Editing Texas A&M University (section)

===University era===
[[File:George Bush Presidential Library.jpg|thumb|[[George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum]]|alt=Above the doorway of a large, relatively plain rectangular structure with a short dome are the words "George Bush Library". In front of the building is a circular courtyard with a water fountain; eight American flags are positioned evenly around the circle.]]

In 1948, the state legislature established the Texas A&M College Station campus as the flagship of a new system of universities, the Texas A&M University System. Its goal was to serve as the lead institution to foster the evolution of a statewide educational, research and service system.<ref name="system">{{Cite web|title=A&M System History|publisher=Texas A&M University System|url=http://www.tamus.edu/regents/history/|access-date=February 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320074711/http://www.tamus.edu/regents/history/|archive-date=March 20, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 1, 1959, [[Major General]] [[James Earl Rudder]], class of 1932, became the 16th president of the college.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archon.library.tamu.edu/?p=collections/findingaid&id=384&q=&rootcontentid=5838|title=James Earl Rudder '32 Collection, 1918–2001 &#124|publisher=Cushing Library|access-date=October 19, 2021|archive-date=September 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928160913/https://archon.library.tamu.edu/?p=collections%2Ffindingaid&id=384&q=&rootcontentid=5838|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dethloff184">{{Cite book |last=Dethloff |first=Henry C. |title=A Pictorial History of Texas A&M University, 1876–1976 |location=[[College Station, Texas]] |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |year=1975 |page=184}}</ref> In 1963, with the backing of [[Texas State Senate|State Senator]] [[William T. Moore (Texas politician)|William T. "Bill" Moore]], the 58th Legislature of Texas approved Rudder's proposal for a substantial expansion of the college. Over the coming years, Texas A&M augmented and upgraded its physical plant and facilities, and diversified and expanded its student body by admitting women and minorities. Membership in the Corps of Cadets also became voluntary from the start of the fall semester of 1963.<ref>Borden, Robert C. "Bull of the Brazos dies: Moore was champion of Texas A&M" ''[[The Bryan-College Station Eagle]]'', May 28, 1999, pp. 1–3</ref> Initially, the decision to admit women made the student body very unhappy.<ref name=barrier1>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thebatt.com/news/women-and-students-of-color-break-barriers-represent-a-m-s-student-body/article_f84c1be8-c6d8-11e8-bca6-170834b11b7c.html|title=Women and students of color break barriers, represent A&M's student body|last=Burnham|first=Jordan |work=[[The Battalion]]|access-date=May 21, 2022|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808153826/https://www.thebatt.com/news/women-and-students-of-color-break-barriers-represent-a-m-s-student-body/article_f84c1be8-c6d8-11e8-bca6-170834b11b7c.html|archive-date=August 8, 2022}}</ref> The change was initially resisted and some minor efforts to reverse it persisted for several decades. The positive impact of these changes was rapid. By 1972, on-campus housing was dedicated for women and in 1976, the student body elected its first Black student-body president.<ref name=barrier1/> In the same series of actions, the Texas legislature officially renamed the school "Texas A&M University",<ref name="rudder"/> specifying the symbolic nature of the letters "A" and "M", which reflect the institution's past, and no longer denote "Agricultural and Mechanical".<ref name="handbook"/>

By the time of his death in 1970, Rudder had overseen the growth of the college from 7,500 to 14,000 students from all 50 U.S. states and from 75 other nations.<ref name="rudder">{{cite web |last=Ferrell |first=Christopher |title=Rudder's influence is evident on campus |work=[[The Bryan-College Station Eagle]] |location=Bryan-College Station |date= |url=http://archive.theeagle.com/aandmnews/anniversary/1rudderbio.htm |access-date=June 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908021731/http://archive.theeagle.com/aandmnews/anniversary/1rudderbio.htm |archive-date=September 8, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Bean|first=Christopher B.