Baylor College of Dentistry, part of the Texas A&M University system since 1996, may add "A&M" to its name, WFAA in Dallas/Fort Worth reported. The dental school is among several agencies the university's board of regents is predicted to add the A&M brand to. Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp supports the move.
The dental school is in a unique situation because "Baylor" is in its name and has been since 1918. The school first opened in 1905 as the State Dental College. It was affiliated with Baylor University from 1918 to 1971, but then became an independent, private institution. The only remaining connection Baylor University has to the dental school is a licensing agreement to use the name.
If negotiations with Baylor University about the name change go poorly, "Baylor" could be dropped from the dental school's name. But nearly 90% of alumni are against dropping it, according to the Jonathan Clemetson, DDS, alumni association president.
Dr. Clemetson explained that a hybrid name is preferable.
Texas A&M was established by the Texas Legislature in 1871 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. In 1963, the Legislature renamed the school as Texas A&M University, with the "A" and "M" as a symbolic link to the school's past but no longer officially standing for "Agricultural and Mechanical," according to the university's website.
