We, the undersigned students of The University of Texas at Arlington College of Business, respectfully request that the college reconsider the recent change to the Business Analytics program name and its decision regarding the degree titles of currently enrolled students.

Many students enrolled in the Business Analytics program did so with the understanding that they were pursuing a degree in Business Analytics. We selected this program, planned our academic careers, and in many cases began building our professional identities around that degree title.

The recent transition to AI for Business has created significant concern among current students, particularly because many students were not informed of the change before it was made. We are especially concerned that students who entered the university under the Business Analytics program will not be permitted to retain the Business Analytics title on their diplomas.

We understand that artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the business world and that the College of Business may wish to adapt its curriculum and programs to reflect these developments. We support preparing students for the growing role of AI in business. However, we believe that incorporating AI into the program should not require removing Business Analytics from the identity of a degree that current students were already admitted into.

For this reason, we respectfully request the following:

1. Allow currently enrolled Business Analytics students to retain "Business Analytics" as the degree/program title on their diplomas if they enrolled under that program name.
2. Provide current students with meaningful input regarding the program’s future name and identity, while establishing a clear transition policy explaining how the name change will affect their degree, transcript, diploma, and professional credentials.
3. Reconsider the name "AI for Business" as a complete replacement for "Business Analytics," and consider a more inclusive title such as "Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence" that recognizes both fields.

This petition is not intended to oppose the integration of artificial intelligence into business education. Rather, we believe that AI and Business Analytics can- and should- coexist within the identity of the program. A program name communicates the education a student pursued and can become part of that student's professional identity. Students who entered the Business Analytics program should not have that identity changed retroactively without adequate communication or consideration for the students who are already working toward that degree.

We respectfully ask the College of Business to listen to the concerns of current students and establish a transition that protects the students who enrolled under the Business Analytics name while allowing the program to evolve with the changing demands of the business world.

We ask the College of Business to preserve the Business Analytics degree title for current students and to reconsider an inclusive program name that recognizes both Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence.