It's not too late!

In September, a count begins at Texas A&M University San Antonio (TAMUSA) that will determine how many full-time and part-time students plan to attend the campus. This count will be watched closely by lawmakers and students alike. If they reach the 1500 student threshold, construction will begin on a beautiful new campus in south-side San Antonio. The problem is that this dream may never come true. It all depends on that count in September, and if that time passes and the number of students enrolled is not met, there is no guarantee that future funds will be put aside for the campus.

The current campus is located just north of Palo Alto in an old elementary school. While small in size, the university is moving forward quickly to help attract more students. Tuition costs for a full-time student at TAMUSA is nearly $1500 less than going to school at UTSA. The university has also added 5 new Bachelor degree programs and 8 Master degree programs to raise the numbers to 24 Bachelor and 16 Master degree programs. The university has also added a specialty program called TEAMSA for Alamo Colleges' students. This program is designed to make it easier to transfer more credit hours over to TAMUSA while still on route toward earning an Associates degree.

So what happens if the enrollment quota is met for this new campus? Well, the construction starts nearly immediately. Surveyors, architects, and engineers are currently working on plans for the new campus. It really comes down to--you say the word and we will start the work. Once they break ground, new buildings on the campus can open as early as the 2010-11 school year.

Once the $40 million dollars of funding is given to the campus, numerous businesses plan to start development surrounding the campus. The expectancy is that there will be apartments and shopping centers available for students and the community. You can see these plans on their website www.tamuk.edu/sanantonio.

If you plan to attend TAMUSA, please schedule time with an academic advisor. TAMUSA is an alternative for lower tuition and fee costs. Its establishment will only serve as a valuable addition to our city. So save your money, get your degree, and consider being a part of Texas A&M University at San Antonio's future.