|title=James Earl Rudder and the Transformation of Texas A&M University|journal=Journal of South Texas|date=Fall 2008|volume=21|issue=2|pages=119–31}}</ref> In the 35 years following his death, Texas A&M more than tripled its enrollment from 14,000&nbsp;students to more than 45,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dars.tamu.edu/Data-and-Reports/Student/files/Overall_Enrollment_Historical.aspx|title=Historical Enrollment|publisher=Texas A&M University|access-date=January 2, 2022}}</ref> Texas A&M became one of the first four universities given the designation [[sea-grant university|sea-grant]] for its achievements in oceanography and marine resources development in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.noaa.gov/noaa-timeline-1970s|title=NOAA timeline: 1970s|publisher=[[NOAA]]|access-date=January 2, 2022}}</ref> In 1989, the university earned the title [[space-grant college|space-grant]] from the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA) to recognize its commitment to space research and participation in the Texas Space Grant Consortium.<ref name="britannica">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Texas A&M University|volume=1|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/589321/Texas-A-M-University|access-date=May 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801062255/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/589321/Texas-A-M-University|archive-date=August 1, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1997, the university opened the [[Bush School of Government and Public Service]] and the [[George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum]]—one of fifteen American [[Presidential library system|presidential libraries]] operated by the [[National Archives and Records Administration]].<ref name="bushlibrary">{{Cite web|url=http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu|title=Bush Library|publisher=George Bush Presidential Library and Museum|access-date=April 21, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427205622/http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/|archive-date=April 27, 2007}}</ref><ref name="bushlibopens">{{Cite news|title=George Bush Presidential Library and Museum Opens|publisher=[[NARA]]|date=January 1998|url=https://www.archives.gov/publications/record/1998/01/bush.html|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721015157/https://www.archives.gov/publications/record/1998/01/bush.html|archive-date=July 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Former U.S. President [[George H.W. Bush]] remained actively involved with the university, frequently visiting the campus and participating in special events until his death in 2018. He was buried on campus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://today.tamu.edu/2018/12/07/president-george-h-w-bush-buried-at-texas-am-university/|title=President George H.W. Bush Buried at Texas A&M University|date=December 7, 2018|access-date=August 17, 2021|archive-date=August 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817231039/https://today.tamu.edu/2018/12/07/president-george-h-w-bush-buried-at-texas-am-university/|publisher=Texas A&M University|url-status=live}}</ref>

With strong support from [[Rice University]] and the University of Texas, in May 2001, the [[Association of American Universities]] inducted Texas A&M<ref name="Aggie_Daily">{{cite press release|title=Texas A&M Selected For Membership In Association Of American Universities |publisher=Texas A&M University |date=May 7, 2001 |url=http://tamunews.tamu.edu/archives/article.php?articleid=10936&month=5&year=2001 |access-date=April 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727200326/http://tamunews.tamu.edu/archives/article.php?articleid=10936&month=5&year=2001 |archive-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> As the student population increased, so did the university's diverse academic offerings. On July 12, 2013, [[Texas A&M Health Science Center]] was formally merged into the university.<ref name=HSCMerger>{{cite press release|url=http://tamutimes.tamu.edu/2013/07/12/texas-am-health-science-center-moves-under-administration-of-texas-am-university/ |title=Texas A&M Health Science Center Moves Under Administration Of Texas A&M University |publisher=Texas A&M University |date=July 12, 2013 |access-date=July 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721004852/http://tamutimes.tamu.edu/2013/07/12/texas-am-health-science-center-moves-under-administration-of-texas-am-university/ |archive-date=July 21, 2013}}</ref> On August 12, 2013, the university [[Mergers and acquisitions|acquired]] the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law and renamed it the [[Texas A&M University School of Law]].