TAMIU Spring Preview

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TAMIU Render Site

Spring Looks Busy at TAMIU
with Campus Additions, Upgrades

The Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) campus is on the grow for this Spring semester of 2024.

On the horizon are groundbreaking for capital construction projects for the new Health Science Education and Research Center and the expansion of the Western Hemispheric Trade Center. Both projects will see the campus grow by almost 80,000 gross square feet.

These state-of-the art educational facilities are the first two buildings envisioned by TAMIU’s new Master Plan , completed in Spring 2023. That Master Plan will be critical in guiding the University’s development and growth for years to come, said TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz.

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TAMIU Health Sciences Education and Research Center
Health Sciences Education
and Research Center

“Great universities are the result of careful, deliberative planning. Dedicating our resources to creating a Master Plan affirms the importance of a unifying vision guiding future building, land use, and infrastructure changes needed to reach goals, adapt to change, and align with our overarching Strategic Plan objectives,” Dr. Arenaz said.

Of these first two projects to be born from the Master Plan, Arena said they are strategic for the University’s continued growth.

“These two additions to our campus help drive program growth and expand impactful, teaching, service, and research opportunities. In essence, they help us continue to Go Beyond. The Health Sciences Education and Research Center will create an interactive clinical building that promotes learning and research within the health sciences, one of our fastest-growing study areas, through interaction with the public by TAMIU faculty and students. It will be a home for greater clinical/demonstration appointments for the community through public-facing communications disorders, kinesiology research, and community counseling centers.

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Western Hemispheric Trade Center

“The expansion to the existing Western Hemispheric Trade Center will create an integrated business building serving as a hub for all campus and community A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business activities. The expansion will house resources for local and regional business leaders and provide easy access and greater visibility for public-facing, and serving centers, increasing their use. It will also expand classroom and office space,” Dr. Arenaz said.

This Spring also sees several other projects and upgrades that will bring measurable changes to campus life. In total, 10 multi-million-dollar projects to improve campus life and facilities will be undertaken between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025 by TAMIU’s Office of Campus Safety and Planning.

Among these are a refreshed entrance plaza at the Kinesiology and Convocation Building, the opening of the City of Laredo/TAMIU Tennis Center, new research labs for Biology academic research, parking lot and curb stripping, continued landscaping upgrades and ongoing energy conservation activities to promote resource stewardship.

Spring Semester 2024 classes begin Jan. 16, 2024. Late Registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, and ends Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. There is no tuition increase for Spring 2024.

To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration .

TAMIU offices reopened for full services Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

A look back at TAMIU’s 2023 is also available with the University’s online Annual Report, available at https://www.tamiu.edu/annualreport/ .

More on the University’s story is shared at tamiu.edu and on the University’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube .

In the event of an emergency, contact University Police at 956. 326. 2100.

Campus News

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Registration Continues for
Spring 2024 Semester at TAMIU

Start the New Year right by investing in yourself and your education.

Registration for the Spring 2024 semester at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is currently underway online via Uconnect.

Tuition and fees for the Spring 2024 semester are due Friday, Jan. 12. There is no tuition increase for Spring 2024. The first day of class is scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 16. Late registration continues through Monday, Jan. 22.

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An online preview of the Spring semester is available at go.tamiu.edu/springpreview.

TAMIU offers nearly 100 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs. View TAMIU's Academic Catalog at https://catalog.tamiu.edu/ for a complete list of programs.

The Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration offers insight into registration with guides and resources specific to undergraduate and graduate students. The site also addresses advising, holds and includes a dynamic FAQ section.

Additional services include:

For more information about financial assistance, email the University's Office of Financial Aid at financialaid@tamiu.edu to learn about scholarships, grants, loans and student employment.

Take a peek at the Spring Semester at https://go.tamiu.edu/springpreview

For more information, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 956.326.2250, email registrar@tamiu.edu, or visit offices in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, suite 121.

 

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TAMIU Recognized for 12
Top Programs Nationwide

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) was ranked among the top in several rankings announced by online source, Intelligent.com, for 2024.

The online source utilizes an exclusive methodology to rank each assessed institution on a scale from 0 to 100 across six categories. Evaluations are based on quantitative measures such as academic quality, graduation rate, cost and ROI, and student resources. Top picks are those that are highly-regarded, affordable, and offer the tools and resources students need to successfully graduate and excel in their fields.

