Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp announced today that Texas A&M University has acquired all operational aspects of the Fort Worth law school that is currently part of Texas A&M University and has authorized the start of classes on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013, under the name of the “Texas A&M University School of Law.”
During a joint press conference held in the law school’s conference center, Texas A&M President Frederick G. Slabach welcomed attendees and noted that this is a significant day for the law school.
“On behalf of Texas A&M, I’d like to welcome you to this historic occasion to celebrate the legacy of Texas A&M School of Law and the future of Texas A&M University School of Law,” Slabach said.
Slabach recognized some of the attendees at the press conference which included Texas A&M members of the Board of Trustees and Texas A&M University Board of Regents.
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price followed Slabach’s remarks, emphasizing that this is an exciting day for the city, as well.
“We are thrilled to have our Aggie friends here today. We feel like you are home already because we have a huge contingency of Aggie alums in the audience today,” Price said.
Price then presented Sharp with a key to the city of Fort Worth.
“In creating the Texas A&M University School of Law, we are finally expanding the Texas A&M brand into the field of law with a focus on new areas of growth like patents and commercialization,” Sharp said. “This long-sought entry into the field of law by the state’s first public institution of higher learning, with its land-grant university perspective for innovative service to the public, will have a profound impact on the future of Texas.”
Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin joined in praising the acquisition and emphasized it addresses one of the key elements of the university’s “Vision 2020” long-range plan to become one of the nation’s top 10 public universities by the year 2020.
“Expanding Texas A&M’s graduate professional programs is one of the key tenets of Vision 2020,” Loftin noted, pointing out that most of the nation’s top universities — Texas A&M’s peer institutions — have law schools.
Interim Dean Aric Short followed Loftin’s comments and noted that this is an extraordinary day for the law school.
“This is an historic and exciting time for our law school as we transition to become Texas A&M University School of Law,” Short said. “In our short history, we have developed a tradition of academic excellence by focusing on student-centered learning. In the coming days, we look forward to developing new educational opportunities that will complement and build on the strengths and core values that make Texas A&M University so unique and successful. We believe the future is bright for our students, alumni, faculty, staff and the Fort Worth community.”
Sharp provided closing remarks for the press conference and invited everyone to a reception in the Dee J. Kelly Law Library.
Read more about the Texas A&M University School of Law acquisition.