Welcome Back
August 30, 2021
Aggies by the Sea,
Howdy! Welcome back to Texas A&M University at Galveston!
I’d like to express a heartfelt welcome home to our returning faculty, staff, and students. And to the incoming Class of 2025, welcome aboard! After a long summer, I am excited to see the Galveston Campus returning to life with students filling the residence halls and study spaces, classes back in session (in person!), vessels in the water ready for research trips, and lines forming in the coffee shops.
The on-campus experience is essential to experiencing the fullness of the unique Aggie experience. While we are about 150 miles from College Station, you will still take part in our treasured traditions: Midnight Yell, cheering for the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Football Team, Ring Day celebrations, graduations, intramural sports, professional and service organizations, and more! I encourage you to take advantage of having the Gulf Coast as our backyard. Watch our stunning sunsets, search for treasures on Shell Beach and cast a line from the T-dock all without ever leaving Pelican Island. I also encourage you to explore our island community to enjoy its frequent festivals, charming restaurants, and eclectic shops, as well as to learn about its rich 180-year history which began as a major port for the Republic of Texas.
Speaking of history, we look forward to celebrating our 60th anniversary as a special purpose campus of Texas A&M University next spring! The words from Regents Professor Emeritus Stephen Curley’s book, Aggies by the Sea, perfectly summarize the essence of the Galveston Campus. These words have become my mantra; “Texas A&M University at Galveston is of, for, and by the sea. It educates men and women about the science, engineering, business and humanities involving the ocean. It measures time by the names of tropical storms and hurricanes...”
Indeed it does! While we were fortunate to escape impacts from Hurricane Ida, our neighbors to the east are suffering tragic destruction in its wake. My thoughts and concerns are with our Aggie friends, families, loved ones, and numerous colleagues who are just beginning to understand the implications of the recovery work ahead. Those of you impacted should reach out to your respective faculty members or supervisor as soon as able if you are experiencing difficulties with the start of the fall semester.
I anticipate tropical weather and changes brought by COVID-19 to continue to be a factor on our island campus. University communications are important to alerting you of these changes. If you have not downloaded the Texas A&M University Galveston Campus Mobile App, I encourage you to do so now. The app, along with university email and social media, will remain your best source for up-to-date information.
You should be aware the Galveston Campus is experiencing an increase in COVID cases in our campus community. Thank you to those who have already completed their COVID testing to help us reduce the impact on campus. I urge each of you to make a personal decision to support our mission to teach, learn, train, discover and innovate by choosing to follow most of the mitigation strategies that were so successful for us in the past year. I personally am committed to wearing a mask indoors and physically distancing where I can; I recommend you do the same.
Most importantly, I encourage you to support one another, show your respect, extend your compassion, and share your experiences. Those of you returning already know, and those of you new to Texas A&M will soon learn, there is no family like our Aggie Family! Welcome to Texas A&M University at Galveston!