Welcome back to Aggieland

MICHAEL K. YOUNG
President

January 13, 2020

Howdy!

As we celebrate the beginning of a New Year, I would like to warmly welcome you back to Texas A&M. I hope the holiday season offered you an opportunity to rest and relax, giving you time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and a chance to look forward to the future with anticipation.

As we start a new semester, I’d like to share my reflections as well as some of the things that will be happening in the months ahead. Our extraordinary achievements over the past year personify the Aggie spirit, which has such a profound impact on our state, our nation and our world.

In May, we observed a memorable milestone, awarding the 500,000th degree in the history of our university.
In August, we celebrated the expansion of the Aggie Network, welcoming nearly 69,500 students back to campus, making Texas A&M the nation’s largest university by total enrollment.
In September, we learned Texas A&M had received a 2019 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award and was named a Diversity Champion, prestigious national honors recognizing our outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
In October, the Texas A&M University System broke ground on the $130 million Bush Combat Development Complex, a place where our innovations in research and technology will help shape the future of our nation’s safety and security.
In early November, we learned that the final resting place of former President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Bush would also be the final destination for Union Pacific 4141, the train car which was greeted by hundreds of Aggies as the late President made his final journey to campus a year earlier.
In late November, we came together as a community to reflect and remember the 12 Aggies who died in the Bonfire collapse 20 years ago.
And in December, we cheered as our Aggie football team made a dramatic comeback to end the season on a high note by defeating Oklahoma State in the Texas Bowl.

As we honor the legacies and the memories of the recent past, we are also very grateful for those of you who are helping us forge the future at Texas A&M.

In just a few days, we will officially celebrate the opening of our beautiful new Student Services Building, which will provide a central home for departments and programs that will help us enhance the lives and well-being of our cherished students.
Next week we’ll also unveil a new nine-story clinic and education building in Dallas, which will allow our College of Dentistry to improve and expand its essential services to a growing number of students and patients.
And in March, we look forward to showcasing the strengths of our extraordinary scholars and researchers at SXSW, along with outstanding new partners.

As we set our sights on even greater heights for this semester, I want you to know how much I appreciate your contributions and your service to our campus community. I’m grateful not only for all you do, but also for who you are.

Yes, it’s impressive that the Aggie Network stands at more than half-a-million strong, and that our mission of education and research extends across continents and generations. Yet our strength is found not only in our numbers, but also in the enduring values we embody and in the selfless service we provide. We often hear about the Aggie spirit, which makes our campus so special. This year remember that spirit is found in the hearts and minds of each of you. It’s evident in the decisions you make, the actions you take and in the lives you lead.

To all of our students, faculty and staff, thank you for sharing the Aggie spirit as you help advance Texas A&M. Please accept my most sincere wishes for continued success as we work together to make this an even greater year of service to our state, our nation and our world.

Sincerely,

Michael K. Young