CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University has received a $9.75 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture—the largest federal award in University history—to fund what promises to be the most advanced cattle feedlot research facility in the world.

The USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture awarded the grant for a center for beef cattle research and innovation through its Research Facilities Act Program. A required dollar-for-dollar match—with $4.875 million from The Texas A&M University System and another $4.875 million from other sources—brings the project total to $19.5 million.

“We are grateful to USDA for recognizing the value of this work and to the partners helping WT bring it forward,” said Robert Albritton, chairman of the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System. “The A&M System is investing $4.875 million because research that strengthens Texas agriculture also serves the state and the nation.”

The facility will bridge the gap in national research infrastructure by pairing 90 small research pens for scientific studies with 45 commercial-scale pens. Undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students will be able to train and research at the facility with leading faculty in the field, producing the next generation of feedlot employees, managers and owners.

“The magnitude of the USDA grant, funding from the A&M System, and significant donor support underscore the critical role the Texas Panhandle plays in the beef cattle industry,” said Dr. Neil Terry, interim president. “As the university serving the Texas Panhandle, WT takes great pride in its ability to support the industry’s future through an educational center and a research feedlot that will be the best in the world.”

Plans call for the research feedlot to include a precision beef cattle handling facility, a veterinary care and research hospital, an advanced technology feed and production center, and a metabolism and physiology center. New feeding, health and handling techniques can be evaluated with traditional and artificial intelligence-powered approaches that are designed to increase beef production efficiency and advance feedlot management practices.

Ground was broken in November 2025 adjacent to WT’s Nance Ranch. Paired with the research feedlot is the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation Feedlot Education Facility, which is under construction in part through federal community project funding secured by U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, which included $2.1 million in fiscal year 2024 and $1 million in fiscal year 2026.

“Beef production is vital to the Panhandle, to Texas and to the country. This facility will help WT address practical questions facing cattle producers while expanding the research and training the industry needs,” said Glenn Hegar, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “I appreciate Congressman Jackson’s work to support WT and the region through the separate funding for the education facility.”

Rep. Jackson said both the research and the educational missions of the combined facilities will help increase domestic beef production.

“This funding is an investment in the future of the Texas Panhandle and in the people who keep our agricultural economy moving,” Rep. Jackson said. “WT has the expertise, the location and the industry partnerships to put this investment to work. I look forward to seeing the research and opportunities this center will create for generations of producers and agricultural professionals.”

Texas Cattle Feeders Association, its members, University donors and other sources will match the A&M System’s $4.875 million investment in the facility.

The facility’s design was developed over the past three years with multiple virtual and in-person planning sessions with industry leaders, said Dr. Kevin Pond, dean of the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

“I am grateful that our community partners have worked so hard to make this vision a reality,” Pond said. “WT is now positioned to become a world leader in beef cattle feeding research and education, and that would not be possible without support from Congressman Jackson, the USDA, the A&M System, TCFA and many others.”

Investing in WT’s research feedlot will help the facility have state- and nationwide impact, said Ben Weinheimer, TCFA president and CEO.

“Cattle feeding plays a significant role in the economy and communities across Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Training the next generation of feedyard employees and conducting research to advance the industry is critically important for enhancing cattle feeding production practices and increasing beef production in our region,” Weinheimer said. “The funding provided by USDA helps us continue the mission of expanding training and research initiatives at the WT research feedlot.”

Planning for the new facility has been ongoing for several years, culminating in a 2024 land legacy gift of 42.84 acres adjacent to WT’s Nance Ranch by brothers and Canyon ranchers Mike and Gary Kuhlman, as well as the congressional funding for the education center.

The Engler Foundation gave $2 million to the project, and Champion Feeders gave an additional $1 million to the effort.

Other major individual and corporate donors making lead gifts include Merck Animal Health, GKB Cattle / Gary and Kathy Buchholz, Cobalt Cattle Co., Kuhlman & Sons / Mike and Gary Kuhlman, Dean Cluck Feedyard, Scott and Jacque Anderson, Plains Land Bank, Capital Farm Credit, Ag Texas Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Bank of Texas, CoBank, the V.H. Harmon Jr. estate, Bar K Cattle Co. / Karen and Scott Keeling, Karen and Warren White, Mc6 Cattle Feeders, BJM Sales & Services, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health, and an anonymous donor.

