Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi facts for kids

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Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi

Former name	University of Corpus Christi (1947–1971) Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi (1971–1977) Corpus Christi State University (1977–1993)
Motto	The Island University
Type	Public research university
Established	1947; 78 years ago (1947)
Parent institution	Texas A&M University System
Endowment	$24.7 million (2021)
President	Kelly M. Miller
Provost	Ahmed Mahdy (interim)
Academic staff	712
Students	10,762 (Fall 2021)
Location	Corpus Christi , Texas , United States 27°42′44″N 97°19′31″W / 27.7121°N 97.3254°W / 27.7121; -97.3254
Campus	Island, 396 acres (1602555.14 M²)
Colors	Blue, Green, and Silver
Nickname	Islanders
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – Southland
Mascot	Izzy the Islander

Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi (often called TAMU-CC or A&M-Corpus Christi) is a public university in Corpus Christi, Texas. It's a place where students can do lots of research and earn advanced degrees. It's part of the larger Texas A&M University System.

A Look at TAMU-CC's History

The university's island campus

Pottery exhibit by art students in the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Plaza

TAMU-CC first opened in 1947 as the University of Corpus Christi. It was a private school run by a Baptist group.

In 1970, a big storm called Hurricane Celia badly damaged the campus. The school couldn't afford to rebuild. So, they asked the Texas government for help. The government decided to open a branch of the Texas A&M University System there. The private university had its last graduating class in 1973. Then, the state bought the campus.

The school's name changed a few times. First, it was Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi. Later, it became Corpus Christi State University. In 1989, it officially joined the Texas A&M University System. That's when it got its current name.

Who Has Led the University?

Here are the people who have been president of TAMU-CC over the years:

	Presidents of TAMUCC	Years as President
1	E. S. Hutcherson	(1947–1948)
2	R. M. Cavness	(1948–1951)
3	W. A. Miller	(1952–1965)
4	Joseph Clapp	(1966–1968)
5	Leonard Holloway	(1968–1969)
6	Kenneth Maroney	(1969–1973)
7	Whitney D. Halladay	(1973–1977)
8	Barney Alan Sugg	(1977–1989)
9	Robert R. Furgason	(1990–2004)
10	Flavius C. Killebrew	(2004–2016)
11	Kelly M. Miller	(2017–present)

What Can You Study at TAMU-CC?

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi offers many different study programs. Students can choose from 33 bachelor's degrees, 25 master's degrees, and six doctoral programs. These are spread across six main colleges.

The College of Liberal Arts has many subjects. These include art, criminal justice, and psychology.
The College of Business teaches about business.
The College of Education and Human Development helps students become teachers. It also has other programs.
The College of Science focuses on science subjects.
The College of Engineering teaches different types of engineering.
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences trains students for health careers. This includes becoming a nurse.
The College of University Studies offers a general degree.

The university also has a School of Arts, Media, and Communication. This is part of the College of Liberal Arts.

Research and Special Centers

TAMUCC Entrance and Harte Research Institute building

The Carlos Truan Natural Resource Building, named after Senator Carlos Truan, opened in 1993.

TAMU-CC has special centers for research.

The Conrad Blucher Institute studies geospatial science. This means they look at maps, locations, and how things are spread out. They also monitor tides along the Texas coast.
The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies focuses on the environmental issues in the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists here study wetlands, coastal areas, and beaches. They also help with oil spill response and tracking hurricanes.
The Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence & Innovation is one of six places in the U.S. that tests unmanned aircraft systems (drones).

Student Life at TAMU-CC

Student Government

The Student Government Association (SGA) is run by students. It has three parts:

The Executive Board, with student officers.
The Legislative Branch, called the Student Senate.
The Judicial Branch, with justices.

The Student Senate has different types of senators. Some represent all students, like an international student senator or a student veteran senator. Others represent specific colleges, like Business or Science. Students vote for SGA leaders twice a year.

Student Publications

Island Waves is the student-run newspaper. It started in 1993 and comes out every Thursday during the school year.
Islander Magazine is a news magazine for the university. It is published twice a year.

Greek Life

TAMU-CC has many Greek organizations, like fraternities and sororities. These groups offer social activities and community service. Greek life has been growing at the university since 1998.

Islander Dining Hall: Ocean Friendly!

The Dining Hall opened in 2014.

The Islander Dining Hall is special because it's an "Ocean Friendly Restaurant." This means it works to reduce plastic waste. It's only the second university dining hall in the U.S. to get this award!

The dining hall is located near Oso Bay and Corpus Christi Bay. This makes it important to protect the environment. The dining hall has stopped using Styrofoam, plastic bags, plates, and utensils. They use reusable dishes for eating there. They also recycle and use coffee cups and to-go plates that break down easily.

Islander Sports

Islanders men's basketball player Stephen Giwa during a game.

The sports teams at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi are called the Islanders. They compete in NCAA Division I sports. They are part of the Southland Conference.

TAMU-CC has 14 different sports teams.

Men's sports include baseball, basketball, and tennis.
Women's sports include basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball.

Team Nickname and Mascot

The nickname "Islanders" comes from the university's location on an island. Their mascot is "Izzy the Islander." Izzy is a blue character who shows the "coastal lifestyle" of Corpus Christi. Izzy was updated in 2022. Before that, the mascot was "Tarpie" the Tarpon.

Men's Basketball

The Islanders men's basketball team plays their home games at the American Bank Center and the Dugan Wellness Center. They have played in the NCAA tournament three times, most recently in 2023.

Women's Cross Country

The women's cross country team is very successful. They have won seven conference titles. In 2018, they won the Southland Conference title by a very small amount, making it a historic win!

Campus Buildings and Facilities

Here are some important buildings on the TAMU-CC campus:

Bay Hall
Corpus Christi Hall
Dr. Robert R. Furgason Engineering Building
Dugan Wellness Center/Island Hall
Mary and Jeff Bell Library
Performing Arts Center
Tidal Hall
University Center

How TAMU-CC Helps the Community

Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi works with the local community in several ways.

The Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center helps new businesses get started.
The Art Museum of South Texas is connected to the university. It's located on Corpus Christi Bay and is a popular attraction.
The Antonio E. Garcia Arts & Education Center offers programs and classes for the community. It especially helps younger students.