2015 Tamucc Presfoundation Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2015

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Foundation and Warren Foundation The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Foundation operates under the auspices of a volunteer leadership board and is dedicated to raising and managing private gift funds for the benefit of the University.

Philip Skrobarczyk President Rhodes “Chip” Urban Vice-President David Ainsworth, Sr. Secretary/Treasurer Julie Buckley Immediate Past President Flavius Killebrew Ex-officio

Directors Jack Dugan Cecilia Garcia-Akers Gloria Hicks Pamela Robertson Jaime Rangel Augustin Rivera, Jr. Wayne Squires Directors Emeriti John Buckley John Chapman Rosie Mirabal-Garza Celika Storm Karen O’Connor Urban Richard Leshin, J.D. Welder Leshin Foundation Counsel

A Message from University President & CEO: Dr. Flavius Killebrew

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Foundation President Profile: Philip Skrobarczyk

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Donor Profile: Barbara Gail Silverman

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Student Profile: Hailey Wallgren

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Scholarships

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Research Highlights

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Engineering the Future

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Research

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Outreach

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University News

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Diversity / Fast Facts

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Economic Impact / University Financials

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Foundation Financials

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The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 2015 Donor Honor Roll is included in the online version of this report,

which can be viewed in full at tamucc.edu/AnnualReport. The online format allows us to dedicate more printed pages to the inspiring stories about our students, faculty research and campus growth so that we can share with you these examples of our mission in action. We encourage you to take a moment to go online to view this impressive list of our friends and community supporters who have helped make an impact on our campus this year.

ANNUAL REPORT 2015

Table of Contents

Dr. Flavius Killebrew

President & CEO, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Our fall enrollment of 11,661 set another record, as did the number of high-achieving students choosing Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

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Last year we announced the launch of

U N IVER SIT Y PR E SI DE NT

President’s Letter

Momentum 20/20 – our new strategic plan. It set us on the path to becoming the first emerging research university in South Texas, while also renewing our commitment to student success and serving the needs of our community.

The emerging research university goal is a long-term commitment, but as I reflect on the past year, I’m pleased to report the Island University is making great progress toward this and our other goals.

New doctoral programs in geospatial computing science and nursing practice will bring additional faculty, expand research and attract outstanding graduate students. Existing programs are already performing at a high level – with $24 million in research expenditures this past year.

In fact, the National Science Foundation awarded the university its fourth major research instrumentation grant, putting us in a tie with the University of Houston for the most such grants in Texas.

Following the prestige of being named one of the six Federal Aviation Administration test sites for unmanned aerial systems, we were also named a Center of Excellence under the RESTORE Act. That designation means we can expect to see about $1 million annually in research funding for the next 16 years flowing through the Harte Research Institute to address the sustainability and restoration of the Gulf of Mexico, following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It also means bringing more high-profile researchers to campus and increasing our national and international profile.

Even with this focus on developing new graduate and research capacity, we know that the bedrock of our mission is serving undergraduate students and helping them succeed. Our fall enrollment of 11,661 set another record, as did the number of high-achieving students choosing Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. During the last year, we added three new undergraduate degree programs to serve this growing population – atmospheric sciences, electrical engineering and graphic design.

Scholarship initiatives remain a critical key to continued success. In the current fiscal year, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Foundation has given more than $1.51 million to support academic programs and scholarships at the Island University.

Support from the community is what ensures that Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi will continue to be a major influence in the economic achievements of the community as well as its quality of life. Thank you for being part of our success!

Dr. Flavius Killebrew Flavius C. Killebrew President & CEO Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

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Philip Skrobarczyk

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Foundation President

“Corpus Christi is a great place to be and Ward Island is an extraordinary place for an education.”

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F OU N D AT ION PR E SI DE NT

Students’ Hard Work and Education Impacts Community

here are two main factors that determine success in today’s world, according to Philip Skrobarczyk, owner of Fulton*Coastcon General Contractors.

“Hard work and education are essential,” he said. “The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Foundation is committed to helping students who are willing to work hard to get an education by providing financial assistance.”

“The expense of college can be a deterrent, making it almost impossible for some to complete a degree,” he continued. “It is the goal of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Foundation to give scholarships to the best and the brightest so they can get a college education here at A&M-Corpus Christi.”

Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Skrobarczyk began to work in construction in high school and became a certified welder when he was 18 to earn money for his college expenses. He attended the Island University when it was known as University of Corpus Christi and Del Mar College before transferring to Texas A&M University in College Station to finish a degree in Building Construction in 1982.