The Nance Ranch, located about seven miles east of Canyon, consists of 2,393 acres including the headquarters. Given to WT in 1971, it is used as a working laboratory for WT’s animal science program as well as the Semi-Arid Agricultural Systems Institute and the plant and soil science program, providing numerous research and teaching opportunities for faculty and students.

The research feedlot and education facility, which are being constructed southwest of the existing WT feedlot near Nance Ranch, further solidifies WT’s classification as a Research University by the Carnegie Foundation.

Since 2021, agricultural research funding at WT has increased by 618 percent, and research funding requests have surged by 1,266 percent and counting, said Dr. Angela Spaulding, vice president for research and compliance and dean of the Graduate School.

The planned feedlot is part of a concerted effort to enhance educational opportunities in agriculture at WT through the Center for Advancing Food Animal Production in the Panhandle and through the Feedlot Research Group, which offers opportunities for applied research in animal health and epidemiology; environmental science; meat science; and ruminant nutrition and management.

About West Texas A&M University
West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of about 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 65 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 41 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and three doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference; WT offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System has named Cady Auckerman assistant vice chancellor for advancement, effective Oct. 1. In the role, Auckerman will serve as the A&M System’s primary advancement services officer, supporting fundraising, donor relations and stewardship efforts across the A&M System’s 12 universities and eight state agencies, and will report directly to Executive Vice Chancellor Tracy Foster.

Auckerman joins the A&M System Offices after more than two decades in advancement and higher education leadership roles across Texas A&M University, most recently as chief of staff for the advancement and administration portfolio at Texas A&M’s Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine. There, she helped secure the largest academic naming gift in Texas A&M University’s history and built a comprehensive advancement operation spanning donor relations, alumni engagement, stewardship, events and executive communications.

“Cady has spent her career building the kind of donor relationships and institutional trust that only come from doing this work, and doing it well, for a long time,” said Glenn Hegar, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “She has already helped deliver one of the most significant gifts in Texas A&M’s history, and I’m confident she’ll bring that same judgment to advancement efforts across the whole A&M System.”

Auckerman’s advancement career spans the A&M System. She previously served as assistant vice chancellor for advancement and chief of staff for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, where she built a full advancement operation and oversaw donor programs, and as director of The Gardens at Texas A&M University, leading fundraising and donor engagement for the $12 million Leach Teaching Gardens. Earlier in her career, she raised significant funds for endowed scholarships as director of the university’s policy internship programs.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural development and a master’s degree in higher education administration, both from Texas A&M University, and is a Cornell-certified women’s leadership graduate and a certified mediator. Outside the A&M System, she has chaired the board of the United Way of the Brazos Valley, which raised more than $1.5 million annually under her leadership, and has served as stewardship chair for St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

“Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand how philanthropy can transform lives, strengthen institutions and expand opportunities for future generations of Texans,” Auckerman said. “I’m honored to take on this role and to keep doing that work on behalf of the whole A&M System.”

As assistant vice chancellor for advancement, Auckerman will support A&M System members in fundraising strategy and donor research, advise on stewardship plans and naming opportunities, and work with the Office of General Counsel on gift agreements. She will also partner with A&M System leadership on external funding from individual donors, foundations and agencies. The appointment comes as the A&M System begins implementing its newly adopted 2026–2031 strategic plan, which lists community advancement among its four core priorities.

About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M-Fort Worth and the Texas A&M-RELLIS Campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 184,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M University will help prepare officers to lead U.S. military operations in space for the next decade, giving the university a central role in developing leaders for one of the nation’s most consequential national security missions.

The U.S. Space Force has chosen Texas A&M to continue hosting its Captains Leadership Course through 2036. Beginning in fiscal year 2027, the four-week resident program will instruct up to seven cohorts of 60 students each, serving as many as 420 Guardians annually.