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According to Intelligent, recent studies show that bachelor’s degree holders earn 75% more than those with just a high school diploma. Moreover, the trajectory of earnings ascends with the level of educational attainment, showcasing a progressively larger payoff. The numbers are compelling: completing college positions allows individuals to earn a median lifetime income of $2.8 million, a significant leap from the $1.6 million median for those limited to a high school diploma.

Texas A&M International University Intelligent.com rankings include:

Intelligent.com provides research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides that include the best degree programs and information about financial aid, internships, and even study strategies.

Spring Semester 2024 classes begin Jan. 16, 2024. Late Registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, and ends Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. There is no tuition increase for Spring 2024.

To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.

Take a peek at the Spring Semester at https://go.tamiu.edu/springpreview

A look back at TAMIU’s 2023 is also available with the University’s online Annual Report, available at https://www.tamiu.edu/annualreport/.

More on the University’s story is shared at tamiu.edu and on the University’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

In the event of an emergency, contact University Police at 956.326.2100.

Dr. Mehnaaz Momen and Dr. Virgina Kuulei Berndt

TAMIU's Dr. Momen, Dr. Berndt
Celebrate Book Publications in 2023

Two Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) faculty members celebrated the publication of their books in 2023.

Dr. Mehnaaz Momen, profesor of Public Administration, published her book, Listening to Laredo: A Border City in a Globalized Age. The book's focus is on the voices and people of Laredo.

In her book, Dr. Momen traces Laredo’s history while examining the city's ever-changing economic and cultural infrastructure. Through a critical examination, she focuses on the existing interdependence on a sister city across a national boundary and the resilience of a border community that thrives amidst the ever-present challenges of a national narrative centered along the U.S. – México border.

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Momen, who initially moved to Laredo in 2002 after receiving a job offer from TAMIU, was enthralled by the city's historic feel and rich heritage but could not fully make sense of its urban growth.

“All the theories I learned in my Urban Studies program felt inadequate for the then-second-fastest growing city with its core of Spanish plazas, which remained underutilized, and the growing warehouses that surrounded the city. There were no delineable suburbs, and yet there was a striking north/south divide,” said Momen.

For Momen, living in a border city offers a myriad of challenges, particularly for those who hold preconceived notions of existing cultural stereotypes.

“I want my readers to see Laredo from the eyes of the people who live there by choice. We always hear about the dangers of the border, but the border is fragile, the border is beautiful, and the border is evolving. The border is full of possibilities, especially because it is always a little wild. For the people who live on the border, it was historically an abstract notion that had legal and political restrictions -- but did not obstruct cultural and economic exchanges,” Momen explained.

The narrative of Momen’s publication focuses on collected oral histories from Laredoans, focusing on the implications of daily life along the U.S. – México border.

A previously recorded author talk was recently digitally broadcasted and is available at https://www.facebook.com/NuestraPalabra/videos/867805488034597.

Also, this year, Dr. Virginia Kuulei Berndt, assistant professor of Sociology co-authored a publication, Body Art, with Dr. Brian Brown, professor of Health Communication at Montfort University in Leicester, United Kingdom.

A recorded video interview about Dr. Berndt’s latest publication is available at https://youtu.be/mljn0N99pdg. A full audio version is also available at https://youtu.be/oirmB95E7Rk.

Their collaboratively written work focuses on how body art can act as a catalyst for mental and physical health while also focusing on the cultural and historical components behind body art. Berndt noted that the publication aims to provide a radical rethinking into how tattoos and other body modifications contribute to healthy well-being and positive psychology.

“Body art can contribute to so many facets of physical and mental wellbeing. It can be used to cope with different illness experiences that folks have experienced…for instance, my first tattoos were done over surgical scars,” said Berndt.

She continued, “Sometimes, people will have their heads tattooed after chemotherapy when they have no hair. And then, when their hair grows back, they’ll still always have that memory that they have overcome cancer.”

Berndt noted that body art can reflect someone’s personality, act as a reflection of their aesthetic, or indicate community belonging. The publication also discusses the role of body artists and the importance of offering individuals a safe and well-regulated workplace.

Body Art is now available for purchase online via Amazon and other affiliate websites. Learn more at https://bookstore.emerald.com/body-art.html.

Spring Semester 2024 classes begin Jan. 16, 2024. Late Registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, and ends Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. There is no tuition increase for Spring 2024.

To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.

