Texas A&M University–Kingsville facts for kids

Texas A&M University–Kingsville

Former names	South Texas Normal School (1917) South Texas State Teachers College (1925) Texas College of Arts and Industries (1929–1967) Texas A&I University (1967–1993)
Type	Public research university
Established	1925; 100 years ago (1925)
Parent institution	Texas A&M University System
Endowment	$115.7 million
President	Robert H. Vela Jr.
Provost	James Palmer
Academic staff	512
Students	6,092 (4,847 undergraduate) (fall 2022)
Location	Kingsville, Texas , United States 27°31′30″N 97°52′57″W / 27.5251°N 97.8825°W / 27.5251; -97.8825
Campus	Suburban, 1,600 acres (650 ha)
Colors	Blue and Gold
Nickname	Javelinas
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II – Lone Star
Mascot	Porky the Javelina

Texas A&M University–Kingsville is a public research university. It is located in Kingsville, Texas, in the United States. This university is the southernmost campus of the Texas A&M University System.

It was the first university in the nation to offer a special advanced degree in bilingual education. The university is known for its high level of research. It is also approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Texas A&M University–Kingsville is the oldest public university in South Texas that has been open continuously. It started as the "South Texas Normal School" in 1917. But its opening was delayed because of World War I.

The school officially opened in 1925 as "South Texas State Teachers College." In 1929, its name changed to "Texas College of Arts and Industries." This showed that the school was teaching more than just teaching skills. It was often called "Texas A&I."

In 1967, it changed its name again to "Texas A&I University." The university joined the Texas A&M University System in 1989. Finally, in 1993, it became Texas A&M University–Kingsville.

Academics

Student Life and Learning

Bell tower atop College Hall

Texas A&M University–Kingsville has a diverse group of students. About 6,357 students are working towards degrees. They come from five different academic colleges.

Students from 40 U.S. states and over 35 countries attend the university. The student body is almost half men (53%) and half women (47%). About 80% of the students are working on their first college degree.

Many students are from the Hispanic community in South Texas. About 69% of students are Hispanic, 15% are white, and 4% are African-American. Around 7% of students are from other countries.

How to Get In

Texas A&M University–Kingsville is a public university in Texas. It is part of the Texas A&M University System. The university follows the Texas "top-10 law." This law guarantees that students who graduate in the top 10% of their Texas public high school class can get into a public college or university in the state.

Some Texas universities can limit how many "top 10%" students they accept. But Texas A&M University–Kingsville offers admission to any student who graduates in the top 10%.

Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy on campus

Teachers and Professors

More than 75% of the teachers and professors have advanced degrees. These include PhDs or Ed.D.s. They come from over 41 U.S. states and many other countries. The university has about 16 students for every one teacher.

Study Programs

Texas A&M–Kingsville offers many different study programs. There are 56 programs for undergraduate degrees. There are also 61 master's programs and six doctoral degrees. These programs are in colleges like Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, and Graduate Studies.

The university has the only engineering, social sciences, and agriculture programs in its region. Its bilingual education program was the first of its kind in the country. It is still one of the best programs today.

University Recognition

Engineering Building as seen from West Avenue B

In 2006, the Texas A&M Health Science Center Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy opened. This was the first professional school of its kind at any university south of San Antonio.

Texas A&M University–Kingsville is recognized as one of the top Hispanic-serving institutions in America. It is seen as a model for helping more Hispanic students earn bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math.

The university ranks 43rd in the U.S. for bachelor's degrees given to Hispanic students. This is according to the Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine. The magazine also says the school ranks seventh in the nation for agriculture degrees. It ranks fifth for multi/interdisciplinary studies.

J. L. Nierman Science Hall

The university's fashion and interiors merchandising program is also highly rated. In 2013, it was a top-10 program among schools in the Southwest. It ranked 10th among all fashion programs in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. It was 72nd nationally.

Research Opportunities

The National Natural Toxins Research Center at Texas A&M–Kingsville has a large collection of venomous snakes. Researchers from all over the world come to study here. Their goal is to find important toxins in snake venoms that can be used for medicine. They also provide snake venoms for biomedical research.

The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute is famous for its research. It focuses on how to protect and manage wildlife. It is the top wildlife research group in Texas. They study things like animal habitats, diseases, and how to use natural resources wisely. Students and scientists work together on research projects.

The Texas A&M University–Kingsville Citrus Center is known worldwide for its work with citrus fruits. They attract scholars and projects from around the globe. They also train students in areas like biotechnology and entomology. The center is famous for developing popular citrus types, like the Ruby Red grapefruit.