Space systems support military communications, navigation, missile warning, intelligence and operations across every branch of the armed forces. As that domain becomes more contested, the Space Force is building its own professional military education program to prepare officers to lead people, make sound decisions and integrate space expertise across the joint force.

“National security depends on technology, but it depends first on leaders with judgment and character,” said Robert Albritton, chairman of the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System. “The Space Force could have taken this mission anywhere. It chose Texas A&M, and we intend to justify that confidence.”

Texas A&M was competitively selected in 2025 and has successfully conducted six cohorts of the Captains Leadership Course this year. It is the Space Force’s first professional military education program designed specifically for captains and independent of Air Force instruction.

“Texas A&M has always understood that leadership is built through service, discipline and a commitment to something larger than oneself,” President Susan Ballabina said. “We are proud to help prepare Space Force captains for the responsibilities they will carry and to bring Texas A&M’s expertise to a mission vital to our nation’s security.”

Space Training and Readiness Command, known as STARCOM, oversees the course through Space Delta 13. Space Force instructors teach space readiness and joint military integration. Faculty from Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service, working with the Corps of Cadets’ Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership, provide instruction in leadership and communication.

“We have been honored to host the first six cohorts of the Captains Leadership Course, and we look forward to working with the Space Force to provide world-class instruction to many more Guardian officers,” said John B. Sherman, dean of the Bush School.

Before joining Texas A&M, Sherman worked extensively with the Space Force in positions with the U.S. intelligence community and the then-Department of Defense.

The leadership mission adds to the A&M System’s unusually broad national security portfolio. The A&M System is part of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the federal government. Texas A&M is also building a major engineering presence at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, while researchers across the System work in space systems, hypersonics, nuclear security, cybersecurity and other defense priorities.

“The A&M System is already helping secure the country through our work at Los Alamos, Pantex and across the defense and space sectors,” said Glenn Hegar, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “Now the Space Force is asking Texas A&M to help develop the people who will lead in space for the next decade. That is the kind of responsibility this System was built to take on.”

Texas A&M is one of six Senior Military Colleges in the nation and commissions more officers into the U.S. Armed Forces than any university outside the federal service academies. It is also one of a small number of universities holding land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designations.

The Space Force and Texas A&M formalized the partnership through a 10-year intergovernmental support agreement. Building on the success of the Captains Leadership Course, the two institutions may pursue other training and education services specified in the agreement, including mutually beneficial cost-sharing initiatives.

About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 175,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

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Watch the Stocked for Success Launch Video here

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — When Lisa Cantu needed professional clothing for her first interview as a college freshman, Texas A&M University’s Career Closet helped provide it.

Now, as student regent for The Texas A&M University System, Cantu is launching a campaign to help students across the A&M System find the same practical support.

Stocked for Success will highlight campus food pantries, career closets and other university programs that help students meet basic needs, remain enrolled and prepare for careers.

“Someone told me about the Career Closet before my first interview,” Cantu, a doctoral student from Mission, said. “They did more than simply provide an outfit. They gave me the support and confidence that I needed to focus on my goals and my future. I want students at every university throughout The Texas A&M System to know that help is available, and that asking for it is a step forward, not something to be abashed about.”

Organized with the Chancellor’s Century Council, Stocked for Success will use campus visits, student stories, video, social media, and regional events to showcase existing university programs and connect supporters with current campus needs.

“Every one of our universities is finding practical ways to help students stay on course,” Board Chairman Robert Albritton said. “Stocked for Success will help more students learn about those resources and remind them that asking for help is part of moving forward. The Board of Regents appreciates Lisa’s leadership and the people across the A&M System who make student success their daily work.”

Stocked for Success will build upon university-led programs rather than create a new centralized operation. Throughout the campaign, Cantu and the Chancellor’s Century Council will share campus needs, recognize people already doing the work and show supporters how they can help.

“A student should not lose momentum toward a degree because their refrigerator is empty or because an interview outfit is out of reach,” Chancellor Glenn Hegar said. “These programs provide practical help at moments when it can make an enormous difference. Lisa understands that personally and she is using her year as student regent to make sure students know where to turn.”

Cantu’s mission as student regent is clear.

