Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi Facts for Kids

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	$21.3 million (2022)
President	Kelly M. Miller
Provost	Catherine Rudowsky
Academic staff	712
Students	10,855 (fall 2023)
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 (also called TAMU-CC) is a public university in Corpus Christi, Texas. What makes this university special is its location—it's built on its very own island, Ward Island! This has earned it the nickname "The Island University."

The university is part of the Texas A&M University System. It is also known as a research university, which means students and professors work on important studies and make new discoveries.

History of the Island University
What You Can Study
Cool Research and Projects
Life as a Student
- An Ocean-Friendly Cafeteria
Islanders Athletics
- Mascot and Nickname
- Team Success
Buildings on Campus
Helping the Community
Photo Gallery
See also

History of the Island University

The university's campus is located on an island surrounded by water.

Art students show their pottery creations at the university.

The school first opened in 1947 as a private school called the University of Corpus Christi. It was run by a Baptist church group.

In 1970, a powerful storm named Hurricane Celia hit the area and badly damaged the campus. The university didn't have enough money to fix everything, so it asked the state of Texas for help.

The state agreed to take over the school, and it became part of a public university system. Over the years, its name changed a few times. It was called Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi and later Corpus Christi State University. In 1989, it joined the Texas A&M University System and got the name it has today.

What You Can Study

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi offers many subjects for students to study. Students can earn different types of college degrees, from undergraduate degrees to doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees. The subjects are grouped into six main colleges:

College of Liberal Arts: Study subjects like history, English, art, and music.
College of Business: Learn about money, managing companies, and marketing.
College of Education and Human Development: Prepare for careers like teaching or counseling.
College of Engineering: Focus on building and designing things, like robots or computer systems.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences: Train to become a nurse or work in other healthcare jobs.
College of Science: Explore subjects like biology, chemistry, and marine science.

Cool Research and Projects

The entrance to the university and the Harte Research Institute building.

The Carlos Truan Natural Resource Building is where students study the environment.

Because it's on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the university is a perfect place for research about the ocean.

The Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science studies the land and sea using advanced mapping technology. They help track the tides along the Texas coast.

The Harte Research Institute focuses on protecting the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists there study the ocean's health, the coastal environment, and the animals that live there. They also help with oil spill cleanups and tracking hurricanes.

The university also has an Autonomy Research Institute. This is one of only seven places in the country chosen by the government to test unmanned aircraft systems, also known as drones. They research and test all kinds of self-piloting vehicles for the air, land, and water.

Life as a Student

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023
Race and ethnicity	Total
Hispanic	53%	53
White	33%	33
Black	4%	4
Asian	3%	3
Two or more races	3%	3
International student	2%	2
Unknown	1%	1
Economic diversity
Low-income	39%	39
Affluent	61%	61

Students at TAMU-CC come from many different backgrounds. The university has a Student Government Association (SGA), where students are elected to represent their classmates and make decisions for the student community.

Students also run their own newspaper, called Island Waves, which comes out every week. There is also a magazine called Islander Magazine.

For students who want to join social clubs, there are fraternities and sororities, which are often called "Greek Life." These groups do community service and host social events.

An Ocean-Friendly Cafeteria

The Islander Dining Hall opened in 2014.

The main cafeteria, called the Islander Dining Hall, is an official Ocean Friendly Restaurant. This is a special honor given to restaurants that work to protect the ocean. It was only the second university cafeteria in the United States to get this title.

To be "ocean friendly," the dining hall does not use plastic bags, styrofoam, or plastic plates and utensils. This helps reduce plastic waste that can harm marine life in the nearby bays.

Islanders Athletics

An Islanders men's basketball player during the 2022 NCAA tournament.

The sports teams at TAMU-CC are called the Islanders. They compete in NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of college sports. The teams play in the Southland Conference.

The university has 14 sports teams, including:

Men's sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, tennis, and track & field.
Women's sports: basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

Mascot and Nickname

The teams are called the Islanders because the school is on an island. The mascot is named Izzy the Islander. Izzy is a fun, blue character that represents the beach lifestyle of Corpus Christi.

Before 2022, the mascot looked different and was a person wearing a tiki mask and a grass skirt. The university's very first mascot was a fish called "Tarpie" the Tarpon.

Team Success

The men's basketball team has been very successful, playing in the famous NCAA tournament three times, most recently in 2023.

The women's cross country team is considered one of the best in the school's history. They have won the conference championship many times.

Buildings on Campus

Some of the important buildings at the university include:

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

Helping the Community

TAMU-CC is very involved in the city of Corpus Christi. The university runs a center that helps new businesses get started.

The Art Museum of South Texas is connected to the university. It is located on the bay and is a popular attraction for both locals and tourists.

The university also runs the Antonio E. Garcia Arts & Education Center. This center offers art classes and other programs for the community, especially for kids and teens.