TAMIU offices reopened for full services Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

TAMIU Bayless and TAMIU Ceramics

'State of Things' Art Exhibit
at TAMIU Signals Semester Start

A new art exhibition, “The State of Things,” will help usher in the Spring Semester 2024 at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU).

The exhibition, presented in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Center Gallery, offers a historic first for TAMIU: the participating artists are all ceramics faculty members from throughout the sprawling Texas A&M University System’s campuses.

It opens Friday, January 19, and continues through March 9, 2024. An opening reception is planned for Thursday, Jan. 18 from 5 – 7 p.m.

Participating ceramic artists and their home universities are Misty Gamble (West Texas A&M University), Leandra Urrutia (Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi), Christy Wittmer (Texas A&M University-Commerce), and Emily N. Bayless (TAMIU).

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Gamble’s work is inspired by the human figure and its infinite capacity for communication. As a child, she was immersed in her father’s world of puppetry and the performing arts. In 1998, she was invited to be the first American to perform in Iran (since 1979) at the 7th International Puppet Festival. Her current work, life-size figurative sculptures, and installations of multiple figurative elements, focuses attention on issues surrounding femininity and challenges conventional standards of morality, normalcy, and propriety.

Urrutia is an object maker and storyteller based in Corpus Christi. Borrowing parts of the human form, she makes powerful compositions and installations showcasing her wild and unconventional creative sense. Her studio work illustrates compelling female-centered struggles between body and mind, especially as one experiences injury, healing, and the aging process. Her Mexican-American heritage, Catholic upbringing, interest in aggressive sports, and visits to China bring an unorthodox influence to the ceramic/mixed media sculptures she dreams up.

Wittmer writes that she creates sculptures that challenge expectations of function and notions of stability. “My intricate porcelain forms are records of time, skills, and the process of making. Broken objects are repaired because they are needed or valued. Found objects are inconsequential debris that are collected and given purpose. The time spent in making, repairing, and finding become an act of caring embedded in the art,” she has said.

Bayless works in clay and fiber. Her studio research practice is focused on the history of ceramics, gender equity, craft, and installation. Her work challenges the technical threshold of clay with pieces that are precarious, fragile, and stretch the stable scale of ceramic objects. She has expertise in hand building, wheel throwing, mold making, sculptural installation, kiln firing techniques, and surface decoration techniques. She is also self-taught in various weaving and sewing techniques.

For additional information on the “State of Things” Exhibition, contact Bayless at emily.bayless@tamiu.edu.

TAMIU’s Spring Semester 2024 begins Tuesday, Jan. 16. Late Registration continues through Jan. 22. There is no tuition increase for Spring 2024.

To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.

Take a peek at the Spring Semester at https://go.tamiu.edu/springpreview

TAMIU offices reopened for full services Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

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TAMIU Faculty Member Dr. Soto-Vasquez Part
of New Book Exploring 'Migrant World Making'

A Texas A&M International University TAMIU faculty member is part of a team of authors contributing to an innovative book exploring how migrants develop communication strategies in host countries to forge social connections, navigate assimilation, and maintain links to their originating cultures.

Migrant World Making (Michigan State University Press, December 2023) is edited by Sergio Fernando Juárez of Loyola Marymount University with contributing authors assistant professor of Communication Dr. Arthur D. Soto-Vasquez (TAMIU); Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, (Colorado State University), and Michael Lechuga, (University of New Mexico).

Migrant World Making explores the migrants’ process of constructing a home place by creating a network of communication tools and strategies to connect with multiple communities. As being a migrant differs from person to person, the edited collection’s authors showcase numerous practices migrants adopt to communicate and connect with others as they forge identities in globalized yet highly nationalistic societies.

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With varying aspirations and motives for seeking new homes, migrants build communities by telling stories, engaging in social media activism, protesting, writing scholarly criticism, and using multiple modes of communication. To match this variety, the book’s authors use a wide array of rhetorical, cultural, and communication methodologies and philosophies to describe what the experience of migration means to those who have lived it.

"This book is the culmination of four years of work among my three other editors, the chapter authors, and myself," said Dr. Soto-Vasquez, "We are so proud that we get to share a vision of the ways migrants use media, technology, communication, and storytelling to create homelands."

Dr. Soto-Vásquez, joined the TAMIU faculty in 2018. He earned his Ph.D. in Communication at American University. His MA in Media Studies was received at The University of Texas at Austin in 2015 and his BA in Political Science at St. Edward's University.