“My preeminent hope is to make it easier for students to succeed, to stay enrolled, graduate, and strive towards an abundance of opportunities, to include great careers,” Cantu said. “Sometimes that starts with something small, such as enough food for the week or an outfit that helps you walk into an interview with confidence.”

For more information, please visit https://ccc.tamus.org/stocked-for-success/

About The Texas A&M University System

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 175,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

The post Student Regent Lisa Cantu Launches ‘Stocked for Success’ Across A&M System appeared first on Texas A&M University System.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Week after week, students across The Texas A&M University System met one-on-one with children in foster care to work through reading assignments, math problems and sometimes just a difficult day.

Now, the WHIT Program honors those students for their service and commitment.

Texas A&M University was named the winner of the Large University award for the WHIT Program’s Campus Champions Initiative for providing more volunteer tutors than any other large university.

Texas A&M University-Texarkana received the Small University Award, and the honors programs at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and A&M-Texarkana also were recognized for their participation.

The Texas A&M University System is the largest participant in the WHIT Program as part of the Chancellor’s Foster Student Initiative. Founded in 2018 at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the Initiative provides legal, academic, and financial support to former and current foster children at its member universities.

“The Texas A&M University System is committed to serving the state of Texas and empowering young leaders to do the same,” Hegar said. “Our collaboration with the WHIT Program is not only making a difference in the lives of the children who are tutored but also in the lives of the student tutors who are learning the skills necessary to become responsive and compassionate leaders.”

Earlier this year, Texas A&M sophomore Devkumar Banerjee was honored as the WHIT Program’s 2025-2026 Tutor of the Year, following Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s Clara Rodriguez, who received the same award for the 2024-2025 school year.

Jennifer Lisson, the program’s president and founder, presented Chancellor Glenn Hegar, Dr. Jonathan Kotinek of the Texas A&M Honors Academy, and Dr. James Hallmark, A&M System Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, with a $2,000 award at The Texas A&M University System Offices. Texas A&M’s Honors Academy also received a $500 award for recruiting at least ten tutors during the past academic year.

“One of the most powerful things about The WHIT Program is that tutoring foster kids goes far beyond academics. TAMU student volunteers don’t simply help a child in foster care with math or reading. They become mentors, role models, and often a steady source of encouragement for a young person who needs someone in their corner. And Texas A&M University at College Station has truly set the standard,” Lisson said.

Lisson and her husband, Jeff, established The WHIT Program in memory of her late daughter, Whitney Thompson, who was known for her love of people and concern for those in need. The Campus Champions initiative, sponsored by the H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust, recruits university students to tutor children in foster care.

For more on the WHIT Program, please visit www.whitprogram.org.

About The Texas A&M University System

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 175,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday appointed John A. Barton vice chancellor for business affairs, effective immediately.

Barton has served as interim vice chancellor since January, overseeing the offices responsible for facilities planning and construction, risk management, real estate, land management and System training.

“John has already been doing the job, and doing it exceptionally well,” Chancellor Glenn Hegar said. “The best part of today’s appointment is that we get to drop ‘interim’ from his title. He knows how Texas works because he has spent nearly four decades helping it work. He listens, solves problems and takes care of people and public resources. We are fortunate to have him.”

Barton brings 39 years of experience in state government, higher education and the private sector. His work has included capital planning, major construction programs, public-private partnerships, real estate, risk management and financial stewardship.

He began his career at the Texas Department of Transportation in 1986 and rose through a series of leadership positions, including district engineer, chief engineer and deputy executive director. Barton ultimately oversaw agency operations supported by an annual budget of more than $10 billion.

His work at TxDOT included major public-private transportation projects representing billions of dollars in investment, including State Highway 130, the North Tarrant Express, the LBJ Express and the DFW Connector.

Barton first joined the A&M System in 2016 as associate vice chancellor and executive director of the RELLIS Campus. He also led the Texas A&M Center for Infrastructure Renewal and helped guide the Commission to Rebuild Texas following Hurricane Harvey.

After serving seven years as a senior vice president at HNTB Corporation, Barton returned to the A&M System in October 2025 to again lead the RELLIS Campus. The Board appointed him interim vice chancellor for business affairs in January.

