In my Academic Convocation address earlier this semester, I announced the formation of a task force to consider the need for a fourteenth imperative as part of Vision 2020 that would encompass Texas A&M University’s intercollegiate athletics program.  Key areas of consideration by this Athletics Task Force will be: (1) the role of the student-athlete at Texas A&M, (2) a comparison of our athletics program with those of the top ten public universities in the country, (3) recommendations for the fundamental parameters of a long-range financial plan for Athletics, and (4) the appropriate vision for creating a culture of excellence for Texas A&M Athletics by 2020.

I have asked Dr. H. Russell Cross, professor of animal science and former executive vice president for operations, to chair this important endeavor.

Other members of the Athletics Task Force include: Tom Adair (Athletic Council), Mary Alfred (College of Education), Antonio Cepeda-Benito (Dean of Faculties), Khrystal Carter (student-athlete), Sydney Colson (student-athlete), Joe Dannenbaum (Faculty Senate), Don Hellriegel (Mays Business School), Shane Hinckley (Division of Marketing & Communications), Marty Holmes (Association of Former Students), Konrad Johnson (Student Senate), David Keim (Corps of Cadets), Rick Kreider (Department of Health & Kinesiology), Husameddin AlMadani (Graduate Student Council), Miles Marks (12^th Man Foundation), Jeff Paine (former student-athlete), Carroll Phillips (former Vision 2020 committee member), Angie Hill-Price (Faculty Senate), Christopher Robertson (Student Senate), John Singer (Sports Management), Chris Skaggs (Athletic Council), Bob Strawser (Faculty Senate), Valerie Taylor (Department of Computer Science & Engineering), John Thornton (Athletics Department), Jeff Toole (Athletics Department), Grant Trexler (Division of Finance), Tom Wehrly (Athletic Council), Andrew Wipke (Student Government Association), and Jim Womack (Distinguished Professor).

I expect that the Athletics Task Force will work quickly while conducting a thorough evaluation. I look forward to receiving their recommendations.

Dr. R. Bowen Loftin ’71

Interim President