Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) is an ocean-oriented branch campus of Texas A&M University offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students enrolled at Texas A&M University at Galveston, known affectionately as 'Sea Aggies', share the benefits of students attending Texas A&M University (TAMU) campus in the city of College Station. TAMUG is located on Pelican Island, offering benefits for its maritime focused majors.
The campus's academic programs are ocean-focused. It is the home of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy and has a Navy-option-only NROTC unit on campus. (Marine Corps-option NROTC cadets must attend the main campus in College Station.) It also hosts a Coast Guard Auxiliary University Program (AUP) unit, which provides a pathway to commission into the Coast Guard upon graduation, as they do not have an ROTC program.
History
Texas A&M University at Galveston began in 1962 as a marine laboratory and as the home of the Texas Maritime Academy of Texas A&M University (which is now known as Texas A&M Maritime Academy). The federal government donated the first training ship, the Texas Clipper, to the Maritime Academy in 1965. In 1968, the campus was expanded with a donation by George P. Mitchell on Pelican Island. Land was donated again in 1993 with an additional , as well as on Teichman Road to house TEEX, the sailing and rowing teams. Since then, academics at Texas A&M at Galveston have been distinctively focused on the ocean; in the fields of marine biology, marine sciences and oceanography, administration, and engineering. Enrollment included 91 students in 1971.
Academics
Texas A&M University at Galveston is categorized as a dedicated college of Texas A&M University. For example, Marine Engineering Technology is a degree offered by Texas A&M University at Galveston, whereas Ocean Engineering is offered at the Galveston Campus, but administered by the College of Engineering. In 2021 President M. Katherine Banks initiated a "Path Forward" plan to reorganize the university. Part of this plan is to rename the academic college on the Galveston Campus to avoid confusion.
Undergraduate programs
Undergraduate science programs offered by TAMUG include Majors in marine biology, marine science, and others. For those wishing to pursue programs in liberal arts and social sciences, students can pursue the major in maritime studies. Engineering programs offered by Texas A&M University at Galveston include marine engineering technology and offshore coastal and systems engineering.
The College of Engineering is also present on the Galveston Campus. Many freshmen are students in the Engineering at Galveston program, which allows College Station engineering freshmen to complete their required coursework at TAMUG. This coursework consists of two math, two natural science, and two engineering courses. Once completed, Engineering at Galveston students matriculate into their degree program through the Entry to a Major (ETAM) process (either in College Station, Galveston, or McAllen). After ETAM, students may pursue Ocean Engineering, Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology, and Computer Science in Galveston.
The Texas A&M Maritime Academy offers a unique program that trains licensed United States mariners as either third mates or third assistant engineers through the maritime transportation, marine engineering technology, or master of maritime administration and logistics license options.
Graduate programs
Graduate programs at TAMUG are administered by the Departments of Marine Biology, Marine Sciences, and Maritime Administration. Programs include PhD or master's degrees (thesis or non-thesis).
In addition to the local graduate programs administered by the Galveston campus, many faculty hold joint graduate or joint appointments in other departments at Texas A&M University at College Station (TAMU). This allows graduate students to enroll in PhD programs at TAMU yet complete the PhD in residence on the Galveston campus with the appropriate faculty advisor.
Student life
Enrollment at TAMUG increased from 551 in 1987 to more than 2000 students in 2012. Students originate from 49 different states and the District of Columbia. Science and engineering majors amount to 75% of the student body; 43% are women, and about 50% reported themselves to have been in the top 20% of their high school classes. About 57% plan to pursue a master's or PhD degree and about 65% receive some type of financial aid.
On-campus housing is available and may be required for some students. The campus offers volleyball courts, a gym, a pool, tennis courts, an indoor basketball court, a student center, and many other amenities. Changes and modernizations are happening fast, with recently added residential dormitories and a new Corps of Cadets dorm scheduled for completion in early 2016.
Texas A&M Maritime Academy
right|160x160pxThe Texas A&M Maritime Academy' (TMA) is one of only seven United States maritime academies that train U.S. Merchant Marine officers, and the only one located on the Gulf of Mexico. The program provides an opportunity for cadets to learn how to maintain and operate unlimited-tonnage ocean-going vessels. Students sail aboard the TMA training ship and commercial ships during three summer cruises to gain practical experience in navigation, seamanship, and engineering operations. In addition, the cadets receive classroom instruction and hands-on training during the regular school semester. Training facilities include the training ship, simulators, diesel and steam labs, various small boats, davits, and other hands-on resources. At the culmination of their study, license option or strategic sealift officer program cadets are tested to become licensed as unlimited-tonnage third mates or third engineers (officers) in the U.S. Merchant Marine. This is per Title 46 Code of the Code of Federal Regulation Part 11. The academy also commissions reserve and active duty naval officers.