After working a year in Houston, Skrobarczyk returned to Corpus Christi as an estimator for Durden & Fulton General Contractors. He learned the business through a series of roles with increasing responsibility and was named vice president in 1988. He bought controlling interest in Fulton Construction in 1998 and completed the buyout in 2004.

Skrobarczyk has donated to the University both personally and through the company, establishing an endowed scholarship in Engineering, and contributing to the Islander Athletic Fund, the Parents’ Council, the President’s Council and serving as a member of the Achieve Partnership. The company has also left its mark on the University physically, working on the expansion of the University Center, the parking garage, Island Hall and the Dugan Wellness Center.

That history led to his role with the Foundation.

The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Foundation’s mission is to promote the growth, quality and effectiveness of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The Foundation solicits, invests, administers and distributes donations, gifts and bequests for the exclusive benefit of the University.

The Foundation now manages $43 million. These funds have allowed the Foundation to make significant contributions to the development of the Corpus Christi campus—funding scholarships, scientific research, chairs and professorships, construction projects and improvements in classroom technology.

Skrobarczyk’s focus for the Foundation is working together with the community to give back to the institution that has done so much for so many.

“Corpus Christi is a great place to be and Ward Island is an extraordinary place for an education,” he said.

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Gregg Silverman (left) with Dr. Chase Young, Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

“Our family believes strongly in literacy. My mom always read to us and to her grandchildren.�

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- Gregg Silverman

D ON OR PR OF I L E

Continuing a Legacy of Helping Children Love to Read

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he memory of Barbara Gail Silverman, her love of books and her belief in the power of literacy will continue at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi through The Barbara Gail Silverman Endowed Professorship in Literacy.

Silverman was a much-loved and esteemed public and school librarian. She passed away in 2012, and her family, husband Jerome, and sons Gregg and Chuck, established the professorship in her name.

Silverman was a pioneer in developing early childhood reading programs, and was a firm believer that reading opened children up to a world full of excitement and knowledge. Her family hopes the endowment not only encourages advancement in academics, but also keeps Barbara’s memory alive.

“She went back to school after my brother Chuck and I were grown to get her graduate degrees,” recalls son Gregg. “Our family believes strongly in literacy. My mom always read to us and she always read to her grandchildren. She would be excited to have the Endowed Professorship in Literacy in her name. Literacy and education were her vision, where she thought she made a difference.”

Barbara Silverman earned a master’s degree in Library Science at Texas Woman’s University in Denton in 1979 and later received a second master’s degree in Education at Corpus Christi State University in 1989.

Barbara Silverman dedicated herself as a children’s librarian both at public libraries and elementary schools in the Corpus Christi area and Barbara Silverman was especially active at the Parkdale Branch library. Her students remember her as “Aunt Barbara.”

“My mom believed that children’s literacy was a pathway to success and self-awareness,” said son Chuck. “She believed that through reading, a child would begin to explore the world around them, and learn to nurture a thoughtful and inquisitive mind that would allow them to thrive in our community.”

In June 2015, Dr. Chase Young, Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction, was announced as the first recipient of the Barbara Gail Silverman Endowed Professorship in Literacy for his work in improving literacy in the local community.

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Hailey Wallgren

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Student

“The experiences I had this past year left me with more friends, better leadership skills, and a newfound appreciation for sunscreen and air conditioning.�

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Hailey Wallgren traveled more than 1,000

ST U D EN T PR OF I L E

Hailey Wallgren: Clear Focus and Hard Work Lead to Success

miles south from South Dakota to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to pursue her dream of becoming a marine biologist.

Hailey is a highly motivated, independent young woman with good problem-solving skills.

“When I decided to come here to A&M-Corpus Christi, I had to figure out what needed to happen and then do it,” she said.

Hailey recalls visiting the Texas State Aquarium when she was 4 years old on a visit to see extended family in Corpus Christi. It was the beginning of her fascination with marine life. That interest in all aquatic animals has since focused on sharks, which she hopes to continue to study with a goal of working in conservation.

Hailey’s first year at A&M-Corpus Christi was full of new experiences as she acclimated to being away from home, adjusted to college life and a different culture, not to mention a different climate.

Her high school preparation and work ethic pulled her through to a 4.0 GPA. Hailey graduated high school in the top one percent of her class, and continues to excel with her involvement in the Honors Program and the National Society for Leadership and Success.

Through these groups, she has met new people and explored new opportunities.

Community service continues to be an important part of Hailey’s extracurricular activities. As a member of Islander Catholic, a student organization, she volunteers in service events and hopes to work on beach cleanup projects and participate in fundraising for the Texas Sealife Center.

“The overall experience and independence of what I am learning and doing here is so new and I love that newness and its challenges,” she said.

