THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2023 STUDENT MEDIA
‘Decade of Excellence’ Interim President Welsh unveils vision in first State of the University address By Ana Renfroe @aeoenia Texas A&M looks to enter its “Decade of Excellence” after Interim President Mark A. Welsh III shared the university’s new vision and its strategic plan. On Wednesday, Nov. 28, Welsh III delivered his first State of the University address at Rudder Theatre. Welsh delivered his presentation to students, faculty and community members. Unlike past addresses, Welsh opted not to speak behind a podium to connect more with attendees, he said afterward. Between now and 2025, Welsh said A&M aims to act on six priorities: transforming education and student success, improving graduate and professional student education, research, growing faculty, becoming a “best place” to live, work and learn, along with engaging Texas and beyond. Beyond 2025, Welsh’s vision for 2030 is built upon uniting A&M’s community to change the state, nation and world through transformational education, along with encouraging discovery and innovation. “The most important thing about this [vision] and that road, the only real requirement to be successful is that we walked down this road together,” Welsh said. “We have a map already.” In January, A&M will begin two studies on students’ experience and campus capacity, which will identify issues that affect students and faculty. Both studies will be due by the end of June 2024. Welsh said A&M’s biggest priority is to establish the “right size” of faculty and staff to meet students’ needs, along with creating a target student enrollment. A&M has expanded rapidly in recent years, and College Station’s campus has over 77,490 students enrolled, which is the largest population in the nation. Since stepping into his role in July, Welsh has met with students and faculty to hear concerns for specific areas of university improvement. In October, Welsh reviewed recommendations from Aggies and a separate task force, then presented his final decisions to push A&M forward despite several nationally-publicized controversies in the summer following the failed hiring of prospective journalism director Kathleen McElroy, Ph.D. Welsh said the university hopes to re-enter the national conversation for positive reasons, and A&M will further invest in its strengths to offer a No. 1 education and student experience. In recent rankings, A&M was named the No. 1 public university in Texas and No. 6 in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal. Rankings from the U.S. News and World Report name A&M as the 20th best public university in the nation. “You can kick the door down to get into the top 20,” Welsh said. “It’s hard to ignore 77,500 students and a billion dollars in research expenditures. It’s just hard to ignore that. But [the difference] from 20 to one is mostly reputational.” Due to a lack of transparency during the summer, Welsh said many people didn’t understand what was happening or why. The controversies created major concerns about how to improve A&M’s diminished reputation and communication in a way that aligns with A&M’s Core Values, Welsh said. “It felt divided just about everywhere I went on campus, but there was this underWELSH ON PG. A3
PUBLICATION NOTICE
The Battalion’s last print of the fall 2023 semester will be on stands on Tuesday, Dec. 5. Web production at TheBatt.com will halt after Dec. 4.
ELKO’S HOMECOMING
Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko points to the Aggie Band while speaking to media, fans and faculty in Kyle Field on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.
Former defensive coach returns, embraces hard work in Aggieland reception By Luke White @Lukewhite03 Mike Elko understands that building a championship-caliber football program is easier said than done. But that’s not fazing Texas A&M’s newest coach, who received a warm welcome back to Aggieland with an introduction ceremony in Kyle Field’s Ford Hall of Champions on Monday, Nov. 27. The event featured plenty of pomp and circumstance, with the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, Reveille X and the Yell Leaders in attendance. “My vision for this program is very simple,” Elko said alongside Interim President Mark A. Welsh III and Athletic Director Ross Bjork. “We are going to build the premier football program in the country. We are not going to talk about it anymore. We are going to be about it. We are going to chase excellence in every aspect of our life.” Elko makes his way back to College Station after serving as the Aggies’ defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021 under coach Jimbo Fisher. Defense was a staple of the teams that went 34-14 in that time, including the 2021 squad that had the nation’s No. 3 scoring defense. Elko’s success as an assistant coach made him a hot commodity for a head coaching role, leading him to take over the Duke program in 2022. The Blue Devils went 16-9 under his watch, as Elko engineered a major program turnaround that earned him 2022 ACC Coach of the Year honors. By many accounts, one could argue that Elko overachieved at Duke, a school that has long been more recognized for its basketball and academic prowess than success on the gridiron. He won’t have to overachieve at A&M, though, a program that has all the resources in place to compete for conference and national titles. “The best version of Texas A&M football, our way, wins the national championship,” Elko said. “But we also embrace who we are
right now and where we need to work and where we need to improve to get where we want to go.” Based on Elko’s contract, it’s evident that Bjork and the university administration have similar faith in him to take the Aggies to the top of the college football scene. His six-year contract features a base salary of $7 million with a range of postseason incentives, from making the College Football Playoff to winning the National Championship. Should A&M win the title, Elko is set to receive an additional $3.5 million. Other incentives include being named SEC Coach of the Year for $50,000 and appearing in the SEC Championship for $100,000. Making the Playoff will add an additional year to the
“We are not going to talk about it anymore. We are going to be about it.” MIKE ELKO
people. Are we willing to do the things that we need to do when no one is looking so that we can have the results that we want come the fall?” Elko’s hiring is unique, as he becomes A&M’s first head coach with a defensive background since 2002 when R.C. Slocum was fired after 14 seasons. The Aggies have cycled through four head coaches since, yet Slocum’s 1998 Big 12 championship remains the program’s last conference title. Therefore, it was only fitting that Slocum, the school’s all-time winningest coach, was in attendance at Monday’s ceremony to greet Elko. The duo shares a similar coaching philosophy, as Slocum’s “Wrecking Crew” defenses overwhelmed opponents for four conference championships over eight seasons. “I think if you look around at what has won national championships recently, I think there’s a couple things that stand out,” Elko said. “One, there’s a toughness that’s built within the program that obviously has to do with defense. I think every one of those teams at some point in the season has had to dig deep on defense and find a way to win a really important game. But, I think all of those teams have also been explosive on offense with really talented quarterback play. I think every single one of those teams has won a game, 38-35, 41-38.” Bjork thanked Slocum for his assistance and insight during the coaching search while saying he spoke with at least 25 former A&M players as well, including the likes of linebacker Dat Nguyen, defensive back Ray Mickens and 2012 Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel. “They see the opportunity,” Bjork said. “They want to win championships. They want a tough-minded program … They want a program that they can say, ‘This is what Aggie football is, an identity.’ They want a program that develops players each year. They want a program they can be proud of when they have that Aggie Ring and a program that embraces the Aggie traditions.” Manziel, who led A&M to a 11-2 campaign in 2012 , had a more descriptive vision for the program. “Johnny Manziel is the one that said we need to be an intimidating bully,” Bjork said. “He actually had another adjective, but I can’t say that.”
Texas A&M Head Football Coach contract as well. “I think with the CFP [College Football Playoff] expanding to 12 teams and, again, given where we are, given our resources, given the commitment to football, that if we have the right coach and the right plan, that we should be in the hunt every year for those playoff spots,” Bjork said. “If you hire the right person and they believe in themselves and you have the resources like we have here, that contract should be what it’s all about.” The Aggies’ new coach recognized that such success doesn’t come without hard work and dedication, which is a year-round commitment. Fantasizing about winning championships and actually doing it are two very different things. “We can’t just say we want to be something,” Elko said. “We can’t just say we want to arrive somewhere. We’ve got to be committed to all the work that it’s going to take from today until we kick off next September of doing that … It’s easy to take pride in making big plays on Saturday in front of 110,000