Texas A&M University–Texarkana

Texas A&M University–Texarkana
Established 1971
Type Public university
President Carlisle B Rathburn
Academic staff 99
Students 1,549
Location Texarkana, Texas, United States
Website www.tamut.edu

Texas A&M University–Texarkana, also known as A&M-Texarkana, is a public university located in Texarkana, Texas, USA. It is one of the newest members of The Texas A&M University System.

A&M-Texarkana was first established as an upper-level center of Commerce, Texas based East Texas State University in 1971. The university received separate accreditation in 1980, and in September 1996 (when ETSU joined the Texas A&M System as Texas A&M University–Commerce), the Texarkana branch became a separate institution from the Commerce campus.

A&M-Texarkana is a residential institution dedicated to offering career-oriented studies, awarding undergraduate,graduate and doctoral degrees in the areas of business administration, arts and sciences, technology, engineering and mathamatics and education. Students in adjacent counties of Oklahoma and Arkansas attend at in-state tuition rates, and historically 30 percent of the student body is from Arkansas.

Contents

University overview

Texas A&M University–Texarkana offers flexible, year-round courses with mini-terms offered between semesters. Students select from six degrees and 11 majors at the undergraduate level, four degrees and 11 disciplines at the master's degree level, and can obtain 29 graduate and undergraduate certifications and endorsements in the teaching profession. The university also offers a doctoral program in Education Administration. One of the university's fastest growing degree programs is the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, which can award college credit for learning experience gained at work. additional baccalaureate degrees in nursing and biology, and master's degrees in nursing and educational administration. In 1997, A&M-Texarkana teamed with area public schools and community colleges to offer a new program called "Teacher Bound," which enables teacher aides to become fully certified classroom teachers.

College of Education and Liberal Arts ([1])

College of Business ([2])

College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ([3])

In 1995, the university's new field-based teacher education program redesigned the way teachers are prepared for the classroom and won two national awards for innovation. In fall 1995, A&M-Texarkana and Texarkana College (the two share a physical facility) cooperated to offer a joint four-year science specialization for elementary education majors by sharing faculty and facilities to prepare outstanding science teachers. A&M-Texarkana and Northeast Texas Community College also have a partnership whereby NTCC students can earn A&M-Texarkana degrees in teacher education and criminal justice while taking all classes at NTCC.

A&M-Texarkana counseling students since 1987 have achieved a 100 percent first-time passage rate on the licensed professional counselor exam.

Facilities

A&M-Texarkana occupies the A.M. and Welma Aikin Instructional Systems Center, which contains all classrooms, labs, staff, faculty, administrative and student services offices. In fall 1997, A&M-Texarkana broke ground on a new addition to its main building, which doubled classroom space and added state-of-the-art instructional and faculty facilities.

The much anticipated construction at the new campus has begun. Texas A&M University–Texarkana is in the process of building a new campus near Bringle Lake on the north side of the city, approximately five miles from the existing campus. The project has been made possible in part by a generous gift of 300 acres (1.2 km2) plus of land by the City of Texarkana, Texas and funding from the Texas Legislature.

Construction continues at the Main Campus at Bringle Lake. The Science & Technology opened last summer. It houses the disciplines for Mathematics, Computer Science, Biology and Electrical Engineering. Several community events have been hosted in the lobby of the building during the past year.

The Multipurpose Library Building (University Center) is currently under construction. The building is located just north of the Science & Technology Building. It will be a four story structure covering approximately 183,000 square feet (17,000 m2). The contractor for the project is Gilbane Building Company of Grapevine, Texas. The anticipated completion date is summer 2010. Upon completion of the building, the university will be in a position to downwardly expand and begin accepting freshman and sophomore students. Beginning Fall 2010 under roof there will be a student union, bookstore, classrooms, faculty, staff and administrative offices, library, activity rooms and student support services.

Other improvements at the Main Campus are also underway. A physical plant building is under construction east of the University Center Building. The security office and infrastructure for the heating and cooling systems will occupy the space. Additional parking spaces are being added to accommodate future growth.

Student housing is also a top priority. Plans are underway to begin construction of initial 300 units. A total of 750 will be constructed over time.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "About Erwin". erwincain.com. http://www.erwincain.com/Home/About. Retrieved September 28, 2011. 

External links