<ref name=LawSchool1>{{Cite web|title=Texas A&M buys law school from Texas Wesleyan University|author=Kennedy, Mike|url=https://www.asumag.com/facilities-management/business-finance/article/20852640/texas-am-buys-law-school-from-texas-wesleyan-university|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=www.asumag.com|date=August 16, 2013 |archive-date=April 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421084908/https://www.asumag.com/facilities-management/business-finance/article/20852640/texas-am-buys-law-school-from-texas-wesleyan-university|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LawSchool2>{{Cite web|title=Acquisition by Texas A&M|url=https://law.tamu.edu/about-us/acquisition-by-tamu#:~:text=On%20August%2012,%202013,%20Texas,same%20location%20in%20Fort%20Worth.|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=law.tamu.edu|archive-date=April 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421084908/https://law.tamu.edu/about-us/acquisition-by-tamu#:~:text=On%20August%2012,%202013,%20Texas,same%20location%20in%20Fort%20Worth.|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, the retention of the statue of Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross was in question after other institutions [[Removal of Confederate monuments and memorials|removed statues of former Confederate officers]]. The Texas A&M University System Chancellor, [[John Sharp (Texas politician)|John Sharp]], and President, [[Michael K. Young|Michael Young]], announced the statue would remain on campus because it is not based upon his service in the Confederate Army.<ref>{{Cite news|publisher=[[KBTX]]|url=http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/AM-to-review-historical-artifacts-but-Sul-Ross-statue-will-remain-on-campus-441326363.html|title=A&M to review historical artifacts, but Sul Ross statue will remain on campus|last=Surette|first=Rusty|access-date=August 26, 2017|language=en|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019161052/https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/AM-to-review-historical-artifacts-but-Sul-Ross-statue-will-remain-on-campus-441326363.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/texas-a-m-officials-say-sul-ross-statue-will-remain/article_945baa63-10fe-5d00-9687-ac98614a3d9f.html|title=Texas A&M officials say Sul Ross statue will remain|work=[[The Bryan-College Station Eagle]]|access-date=August 26, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823215631/http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/texas-a-m-officials-say-sul-ross-statue-will-remain/article_945baa63-10fe-5d00-9687-ac98614a3d9f.html|archive-date=August 23, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thebatt.com/university-chancellor-and-president-say-sul-ross-statue-will-not/article_9366b5c6-8755-11e7-a562-534823edc89b.html|title=University Chancellor and President say Sul Ross statue will not be removed|last=Henkhaus|first=Luke|work=[[The Battalion]]|access-date=August 26, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822223828/http://www.thebatt.com/university-chancellor-and-president-say-sul-ross-statue-will-not/article_9366b5c6-8755-11e7-a562-534823edc89b.html|archive-date=August 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Amid the nationwide [[Black Lives Matter#George Floyd protests|Black Lives Matter riots]], attempts in 2020 by a group of students and activists to secure its removal were rebuffed by the university's administration, other students and alumni, and counter-protestors.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Rodriguez, Megan |url=https://theeagle.com/news/a_m/officials-texas-a-m-to-keep-sul-ross-statue-on-campus/article_894b8794-60fd-11eb-953a-939b0ef2f28d.html|work=[[The Bryan-College Station Eagle]]|title=Officials: Texas A&M to keep Sul Ross statue on campus|date=January 27, 2021 |access-date=August 17, 2021|archive-date=August 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817222234/https://theeagle.com/news/a_m/officials-texas-a-m-to-keep-sul-ross-statue-on-campus/article_894b8794-60fd-11eb-953a-939b0ef2f28d.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/2020/07/02/texas-am-sullivan-ross-statue-controversy-infinite-tucker-aggies|title=Texas A&M Athletes Lead Calls to Remove Campus Statue|first=Chris|last=Chavez|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=July 2, 2020 |access-date=August 17, 2021|archive-date=August 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817222233/https://www.si.com/college/2020/07/02/texas-am-sullivan-ross-statue-controversy-infinite-tucker-aggies|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/27/texas-am-sul-ross-statue/|title = Texas A&M officials say moving Sul Ross statue is no longer an option, but students say the university never made that clear|date = January 28, 2021|access-date = August 17, 2021|archive-date = August 17, 2021|work=[[The Texas Tribune]]|last=McGee|first=Kate|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210817222233/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/27/texas-am-sul-ross-statue/|url-status = live}}</ref> The university also confirmed that the removal of the statue would require approval from the Texas Legislature.