Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University

File:Texas AandM University seal.png
Type	Flagship state university
Established	1871
Endowment	$5.6 billion (Systemwide)
President	Dr. Eddie J. Davis (interim)
Provost	Dr. David B. Prior
Academic staff	2,500
Students	45,380
Undergraduates	36,580
Postgraduates	4,839
Doctoral students	3,452
Location	College Station , Texas , USA
Campus	Urban, 5,200 acres (21 km²)
Colors	Maroon and White
Nickname	Aggies
Affiliations	AAU, Big 12
Mascot	Reveille VII
Website	www.tamu.edu
Logo is a trademark of Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University, often called A&M or TAMU, is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas, USA. It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. Opened in 1876 as an agricultural and mechanical college, Texas A&M was the first public institution of higher learning in Texas. In 1963 the Texas Legislature changed the college's name to Texas A&M University to reflect the expanded roles and academic offerings of the university. Officially the letters "A&M" no longer have any explicit meaning, but they are retained as a link to the university's past.

Texas A&M's triple designation as a Land-, Sea-, and Space-Grant institution reflects a broad range of research with ongoing projects funded by agencies such as NASA, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research. Working in partnership with state agencies such as the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M has a direct presence in every county in the state.

Texas A&M offers degrees in more than 150 courses of study through ten colleges and is home to 18 research institutes. Since its inception, Texas A&M has awarded more than 320,000 degrees, including 70,000 graduate and professional degrees.

As a senior military college, Texas A&M is one of three public universities with a full-time volunteer corps of cadets and it provides more commissioned officers to the United States Armed Forces than any other school outside of the service academies.

History

Main article: History of Texas A&M University

1870–1900

Texas A&M was established by the Texas Legislature in 1871 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. The new college, the state's first public institution of higher education, would be a land-grant university, funded through the sale of public lands that the US Congress had donated to the state through the Morrill Act in 1862. Under the terms of the Morrill Act, the land grants should be sold at public auction to establish a permanent fund supporting a college where the "leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and mechanical arts...in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life."

Texas A&M in 1883

A state committee chose to establish Texas A&M in Brazos County, which agreed to donate 2,416 acres (10 km²) of land for the new school. The college opened for classes on October 4, 1876 with 106 male students, who were required to participate in the Corps of Cadets and receive military training.

Enrollment, which had climbed as high as 500 students, declined to only 80 students in 1883, the year the University of Texas opened in Austin, Texas. Although the legislature had originally envisioned that Texas A.M.C. would be part of the University of Texas system, the Austin college was established with a separate Board of Regents, leaving Texas A.M.C. to continue to be governed by its Board of Directors. Many Texas residents did not see a need for two colleges in Texas, and clamored for an end to the agricultural and mechanical school. Texas A&M was essentially saved from closure by its new president, former governor of Texas and well-respected Confederate soldier Lawrence Sullivan Ross. Ross made many improvements to the school, and enrollment soared as parents sent their sons to A&M to learn to be like Ross.

File:Militarywalk.jpg

Texas A&M campus in 1920.

1900–1950

Texas A&M graduates were asked to put their education to the test during World War I, and by 1918 49% of all graduates of the college were in military service, a larger percentage than any other college or university. In early September 1918 the entire senior class of A&M was mustered into military service, with plans to send the younger students at staggered dates throughout the next year. Many of the seniors were fighting in France when the war ended two months later. In total, over 1200 former students served as commissioned officers. After the conclusion of the war, Texas A&M experienced a rapid growth and became nationally recognized for its programs in agriculture, engineering, and military science.

Aggies again served in high numbers during World War II, with over 20,000 current and former students in uniform, with 14,000 of them officers, and twenty-nine reaching the rank of general. A&M provided more officers for the armed forces during this war than both of the military academies combined. Shortly after the conclusion of the war, in 1948, the state Legislature officially recognized A&M as a separate university system, distinct from the University of Texas system. The school's Board of Directors continued to oversee the system.

