Frequently Asked Questions
In the implementation of the Texas A&M University Quick-Look Assessment, some of the campus-wide changes that were initiated as part of The Path Foward have been reversed, including the move of the Biomedical Sciences (BIMS), University Studies-BIMS, and Neuroscience-Translational & Preclinical Sciences undergraduate degree programs. This means that these programs are returning to Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science (VMBS).
New questions may be emailed to bims@tamu.edu. As always, if you have time-sensitive questions particular to your degree planning, please direct your questions to your academic advisor.
What is the Quick-Look Assessment?
In early August 2023, at the direction of General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, then interim president, a small team was charged with leading a quick-look assessment on The Path Forward. The team, led by Joe Pettibon, vice president for planning, assessment, and strategy, conducted more than 100 listening sessions with key stakeholders to gather feedback on the successes and opportunities for adjustment, as warranted, for major initiatives of The Path Forward.
What was the outcome of the Quick-Look Assessment?
Then Interim President Welsh assigned leads and deadlines for decisions finalized in the Quick-Look Assessment Report published on Oct. 4. Learn more about the decisions, associated team leads, deadlines, and status updates related to each item within the final report.
How does the Quick-Look Assessment Implementation affect “BIMS?”
The undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences will return to the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS). The transition plan must include stipulations on advising, enrollment caps, course availability to meet demands, and thoughts on expanded collaboration with the School of Medicine.
Lead: Alan Sams, Texas A&M Executive Vice President (EVP) & Provost | Deadline: Dec. 15, 2023
Status Updates:
Dec. 9: The committee held its final meeting on Dec. 7. BIMS advisors will move from the Academic Building to the VMBS during the week of Dec. 18. All faculty that migrated to the College of Arts & Sciences will return to the VMBS. Communication plans are in place to notify current BIMS students of the move. The BIMS curriculum committee is now active and revisiting the curriculum. The Biology Department will provide anatomy and physiology course needs for BIMS for the next four years. In addition to revisiting the curriculum, the committee is reviewing the carrying capacity of BIMS to prevent historic bottleneck issues. A memo summarizing the work of the committee will be routed to the EVP & Provost prior to the end of the year.
Nov. 11: The committee met on Oct. 26. Subcommittees are now studying course needs, advising loads, and bottlenecks. Findings will be presented at a Nov. 16 meeting. Advising move is planned between the fall and spring semesters. Ongoing discussions about APT faculty lines moved to Biology are occurring. Clarity on course needs from Biology and faculty lines will come from subcommittee work.
Oct. 26: The EVP & Provost is working with the appropriate deans to make this transition, including building the appropriate transition and collaboration plans.
What is the Texas A&M Path Forward?
The Texas A&M Path Forward is a strategic plan for carrying out the university’s mission and vision. The Path Forward, as written by President Banks, is a continuation of the Vision 2020 roadmap created by Aggie leaders in the late 1990s. You can find The Path Forward document in its entirety here.
What data was used for creating the strategic plan?
Months of surveys, interviews, and research were performed by an outside consulting firm. The report is posted in its entirety, including appendices with data, within the MGT Report [PDF].
How were the recommendations in the report implemented?
A Strategic Implementation Committee was established with oversight of 41 working groups. The committee and working group membership, as well as their reports and implementation memos, are also posted on The Path Forward website.
Was “BIMS” represented on a Working Group?
Yes, the VMBS had representative members on multiple working groups. These representatives included student representation.
Can I still take classes from the VMBS?
Yes. Specific courses on your degree plan are still offered through the VMBS. Your academic advisors are aware of these course choices and will continue to convey them in a timely manner during preregistration academic advising.
Will there ever be new courses for BIMS?
Yes. The university has a campus-wide mechanism for course creation. New courses are approved through the curricular review and approval system and include a review by college and university-level curriculum committees. As an interdisciplinary program, BIMS has approved coursework that is interdepartmental and intercollegiate on the Texas A&M campus.
I heard my degree is changing from a B.S. to a B.A. Is this true?
No. Biomedical Sciences does not have an approved BA degree option on the “Degree Program Tables.” New degree options, including a BA, would have to be approved through the university curricular process and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Is my degree plan changing?
