Texas A&M International University

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is a public university in Laredo, Texas. It is part of the Texas A&M University System and home to over 7500 students each academic semester. TAMIU offers over 70 undergraduate and graduate degrees in four colleges.

Texas A&M International University
TypePublic
Established1969
PresidentPablo Arenaz[1]
Academic staff
192 Full-time (Fall 2011)
Students8,305 (Fall 2019),[2]
Location
Laredo
,
Texas
,
United States
Campus300 acres (1.2 km2)
NicknameDustdevils
Websitewww.tamiu.edu

History
  • 1969: Established as a branch of Texas A&I University at Kingsville, and named Texas A&I University at Laredo, functioning as an upper-level University for juniors, seniors, and graduate students. The Senate bill was introduced by Wayne Connally, brother of Governor John B. Connally, Jr.
  • 1977: University's name changes to Laredo State University.
  • 1989: University joins The Texas A&M University System.
  • 1993: Name changes to Texas A&M International University.
  • 1995: An unsuccessful attempt is made to transfer TAMIU to the University of Texas System. TAMIU becomes a four-year University, welcomes its first freshman class and opens its new campus, the first new University campus constructed in Texas in over 25 years.
  • 2004: Doctoral program in International Business Administration is launched.
  • 2006: Early College High School joins TAMIU (in collaboration with Laredo Independent School District).
  • 2009: 40th Anniversary Celebration (2009-2010) begins.
  • 2010: Dedicates Autism Interventions Center.
  • 2010: Dedicates new University Success Center.
  • 2011: Dining Center Expansion in Student Center opens.
  • 2012: With the approval of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, the University Success Center is renamed the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center. Formal dedication ceremonies are scheduled in September 2012.
  • 2014: Enabled by legislation authored by State Senator Judith Zaffirini and approved by the 79th Texas Legislature in 2005, the University announced its historic launch of a University-level academy on its campus for highly gifted and motivated high school seniors, to be known thereafter as The Texas Academy of International and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Studies.[3]

Academics

Texas A&M International University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees through four colleges. They include:

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business
  • College of Education
  • College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Rankings

According to U.S. News & World Report in "2015 Best College Rankings" TAMIU has been moved up and ranked No. 20 in Top Public Regional Universities, West, and in 2014 TAMIU's rank was 35th.

In 2015, The Economist Magazine's "List of America's Best Colleges" ranked TAMIU ninth in the nation, ahead of all other schools in Texas.

In 2013, the National Council on Teacher Quality, based in Washington, D.C., ranked TAMIU subpar in the matriculation of its education majors, of which there were some seven hundred graduates between 2009 and 2012. The institution received 2.5 on an 8.0 ranking system, or 1.5 for its elementary program and 1.0 for the secondary studies. TAMIU provides the majority of public school teachers to the two systems in Webb County. The programs were evaluated based on rigor, selectivity, and the level of mentorship provided to prospective educators.[4]

TAMIU officials questioned the motive, methodology, and results of the study. University officials released a statement: "TAMIU joins other teacher-training programs from colleges of education across the nation in challenging the accuracy of NCTQ results that incorporate inaccurate data and inherently flawed research methodology."[5] The NCTQ was founded in 2000 by the conservative think tank, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. TAMIU suggested that the NCTQ favors the dismantling of university teacher education programs with "bargain-basement on-line programs, some of which are directed by NCTQ surrogates."[5] TAMIU questioned why no NCTQ researcher visited the campus but instead based its evaluation on information sent primarily to the Washington office via emails.[5]

The TAMIU program was placed on probation in February 2013 by the Texas Board of Educator Certification. Though 70 percent of the TAMIU education graduates passed the certification examination, state accountability standards require an 80 percent completion rate to avoid the probationary status.[5] TAMIU President Ray Keck noted that Texas Tech, Rutgers, Syracuse, and Stanford universities all fared poorly in the NCTQ study as well and asked, "Do you honestly believe those universities run slipshod programs in education?"[5] In July 2014, the University was notified by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) that its full accreditation status had been restored.[6]

In 2014, the College Affordability and Transparency Center, a project of the U.S. Department of Education, ranked the university sixth in the nation for lowest net price among public four-year universities.[7]

Research

TAMIU is home to various research centers, including the Binational Center, Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade, The Western Hemispheric Trade Information Center, the Texas Center for Border Economics and Enterprise Development, the Small Business Development Center and the Center for Earth and Environmental Studies.

Benefactors

One of the institution's largest private benefactors was Radcliffe Killam (1910-2007), a Laredo oilman who donated $2 million to establish The Center for Western Hemispheric Trade, in addition to the University's 300-acre (1.2 km2) campus land. Killam and his wife, the former Sue Spivey, were honored by TAMIU with honorary doctorates and the naming of the Radcliffe and Sue Killam Library.

Athletics
Main article: Texas A&M International Dustdevils

TAMIU's 11 sports teams are known as the Dustdevils and compete in the Lone Star Conference. They became active members of NCAA Division II on September 1, 2008. As an active member, TAMIU is eligible for conference championships and NCAA tournament berths.[8]

TAMIU participates in the following sports:

  • Baseball
  • Men's Basketball (2010 and 2013 Heartland Conference Tournament Championship)
  • Women's Basketball (2013 Heartland Conference Champions)
  • Cross Country
  • Men's Golf
  • Women's Golf
  • Men's Soccer (2003 Red River Athletic Conference Champions, 2010 Heartland Conference Title)
  • Women's Soccer
  • Women's Volleyball (2002 West Division Athletics Conference Champions)
  • Softball (2010 Heartland Conference Tournament Championship)

In August, 2014, the Dustdevil Athletics Department launched a new team logo and marks for the NCAA Division II programs.

Notable alumni

Notable faculty
  • TAMIU entrance sign
  • TAMIU Student Center
  • TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts
  • TAMIU fountain is an homage to the acequia.
  • Texas A&M International University's Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library
  • Western Hemispheric Trade Center at TAMIU
  • Dr. F. M. Canseco Hall
  • Dr. Billy F. Cowart Hall is named for the former president Billy Cowart, who headed the institution from 1969 to 1985
  • The Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center and Planetarium
  • Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center
  • TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Memorial Garden
  • Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center

References
  2. "Analytics". EmpowerU. The Texas A&M University System. 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  3. https://www.tamiu.edu/newsinfo/newsarticles/2014-TexasAcademy042114.shtml
  4. JJ Velasquez, "Study slams TAMIU: Grads not prepared to teach", Laredo Morning Times, June 19, 2013, pp. 1, 14A
  5. JJ Velasquez, "Study challenged: TAMIU responds to teacher preparation issue", Laredo Morning Times, June 20, 2013, p. 1
  6. https://www.tamiu.edu/newsinfo/newsarticles/2014-COEDAccreditation061914.shtml
  7. http://collegecost.ed.gov/catc/
  8. "TAMIU Athletics Granted Active NCAA Division II Status".
  9. "Meet Tano". tanoforcountyjudge.com. Retrieved April 27, 2014.

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