1950–2000

Statue of Maj. Gen. James Earl Rudder on Texas A&M campus

On March 26, 1960 Major General James Earl Rudder became the 16th president of the college, his alma mater. At the time, the college was still an all-male military college with a 7,500 student enrollment. Under Rudder's guidance, the face of Texas A&M greatly changed. During his tenure, the school was desegregated, women were allowed admissision, and membership in the Corps of Cadets became voluntary. Because of the changes he spearheaded, by the time Rudder died in 1970, the school had grown to more than 14,000 students from all 50 states and 75 nations.

The 58th Legislature of Texas approved of Rudder's changes, and officially changed the name of the school from the A&M College of Texas to Texas A&M University. The Legislature specified that in the new name of the school, the A and the M were purely symbolic, reflecting the school's past, and no longer stood for "Agricultural and Mechanical."

The new university gained further recognition in 1971, when Texas A&M became one of the first four universities given the designation sea-grant for its contributions to oceanographic and marine research. In 1989, the university was also awarded the title space-grant by NASA, in recognition of its commitment to space research and participation in the Texas Space Grant Consortium. Texas A&M is currently one of only 13 universities to be triple designated as land-, sea-, and space-grant. The school was further honored in 1997 with the establishment of the George Bush Presidential Library on the western edge of the campus.

Texas A&M received national media attention on November 18, 1999, when Aggie Bonfire, a popular student tradition, collapsed during construction. The accident, later attributed to an improper design and poor construction practices, resulted in the death of twelve current and former students; twenty-seven others were injured.

2000–Present

To assist in improving Texas A&M's rank among other public universities, university officials introduced the strategic plan Vision 2020 in 1997, with the goal of having Texas A&M be recognized as a consensus top 10 public university by the year 2020. Texas A&M made much progress towards these goals in the first nine years of the plan. With full backing by both the university administration and the Board of Regents, it is hoped Vision 2020 will contribute to A&M’s academic prominence.

In May 2001, the Association of American Universities selected Texas A&M for membership, thanks in part to strong support from Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin. The selection was also based on the depth of A&M's research and academic programs.

On January 5, 2007, Dr. Michael D. McKinney, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, appointed a 15-member search advisory committee to assist in finding candidates for the position of president at Texas A&M, which sat empty after former president Robert Gates became the U.S. Secretary of Defense. The committee will recommend candidates to McKinney, who will then finalize his recommendations to the Board of Regents. McKinney anticipates the search process will conclude by September 2007.

Academics

Profile

Texas A&M University has an enrollment of 45,380 students pursuing degrees in 10 academic colleges, which makes it the eighth largest university in the United States. The student body represents all 254 Texas counties and all 50 U.S. states, as well as 132 foreign countries. 86.56% of the student body are Texas residents while 26% of the student body are either of international origin or members of ethnic minority groups. About 47.3% of the student body are women, and 52.7% are men.

File:Academic Buildind and Sul Ross.jpg

Sul Ross Statue located in front of the Academic Building.

The university consistently ranks among the top ten public universities each year in terms of the enrollment of National Merit scholars. According to the College Board, the 2010 entering freshman class consisted of 46% students in the top ten-percent of their high school graduating class, 77% in the top quarter, and 90% in the top half. The middle 50% of the freshmen had an average SAT score between 1580 and 1900 (out of 2400) and an ACT score between 23 and 28.

The largest college of enrollment is the Dwight Look College of Engineering, which enrolls about 20.5% of the student body. The College of Liberal Arts and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences follow, enrolling 15% and 14% of the student body, respectively. The College of Education and Human Development enrolls 12%, and Mays Business School enrolls about 11%. Colleges with less than 10% enrollment include the College of Architecture, the College of Science, the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, the College of Geosciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Approximately 8% of the student body have temporarily chosen general studies as their major.

