Texas A&M University-Texarkana
Encyclopedia
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 non-residential institution dedicated to offering career-oriented studies, awarding undergraduate and graduate degrees in the areas of business administration, arts and sciences, and education. Students in adjacent counties of Oklahoma
and Arkansas
attend at in-state tuition rates, and historically 28 percent of the student body is from Arkansas
and approximately 68 percent is enrolled part-time.
, which can award college credit for learning experience gained at work. The Fall 200 semester saw additional baccalaureate degrees in nursing and biology, and a master's degree in 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. A&M-Texarkana offers unaccredited programs in engineering (http://www.abet.org/AccredProgramSearch/AccreditationSearch.aspx), computer science (http://www.abet.org/AccredProgramSearch/AccreditationSearch.aspx), chemistry (https://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/coldfusionapp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=mapp_cptasl_page#), counseling (http://www.cacrep.org/index.cfm/finding-a-cacrep-program), or business (https://www.aacsb.net/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=AACSB&WebKey=ED088FF2-979E-48C6-B104-33768F1DE01D,http://www.acbsp.org/download.php?sid=1662).
Although there are 99 academic staff and many administrators also teach, the total number of faculty is 59 distributed among the 14 programs as follows:
College of Education and Liberal Arts (http://www.tamut.edu/cela/faculty-and-staff.html)
College of Health and Behavioral Sciences (http://www.tamut.edu/chbs/faculty-and-staff.html)
College of Business (http://www.tamut.edu/COB/faculty.html)-12 full-time professors
College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (http://www.tamut.edu/STEM/faculty-and-staff.html)
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.
Each year the graduation commencement ceremony takes place in the First Baptist Church on Moors Lane(http://www.tamut.edu/Registrar/Forms/Graduation%20Procedures%20August%202011.pdf). Graduation begins with a prayer and sermon by the resident Baptist minister, despite being a public institution with many faculty and students from alternate or non-christian faiths, and alternate available venues capable of accommodating the small graduating class each semester(http://www.trahc.org/perot-theatre), (http://www.fourstatesfair.com/facilities.html), (https://www.texarkanacollege.edu/pages/412.asp).
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 183000 square feet (17,001.3 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.
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
located in Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It effectively functions as one half of a city which crosses a state line — the other half, the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, lies on the other side of State Line Avenue...
, USA. It is one of the newest members of The Texas A&M University System
Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the United States. Through a statewide network of eleven universities, eight state agencies and a comprehensive health science center, the Texas A&M System educates over 100,000 students, conducts more than $600...
.
A&M-Texarkana was first established as an upper-level center of Commerce, Texas
Commerce, Texas
Commerce is a city in Hunt County, Texas, United States, located in rural East Texas. The population was 7,669 at the 2000 census, however recent growth and its proximity to Interstate 30 and the eastern Metroplex has put the population around 9750...
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
Texas A&M University–Commerce
Texas A&M University–Commerce is a state university located in Commerce, Texas and a member of the Texas A&M University System, the second largest university within the system behind Texas A&M University in College Station....
), the Texarkana branch became a separate institution from the Commerce campus.
A&M-Texarkana is a non-residential institution dedicated to offering career-oriented studies, awarding undergraduate and graduate degrees in the areas of business administration, arts and sciences, and education. Students in adjacent counties of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
attend at in-state tuition rates, and historically 28 percent of the student body is from Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
and approximately 68 percent is enrolled part-time.
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. One of the university's fastest growing degree programs is the Bachelor of Applied Arts and SciencesBachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences
The Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, often abbreviated as BAAS or BAASc, is an undergraduate degree.-Usage:In the United States BAAS is awarded based on a combination of formal education, work experience and work-related training and certification completed by the student...
, which can award college credit for learning experience gained at work. The Fall 200 semester saw additional baccalaureate degrees in nursing and biology, and a master's degree in 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. A&M-Texarkana offers unaccredited programs in engineering (http://www.abet.org/AccredProgramSearch/AccreditationSearch.aspx), computer science (http://www.abet.org/AccredProgramSearch/AccreditationSearch.aspx), chemistry (https://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/coldfusionapp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=mapp_cptasl_page#), counseling (http://www.cacrep.org/index.cfm/finding-a-cacrep-program), or business (https://www.aacsb.net/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=AACSB&WebKey=ED088FF2-979E-48C6-B104-33768F1DE01D,http://www.acbsp.org/download.php?sid=1662).
Although there are 99 academic staff and many administrators also teach, the total number of faculty is 59 distributed among the 14 programs as follows:
College of Education and Liberal Arts (http://www.tamut.edu/cela/faculty-and-staff.html)
- Education-21 full-time professors
- English-3 full-time professors
- History-3 full-time professors
- Political Science-2 full-time professor
- Mass Communications- 1 full-time professor
College of Health and Behavioral Sciences (http://www.tamut.edu/chbs/faculty-and-staff.html)
- Psychology and Counseling-5 full-time professors
- Sociology-1 full-time professor
- Criminal Justice-3 full-time professors
- Nursing-2 full-time professors
College of Business (http://www.tamut.edu/COB/faculty.html)-12 full-time professors
College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (http://www.tamut.edu/STEM/faculty-and-staff.html)
- Biology-2 full-time professors
- Chemistry-1 full-time professor
- Computer Science-3 full-time professors
- Electrical Engineering-2 full-time professors
Texarkana College
Texarkana College is a community college located in Texarkana, Texas.-Location:Texarkana College is located at , in the northeast border of Texarkana, Texas, at the junction of Robison and Tucker streets, which is approximately one mile south of Interstate 30.The twin cities of Texarkana,...
(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
Northeast Texas Community College
Northeast Texas Community College is a community college serving the Northeast Texas region. The campus is set on in rural Titus County near the community of Chapel Hill, approximately seven miles southeast of Mount Pleasant, the county seat....
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.Each year the graduation commencement ceremony takes place in the First Baptist Church on Moors Lane(http://www.tamut.edu/Registrar/Forms/Graduation%20Procedures%20August%202011.pdf). Graduation begins with a prayer and sermon by the resident Baptist minister, despite being a public institution with many faculty and students from alternate or non-christian faiths, and alternate available venues capable of accommodating the small graduating class each semester(http://www.trahc.org/perot-theatre), (http://www.fourstatesfair.com/facilities.html), (https://www.texarkanacollege.edu/pages/412.asp).
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
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
.
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 183000 square feet (17,001.3 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
- Erwin CainErwin CainErwin Alfred Cain is an attorney and businessman from Sulphur Springs, Texas, who is a freshman Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 3 Erwin Alfred Cain (born March 15, 1960) is an attorney and businessman from Sulphur Springs, Texas, who is a freshman Republican...
(Class of 1985), Republican member of the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of RepresentativesThe Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from Sulphur SpringsSulphur Springs, TexasSulphur Springs is a city in Hopkins County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 14,551. It is the county seat of Hopkins County.-Geography:Sulphur Springs is located at ....