With the launch of our new College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies quickly approaching, we know faculty, staff and students have many questions about how this will affect them. We're happy to answer! Below are some frequently asked questions we have received to date.
No! The new college is an academic unit that will be part of the Galveston Campus.
The Departments of Foundational Sciences, Liberal Studies, Marine Biology, Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Marine Engineering Technology, Maritime Business Administration, and Maritime Transportation will be part of the college.
The College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies was created for purely strategic and visionary reasons, all of which are intended to elevate the visibility, reputation, and impact of our amazing departments and degree programs. Creating a Texas A&M University college home for the seven departments at the Galveston Campus gives us the same structure and visibility as the other 16 colleges and schools at our university across all its campuses. More importantly, it affords an immense opportunity to elevate our visibility beyond the university, and attract learners, scholars, and professionals to our campus who seek to engage in all dimensions of marine (including coastal) and maritime disciplines. It is critical to note that the vision for a new college on the Galveston Campus emerged entirely, organically, and strategically from members of our own campus community. It was not the product of an external entity.
The current leadership of Galveston Campus Academic Affairs also will assume the leadership roles of the new college, and this is consistent with academic leadership at some of the other campuses of Texas A&M University. The Chief Academic Officer (Executive Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs) will also serve as the Dean (currently Dr. Debbie Thomas). The Associate Vice President for Academic Operations also will serve as the Associate Dean for Academic Operations (currently Dr. Donna Lang). The Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies also will serve as the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies (currently Dr. Antonietta Quigg). The three of us already have been performing the duties of our respective dean and associate dean roles at the university, but we also serve all of the academics and research on the Galveston Campus. This broader service will not change or diminish in any manner! A new organizational chart will be published for clarity.
August 15, 2024.
August 23, 2024 at our new college kick-off event.
Yes!
No, no one’s salary will change as a consequence of the creation of the new college.
There will be minimal, if any, changes to the way we operate on campus, and your role on campus remains absolutely mission-critical regardless of whether your duties reside “within” the college or remain in service to the entire campus. While the “college” is a new name and way of affiliating the seven academic departments, its creation is not adding or removing any positions or redefining how we serve the campus community. The new college is a point of pride for the entire campus, and its creation will strengthen our community, not add a silo. As a general framework, if your unit serves the entire campus or your position is part of campus-centralized structure, your affiliation remains Galveston Campus. If your position resides entirely within one of the seven academic departments, your affiliation becomes the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies.
No, the budget structure will not change and those of us adloc’ed to the Galveston Campus, regardless of any affiliation with the new college, will be funded on the Galveston budget.
Absolutely nothing will change regarding how we support all members of the campus community. The creation of the new college will help define the entire Galveston Campus as a destination of choice for students, staff, and faculty, and as this reputation grows it will elevate all members of the campus community!
If your unit serves the needs of the entire campus, its affiliation remains to the entire Galveston Campus, and nothing should change regarding the communications of campus-wide programs and services. In this regard, much of Academic Affairs remains under the broad affiliation of the entire campus.
Only if your affiliation resides within one of the seven academic departments within the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies.
It won’t! The change will not impact the structure or courses in your degree program.
No!
Yes! Absolutely nothing will change regarding the student experience for the undergraduate and graduate students in Engineering or Arts & Sciences at the Galveston Campus.
Your advisors and instructors will not change as a consequence of the formation of the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, and there are no near-term changes envisioned for their office spaces on campus. If anyone is relocated, we will ensure this is communicated to the campus community.