Rankings

In the 2007 U.S. News and World Report, Texas A&M University is ranked 60th nationally among all universities in the United States and 21st among public universities. The Washington Monthly ranks Texas A&M 5th nationally with criteria based on research, community service, and social mobility. Newsweek International ranks A&M as the 77th university globally based on "openness and diversity" as well as "distinction in research." Shanghai Jiao Tong University ranks A&M 50th nationally and 88th internationally based on factors such as quality of education, quality of faculty, and research output. The Times Higher Education Supplement ranks A&M 60th among the world's top 100 technology universities, 24th among the nation's top biomedicine universities, and 50th among North America's top 50 universities. Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranks Texas A&M as the 26th best value public university based on in-state tuition, and the 12th best value public university based on out-of-state tuition.

In addition, Hispanic Magazine ranks A&M as the 25th top school nationally for Latinos, while New Mobility magazine ranks A&M as one of the top 10 "disability-friendly" colleges.

Among individual colleges, departments, and programs, the Dwight Look College of Engineering is ranked 14th nationally according to U.S. News and World Report. U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks the College of Veterinary Medicine among the top five vet schools in the country. The Department of Chemistry is ranked 21st nationally by US News and World Report, and the department's Division of Inorganic Chemistry is ranked 7th. Mays Business School has numerous top ten rankings from a variety of sources.

Endowment

The Texas A&M University System is a minority stakeholder in the Permanent University Fund, an endowment established by the state of Texas. As of Fall 2005, the PUF principal was valued at $15 billion. The University of Texas System receives two-thirds of the fund, and the remaining third benefits the A&M System. In 2006, the system's endowment share totaled approximately $5.6 billion. A&M's endowment is the 10th largest in the nation and fourth among public university systems. At one time, the PUF was the chief source of income for Texas A&M, but today its revenues account for less than 10 percent of the university's annual budget. This has challenged the university to increase sponsored research and private donations. Texas A&M also benefits from a private endowment, the Texas A&M Foundation, that totals more than $1 billion in assets.

Research

Texas A&M University has 11,400 acres (50 km²) in Research Valley with 2,500,000 square feet (232,260 m²) of dedicated research space. Research funding during the 2004 year totaled more than $520.9 million, ranking Texas A&M among the top 20 research institutes in the United States, with funding increasing to more than $100 million from 1994 to 2004. A&M ranks 13th among all U.S. research universities in exchange agreements with institutions abroad and student participation in study abroad programs. Texas A&M also has a dedicated Research Park, established in 1982, consisting of 350 acres (1,416,400 m²), 10 buildings, dozens of corporations, and 500,000 square feet (46,450 m²) of space.

Texas A&M University is the leading university in animal cloning. Spearheaded by the College of Veterinary Medicine, A&M was the first university in the world to clone a domestic animal, a cat, due in part to funding from John Sperling. Texas A&M is the first academic institution to clone six different species: cattle, a boer goat, pigs, a cat, a deer and a horse.

In 2004, Texas A&M and its research agencies received nearly $400 million in new awards, an increase of more than $125 million over a 10-year period. The A&M System faculty and research submitted 121 new inventions and established 78 new royalty-bearing licensing agreements during the year, receiving $8 million in income from the innovations. The Texas A&M Technology Licensing Office filed for 88 patents for protection of intellectual property in 2004.

File:GiantMagellanTelescope-CarnegieObservatories.gif

Artist's rendition of Giant Magellan Telescope

Also in 2004, Texas A&M joined a consortium of universities to build an optical telescope in Chile. Consisting of seven mirrors each with a diameter of 8.4 meters (10 yd), the telescope will have the equivalent of a 24.5 meters (30 yd) primary mirror. With construction slated to be complete in 2016, the Giant Magellan Telescope will be the largest optical telescope ever constructed and ten times more powerful than the Hubble.

Texas A&M became the first U.S. nuclear research reactor to convert reactor fuel from a highly enriched form to a low-enriched safer form to reduce civilian use of weapon grade uranium. A&M, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, celebrated their success on October 13, 2006, completing a portion of Bush’s Global Nuclear Threat Reduction Initiative.

Research is not limited to graduate students, or professors, and many opportunities are available for undergraduates, including AggieSat, an organization funded and sponsored by the Aerospace Department to build modularized satellites in conjunction with NASA and the Air Force Research Lab. AggieSat is run by undergraduates, with approximately 80 undergraduate students representing 17 majors completing the work, with oversight and assistance from graduates. The group plans to build and launch several satellites within the next two years.