The Wellhausen Water Resources Center helps with water conservation. It is part of the International Arid Lands Consortium. This group helps solve water problems in dry areas, including the Middle East. The South Texas Environmental Institute also works to solve environmental questions through research.

The James C. Jernigan Library is important for university research. It has over half a million books and many digital documents. It also gets more than 2,200 academic magazines. The library has a special room with rare books about Texas and the Southwest.

James C. Jernigan Library

The South Texas Archives and Special Collections is part of the James C. Jernigan Library. It has one of the largest collections of historical records in Texas. These records are mostly about the history of South Texas. The archives have official documents from many local towns, cities, and courts. They also have many old photographs and stories about the region.

Campus

Row of Palm trees leading to the Javelina Engineering Complex

Texas A&M–Kingsville is in Kingsville, Texas. This city is about 40 miles southwest of Corpus Christi, Texas. It is also about 120 miles north of Mexico. Kingsville has about 25,000 people. It is home to the famous King Ranch and Naval Air Station Kingsville.

The Kingsville campus covers 1601 acres of land. Most of the university's activities happen on a 250-acre main campus. This main campus has over 85 buildings.

College Hall after football victory as seen from Javelina statue on University Blvd.

The buildings on the main campus look like old Spanish missions. The school's first president, R. B. Cousins, wanted the campus to reflect the local culture. So, he decided that all buildings should have a Spanish Mission Revival style. Almost every building has red tile roofs, towers, and curved-gable walls.

Manning Hall was the first building built. Its eastern tower looks like the tower at Mission San José. The tower on the west looks like the tower at Mission Concepcion. The curved walls represent the Alamo, a famous old mission in San Antonio.

Besides the main campus, the university has other areas nearby. These include an agricultural research area and the TAMUK Rodeo Arena. There is also the Tio and Janell Kleberg Wildlife Research Park.

Lamps align alongside University Blvd.

Pharmacy complex with Business Administration building in the background

The university has a new plan for its campus. Details of this plan were shared in May 2010. It includes millions of dollars for improving buildings and adding new ones. There will also be new walkways, green spaces, and parking areas. The campus will also get new signs, lighting, and landscaping.

Texas A&M–Kingsville also has two large research farms. These are known as the Texas A&M University–Kingsville Citrus Center in Weslaco. Scientists there work to find new ways to help the global citrus industry. They also develop new types of citrus fruits, like the 'Ruby Red' grapefruit.

Poteet Hall is home to the Santa Gertrudis Academy High School. This is a high school for local students.

Student life

Courtyard of the Memorial Student Union Building, called the "MSUB" or "SUB" by students

Living on Campus

Most undergraduate students at Texas A&M–Kingsville live on campus. They stay in one of several large dorm buildings. Martin Hall, Lynch Hall, Lucio Hall, and Mesquite Village West house about 2,300 students. Students can choose shared or private rooms.

The university also has apartment-style residence halls and suites. These house about 1,200 students. Many dorms offer "Living Learning Communities." These are special housing groups for students with similar interests or study areas. They help students from different backgrounds connect.

These communities include groups for fitness, music, engineering, and agriculture. There are also groups for fashion, leadership, technology, and honors students.

The university recently finished a new residence hall. It has 600 beds in a suite-style setup. Another new residence hall is being built for students in the Honors College.

University Village residence hall opened Fall 2009

Mesquite Village West opened for the Fall 2011 school year. This building cost over $18 million. It has suite-style apartments with two or four bedrooms. Each unit has a small kitchen, living room, and one or two bathrooms. It also has special housing wings for fashion, technology, and honors themes.

Students can eat at various dining halls and restaurants on campus. The university runs several large dining halls in the dorms and the Student Union Building. A new dining hall can seat 378 students at once. Students can also eat at the cafeteria in Turner-Bishop Hall or Martin Hall. There are also restaurants in the Memorial Student Union Building. A new cafe is in the James C. Jernigan Library.

The Memorial Student Union Building (MSUB or SUB) is like the "living room" of the campus. It has offices for financial aid and student activities. It also has ballrooms and meeting rooms. The building has a Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and a Subway. Aramark provides all dining services on campus. The building also has a large university bookstore run by Barnes & Noble. The MSUB also has a game room with pool tables, ping pong, computers, and a video arcade.

Campus Activities

The university recently opened a new Student Recreation Center. This center is open 24 hours a day. It is about 36,000 square feet. It has two indoor gyms for basketball, soccer, and volleyball. It also has a large area for cardio and weight training, with an elevated track. It opened in April 2010.

The Steinke Physical Education Center (SPEC) is home to the university's Kinesiology Department. This building has many areas for student activities. It includes a bowling alley, racquetball courts, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a fitness center.