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/08/07/texas-am-sul-ross-ken-paxton/|title=Texas A&M can't remove Sul Ross statue without the Legislature's approval, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says|date=August 7, 2020|access-date=August 17, 2021|archive-date=August 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817222233/https://www.texastribune.org/2020/08/07/texas-am-sul-ross-ken-paxton/|url-status=live|work=[[The Texas Tribune]]|last=Justin|first=Raga}}</ref>

In 2022, university president [[M. Katherine Banks]] implemented university-wide administrative restructuring that involved several changes to academic unit names and branding. The [[Texas A&M University College of Science|College of Science]], the [[Texas A&M University College of Geosciences|College of Geosciences]], and the College of Liberal Arts, were merged to form the Texas A&M University College of Arts & Sciences. Several academic units underwent a change in name changes including the Texas A&M University [[Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy]].<ref>{{cite web| title= Annual Report 2021-2022| author= Texas A&M University Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy| url= https://pharmacy.tamu.edu/cop-annual-report-21-22-web.pdf| access-date= April 13, 2023}}</ref> The following year, Banks abruptly resigned in July after her role in the failed attempt to hire [[Kathleen McElroy]] via unauthorized means and subsequent coverup.<ref name=NPR_Banks_resignation>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/07/21/1189283946/texas-am-president-retires-fallout-black-journalist-hiring |title=Texas A&M president 'retires immediately' over fallout from botched journalist hire|first=Jonathan |last=Franklin |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=July 21, 2023 |accessdate=July 21, 2023}}</ref><ref name="immediately">{{cite news|last1=Bogel-Borroughs|first1=Nicholas|last2=Tumin|first2=Remy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/us/texas-a-m-president-resigns.html|title=Texas A&M President Resigns Amid Fallout Over Journalism Program|date=July 21, 2023|access-date=July 22, 2023|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721205900/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/us/texas-a-m-president-resigns.html/|archive-date=July 21, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=KHOU>{{cite web|url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/education/texas-am-hiring-controvery-katherine-banks-kathleen-mcelroy/285-0c3e06ae-e644-4998-98ff-c365e236bb2a|title=Texas A&M regents could offer a settlement to the journalism professor at center of hiring controversy|date=July 30, 2023|website=KHOU11|access-date=July 30, 2023}}</ref> McElroy's potential hiring was heavily criticized by conservative groups and alumni as she and openly advocated politically leftist policies in newsrooms and the classroom.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/11/texas-a-m-kathleen-mcelroy-journalism/ |title=Texas A&M recruited a UT professor to revive its journalism program, then backtracked after "DEI hysteria" |first=Kate |last=McGee |publisher=[[The Texas Tribune]] |date=July 11, 2023 |accessdate=July 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/diversity-equity/2023/08/04/texas-am-pays-mcelroy-1m-report-reveals-presidents |title=The Toll of a Botched Hire |first=Ryan |last=Quinn |publisher=[[Inside Higher Ed]] |date=August 4, 2023 |accessdate=August 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2019/why-dont-newsroom-diversity-initiatives-work-blame-journalism-culture/]. [https://texasscorecard.com/state/aggies-hire-ny-times-diversity-advocate-to-head-journalism-program/]</ref> After Banks resigned, [[Mark A. Welsh III]], the dean of the [[Bush School of Government and Public Service]], was appointed interim president and became the university's president later that year.<ref name=Interim>{{cite web|url=https://today.tamu.edu/2023/07/30/regents-name-mark-a-welsh-iii-as-interim-president-of-texas-am-university/|title=Regents Name Mark A. Welsh III as Interim President of Texas A&M University|date=July 30, 2023|website=Texas A&M Today|access-date=July 30, 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://today.tamu.edu/2023/12/12/welsh-named-27th-president-of-texas-am/]</ref>