SAN ANTONIO (August 22, 2016)–History was made at Texas A&M University-San Antonio today as it welcomed the University’s inaugural class of first year students to their first day of class for the 2016-2017 academic year. The grand occasion marks a major milestone for Texas A&M University System’s newest university, and it is an indicator of what the State of Texas and the nation can expect in the future.
- Texas A&M University-San Antonio expands to a four-year university and welcomes 513 inaugural first year students.
- Demographic of incoming student group confirms a nationwide need to serve the Hispanic population.
“This is a historic achievement for this university and the people of San Antonio,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “I would like to congratulate the leadership, faculty and staff at Texas A&M-San Antonio on their continued success.”
This class of 513 first year college students affirms the opportunities that the University is providing in San Antonio. A development of national model for student and academic success is underway with a focus on student academic success and degree attainment in four years. To launch their pathway to academic success, the inaugural class participated in a five-day JagX mandatory bridge program and their coursework will commence today.
Now that A&M-San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year university, it has added distinguished faculty members with regional, national and global connections, who are able to apply proven, innovative methods and unique instructional practices. These professors thoroughly understand, engage and support students from this region, thus fortifying the A&M System’s reputation.
The demographic makeup of the incoming freshman class at A&M-San Antonio also confirms the University’s vision to serve as viable solution for the historically under-represented individuals desiring a college education. A significant percentage of the 513 lower-division students are a reflection of the demographics Texas and the U.S. population will encompass in the future. The projected growth for the Hispanic population nationwide is expected to increase by 57 percent from 2015 to 2050 according to Pew Research Center. The Center for Public Priorities reports Texas school students are currently 52 percent Latino, however Hispanic students face barriers to educational attainment.
“As a dynamic and cultural University, we’re intentionally focused on experiential learning, degree attainment in four years and faculty-student engagement for the enrichment of the entire campus,” said University President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson “Student demographics in San Antonio are reflective of our state population, and what the makeup of the nation will look like thirty years from now. It is important to succeed in creating opportunities of higher education in Texas. It is a positive action that will lead the charge across the nation.”
The ability to now offer academic instruction to lower-division students, which boosted the University’s growth rate by 10 percent, affirms Texas A&M University-San Antonio is in the right place at the right time to reach the majority population that will serve as our future workforce. By 2020, the year of graduation for the inaugural first year class, A&M-San Antonio projects nearly double enrollment with more than 8,000 students.
A&M-San Antonio had been an upper-division University since its formation in 2009. It’s been preparing for its inaugural freshman class since 2015, when the 84th Texas Legislative Session approved its comprehensive expansion to a four-year academic institution. A&M-San Antonio is also slated to become the second largest university in student body population in the prestigious Texas A&M University System and is the System’s only major metropolitan campus.
For more information regarding applications and admission to A&M-San Antonio visit tamusa.edu.
About Texas A&M University-San Antonio
With a nearly 700-acre Main Campus to expand into, the Military-embracing University recently became a comprehensive four-year University after welcoming more than 500 first year students in fall 2016. Texas A&M University-San Antonio is one of the fastest-growing universities in the state. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are available for the lowest university tuition in the San Antonio region for a variety of in-demand fields, including teacher preparation, business, information technology, and cyber security. Texas A&M-San Antonio has a variety of scholarships available to assist students as they select their college or university. The University’s mission is to prepare and empower students to be innovative and contributing members of a global society. To learn more, visit tamusa.edu.