement comes after weeks of pressure from students and alumni against the name change. More than 9,100 signed an online petition against the name change, which cited concerns that “the proposed name change could disrupt the established brand identity and confuse prospective students.”
“I had the opportunity to listen to numerous individuals and groups, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and university supporters throughout the region, and review comments provided through the rebranding email,” Rudin wrote. “Based on the feedback received, I cannot support the option of changing the name of our university to Texas A&M University-Dallas. I have informed the Board of Regents and Chancellor Sharp that I will not be pursuing a name change of our university to Texas A&M University-Dallas now or in the future.”
Among the reasons university officials said they were previously discussing the name change were “strengthening our key audiences in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,” and to help “expand our brand recognition from regional to national and international awareness.”
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.
A university spokesperson said in July that a large percentage of the school’s students come from Dallas, Kaufman and Collin counties, and the university reported a 42% increase in students from those counties.