TAMIU Hosting ‘Ike’ Guests from Sister Campuses

Texas A&M International University will also be home to as many as 300 students from sister campuses Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Texas A&M University-Kingsville as part of its response to Hurricane Ike.

Interagency contracts between TAMIU and other Texas A&M University System campuses designate TAMIU as their evacuation site. The University began receiving students from these designated sister universities late Wednesday evening.

Student guests are being housed in the University’s Kinesiology and Convocation Center. They have access to all University facilities and meals are being provided by the University’s Aramark Food Services.

Juan J. Castillo, TAMIU vice president for finance and administration, said the effort is consistent with the University’s role and crisis management protocol.

“In times of crisis, each System campus works to help the others and this is no exception. We have activated our Crisis Management Team here, have welcomed our first group of student visitors and are expecting more. The number of students we may receive will depend on the trajectory of the hurricane,” Castillo said.

The University’s Office of Information Technology is also hosting Web sites and acting as a data backup site for the two affected campuses, he noted.

Landfall for Hurricane Ike is predicted for early Saturday morning but estimates vary widely as to where the possible Category Four storm may arrive.

There are currently no plans to cancel TAMIU classes, Castillo added.

For additional information, please contact the University’s Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 326.2180, e-mail prmis@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu