Texas A&M University–San Antonio

Texas A&M University–San Antonio
Former names
 Texas A&M University–Kingsville System Center (2000–2009)
Type Public university
Established 2009
President Cynthia Matson
Students 4,512
Location San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Colors Black, Silver and Madla Maroon
         
Nickname Jaguars
Website www.tamusa.edu

Texas A&M University–San Antonio is a state university located in San Antonio, Texas, United States, that was established on May 23, 2009, and held its first classes as a stand-alone university on August 20, 2009. It currently enrolls approximately 5,000 students and offers undergraduate and graduate-level classes, as well as a graduate alternative teacher certification program. Texas A&M - San Antonio has 161 full and part-time faculty. Forty two were recently recognized with Teaching Excellence Awards based on student evaluations. In the past academic year, the faculty published 116 articles in professional journals and books; presented at 89 professional conferences; and were involved in 46 significant professional service activities. Texas A&M - San Antonio is the first Texas A&M University System institution to be established in a major urban center.

History

Kingsville System Center

Texas A&M University - San Antonio opened under the name Texas A&M University–Kingsville System Center after SB 800, authored by Senator Frank Madla, was passed in 2003. The Texas Legislature authorized $40 million in tuition revenue bonds for this new campus in 2006 under HB 153, contingent on full-time enrollment reaching 1,500 by January 1, 2010.[1]

Texas A&M University - San Antonio was created to address an educational need in the South Side of San Antonio. The Texas Legislature asked the Texas A&M University System to establish a center that would offer junior- and senior-level courses in South San Antonio, an area that has been historically underserved in terms of higher education. Such a center was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in January 2000.[2] Texas A&M University–Kingsville was named the lead institution to create and operate the System Center, which first operated on nearby Palo Alto College, a community college in the Alamo Colleges system. The Center used surveys and research to determine the types of programs most in demand in the area.[3]

Texas A&M University–San Antonio

Construction on the university's permanent campus began after the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved final design plans in March 2010, and a groundbreaking ceremony was scheduled for May 7, 2010. The first building finished construction in Summer 2011 and faculty and staff from the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education moved in time for the Fall 2011 enrollment.[4][5] Now an independent institution, Texas A&M - San Antonio offers the MBA and the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) program — a program that offers students with formal training in a vocational/technical area the opportunity to obtain a bachelor's degree without the significant loss of credits that normally occurs in pursuing a traditional degree.[6][7]

As the Texas A&M University System's second newest institution (after Central Texas A&M) and San Antonio's second public university, Texas A&M University - San Antonio complements the crosstown University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in bringing public education to the San Antonio metropolitan area.

Texas A&M University-San Antonio has of 2016 is a 4-year institution, with freshman being admitted for the Fall semester. Texas A&M University–San Antonio plans to reach an enrollment of 25,000 students by 2025. The campus is being built in part due to a plan by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to enroll 630,000 students in college by 2015.[8]

Campus

The university is housed in two locations: the School of Arts and Sciences and School of Education and Kinesiology, One University Way, San Antonio, TX 78224; and the School of Business at Brooks City-Base Campus, 2601 Louis Bauer Drive, San Antonio, TX 78235. Texas A&M-San Antonio also offers classes at The Alamo Colleges' Alamo University Center on the city's northeast side at 8300 Pat Booker Road, Live Oak, TX 78233.

The university's main campus was constructed on a 580 acres (2 km2) site on the south side of San Antonio, near Loop 410 and Zarzamora. The developer of the land is Verano Land Group LP, who donated the 694-acre (2.81 km2) lot and one million dollars for scholarships.[9] The architectural firm responsible for the campus plans are Kell Munoz and the Construction Manager at Risk is Bartlett Cocke.[10] Construction will be completed in phases: in the first phase, multi-purpose buildings will be constructed to house classrooms, faculty and staff offices, a library, student services offices, and food services; and in subsequent phases, a library, academic buildings, and residential housing are to be built.

Student organizations

Texas A&M–San Antonio offers many opportunities for students to join a student organization or create their own organization that fits their needs. Campus Activities Board (CAB), Student Government Association (SGA), and University Voices are the only student organizations that are sponsored by the University, meaning they receive funds to support the organization. All other student organizations are self-maintained. The Greek Life at Texas A&M - San Antonio is slowly growing. There is one Sorority and one Fraternity that maintain active status within the University. The campus Criminology department also established a Pre-Law Society that started in the Fall of 2012. There are also various Honor Societies on campus that are specific to their major of study.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Tina (2006-06-02). "Texas A&M System to Receive $465.6 Million in Tuition Revenue Bonds" (Press release). Texas A&M University System. Retrieved 2008-06-18. $40 million for the Texas A&M-Kingsville System Center-San Antonio, which will become Texas A&M-San Antonio (contingent on 1,500 full time students by Jan. 1, 2010)
  2. ↑ "Section I - UNIVERSITY HISTORY". Texas A&M University-Kingsville. 2005. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  3. ↑ "Texas A&M University-Kingsville System Center-San Antonio". Texas A&M University-Kingsville. 2004-09-06. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  4. ↑ "TAMU system set to unveil San Antonio master plan".
  5. ↑ "TAMU System Set To Unveil San Antonio Master Plan". KBTX-TV. 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  6. ↑ "Undergraduate Bulletin of TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-KINGSVILLE" (PDF). Texas A&M University-Kingsville. 2004. p. 218. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 5, 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  7. ↑ "Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences". Texas A&M University-Kingsville. 2007-09-25. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  8. ↑ Farmer, John (2007-02-15). "San Antonio awaits A&M campus". The Battalion. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
  9. ↑ "Texas A&M could start development of San Antonio campus by 2009". San Antonio Business Journal. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  10. ↑ "Texas A&M Board of Regents approve construction to begin on the Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus". 2010-03-26.
  11. ↑ http://www.tamusa.tamus.edu/studentengagementsuccess/studentlife/index.html

External links

Coordinates: 29°19′46″N 98°32′36″W / 29.3294°N 98.5434°W / 29.3294; -98.5434

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