Notable research entities include the Texas Institute for Genomic Medicine, the Texas Transportation Institute, the Cyclotron Institute, the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, and the Institute for Plant Genomics and Biotechnology.

Worldwide

Texas A&M has participated in more than 500 research projects in over 80 countries and leads the Southwest with annual research expenditures of more than $550 million. A&M conducts research on every continent in the world and has formal research and exchange agreements with 100 institutions in 40 countries. A&M has established a strong research collaboration with the National Natural Science Foundation of China as well as with many leading universities in China.

Texas A&M also has two international facilities, a multi-purpose center in Mexico City, Mexico and the Santa Chiara Study Abroad Center in Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy. Additionally, the A&M System includes Texas A&M at Qatar, a branch campus located in Education City in Doha, Qatar devoted to engineering disciplines.

In the fall of 2003, approximately 3,820 international students came from 115 countries to attend Texas A&M, with the majority of those students pursuing graduate degrees. The same semester over 1,200 Texas A&M students, primarily undergraduates, studied abroad.

Texas A&M's Center for International Business Studies is one of 28 in the United States supported by the U.S. Department of Education. The university is also one of only two American universities in partnership with CONACyT, Mexico's equivalent of the National Science Foundation, to support research in areas including biotechnology, telecommunications, energy, and urban development. The university is also the home of "Las Americas Digital Research Network," an online architecture network for 26 universities in 12 nations, primarily in Central and South America.

Campus

Part of Texas A&M University's main campus, looking north from the football stadium, Kyle Field. At the center is the Academic Building with its copper dome.

Texas A&M University is one of the largest universities by area in the nation with 5,200 acres (21 km²) plus 350 acres (1.4 km²) for a Research Park within the main campus in College Station, Texas. The campus and its surrounding area is often referred to as "Aggieland."

The campus is bisected by a set of railroad tracks primarily operated by Union Pacific Railroad. The area east of the railroad tracks is known as "Main Campus" and includes many of the academic buildings, the Memorial Student Center, Kyle Field, and the student dormitories. The portion of the campus west of the railroad tracks is known as "West Campus" and includes most of the other sports facilities, the business school, agricultural programs, the veterinary college, the George Bush Presidential Library and the medical school. The area of West Campus along Kimbrough Boulevard is known as "Research Park" and includes a number of research facilities.

College Station is part of the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area located within Brazos County in the Brazos Valley/East Texas region of the state. The combined population of College Station and Bryan totals around 152,415 as of 2000. Due largely to the size of Texas A&M University, College Station was named by Money Magazine in 2006 as the most educated city in Texas, and the 11th most educated city in the United States.

Aggieland is centrally located within 200 miles (320 km) of three of the 10 largest cities in the United States and 75% of the Texas and Louisiana populations (approximately 13.1 million people). Aggieland's major roadway is State Highway 6, and several smaller state highways and Farm to Market Roads connect the area to larger highways such as Interstate 45.

Notable buildings

See also: List of facilities at Texas A&M University

Of the over 200 buildings on the Texas A&M University campus, the most recognized include the Academic Building, Albritton Bell Tower, the Administration Building, Kyle Field, the Memorial Student Center (MSC), and the George Bush Presidential Library.

Academic Building

Academic Building

The Academic Building stands at the crossroads of the campus. Completed in 1914, it stands on the site of Old Main, the first campus building, which burned in 1912. After the practice of polishing its copper dome was stopped, due to the danger the glare caused for pilots landing at nearby Easterwood Airport, the dome became green with the oxidation of the copper, much like the Statue of Liberty. Academic Plaza, which is in front of the Academic Building, is the site of a wide range of campus events, including Silver Taps.

Albritton Bell Tower

Jack K. Williams Administration Building.

George Bush Presidential Library.