The school offers many activities for students all year. The Office of University Housing and Residence Life and the Office of Student Activities plan many events. These include Hoggie Days (student orientation), fall and spring festivals, and picnics. They also host free movie nights, sports, and Family Weekend events. The Homecoming Bonfire is another popular tradition.

Campus Media

Manning Hall and the KTAI radio tower

Texas A&M University-Kingsville has several media outlets. The South Texan is the school's official newspaper. Students write and produce this newspaper. It has been published continuously since 1925. Many famous journalists started their careers at The South Texan.

The university also has broadcast media. KTAI 91.1 FM is the school's official radio station. It has been on air for over 40 years. KTAI is Kingsville's only radio station. Students run it, playing music, news, and live sports.

The school also has a campus television station, TAMUK TV-2. It is shown on campus and local cable TV. Like KTAI, TAMUK TV-2 gives students a chance to work in TV. Many students have gone on to work in radio and TV across Texas. Both KTAI and TAMUK TV-2 are part of the Communications and Theater Arts Department.

Student Organizations

The university has many student organizations. These include academic honor societies, professional groups, and political clubs. There are also religious student organizations and many others. About 105 student organizations exist at Texas A&M University–Kingsville.

They are grouped into categories like academic, community service, and honor societies. Other groups include faith-based, spirit & tradition, cultural/international, military, sports, Greek, performing & visual arts, social & political issues, student government, student media, health & recreation, programming, and special interest.

Academic Groups

College of Arts and Sciences

• Javelina Broadcast Network
• Press Club

College of Education and Human Performance

• Texas Association of Students for Bilingual Education (TASBE)
• HKN Club

College of Engineering

• Engineering Student Council (ESC)
• Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI)
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• American Nuclear Society (ANS)
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Society of Women Engineers
• American Society of Civil Engineers
• National Society of Black Engineers
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
• Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists
• Society of Petroleum Engineers
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Marine Technology Society
• Association for Computing Machinery
• Information school

College of Business Administration

• Delta Mu Delta
• Delta Sigma Pi
• Association of Information Technology Professionals
• Society for Human Resource Management
• Financial Management Association

Greek Life

The university has chapters of several Greek fraternities and sororities. These are social organizations for students.

Athletics

Texas A&M–Kingsville (TAMUK) sports teams are called the Javelinas. The university is part of NCAA Division II. They mainly compete in the Lone Star Conference (LSC). They have been in this conference since the 1954–55 school year.

TAMUK competes in 13 college sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, and track & field. Women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

The Javelinas have been very successful in sports. They have won many conference titles. Recently, they won titles in baseball and football.

Football Success

The football team has had a lot of success. Some people call the school a "football factory." They have won 7 National Championships: 1979, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1970, 1969, and 1959. They also won 34 Conference Championships.

The university holds the record for the most professional athletes signed by NFL teams among NCAA Division II schools. This includes famous players like Gene Upshaw, Darrell Green, and John Randle.

Because of its success, many fans attend football games at Javelina Stadium. It is one of the largest NCAA Division II football stadiums. It has over 18,000 seats. Javelina Stadium has hosted the NCAA Division II Cactus Bowl every year since 2001. This game brings together the best senior football players from NCAA Division II. NFL scouts watch these players.

Other Sports

TAMU-Kingsville touring bus parked in front of the Lewis Education and Academic Center at Laredo Community College on April 30, 2012

The university offers at least ten NCAA sports. This includes five men's sports and five women's sports. The facilities include Javelina Stadium for football and track. The Gil H. Steinke Physical Education Center is for volleyball and basketball. Nolan Ryan Field is for baseball. Vernie & Blanche Hubert Field is for softball.

The campus also has facilities for tennis, soccer, racquetball, swimming, and other indoor sports.

The Kinesiology Department and the Office of Student Activities also offer fun sports for students. Students can play basketball, flag football, bowling, softball, and soccer. Many of these sports leagues are held in the new Student Recreation Center.

Traditions

Javelina class ring for 2008

Current Traditions

• School colors: The official colors are Blue and Gold. You can see these colors all over campus. They are on uniforms, flags, and school clothes. Students wear them proudly at sports events.
• Mascot: The Javelina is the official mascot. The mascot is a wild pig-like animal. It appears at official school events and games. The current mascot is named Porky III.
• Alma mater: The official song of the university is Hail AMK.
• Bell chimes: Bells chime from College Hall every 15 minutes. At the top of the hour, they ring to tell the time. At the end of the school day, the tower plays the Alma Mater.
• School songs: The official fighting song is Jalisco. The band plays it after every touchdown. The Javelina Victory March is played after every field goal or extra point. Other songs are played during games, often with the chant “Go Hogs Go!”