“Texas A&M gave me my start, and serving this System is a privilege,” Barton said. “The work is large, but it is never abstract. It is about creating safe places for students, protecting public assets and helping our universities and agencies deliver for Texas. I am grateful to Chancellor Hegar and the Board for their trust, and I am proud to continue working alongside this team.”

Barton earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 1986. He has been a licensed professional engineer in Texas since 1991.

His honors include the Federal Highway Administrator’s Public Service Award, the Governor Rick Perry Leadership in Transportation Award and recognition as a distinguished graduate of Texas A&M’s Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

About The Texas A&M University System

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 175,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday committed up to $90 million over three years to help A&M System universities honor the state’s Hazlewood promise while protecting the financial strength of campuses that serve Texas veterans.

The new Hazlewood Veteran Initiative will provide up to $30 million annually from the Available University Fund beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The money will help member universities offset tuition and mandatory fee revenue they forego when educating eligible veterans.

The relief will be especially important for regional universities, where unreimbursed exemptions can consume a significant share of a smaller operating and tuition base.

“Texas made a promise to the men and women who wore our nation’s uniform, and we intend to keep it,” said Robert L. Albritton, chairman of the Board of Regents. “But keeping that promise should not weaken the regional universities that serve so many veterans and military families. This initiative gives those campuses meaningful relief while protecting the education of every student who walks through their doors.”

The Hazlewood Act provides qualifying Texas veterans with up to 150 semester credit hours of tuition exemption, including most mandatory fees, at public colleges and universities. Eligible veterans may transfer unused hours to a qualifying child through the Hazlewood Legacy program. Benefits also are available to certain spouses and dependent children of veterans who are disabled, missing or killed as a result of military service.

Based on fiscal 2025 data, state funding reimbursed approximately 67% of the cost of exemptions transferred to children through the Legacy program. Exemptions used directly by veterans were not reimbursed, leaving public universities to absorb those costs.

“Texas lawmakers have made a substantial investment in Hazlewood, particularly through support for the Legacy program,” Chancellor Glenn Hegar said. “The Board’s action builds on that commitment. The state and the A&M System are partners in this. Our goal is simple: honor veterans, keep college affordable and keep our regional universities strong.”

The initiative does not change Hazlewood eligibility or benefits. It provides institutional support so universities can serve eligible veterans without shifting the unreimbursed cost to other campus priorities.

The Board approved funding of up to $30 million per year for three years. The A&M System may continue the allocation beyond that initial period, subject to the performance of the Permanent University Fund and future decisions by the Board and chancellor.

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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday approved construction of a new 1-million-gallon water tower at the RELLIS Campus, clearing another critical infrastructure phase for the Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute and continued development across the campus.

The $11.755 million tower will replace the 300,000-gallon structure built to serve the former military airfield. The existing tower maintains water pressure of approximately 51 to 55 pounds per square inch, which is no longer sufficient to efficiently support newer facilities and planned growth.

New buildings currently require separate pumps to meet fire-protection and irrigation requirements. The larger tower will more than triple storage capacity while providing the pressure needed by the Semiconductor Institute and other projects envisioned in the A&M-RELLIS master plan.

“Semiconductor research and fabrication require extraordinary precision, but they still depend on reliable basic infrastructure,” said Robert L. Albritton, chairman of the Board of Regents. “A water tower may not be the glamorous part of this project, but it is the part that makes everything else possible. Texas is serious about bringing semiconductor capability home, and the A&M System is building for it.”

Construction of the tower is scheduled to begin in September and reach substantial completion in March 2028. The Board’s action includes a new appropriation of approximately $10.58 million. About $1.18 million had been appropriated previously for the tower phase.

The overall Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute, infrastructure and equipment project has a budget of $205.5 million. The Institute building and related storm drainage work, previously approved by the Board, account for approximately $177.95 million of that total.

Construction of the Institute building began in March. Substantial completion is scheduled for January 2028, with occupancy expected in May 2028.

The Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute is being developed as a national shared-use facility to advance semiconductor materials, specialized tools and domestic chip fabrication. The project is intended to support research collaboration, strengthen the Texas economy and help restore semiconductor capacity in the United States.