Albritton Bell Tower

Donated to Texas A&M University and dedicated on October 6, 1984 by Martha and Ford D. Albritton, the Albritton Tower is 138 feet (40 m) tall and contains 49 Westminster carillon bells, the largest of which weighs more than , which ring every quarter hour and are be programmed to play music such as The Spirit of Aggieland, patriotic songs, and hymns.

Easterwood Airport

Located on the western portion of the main campus, Texas A&M University owns Easterwood Airport. Named after Jesse "Red" Easterwood, a former student who was killed while serving as a Navy Pilot, it provides multiple scheduled flights daily to Dallas and Houston.

George Bush Presidential Library

Dedicated in 1997 and operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is one of eleven Presidential libraries in the United States. Former President George Bush remains actively involved with both the Bush Library and the nearby George Bush School of Government and Public Service, frequently visiting the campus and participating in special events.

Jack K. Williams Administration Building

The Administration Building is the centerpiece of the main entrance to Texas A&M University. For many years home to all of Texas A&M's administrative offices, the Jack K. Williams Administration Building opened its doors in 1932 and continues to house several Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University System offices and agencies. Designed by Professor C.S.P. Vosper and built by Campus Architect F.E. Giesecke, the monumental classical structure's features include intricate Ionic columns, polished brass handrails along its marble staircases and stained-glass windows. The building was officially named after former Texas A&M University president Jack Williams in 1997 to honor his work in increasing enrollment dramatically while preserving the traditional aura of the campus.

Memorial Student Center

For more than 50 years, the Memorial Student Center has been a living memorial, a living room, and a living tradition at Texas A&M University. Because the building and grounds are a memorial, those entering the MSC are asked to remove their hats, and not walk on the surrounding grass lawns.

Texas A&M University Libraries

The Texas A&M University Libraries support the teaching, research, and outreach missions of Texas A&M through leadership in acquiring, managing, and delivering information in an environment that fosters learning and inquiry. In particular, Texas A&M is nationally and internationally recognized for many research collections, including: Engineering & Technology, Entomology, Military History, Nautical Archaeology, Naval Science, Oceanography & Hydrology, Range Livestock, Science, Science Fiction, and Transportation.

Student life

Activities

Texas A&M has more than 800 student organizations, including academic, service, religious, Greek, and common interest organizations. Students are encouraged to become involved in campus activities and organizations from the moment they attend New Student Conferences, Fish Camp, and Gig 'em Week, Aggieland's official week of welcome. An April 2005 campus survey found that 74% of the 412 respondents were currently involved with at least one organization, and that 88% have participated in a campus organization in the past. The term "The Other Education" is often used to describe the importance of student involvement in extracurricular activities on and off campus.

Texas A&M is home to the United States' largest uniformed student body outside the service academies with approximately 1,800 students serving in the Corps of Cadets. Prior to 1965, participation in the Corps of Cadets was mandatory for all Texas A&M students, and admission was limited to men only. Today, the Corps is a voluntary organization open to both men and women. Military service is not required, though many members participate in ROTC programs and are commissioned in the United States Armed Forces upon graduation. One notable group within the Corps is the Ross Volunteers, the oldest student organization in the state and honor guard for the Governor of Texas.

Student Rec Center

Intramural sports are offered through the Student Rec Center, a 373,000 square feet (34,650 m²), three-story facility. Intramural sports competitions are held throughout the year, and include flag football, volleyball, soccer, and other sports. The recreation center features multiple floors of equipment and courts, as well as an indoor running track, rock-climbing tower, and a natatorium containing one of the top competitive pools in the country.

Along with 500 other colleges and universities, A&M has been listed in the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the 2005-06 academic year by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

A prominent student organization is CARPOOL, a student-run safe ride program that provides free rides to the Bryan-College Station community. Begun on September 16, 1999, CARPOOL provides free rides to A&M students who are intoxicated and unable to transport themselves home. The CARPOOL volunteers have provided over 100,000 rides to date as of January 2007. CARPOOL organizers have also begun assisting other universities in establishing similar programs.