Currently, cadets/midshipmen do the entire program at the Galveston campus, but participate in two march-ins at Kyle Field per year with the College Station Corps of Cadets. The license ceremony and commencement take place at the Galveston Island Convention Center (2015).
Superintendents
Since the passage of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970, the position of superintendent a maritime academy is commissioned as a rear admiral (upper half) in the United States Maritime Service, which is under the United States Maritime Administration per Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
{| class="wikitable"
!Name
!Rank USMS
!From
!To
!Military service
!Merchant Marine Service
!Notes
|-
|Bennett M. Dodson
|CPT, USN (ret)
|1962
|1968
|CPT, USN (ret)
|Unknown
|
|-
|James D. Craik
|RADM, USCG (ret)
|1968
|1971
|RADM, USCG (ret)
|Unknown
|
|-
|John Smith
|RADM, USMS
|1971
|1978
|RADM, USN (ret)
|Unknown
|
|-
|Kenneth G. Haynes
|RADM, USMS
|1978
|1983
|Unknown
|Unknown
|
|-
|William H. Clayton
|RADM, USMS
|1983
|1984
|Unknown
|Unknown
|Acting
|-
|Ralph G. Davis
|RADM, USMS
|1984
|1988
|CDR, USN
|Unknown
|USNA alumnus
|-
|James M. McCloy
|RADM, USMS
|1988
|1989
|Unknown
|Unknown
|Interim
|-
|William E. Evans
|RADM, USMS
|1989
|1996
|Unknown
|Unknown
|
|-
|William T. McMullen
|RADM, USMS
|1996
|2000
|Unknown
|Unknown
|
|-
|Richard Lukens
|RADM, USMS
|2000
|2004
|Unknown
|Unknown
|
|-
|James M. McCloy
|RADM, USMS
|2004
|2007
|Unknown
|Unknown
|
|-
|Allen B. Worley
|RADM, USMS
|2007
|2009
|Unknown
|Unknown
|
|-
|William W. Pickavance
|RADM, USMS
|2009
|2012
|RADM, USN (ret)
|Deck Officer AGT
|Alumni
|-
|Robert Smith III
|RADM, USMS
|2012
|2017
|RADM, USN (ret)
|Unknown
|Alumni
|-
|Michael Rodriguez
|RADM, USMS
|2017
|2019
|Naval Reserve Officer
|Captain AGT
|Kings Point Alumni
|-
|Michael E. Fossum
|RADM, USMS
|2019
|pres
|COL, USAF (ret)
|Unknown
|Alumni (TAMU)
|}
Programs
Merchant Marine Licensing Program
This program includes both "deck cadets" pursuing a major in marine transportation or a master of maritime administration and logistics and "engine cadets" pursuing a major in marine engineering technology. License option cadets make up the majority of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. These cadets participate in all functions of the Corps of Midshipman, along with various training activities, three summer training cruises, weekly maintenance, and in-port watch-standing activities during the semesters. These midshipman make up the second-most popular program within the academy and participate in both license program training activities and NROTC training activities and take additional naval science courses.
Navy Reserve Officer Training Program
These midshipmen are competing for a commission as a naval officer but are not earning a merchant marine license. They participate within the Corps of Midshipmen, yet do not participate in most of the licensing program training. NROTC midshipmen are able to major in any degree offered at the campus.
Corps of Midshipmen
<!-- Deleted image removed: thumb|The Texas Maritime Academy of Texas A&M University, Corps of Midshipmen. 1968 -->
All students in the Texas A&M Maritime Academy are required to be in the Corps of Midshipmen. This is a regimented program in accordance with Title 46 Part 310 of the Code of Federal Regulations that is structured to provide discipline, leadership, team building, and a professional learning environment. The TMA Corps of Midshipmen has a unique heritage, with a blend of tradition and customs that originate from its historical foundation with the TAMU Corps of Cadets.
Midshipmen stand morning formations, room inspections, mandatory study periods during call to quarters Sunday through Thursday, and march periodically at events.
The students who make up the Corps of Midshipmen are either referred to as midshipmen or cadets, depending on the program in which they are involved. Within the overall student body, they are referred to as the Corps of Midshipmen.
Cadet/midshipman uniforms have evolved over the years and are similar to naval uniforms. The standard uniform worn day-to-day is the midshipman khaki uniform, similar to service khakis of the U.S. Navy. Other uniforms include the midshipman service dress whites for graduation or special ceremonies, midshipman summer whites, academy blue-coveralls for maintenance, and salt & peppers. SSO and NROTC midshipman wear the Navy working uniform to training events, as well.
