Spring Break
Two universities join Texas A&M System
By: Patrique Ludan
Issue date: 6/22/09 Section: News
Two universities have joined the Texas A&M System: Texas A&M-Central Texas, in Killeen, and Texas A&M-San Antonio.
Gov. Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 629 last month, putting the number of independent universities within the system at 11 and the total number of students at 109,000.
"Texas is a state on the upswing," Gov. Perry said. "As our population continues to grow and we work to remain competitive in the global market place, we need to make sure we have the higher education opportunities in place to groom the workforce for the next 50 years."
The project was conceived over 20 years ago, with the bill first being introduced to the Texas Legislature around 10 years ago, according to District 54 State House Representative and author and co-sponsor of the house bill Jimmie Don Aycock.
"Upper-level education has been a priority at Tarleton State University-Central Texas for many years," Aycock said. "It's a huge addition to our community."
In addition to providing upper-level education, the universities are slated to have an economic impact on both communities.
"Texas A&M University-Central Texas represents the most important economic and community development initiative since the establishment of Ft. Hood in 1942," noted members of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce.
For an enrollment of 6,000 students, approximately 2,000 jobs are expected to be created in Killeen.
There will be a profound effect felt in San Antonio with the passing of this bill, student regent Hunter Bollman said.
"Texas A&M-San Antonio will be situated on the city's historically under-served South Side and is projected to have some of the most extensive growth in the A&M System," Bollman said. "We are expecting A&M-San Antonio to grow at a tremendous rate and believe it will probably become the second largest campus outside College Station in the next two decades."
Recently, ground was broken for a new shopping center and many other developments are in the works near the location in south San Antonio, said Rohde, Ottmers, and Seigel Realty vice president Tom Rohde.
Gov. Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 629 last month, putting the number of independent universities within the system at 11 and the total number of students at 109,000.
"Texas is a state on the upswing," Gov. Perry said. "As our population continues to grow and we work to remain competitive in the global market place, we need to make sure we have the higher education opportunities in place to groom the workforce for the next 50 years."
The project was conceived over 20 years ago, with the bill first being introduced to the Texas Legislature around 10 years ago, according to District 54 State House Representative and author and co-sponsor of the house bill Jimmie Don Aycock.
"Upper-level education has been a priority at Tarleton State University-Central Texas for many years," Aycock said. "It's a huge addition to our community."
In addition to providing upper-level education, the universities are slated to have an economic impact on both communities.
"Texas A&M University-Central Texas represents the most important economic and community development initiative since the establishment of Ft. Hood in 1942," noted members of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce.
For an enrollment of 6,000 students, approximately 2,000 jobs are expected to be created in Killeen.
There will be a profound effect felt in San Antonio with the passing of this bill, student regent Hunter Bollman said.
"Texas A&M-San Antonio will be situated on the city's historically under-served South Side and is projected to have some of the most extensive growth in the A&M System," Bollman said. "We are expecting A&M-San Antonio to grow at a tremendous rate and believe it will probably become the second largest campus outside College Station in the next two decades."
Recently, ground was broken for a new shopping center and many other developments are in the works near the location in south San Antonio, said Rohde, Ottmers, and Seigel Realty vice president Tom Rohde.
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com