Texas A&M

[TX77840]

Do NOT join the English department at A&M if you or your work are even slightly concerned with issues of diversity. The department is in shambles right now. It recently tied for last place in the College of Liberal Arts in a survey of the climate of diversity. Minority faculty and students alike are leaving the department in droves.

Also, if you want to do any work with creative writing, they are gutting the creative writing program (for both graduate and undergraduate students).

And if you want to get experience teaching a variety of classes, I'd recommend you go elsewhere. Here, they've started trying to "standardize" all of the core curriculum (taught by graduate students) which means that many classes are being turned into online classes for which graduate students are merely graders. And each year that our enrollment drops, grad students' teaching loads are increased without any raise in pay.

Avoid.

[mojo-on-fire]

Do NOT join the English department at A&M if you or your work are even slightly concerned with issues of diversity. The department is in shambles right now. It recently tied for last place in the College of Liberal Arts in a survey of the climate of diversity. Minority faculty and students alike are leaving the department in droves.

Also, if you want to do any work with creative writing, they are gutting the creative writing program (for both graduate and undergraduate students).

And if you want to get experience teaching a variety of classes, I'd recommend you go elsewhere. Here, they've started trying to "standardize" all of the core curriculum (taught by graduate students) which means that many classes are being turned into online classes for which graduate students are merely graders. And each year that our enrollment drops, grad students' teaching loads are increased without any raise in pay.

Avoid.

Hi TX77840,

Thanks for posting this after April 15. I want to avoid A&M but I can't. It's too late and it's the only one I got into. Can you elaborate a little more? What's up with diversity anyway? Who's leaving? I heard some bad stories about this program, but I kind of know that A&M is known for its Nazi-like atmosphere.

[anti]

Also, has anyone noticed that Nancy Warren, who used to be the DGS at Florida State is now at TAMU...I thought that was odd...

[admirari]

What's with this program? Anyone can share?

[ishmael]

Oh jeez. I'm only waitlisted here... but this sounds rough. Please do elaborate.

Edited February 14, 2013 by ishmael

[littlenell08]

This was written last year by an upset student during a moment of internal departmental strife.  All departments have their issues - this person just made the choice to air their greivances publicly.  I am currently enrolled at this program - if anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer (fully and honestly!) via private message.  A&M has problems, as all programs do, but we have a lot to offer and you shouldn't write us off becuase of one person's stance.