Home > Campus > Galveston

Galveston

Texas A&M University at Galveston Mission Statement

Texas A&M University at Galveston is a special-purpose institution of higher education for undergraduate and graduate instruction in marine and maritime studies in science, engineering and business and for research and public service related to the general field of marine resources. The institution is under the management and control of the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System, with degrees offered under the name and authority of Texas A&M University at College Station.

Excellence

Excellence at Texas A&M University at Galveston means that we provide a first rate education worthy of the A&M diploma and aggie ring, while developing personal qualities of leadership, ethics, integrity, and respect. Excellence also means that we provide a campus environment that is safe, clean, and vibrant – including outstanding student services, housing and food services. To achieve excellence as a world-class maritime center, we operate a growing fleet of small vessels available to all classes at no charge (similar to library services). Our Corps of Cadets develops excellence through close ties with the Corps in College Station and through Coast Guard approved training programs that are second to none. Excellence also means serving the broader interests of the people and industries of Texas through outreach and research activities. In research, excellence includes recognition as one of the premier coastal and ocean focused centers worldwide. Finally, excellence means working to achieve a campus environment that promotes diversity and respects all – staff, faculty and students, while working to ensure that we are responsive to the requirements of students, parents, TAMU, the Board of Regents and the people (and businesses) of Texas.

Faculty excellence recognizes the diverse expertise that individual faculty members bring to their multi-faceted role as Tier 1 educators. It requires first and foremost, that all faculty members engage personally with students in classes and in laboratories to provide the knowledge and skills that students need in today’s complex world. Excellence requires that education be the common goal, while recognizing that individual faculty members differ in their educational focus. Excellence in the faculty (and administration) requires a respect for the role scholarship serves in society to preserve, transmit and develop new knowledge without bowing to pressures to emphasize any one of these three crucial roles. Excellence requires that every faculty member act in a manner that serves as a role model for others – especially the students.

Excellence Metrics

Mission specific

  1. Maintain a quality in teaching, research and service in the area of maritime education that justifies retaining the status of a branch campus of Texas A&M University.
  2. Maintain a maritime program that prepares students for service in the United States Merchant Marine as Deck of Engineering officers.
  3. Maintain a significant regional presence as one of only a few special purpose maritime universities in the world. (We currently have students from 38 states and 53 countries, and 14% of our students are non-resident)

Enrollment Metrics

  1. Growth – we have seen a 37% growth in the past ten years.
  2. Closing the gaps – we are on target for all measures with our African American student growth is 350% (misleading a bit since it is a really small number still) and Hispanic student growth is 110% in ten years.
  3. Degrees awarded are up 40% - slightly above the enrollment growth.
  4. At risk students graduation rate is 68%.
  5. Most growth has been in MARA, MART, MARR, and MASE – all with extremely high demand in industry.
  6. Graduate enrollment has grown enormously in the past 5 years (over 100%).

Faculty Metrics

  1. Salary comparisons have improved as a percent of the national average.
  2. Number of endowed chairs has grown for 0 to 5.
  3. Research expenditures have grown from $3.2 million in FY01 to $5.2 million in FY09.
  4. Per faculty research expenditures ranks higher than all peers by size.

Cost Metrics

  1. Administrative costs have dropped from 14% to 10.5% (not bad for a 2000 student campus).
  2. Space utilization meets all Coordinating Board standards.