Homecoming Bonfire at Texas A&M University-Kingsville

• Tailgate party: Before each home football game, a tailgate party is held. This happens in the parking lot of Javelina Stadium. Thousands of fans attend these gatherings. Student groups and local businesses often join in with food, drinks, and music.
• Hoggie Days: This is the official and required orientation for new students. It happens before each fall or spring semester. These events help students and parents learn about university life.
• Mesquite Groove: Every year, the KTAI radio station hosts concerts. These concerts are held at the stage in the Mesquite Grove on campus.
• Miss TAMUK pageant: Each spring, the Office of Student Activities holds a scholarship pageant. Female students compete to represent the university at events. Famous actress Eva Longoria was a past winner.
• Freshman night out: Each fall, new students are invited to dinner. They eat with teachers and staff at a university dining hall. This helps new students meet their professors.
• Class ring: The school has an official class ring. Graduating students can order their rings. They also attend a special ceremony before graduation.

Fall Carnival on University Blvd

• Army ROTC: The university is home to the Javelina Battalion. This is an official Army ROTC program. Students who complete this program become officers in the U.S. Army. The cadets present colors at school events. They also fire "Old Smokey" (a cannon) during home football games. They have also hosted the Military Ball every year since 1975.
• Honor Code: Students at Texas A&M University–Kingsville follow the Javelina Honor Code. This code helps students be honest in their schoolwork. The code has five main values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility.

Students enjoy a Drive-In movie in the western parking lot of Javelina Stadium

• Honor Pledge: The Javelina Honor Pledge says: "As a student of Texas A&M University-Kingsville, I pledge to conduct myself honorably and to uphold high standards in all academic work, and to adhere to all of the values set forth in the Javelina Honor Code."
• Business Etiquette Dinner: During the fall and spring, students can attend a special dinner. This event teaches them formal dinner manners. It is a fun, formal event that is a key part of the TAMUK experience.
• Rush Week: This is how Greek fraternities and sororities recruit new members. During Rush, these groups set up stations on campus to share information about their organizations.
• Moon Festival: This yearly celebration happens in the Memorial Student Union Building courtyard. It starts the Asian Pacific Heritage events on campus. Visitors enjoy Asian food, visuals, and entertainment.
• Holiday decorations: Before the November Thanksgiving holiday, students, teachers, and staff help decorate the campus for the winter holidays.

Notable alumni

Eva Longoria

Robert Garza

General Ricardo Sanchez

• Mike Adams, MLB pitcher
• Elsa Alcala, judge
• Johnny Bailey, retired NFL running back
• Sid Blanks, retired NFL running back
• Michael T. Boyd, Emmy Award-winning costume designer
• Laura Canales, Tejano singer
• Juan Castillo, NFL Coach
• James Crumley, crime novelist
• Jorge Diaz, retired NFL offensive lineman
• Earl Dotson, retired NFL offensive tackle
• Ramón H. Dovalina, former college president
• Mike Dyal, retired NFL tight end
• George Floyd, played basketball for the school
• Carmen Lomas Garza, artist
• Roberto Garza, retired NFL offensive lineman
• Raquel González (wrestler), professional wrestler
• Darrell Green, Pro Football Hall of Famer, retired cornerback
• Don Hardeman, retired NFL running back
• Al Harris, NFL Cornerback
• Dwight Harrison, retired NFL cornerback
• David Hill, retired NFL tight end
• Jim Hill, retired NFL player, Sports anchor
• Armando Hinojosa, sculptor
• Rubén Hinojosa, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Tom Janik, former American Football League safety and punter
• James Jefferson (gridiron football), retired NFL Defensive back
• Levi Johnson, retired NFL cornerback
• Randy Johnson, American football player
• Eva Longoria, actress and model
• Maurice Lukefahr, agricultural scientist
• Alvin Matthews, retired NFL cornerback
• Jose S. Mayorga, Current Adjutant General of Texas National Guard
• Jermane Mayberry, NFL Guard
• Eddie Moten, AFL Cornerback
• Dwayne Nix, College Football Hall of Famer
• Ernest Price, retired NFL defensive lineman
• John Randle, retired NFL Hall of fame defensive tackle
• Richard Ritchie, College Football Hall of Famer, Quarterback
• Pete Saenz, mayor of Laredo, Texas
• Ricardo Sanchez, U.S. Army Lt. General
• Kimberly A. Scott, actress
• Heath Sherman, retired NFL running back
• Gil Steinke, NFL defensive back, longtime coach
• Carlos Truan, member of the Texas Legislature
• Gene Upshaw, Pro Football Hall of Famer, former Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association
• Buzz Williams, current head coach of the Texas A&M men's basketball team