Texas A&M Hispanic Network

EVENTS

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NEWS

TEXAS A&M $300 MILLION SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE

Texas A&M $300 Million Scholarship Initiative Monday, October 13, 2008 Texas A&M University has launched a $300 million initiative to raise private funds for endowed scholarships and graduate fellowships and to provide additional support for study-abroad and other international academic experiences for its students-with officials noting the underlying intent is to help Aggies pay for more of their education without crippling amounts of student-loan debt.

Texas A&M has consistently ranked among the "best values" in higher education in recent years, according to surveys published in several national publications, and this new program will help maintain and enhance such assessments, university officials noted. The multi-year $300 million initiative, titled "Operation Spirit and Mind," was announced by Texas A&M President Elsa Murano and Texas A&M Foundation President Ed Davis at a Saturday gathering of more than 1,500 donors and recipients of Texas A&M's most prestigious scholarship-the President's Endowed Scholarship. That scholarship program began 40 years ago and has been instrumental in helping Texas A&M attract hundreds of high-achieving students, just as "Operation Spirit and Mind" is expected to do, Murano noted.

"Operation Spirit and Mind," however, will also place a major new emphasis on providing additional financial support for students to go abroad for international experiences that will help significantly broaden their education, she added. Additionally, the new initiative will place unprecedented emphasis on providing more fellowships for students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees, given that graduate education is as key component at a major research university such as Texas A&M. The university has a record 9,113 graduate students among its all-time record total student enrollment of 48,036 this fall. Given shifting state priorities and a steady rise in tuition at universities throughout the state and nation, Murano and Davis said they know many students will decide in large part which institution to attend based on the financial aid offered.

"Operation Spirit and Mind" will give Texas A&M a decisive edge in recruiting the highest-caliber and most diverse undergraduate and graduate students, Murano said. The new program also is envisioned as helping Texas A&M attain consensus "top 10" recognition among public universities by the year 2020 as outlined in the university's long-range roadmap titled "Vision 2020," with Murano now setting sights even higher: to be the top public university.

Rising tuition is a fact of life around the country, officials noted. The Consumer Price Index indicates that tuition increases have outpaced every major category of U.S. expenses since 1982-even more than medical care, they said. Scholarships and fellowships that will be funded by "Operation Spirit and Mind" should reduce Texas A&M students' debt significantly after graduation, officials stated.

The new initiative has a goal of creating at least 2,000 new endowed scholarships and graduate fellowships. University officials said giving opportunities for donors include: Named endowments- Honor the donor or someone special in the donor's life. These can be part of a Sholarship program or can be customized for the donor, Graduate fellowships- Provide annual stipends for graduate students, President's Endowed Scholarships- Awarded solely on academic and student leadership (not financial need), Regents' Scholarships- Merit awards that support first-generation college students with financial need, and Foundation Excellence Awards- Awarded to students who face economic, social or educational disadvantages.

FALL 2008 ENROLLMENT REPORT

Compared with Fall 2007, University total enrollment increased by 1,497 students (3.2%).

Undergraduate enrollment increased by 1,073 students (2.9%); Master’s level increased by 433 (8.1%). However, enrollment at the Doctoral level decreased by 7 students (-0.2%).

Hispanic and Black students’ enrollment increased significantly from last fall (585, 11.1%; 147, 10.4%). International students total enrollment also improved by 333 (8.7%).

General Studies had the largest percentage increase in undergraduate enrollment from last fall (626, 14.6%). At the Master’s level, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences grew by 201 (34.0%). At the doctoral level, all colleges improved their enrollment except for Mays Business School (-7, 10.1%).

The First Time in College (FTIC) undergraduates decreased by 3.

First Time Transfer Undergraduates increased by 32 (2.0%).

First Time Master’s enrollment increased by 106 (4.7%).

Total undergraduates who were taking 15-17 SCH decreased by 160 (-1.1%); however, those who took more than 12-14 SCH increased by 1,041 (5.7%).