The academy has several unique uniform components. Freshman and sophomores wear a black belt with a blue cover. Juniors and seniors wear a white belt with a black cover. Corresponding collar devices and belt buckles are also worn depending on class and rank. Seniors are also allowed to wear a "senior fleece" with a TMA patch in place of the navy Eisenhower jacket. Seniors who have also passed license are authorized to wear a coveted maroon A&M cover, handed out by the superintendent (2015).
- S.S. Cape Gibson — 2009–2012
- TS General Rudder, ex-TV Kings Pointer — January 2012 – April 2023
- TS Kennedy – April 2023 - present
thumb|USNS Cape Gibson as the training ship in 2011: Other training vessels are seen in the small boat basin. The gravity davit lifeboat trainer is seen on the left.
In 2009, the academy acquired SS Cape Gibson.
- R/V Trident: The research vessel is a 70-ft catamaran that serves the maritime academy as an underway terrestrial, engineering, and electronic navigation lab. She also serves other majors at TAMUG for underwater research and exploration.
- Ranger is a 25.5-ft push boat built to scale. The vessel is used for tug and tow classes, using TAMUG 100 & 200 barges that are also built to scale to simulate liquid cargo barges.
The academy has a small boat basin with various other small boats, such as jet-drive fast-rescue boats, motor lifeboats, outboard motor boats, and twin-screw vessels used for ship handling, engineering, and general seamanship training.
Traditions
Texas A&M University has many time-honored traditions, many of which began when the Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas was established in 1876. Traditions continued to evolve as service in the Corps was no longer a requirement, giving a new generation of students an opportunity to alter traditions. Such traditions involve university-sponsored events such as Silver Taps honoring students who have died, to student-run events, which include the Student Bonfire.
Students attending TAMUG are known as Sea Aggies. The same Aggie ring that TAMU-College Station wear is offered to all students who have 90 credit hours (45 with the university) at TAMUG. Sea Aggies may also purchase tickets for all sporting events, fine arts performances, and concerts held in College Station.
In 2023, an 8-foot tall Aggie Ring statue was installed on campus, across from the Bracewell Clock Tower. The statue depicts two Aggie Rings: A small-size ring (often referred to as the Female Ring) bearing the 1975 class year above a large-size ring (the Male Ring) from 1966. The two rings mark two important years: 1966 for the first graduating class of Texas A&M University at Galveston, and 1975 for the first graduating class that admitted women and Black students. The statue is a sister to the 12-foot tall Aggie Ring replica at The Association of Former Students' Alumni Center, being designed and installed by the same foundry.
Starting in the 1970s, the students of Texas A&M at Galveston created their own Aggie Bonfire, mirroring the traditions of the College Station student body. However, the Galveston campus ceased observance of the tradition after the structure in College Station collapsed on November 18, 1999, killing 12 students. <!-- (See Aggie Bonfire for more on the 1999 Bonfire Collapse.) -->
Traditions unique to the Galveston campus include underclassmen students rubbing or placing coins upon the anchor of the TS Texas Clipper in front of the library prior to an exam for good luck. To walk beneath the arc of the anchor's chain is reserved as a senior privilege. Stepping on "Senior Knoll" is also reserved only for upperclassman.
Midnight Yell Practice is held on Thursday nights instead of the traditional Friday. This allows those attending the game in College Station to have time to make the two-hour drive on Friday. A student can subsequently go to a second Midnight Yell in College Station.
After disappearing in the late '70s, the Texas Maritime Academy band was resurrected in the fall of 2010. Under the guidance of Cmdr. James Sterling '71 US Navy (retired), who originated the TMA band as a cadet, the newly established band debuted at the 2010 Parent's Day Pass in Review ceremony. The TMA band has since been reorganized as the Sea Aggie Band, a student-led organization under the guidance of Cmdr. Sterling '71. The Sea Aggie Band performs at Midnight Yells, Silver Taps, Muster, and other events around campus and Galveston County.
Silver Taps is a nighttime bugle tribute paid to Aggies who were enrolled in classes at the time of their death, held at Academic Plaza in the College Station campus. It is mirrored in Galveston to honor Sea Aggies who have passed while enrolled, taking place in front of the Bracewell Clock Tower.
Response to Hurricane Ike
In preparation of Hurricane Ike, TAMUG closed on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at 5 pm and evacuation was ordered. Ike made U.S. landfall at Galveston, Texas, on September 13 at 2:10 am. It was the third-most destructive hurricane to ever make landfall in the United States. The campus was not severely damaged; however, the infrastructure of Galveston Island as a whole was. As a result of Galveston Island not being able to support the close to 1800 students, the enormous challenge of relocating all students, administration, and staff began. Most students were relocated to College Station, where on Wednesday, September 24, 2008, fall classes resumed. TAMUG resumed operations in Galveston in the spring of 2009.