Texas A&M University at Galveston

Mission

Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) is a special-purpose institution of higher education for undergraduate and graduate instruction in marine and maritime studies in science, engineering and business and for research and public service related to the general field of marine resources. The institution is under the management and control of the Board of Regents of the A&M System, with degrees offered under the name and authority of Texas A&M University in College Station.

TAMUG programs focus on the scientific, technical, business, socioeconomic and environmental policy issues concerning the oceans, coastal regions and maritime industries. TAMUG accomplishes its missions by providing the following services:

  • an integrated program of undergraduate and graduate education, including maritime training for professional maritime licenses in the U.S. flag fleet;
  • scholarly research in the marine sciences, engineering and humanities;
  • marine and maritime outreach programs for the public and maritime industry; and
  • a “window to the sea” that serves as a national resource in support of education, research and public service in marine and maritime fields.

Priorities and Goals

  • Planned and distributed enrollment growth
    • Target 2,200 with current facilities by 2009
  • Establish additional graduate programs
    • Masters of maritime administration and logistics
    • Marine biology M.S./Ph.D.
  • Increase the diversity of the student body, faculty, staff and administrative leadership teams
  • Pursue the development of a first-class science complex for both teaching and research

Commentary on Top Priorities

The past performance and future direction of TAMUG emphasize growth. In the past seven years, enrollment has increased 46 percent, research expenditures have increased 66 percent and the first new building in 10 years has been completed. Continued growth is needed to meet an increasing demand for education, research and public service in marine sciences and maritime resource management, as well as to provide a better economy of scale in operations and services. Expansion of focused graduate programs will contribute to campus growth while maintaining the integrity of TAMUG’s special purpose designation. In addition, a science complex is needed to replace antiquated 1930s-era facilities, consolidate campuses and facilitate growth in both enrollment and research.

Enrollment

Headcount enrollment was stabilized at approximately 1,600 from fall 2003 to fall 2004 due to space limitations. A new engineering complex that supports further growth opened in January 2005. This expansion is coupled with a proposal for a new science complex that will allow the campus to fully reach the “Closing the Gaps” targets set by the State of Texas.

Private student housing was expanded in 2005 and a student life center will be opened in FY 2006. This expansion brings a need to strengthen solid student programming and support services to maintain an integrated student community and foster improved retention.

Affordability

TAMUG has been consistently listed as a “best buy,” according to U.S. News & World Report, as well as designation in “Get in, Get out, Get a Job.” Nonetheless, there is continuing concern about the rising costs of education and the increasing burden of tuition and fees. Beyond state requirements, TAMUG has dedicated $170,000 of university-authorized tuition for student scholarships. Every effort has been made to minimize student cost increases. New development initiatives will provide additional institutional scholarships.

Graduation and Retention Rates

Persistence and graduation are key concerns for the Galveston campus. As a special-purpose institution, a student who decides to change majors must often choose to leave Galveston. This population is reflected in our data showing that nearly 85 percent of incoming students are retained in Texas public higher education. Although these measures do include other public Texas institutions, it may not accurately reflect retention patterns of nonresident students (16 percent of our total population).

The number of degrees granted has increased from 152 in 2002 to 235 in 2004. Every effort is being made to continue this upward trend. Due to the nature of the marine and maritime industries, TAMUG requires a minimum of 128 semester credit hours to a maximum of 160 for a bachelor’s degree. Substantial enrollment growth began in 1997, and the number of degrees conferred appears to be tracking our enrollment growth.

New student orientation conferences have been modified to streamline services and deliver content more effectively at developmentally appropriate times.

Administrators are exploring the creation of learning communities and interdisciplinary courses.

Success of Developmental Education Students

TAMUG implemented a new institutional developmental education plan in 2004. The new plan redefined students participating in developmental education as both those who had not passed all sections of the THEA exam and/or students who were placed (by testing) in college algebra. The increased participation is largely due to the numbers of students enrolling in preparatory math. These students were specifically targeted as at-risk and in need of additional support. Students are offered a variety of services, including no-cost tutoring, student leadership in mathematics sessions, SUMMIT (a weekend math conference) and individualized counseling.

Strategies in this area are to continue to strengthen student support services and to implement mathematics diagnostic testing online.