NEW TUITION PROGRAM AT TEXAS A&M

Texas A&M University is expanding its commitment to low and middle income students through the Aggie Assurance program. The Aggie Assurance aids students with family income below $60,000 by pledging to provide enough scholarships and grants to pay tuition for all eligible* students. The Aggie Assurance encourages Texans to pursue higher education at a flagship, research institution.

To be eligible:

You must be a Texas resident and eligible to pay resident tuition You must be an entering Freshman beginning Summer of Fall 2008 semester or beyond (current students and transfer students are not eligible) You must be a degree-seeking student You (if independent) or your parent(s) (if dependent) must have an adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less You must be admitted and enrolled full-time at Texas A&M University, College Station You must have financial need as determined by the FAFSA or TASFA You must maintain a 2.5 GPA and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by our March 31 priority date prior to the Fall semester.

Aggie Assurance covers tuition - state mandated, designated tuition, and differential tuition. In essence, this is a commitment by the university that those below $60,000 in income will always have grants and scholarships to meet the tuition costs. At this time, the program does not include fees. Tuition costs are approximately $5000 for the 2008-2009 academic year.

The number of students meeting the criteria when fully implemented is expected to be over 5200, including over 1700 students in the $40,000 to $60,000 income range. Since this is being rolled out to new freshmen in Fall 2008, it is expected to provide an assurance for tuition to over 1500 students immediately, including over 500 students with $40,000 to $60,000 incomes.

The University has allocated additional resources to meet the financial commitment for this program. It is estimated that this program will cost an additional $3.3 million when fully implemented. For the current 2008-2009 academic year, the cost is expected to be about $300,000.

I know that you will be receiving questions about this new program from your students and their parents. I want you to feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need any additional assistance.

David C. Schwartz
Regional Financial Aid Advisor - Austin/Central Texas Texas A&M University
512-484-6929
dschwartz@tamu.edu

TEXAS A&M RANKED AMONG TOP COLLEGES BY HISPANIC OUTLOOK

Texas A&M University continues to be ranked among the top colleges for Hispanics by “Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education” magazine in its annual listings, with the institution’s ranking higher in the current edition than in previous years.

Among institutions that awarded the most bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics, Texas A&M is ranked 25th – up from 26th last year. Texas A&M is once again ranked first in agriculture. It was fourth in biological and biomedical sciences, up from fifth last year; fourth in engineering, up from sixth last year; and seventh in interdisciplinary studies.

Also, Texas A&M is ranked 10th in the number of doctoral degrees awarded to Hispanics, up from 15th last year. In a related category, Texas A&M is ranked third in the number of professional degrees awarded in veterinary medicine – up from fifth last year. The nationwide rankings are based on the latest available data from the National Center for Educational Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education, the magazine’s editors said.

They also reported that the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics in 2006 by all the top 100 schools combined totaled 59,299, an increase of 4,327 over 2005. Additionally, they noted that in 1991-92 only one institution awarded more than 100 master’s degrees to Hispanics, but 77 schools awarded more than 100 master’s degrees to them in 2005-06. Texas A&M awarded 110 master’s degrees to Hispanics that year.

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EMPLOYMENT

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The original 12th Man, E. King Gill, and Kyle Field.

DUES & DONATIONS

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TAMHN NEWSLETTERS

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IN THE NEWS...

Texas' 10% Admission Could Teach Colleges a Thing or Two
March 28, 2008

Texas A&M Ranks 10th in 2007 National Merit Scholar Enrollment
January 23, 2008

Texas A&M Again Ranked Among Public "Best Values" By Kiplinger's
January 8, 2008

A&M's Minority Drive Hits a Plateau
October 1, 2007

Promoting Hispanic Diversity

The mission of the Texas A&M Hispanic Network is to serve as an advocate and support group on Hispanic concerns and issues at the University and local communities within the larger Association of Former Students organization. The Texas A&M Hispanic Network shall dynamically work towards increasing the number of Hispanic students attending Texas A&M University (TAMU), and enhancing their experience, education, and quality of life on campus.