A separate $15.8 million water-well infrastructure phase is expected to return to the Board for construction approval later this year.

About The Texas A&M University System

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 175,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday authorized up to $1.914 billion in bond capacity for fiscal year 2027 to finance approved capital projects, convert short-term commercial paper into long-term debt and pursue refinancing opportunities when market conditions are favorable.

The two resolutions provide issuance authority through Aug. 31, 2027. They establish maximum amounts and do not represent a single bond sale or a commitment to issue the full amount.

“Texas is growing, and the A&M System has to be ready to grow with it,” said Robert L. Albritton, chairman of the Board of Regents. “These authorizations give us the flexibility to build what our students and our state need while maintaining the financial discipline that has earned the System top credit ratings. This is not a commitment to borrow every dollar. It is the ability to act when the need is clear and the market is right.”

The Permanent University Fund bond resolution authorizes up to $750 million for construction, renovations, property acquisitions and other Board-approved projects, as well as the conversion of commercial paper into long-term debt. The A&M System does not currently anticipate refunding outstanding PUF bonds during FY 2027. Debt service will be paid from the A&M System’s share of the Available University Fund.

The Revenue Financing System bond resolution authorizes up to $1.164 billion. Of that amount, $971 million may be used for capital needs and commercial paper takeouts. An additional $193 million provides capacity to refund eligible outstanding debt if required savings targets can be met.

Refunding candidates include University of Houston System bonds associated with Texas A&M University-Victoria.

Revenue Financing System debt service may be paid from a combination of housing, utility, parking and transportation revenue; designated tuition and student fees; indirect cost recoveries; state higher education funds; Available University Fund revenue; and legislative appropriations for capital construction assistance projects.

Only projects previously approved by the Board of Regents may be financed. The resolutions permit one or more taxable or tax-exempt series. The timing, size, pricing, maturity structure and method of sale for each transaction will be determined based on capital needs and market conditions.

The A&M System’s outstanding Permanent University Fund and Revenue Financing System bonds carry AAA long-term ratings from Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings, and an Aaa rating from Moody’s Ratings.

About The Texas A&M University System

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 175,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

The post Texas A&M System Regents Authorize Up to $1.9 Billion in FY 2027 Bond Capacity appeared first on Texas A&M University System.

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Thursday approved the core curricula of A&M System universities after a comprehensive, course-by-course review required by Senate Bill 37.

The Board certified that the approved general education courses comply with Texas Education Code Section 51.315 and A&M System policy.

Senate Bill 37 requires governing boards to review general education curricula at least once every five years. The first review must be completed by Jan. 1, 2027.

The law directs regents to ensure that core courses are foundational to a sound college education, prepare students for civic and professional life, equip them for the workforce and provide the breadth of knowledge required by accreditation standards. Boards also must consider the tuition, fees and time to graduation associated with general education requirements.

“Not every worthwhile course has to be a core course,” said Robert L. Albritton, chairman of the Board of Regents. “The core is the foundation every undergraduate carries into a degree. It should be focused, rigorous and worth the time and tuition students invest. The Legislature asked governing boards to take responsibility for that, and we have.”

The Texas Core Curriculum consists of 42 semester credit hours and represents the common academic foundation required of most undergraduates at Texas public universities.

The approved university lists retain 1,254 course entries, add 26 and remove 350 from core curriculum menus. Some courses are cross-listed under multiple academic rubrics, so the figures represent catalog entries rather than unique classes.

Removal from the core curriculum does not, by itself, cancel a course or prohibit a university from offering it. It changes whether the course may be used to satisfy a student’s general education requirement.

“This was serious work, done campus by campus and course by course,” Chancellor Glenn Hegar said. “The result respects the distinct mission of each university while giving students, parents and taxpayers confidence that every course in the core serves a clear purpose.”

The Board will certify its compliance to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the legislative committees responsible for higher education. A&M System universities also will provide annual updates to the Board regarding future changes to their core curricula.

About The Texas A&M University System

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS Campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 175,000 students and reaches millions more through research, service and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

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