Each year Texas A&M publishes the Undergraduate Catalog. Each student is assigned to a catalog based on the year they enter Texas A&M. The Texas A&M core curriculum and required coursework, or equivalents as determined by college and university curricular review, are published in the catalog. Therefore, the move to the College of Arts & Sciences did not change your degree plan requirements. Please note that approved course substitutions may not appear in the catalog, but your advisors are aware of these and will communicate all changes and new opportunities to you and help guide you through your options.
Where can I find my catalog and degree plan?
Your catalog can be found on the Texas A&M Catalogs page. There is a link to the current “Undergraduate Catalog,” as well as “Archives” for all previous years. The Texas A&M core curriculum offerings can be found here. Select the appropriate catalog year for accurate course information.
Can I substitute a course of my choosing for one of the degree plan requirements?
No. The degree requirements for your major remain the same. In select instances, to facilitate enrollment management, change in the availability of a required course, or to ensure adequate time-to-degree, your major advisors may communicate an alternative course option to you. The alternative course will have been approved by a curriculum committee in consultation with the department offering the course.
My friend wants to be in BIMS. Are future students going to have the same degree plan as me?
All degrees on campus undergo review yearly, with changes published in the new catalog. The BIMS degree is currently undergoing a more extensive curricular review process. Input will be solicited, under an approved IRB, for submission to a committee, with oversight through the Texas A&M Center for Teaching Excellence and a BIMS Curriculum Committee comprised of faculty and students. Any changes will be approved through the university’s required curricular review and approval process, followed by publication in the undergraduate catalog. More information can be found on the Office of the Registrar Curricular Services page.
Will my diploma say my home college?
No. The diploma will have the degree (BS) and your major (BIMS) listed. The name of the college is not on the diploma.
Can I see any advisor?
Yes, the advising office serves as an Academic Advising Team for each student, giving you the freedom to choose whichever advisor you best connect with.
Where are my advisors located?
Your advisors are in Suite 123 of the VIDI (#1813) Building in the Veterinary & Biomedical Education Complex (VBEC).
Is drop-in advising my only option?
Weekly emails are sent to students with advising options. They are a mix of drop-in advising, standard appointments, and informationals (Degree Planner Palooza, for example), that will assist you with your academic advising needs. See options here.
Why am I being advised to take BIOL 319 and 320?
BIOL 319 and 320 are Integrated Anatomy and Physiology course series. The recommended Anatomy and Physiology combination your advisor is making depends upon your catalog and potentially your professional goals. All students entering the university in the Fall of 2019 and forward require an anatomy and physiology series, as well as physiology II. As communicated through the academic advising office to students, most students graduating by May 2023 will take VIBS 305/VTPP 423/VTPP 427. Students may also take BIOL 319/BIOL 320/VTPP 427 as a course combination.
Is VTPP 427 Biomedical Physiology II required?
Yes, VTPP 427 is a required course for all students. There are a couple of different Anatomy & Physiology course sequences, so check with your BIMS Advisor to make sure you are taking the correct ones!
Why do I have to take BIOL 320 Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology II and VTPP 427 Biomedical Physiology II?
BIOL 319 and 320 are an integrated anatomy and physiology courses with topics from both subjects across a two-semester series. Therefore, a portion of the physiology content is in the fall, and a portion in the spring, making a “whole” across the series. All students must subsequently complete an applied physiology prior to graduation. This course, VTPP 427, builds upon the content of BIOL 319/320. To help with naming confusion, VTPP 427 is being re-titled “Applied Biomedical Physiology.”
Do BIOL 401 and/or BIOL 402 count as a W credit for the BIMS degree?
These courses are no longer being offered as W course credit for a BIMS Degree. We were temporarily allowing students to take BIOL 401/402/403 as writing intensive credit due to a shortage of faculty teaching the VIBS courses. Check here for the current availability of writing course options.
Contact the BIMS Undergraduate program
Location
Mailing Address:
4461 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-4461
Physical Address:
668 Raymond Stotzer Pkwy.
College Station, TX 77845
Meet With An Advisor
Advising:
To schedule an appointment with an advisor, use the Navigate app.
Office:
VIDI (#1813) Bldg. | Suite 123
Veterinary & Biomedical Complex