People in the Panhandle have certainly heard of West Texas A&M University. But what about East Texas A&M?
In a regular quarterly meeting Thursday, Texas A&M University System regents voted to change the name of Texas A&M University-Commerce to East Texas A&M University, effective immediately, after months of discussions.
“This decision reflects the Board’s commitment to strengthening the university’s identity and increasing its regional visibility,” reads a news release from the system. “The change aims to reinforce the university’s mission to serve the educational needs of rural and urban East Texas communities.”
The new name hearkens back to the Hunt County university’s 19th-century roots. The school was established as East Texas Normal College in 1889. It’s since undergone several name changes, with monikers including East Texas State Normal College, East Texas State Teachers College, East Texas State College and East Texas State University. When the university joined the Texas A&M System in 1996, it became Texas A&M University-Commerce.