Diversity

The African-American population has increased by 282 percent in the past three years. The Hispanic population has increased 14 percent in the same time frame. In addition, the percent of students qualifying for Pell grants has increased 5 percent. New faculty hires in marine biology, maritime administration and general academics have also achieved increased diversity.

The Galveston Aggie Technology and Engineering Scholars program has been instrumental in both recruiting and retaining economically disadvantaged students. This program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, will end in 2005 due to lack of funding. TAMUG is committed to future growth in diversity; however, additional resources will be needed to both successfully recruit a diverse student population and to adequately serve student needs. TAMUG’s ability to meet students’ financial needs has continued to decrease yearly.

Current and future strategies will be to:

  • develop and promote student exchange programs with other institutions;
  • continue to develop international and cultural diversity courses to meet core curriculum requirements;
  • seek an undergraduate mentoring in environmental biology grant from the national science foundation;
  • continue to maintain and enhance outreach programs; and
  • seek additional financial resources to support economically disadvantaged and minority students.

Academic Excellence Efforts

Strong efforts have been made to ensure high-quality education, especially at the lower levels where incoming freshmen can experience difficult transition issues. During fall 2004, freshman-level class sizes in mathematics and English were reduced to increase participation and facilitate student success. Even with strong support, incoming students are struggling both academically and socially. Near the end of the fall semester, a campus task force was put in place to further refine creating a campus culture of success.

Current and future strategies will be to:

  • secure abet accreditation for maritime systems engineering and pursue accreditation for marine engineering technology;
  • implement undergraduate research week in 2005;
  • implement marine science field semester program;
  • continue participation of national survey of student engagement task force;
  • establish open ocean/science courses for the university’s training vessel;
  • continue to strengthen writing intensive courses of the majors; and
  • continue to strengthen mathematics initiatives.

Research

TAMUG is ranked 17th in total research expenditures and third in expenditures per tenured/tenure-track faculty in the state (while ranked 33rd in size). An average of 50 to 100 funded research projects are active at any one time. Total project expenditures average $3.36 million per year over the last five years. Current projects seek to address critical issues such as seafood safety, trace metal in seawater, shoreline and wave modeling, wetlands restoration and dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico.

Funding is provided from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, the Sea Grant program (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the Environmental Protection Agency, the State of Texas and a variety of private foundations and industries. Most notable of these is the TAMUG-based Texas Institute of Oceanography, whose mission is to support Texas scientists conducting research in the marine sciences and to provide the research and technological base for the development of marine-related businesses in Texas and around the Gulf of Mexico.

Current and future strategies will be to:

  • continue to foster and establish partnership programs;
  • continue to dedicate institutional funds to supplement research excellence funding; and
  • fund future faculty hires for research expansion and depth.

Development

Dr. R. Bowen Loftin was named vice president and CEO in spring 2005. Campus development is one of his top priorities. He intends to develop a comprehensive plan to provide enhanced resources for research, scholarships, faculty chairs, buildings and infrastructure.

Current and future strategies will be to:

  • develop industry partners with assistance from the TAMUG Board of Visitors and the Maritime Systems Engineering Industry Board;
  • strengthen relationships with the Texas A&M Foundation; and
  • continue to develop and improve former student networks.

Fiscal Stability

As one of the smallest institutions in Texas, it is difficult to significantly reduce administrative costs. Texas A&M continues to provide invaluable resources to support administrative structures and provide efficiencies.

Operational Efficiencies

With recent budget reductions, every effort was made to reduce administrative costs without harming the teaching and learning environments of the campus. Operational efficiencies are achieved as a branch campus of Texas A&M. This relationship directly supports computing and information systems, financial aid, financial management services, institutional reporting, registrar functions, library resources, human resources, and services for international and disabled students.

TAMUG has consistently ranked first or second in the state in both classroom and laboratory use. Even though the utilization rate appears to have dropped due to a 2003 change in the calculation method, actual usage has continued to increase.

Current and future strategies will be to:

  • continue to improve websites and technology to deliver enhanced services to students, faculty and staff;
  • implement an improved energy conservation program; and
  • continue the commitment to merit-based pay increases to retain high-quality employees.