Published: July 24, 2008 01:21 am         

McFarland to return to teaching after hiatus

COMMERCE — He’s about to step down as the head of Texas A&M University-Commerce, but that doesn’t mean Dr. Keith McFarland will step away from the classroom.

McFarland, the school’s president for about one more week, told the members of the Hunt County Alliance for Economic Development Wednesday that he plans to take some time off once his tenure is complete to move into a new house in Commerce and write a book about his life.

“Then a year from this fall, I’ll start teaching,” McFarland said, indicating he wants to return to his first academic love of American History.

McFarland was the guest speaker for the luncheon in the Ben E. Keith Community Room. McFarland had planned to introduce Dr. Dan Jones, the university’s newly-appointed president, to the business and government leaders who are part of the Alliance, although Jones was in Austin and unable to attend the event.

McFarland submitted his letter of retirement in August of last year, ending an almost 40-year career at the school. McFarland was named as president and CEO of the university in January 1998, after previously serving as the Dean for Graduate Studies and Research and a professor of history.

Wednesday, he said his career as president could be viewed as chapters from a book, with the first chapter “Fixing the Roofs.”

McFarland recalled that when he addressed the faculty after being named president, he told them his top priority was to repair the leaks in some two dozen buildings on campus.

“That got a big round of applause,” he said.

Chapter Two, “Balancing the Budget”, details when the Board of Regents gave him three years to balance the school’s budget.

“We balanced it the first year by saying no to a lot of situations,” McFarland said. “I’m glad to say Dr. Jones will encounter a very good financial situation.”

“Enhancing The Quality” would be the title of Chapter Three, he said.

“You have to put quality ahead of everything else ... because quality is the only thing that will last,” McFarland explained.

The search for quality involved improving the school’s graduates and faculty, adding new academic programs and revamping the entire campus infrastructure; tearing down dozens of old and empty buildings and constructing new ones, such as the Jerry Morris Recreation Center and the Science Building and planetarium. The school will begin to move into a new student center next week.

“We should be completely in there by the first of December,” he said, adding construction is about to begin on the $23.5 million music building, featuring the Lou and Jack Finney Concert Hall.

“We’ll have one of the finest concert centers in the country,” McFarland said.

McFarland hoped his career helped also reveal how much he appreciated the efforts of everyone involved in the university system, from the Regents to the administration and faculty, to the students and even the groundskeepers.

“I believe in this university and I believe in this community,” McFarland said.

Jones is scheduled to officially begin his duties at A&M-Commerce on Aug. 1.