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Sbisa Dining Hall and south water tower sporting the famous greeting, "Welcome to Aggieland"

Residential life

Housing on campus is split between two distinct sections, a north side consisting of student dorms and a south side consisting of both student and Corps dorms. During the fall 2006 semester, about 20.5% of the student body lived on-campus.

Lining the north, dormitories span Walton Hall to Clements Hall. Primary entertainment revolves around Northgate due to its relatively close location across campus. Most dining services for these dorms are provided by Sbisa Dining Hall and the Underground. Individual dorms have their own traditions, including Slip – n – Slide in the halls and indoor camp fires, though none are endorsed by the university.

Dormitories to the south of campus primarily center around the Commons, a gathering center of student activities and dining services. Next to the Commons is the Quadrangle, dormitories containing members of the Corps of Cadets, training fields, and Corps Arches.

Student government

Now comprising one of the campus's largest organizations, the Student Government Association consists of 1,200 student members comprising 3 branches of government. SGA started as simply the leadership of the Corps of Cadets but was transformed into a “Student Council” in 1910. Splitting in 1949, the Student Senate (formally “Student Council”) maintained its role as student representation at A&M, while the new Student Life Committee formed to govern over student life. In 1972, a new constitution, similar to the U.S. Constitution, was ratified by the student body to form 3 branches of government, with a presiding Student Body President. Little has changed since 1972 within the SGA except its relative position within the official framework of the university.

Student media

The students of Texas A&M are served by The Battalion, which has been the student newspaper since 1893. The newspaper ranked as the 17^th best college newspaper in the nation by Princeton Review in 2007. An additional newspaper, Maroon Weekly focuses primarily on arts and entertainment and is read by both A&M students and Bryan/College Station residents. The Aggieland Yearbook, formerly known as The Olio and The Longhorn, is distributed in the fall semester, but documents student activities year-round. It is one of the nation's largest college yearbooks in terms of number of pages and number of copies sold.

The university is also home to a television station and two radio stations. KAMU-TV , a PBS member station that airs various programs, has been in operation since 1970. KAMU-FM, started in 1977, is an NPR affiliate that focuses on education and the arts. Popular programs include All Things Considered and Homeland Security Inside and Out. In addition, students run radio station KANM. Dubbed the "college station of College Station", KANM plays music of all genres around the clock, including indie rock, emo, punk, hip hop, alternative, metal, electronica, and much more.

Traditions

2005 Aggie Student Bonfire

Main article: Traditions of Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University has many traditions, some dating to the opening of the Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas in 1876. Traditions have expanded and evolved over the years; some were dropped and others adapted to changes such as admission of females, non-compulsory participation in the Corps of Cadets, and a massive expansion in the student population since 1970. These traditions can be serious, such as Silver Taps or Aggie Muster, or silly, such as the "silver crapper" ceremony performed for any dear John letters. Though most public events are university-sponsored and sanctioned, like the 12th Man, Midnight Yell Practice, The Big Event, and Final Review, others are strictly student-run, non-University sanctioned events, such as Student Bonfire.

Athletics

Main article: Texas A&M Aggies

Aggie Athletics logo

A charter member of the Southwest Conference until its dissolution in 1996, Texas A&M now competes in the Big 12 Conference (South Division) of the NCAA's Division I-A. The sports teams are known as the Aggies, and the school's colors are maroon and white. Due to the quality of its sports programs, Texas A&M was selected as the 46th "America's Best Sports College" in a 2002 analysis performed by Sports Illustrated.

Texas A&M University has earned 92 Southwest Conference regular-season and tournament titles, 21 Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, and four national championships.

2006 Lone Star Showdown football game

Texas A&M's primary rival is the University of Texas. In 2004, sporting events between the Aggies and Longhorns became known as the Lone Star Showdown. The most-watched event in the rivalry is the annual football game held the day after Thanksgiving.

Football

Main article: Texas A&M Aggies football

Since its debut in 1894, the football team has won 18 Southwest Conference championships, a Big 12 championship, two Big 12 South Division championships, and one national championship. The team has appeared in a total of 29 bowl games, winning 13.

