Welcome, Dustdevil! ⬇️ Scroll Down ⬇️

Dear University community,

• First off, I’d like to offer congratulations to our students and University College’s Dr. Hayley Kazen on the success of our first-ever offering of The Human Library last Thursday. This was a bold and fascinating activity that brought a voice to communities, provided first-hand insight, and challenged prejudices and stereotypes through dialogue. Well done!
• Our hats are also off to the 453 students, faculty, and staff who participated this Saturday in our annual community service event The Big Event at the Las Palmas Trail and Tres Laredos Park. It was exciting to help kick off the event and see so many TAMIU students and community members participate. The weather helped make for a perfect day. Our thanks to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Engagement, in partnership with the Student Government Association, and community partners the City of Laredo, Councilmember Alyssa Cigarroa, Keep Laredo Beautiful, and the Rio Grande International Study Center. See an Event Gallery.
• This Wednesday, March 30 you won’t want to miss a special guest lecture by Dr. Sean Gulick of UT-Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences. His topic is “Asteroid Impact: The Chicxlub Asteroid and the Death of the Dinosaurs” at 7 p.m. in the CFPA Recital Hall. It’s free of charge, open to all, and hosted by the TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium and College of Arts and Sciences. Overflow viewing will be available.
• Students, as you are aware, TAMIU is planning for its future by updating its Master Plan, and we want to hear from you! A Master Plan is a ‘roadmap’ to guide change, and make improvements to campus—landscape, buildings, and infrastructure. What do YOU think TAMIU should look like in 2030 and beyond?
• Our last Master Plan update was in 2004—the year most of next year’s freshmen were born—so a lot has changed. We’d like your help with a short survey that gathers your important input to help guide our planning team on future recommendations. Your insight can help us plan TAMIU’s future. It’ll take less than 5 minutes to complete. Please have your say here: https://forms.office.com/r/NC5yRFqg4f

Just ahead on the horizon:

• Strategies to strengthen relations between the United States and Latin America is the topic of conversation for the Wednesday, April 6 TAMIU IBC Bank and Commerce Bank 2021-2022 Keynote Speaker Series at 6 p.m. at the Student Center Ballroom. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
• I encourage you to add the performance of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre here Friday, April 8 to your calendar. This will be the troupe’s third visit and performance at TAMIU and the 14 professional dancers will offer a mixed repertory of modern, jazz, ethnic, and spiritual works by nationally, and internationally-known choreographers. Past performances have been awesome, and you’ll want to check it out.
• Mandatory randomized surveillance COVID-19 testing for all members of the University community: students, faculty, and staff continues. Emails notify you of your selection for testing. Once selected, you have 72 hours to test on campus at no charge. There are consequences for non-compliance. Please review your University email account regularly.
• Let’s continue the use of recommended face coverings/masks, in addition to practicing distancing and rigorous hand-washing.

Don’t forget:

• Registration for Summer and Fall Opens Monday, April 4.
• Discover TAMIU returns Saturday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Seniors, Graduation is just ahead!

Go Dustdevils!

- Pablo Arenaz, Ph.D., President