His research area is political communication and digital media studies. A member of the National Communication Association (NCA) and International Communication Association, he has been a summer Fellow at American University, School of Communication. He was a 2022-2023 Affiliate of the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life at the University of North Carolina and was the recipient of a Top Paper Award at the 2021 NCA in the Theater, Film, and New Media Division.

TAMIU’s Spring Semester 2024 begins Tuesday, Jan. 16. Late Registration continues through Jan. 22. There is no tuition increase for Spring 2024.

To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.

Take a peek at the Spring Semester at https://go.tamiu.edu/springpreview

TAMIU offices reopened for full services Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

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TAMIU's Celebrates Legacies
Forged With Its 2023 Annual Report

The impact and power of the legacies forged by Texas A&M International University’s students, faculty, alumni, and donors is celebrated in digital and print editions of its 2023 Annual Report, now available online.

“This year’s Annual Report, dubbed ‘Forging Legacies,’ shares the ongoing legacy of those who have forged or are forging lasting legacies through education, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy,” said TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz.

“We look back at the legacy and transformational impact that TAMIU has on this community and beyond: lives changed, opportunities realized, and futures measurably brightened… metamorphosis at every level,” Dr. Arenaz said.

To read TAMIU’s 2023 Annual Report or access a downloadable PDF file, go to: https://www.tamiu.edu/annualreport/.

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Among the Report highlights are:

Observing the 15th Anniversary of the Reading the Globe program, an introduction of key new University leadership positions, the guidance the University’s new Master Plan provides, a bold initiative between the United States Department of Agriculture, TAMIU, and Texas A&M AgriLife’s Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture, and new legacy endowments and scholarships.

Also included are new research grants totaling $4.4 million supporting legacy opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, and a look at the University’s outreach efforts. Featured student accomplishments include dedicated student engagement efforts aimed at beautifying Laredo, their sharing of research acumen, and their remarkable musical talents.

Alumni success profiles, reports on donor-driven support, and an insightful infographic profiling the historic freshman class, the largest in the University’s history, round out the publication produced by the University’s Office of Public Relations, Marketing, and Information Services.

TAMIU’s traditional print Annual Report edition has included a digital sister publication since 2012. The online version mimics the look and feel of the print version while being responsive across devices from smartphones to tablets. It also features hyperlinks to expanded content, including social galleries, web resources, documentaries, and videos.

Arenaz said the Annual Report is a celebration of a year of the University’s legacy, and an affirmation of legacies to come.

“By continuing to be affordable, accessible, and exceptional, TAMIU will extend this legacy for generations to come. I am confident that the continued investment in TAMIU by our students, our graduates, our faculty, and our donors and partners will ensure we continue to Go Beyond,” he concluded.

Spring Semester 2024 classes begin Jan. 16, 2024. Late Registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, and ends Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. There is no tuition increase for Spring 2024.

To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.

Take a peek at the Spring Semester at https://go.tamiu.edu/springpreview

TAMIU offices reopened for full services Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

TAMIU eLearning

TAMIU Begins Launch of Ultra
Course Experience This Spring

This Spring Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) will see the inititation of a bold, new offering in digital learning environments as the campus begins the soft launch of its Ultra Course Experience.

The transition is consistent with the University’s commitment to providing a cutting-edge and student-centered learning experience, said Dr. Pat Abrego, TAMIU director of Academic Technology.

“The soft launch will introduce a select group of TAMIU faculty and students to the new and enhanced version of courses with the Ultra Experience. The introduction follows a 12-month migration by TAMIU’s eLearning team of Blackboard course content to the innovative Ultra upgraded version. Ultra offers a substantially enriched and user-friendly digital learning environment,” Dr. Abrego explained.

During the soft launch phase, TAMIU faculty members will be able to use the current Blackboard version or seamlessly transition to the new Ultra Experience for the Spring semester. This strategic approach allows for a smooth integration while ensuring users can adapt at their own pace.

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Among features that students will find especially engaging are:

  • A user-friendly interface designed to ensure effortless navigation through courses and resources.
  • Enhanced productivity and progress tracking so students can visually identify tasks they have started, completed, or haven’t interacted with.
  • Improved time management tools to support organizing schedules and managing due dates.
  • On-the-go access to courses with the mobile app.

Full implementation of the Blackboard Ultra Course Experience is scheduled for the Summer of 2024. This phased approach allows TAMIU to provide ample support, resources, and training to faculty and students to seamlessly transition to the Ultra Experience while optimizing the benefits of the advanced features offered by the new platform. A series of professional development sessions for faculty and student workshops are already available online.