Home football games are played at Kyle Field, an 82,600-capacity stadium that was built in 1927. Kyle Field was recently ranked as the fourth best college football stadium by Sporting News.

The football team is currently coached by Dennis Franchione. "Coach Fran" struggled with losing seasons in 2003 and 2005 but compiled winning seasons in 2004 and 2006, finishing 9-4 in 2006.

Basketball game at Reed Arena

Basketball

Main article: Texas A&M Aggies basketball

Since its debut in 1912, the men's basketball team has won 11 Southwest Conference championships, and two Southwest Conference Tournament championships. The team has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament six times, and in the NCAA Tournament eight times. Three of those eight NCAA tournament appearances include Sweet Sixteen appearances, the highest the Aggies have advanced in the national tournament.

On April 9, 2007, Mark Turgeon accepted the men's basketball head coach position vacated by Billy Gillispie. The women's team has been coached by Gary Blair since 2003. Both the men's and women's team reached NCAA postseason appearances in 2006, a first for Texas A&M since Big 12 play began in 1996.

Home games are played at Reed Arena, a 12,500-seat facility that opened in the fall of 1998. Before Reed Arena opened, basketball games were played at G. Rollie White Coliseum, which now hosts the volleyball team.

Texas A&M in fiction and popular culture

Three Texas A&M students have advanced to at least semifinalist status in the Jeopardy! College Championship tournament. One of the students won the tournament with $51,300 in 2002.

Students from the National Association of Home Builders chapter at Texas A&M appeared on the January 29, 2006, episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The Corps of Cadets Fish Drill Team has appeared in the movies A Few Good Men and Courage Under Fire.

The 2002 television movie The Junction Boys gives an account of Coach Bear Bryant's first summer as football coach at Texas A&M, while the 1943 war film We've Never Been Licked features Aggies fighting in World War II. Several parts of the movie were shot at the Texas A&M campus.

The final score of the 1955 Texas A&M vs. Rice football game is overheard during a radio broadcast in Back to the Future Part II. The final score was announced as 20-10 in the movie; the actual final score was 20-12. A&M football is also briefly mentioned in the 1982 musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, as the Aggie football team visits the Chicken Ranch brothel after a victory.

Fictional character Nick Stokes in the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he received a degree in criminal justice. However, criminal justice is not one of the degree programs currently offered by the university. In the television series Over There, character Bo Rider is given a partial scholarship to Texas A&M, but is unable to pay other costs and enlists in the Army to take advantage of the G.I. Bill.

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Snoop Dogg in "Pop Lockin II"

Texas A&M apparel has been worn by various musical artists, including Snoop Dogg in his appearance in the music video "Pop Lockin' II" created by the hip hop group West Coast Bad Boyz, and Brad Nowell, former lead singer of the band Sublime in the "What I Got" music video. On the Ramones Rocket to Russia album cover, Dee Dee Ramone is seen wearing a Texas Aggies shirt with Ol' Sarge on it. In the episode of Northern Exposure "Dinner at 7:30," Maggie O'Connell, played by Janine Turner wears a sweatshirt with the traditional block ATM logo on the chest.

In Act I, Episode 1, Season 1 of This American Life, Texas A&M researchers are asked to clone a Brahman bull.

Notable people

Main article: List of Texas A&M University people

The university has a base of more than 320,000 former students and one of the largest and most active alumni groups in the nation. The school has seen many of its students earn local and national prominence.

Seven former students have earned the Medal of Honor; Texas A&M is tied with Virginia Tech for the most honorees of any school outside the service academies at West Point and Annapolis.

See also

• Aggie Replant — Environmental service project carried out on an annual basis by student volunteers.
• Aggie Ring — Ring earned by Aggies near the completion of their studies at Texas A&M University.
• Aggie Muster — Annual event held to honor Aggies who have died over the past year.
• Fightin' Texas Aggie Band — Official marching band of Texas A&M University.
• Yell Leaders — Elected representatives who lead students at sporting events in yells.
• The Association of Former Students — Official alumni association.

External links

• Texas A&M University
• Aggie Athletics