For more information, please contact the Office of Instructional Technology and Distance Education services at 956.326.2792.

Spring Semester 2024 classes begin Jan. 16, 2024. Late Registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, and ends Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. There is no tuition increase for Spring 2024.

To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.

Take a peek at the Spring Semester at https://go.tamiu.edu/springpreview

A look back at TAMIU’s 2023 is also available with the University’s online Annual Report, available at https://www.tamiu.edu/annualreport/.

More on the University’s story is shared at tamiu.edu and on the University’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

In the event of an emergency, contact University Police at 956.326.2100.

College of Arts and Sciences

TAMIU Offices Open
for Full Services

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) offices are open for full services.

Registration for TAMIU’s Spring Semester 2024 is underway online. There is no tuition increase for Spring 2024. A special preview of the Spring semester is available at go.tamiu.edu/springpreview.

To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.

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Additional registration services for students include:

Additionally, students in need of financial assistance can call or email the University’s Office of Financial Aid to explore options like grants, loans, and student employment. For more information, call 956.326.2225 or email financialaid@tamiu.edu. Visit online at http://www.tamiu.edu/financialaid/.

Spring Semester 2024 classes begin Jan. 16, 2024. Late Registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, and ends Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. There is no tuition increase for Spring 2024.

To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.

Take a peek at the Spring Semester at https://go.tamiu.edu/springpreview

A look back at TAMIU’s 2023 is also available with the University’s online Annual Report, available at https://www.tamiu.edu/annualreport/.

More on the University’s story is shared at tamiu.edu and on the University’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

New Year's Messages:

Dr. Pablo Arenaz - President

“Like most, I resolve to establish a work-life balance that enables me to realize the University’s mission, while celebrating cherished time with family and friends. That resolution will be challenged as the New Year is full of exciting opportunities at the University. It brings groundbreaking for our expansion of the Western Hemispheric Trade Center and the construction of our Health Sciences Education and Research Center, and the dedication of the City of Laredo’s Tennis Court Complex at TAMIU. New degrees are in development and a student-approved expansion of health services will launch. As a University, we are resolved to proudly continue the transformational impact we have on this community and beyond: lives changed, opportunities realized, and futures measurably brightened. Fortunately, that resolve is fueled by a gifted TAMIU faculty and a dedicated administration and staff, all focused on student success. With a resolve powered by such commitment, the New Year’s door swings wide with opportunities for all at TAMIU.

– Dr. Pablo Arenaz, President, TAMIU

Dr. Claudia San Miguel

“As the University’s new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, I am eager to move forward with some exciting new degree plans, encourage new research undertakings with our Center for the Study of Human Trafficking, and continue to provide our faculty with opportunities for professional growth and new research initiatives. This Fall we added 28 new faculty members, further strengthening our ability to deliver our mission daily. My hope and resolution for the New Year is that each day we find a moment of awe and inspiration that reminds us of the importance of possibility and encourages our paths forward.

– Dr. Claudia San Miguel, TAMIU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Upcoming Events

Visit Our Colleges & Schools

A. R. Sanchez School of Business
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Education
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
University College
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And Don't Forget...

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Continuing Education

TAMIU’s Office of Continuing Education (CE) provides opportunities for certificates, test prep, and enrichment through courses offered by learning partners. Courses can offer the chance to start a new career or add new skills to one’s professional toolbox.

CE courses can empower individuals, organizations, and communities to enhance careers, lives, and social development and provide quality, value-added, solutions-based programs that fulfill the needs of learners.

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CE also provides youth outreach and education through its Dusty’s Junior University Summer Camp and prep/enrichment classes for students. OCE also shares knowledge and resources to support pre-K through 12 students across Texas.

For more information, contact Susan Foster, director, at mary.foster@tamiu.edu or call 956.326.2765.

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The Julieta and Frank Staggs Academy of International and STEM Studies

The Staggs Academy, located on TAMIU’s campus, provides a rigorous program for highly motivated high school students to take University classes starting in their junior year. The Academy offers free tuition, fees, books, and a supportive staff to help guide students through the University process.

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For more, visit www.tamiu.edu/coas/theacademy/ phone 956.326.2860, or email academy@tamiu.edu

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Future Dustdevil Hub

Registration Hub

TAMIU News Hub