Being awarded the Morris L. Lichtenstein, Jr. Endowed Scholarship in the spring of 2015 allows Hailey to concentrate more on her studies. “The scholarship helps lessen the financial burden and has made coming to A&M-Corpus Christi to study possible,” she said. As she continues her studies, Hailey is determined to work hard.

“Though my courses this year will not be easy, I plan on rising to the challenge by maintaining my personal academic standards,” she said. “I am excited to build on the information that I learned last year and gain a deeper understanding of the biological aspects of life. I would like to obtain an internship at the Harte Research Institute on campus sometime in the near future, as well as study abroad in either South Africa or Australia.”

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SC H OL AR SH IPS

Melvyn N. Klein Scholarship Endowment Assists More than 60 Students

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elvyn N. Klein is a pioneer of the era of private equity funds, a private investor and the founder of Melvyn N. Klein Interests.

He established the Melvyn N. Klein Scholarship Endowment for Writing and Communication, which has assisted a total of 67 students since 2007 at the Island University. He was the founder, co-founder, or significant partner in several industry-leading companies. He taught an Entrepreneurship class at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and donated the conference room utilized by the Dean of the Buisness College.

Jessie Frances Neal Annual Scholarship Fund Benefits College of Business Students

Jessie Frances Neal grew up in the South Texas area and is a firm believer that proper education can transform a student’s life. The scholarship bearing her name pledges $100,000 per year from 2013 to 2018. The money pays for in-state tuition and fees, up to $5,000 per year, for 20 full-time, high-achieving College of Business students.

At a scholar luncheon in 2014, Mrs. Neal offered the first group of students who received her scholarship a small gift, but even more importantly, she gave them words of advice and wisdom.

University GO Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has received funding from the Texas Higher Education Center Program two-year Coordinating Board totaling $220,000 for the Work-Study Receives New Student Mentorship Program. These funds will be used Funding to support the GO Center Program, which has been a program at the University since 2006.

The GO Centers, located in 16 high schools in the Coastal Bend, help create a college-going culture among high school students and offer tools to help acquire the financial support needed to be successful in post-secondary education.

Since 2006, the program has served more than 10,000 students through one-on-one interaction, group presentations and college events.

GO Center Mentors are college students who work in the high schools as liaisons for higher education institutions across Texas. They are trained in financial aid, scholarships, admissions applications, resume writing, and other higher education processes.

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GR AN T S

The Island University Receives More than $1 Million to Boost eLine Military Program

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he Island University has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for more than $1 million to boost the White House-recognized eLine Military Program that fast-tracks nursing degrees for veterans with prior medical experience.

Many veterans who served in a medical capacity as medics or corpsmen find their experience does not translate into the credentials recognized in the civilian world. The eLine Military Program solves this problem by individually evaluating military medical experience for appropriate academic credit.

For example, a veteran who receives credit for prior medical training can complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in 15 -18 months, compared to 24 months, for most BSN students.

This Health Resources and Services Administration award ($349,965 each year for three years) will allow veterans to begin the program six months before leaving the military. For more information, go to elinemilitary.tamucc.edu.

Island University Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has received Receives Grant to approximately $2.5 million in Title V grant funding from U.S. Department of Education to help improve Improve High-need the services designed to help high-need students attain a Student Services college education.

The project, titled Project GRAD: Graduation and Retention through Academic Diversity, is designed to help Hispanic, first generation, low income, and traditionally underrepresented students achieve their four-year degree at A&M-Corpus Christi.

“We are proud of the Island University’s commitment to students of all backgrounds,” said Dr. Flavius Killebrew, President and CEO of A&M-Corpus Christi. “We work directly with students to ease their transition to college study and help them at every stage until they reach graduation.”

The grant’s first goal is to increase the number of high-need students who are able to enter A&M-Corpus Christi ready to complete their college education.

“We will create a developmental summer bridge program for students before their first semester in college that will not only focus on academics, but overall college acclimation,” said Leslee Schauer, Director of Title V Programs at A&MCorpus Christi.

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Research Proposals and Funding on the Rise R ESEAR C H HI GHL I GHTS

Proposals Submitted 250

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Sponsored Projects Awards in millions

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FY 2013

$21.6

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FY 2015

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$17.3 $15

FY 2013

FY 2014

FY 2015

Lone Star UAS Center Tests Technology, Connects with Industry and Public T

he University’s Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center (LSUASC) of Excellence and Innovation has worked with more than 200 industry contacts supporting efforts to use UAS safely in a variety of fields.

The Center, one of only six federally designated test sites, is conducting testing in air traffic control and communications for the Federal Aviation Administration in order to develop protocols for dealing with runways in use by piloted craft and standards of communication between UAS and the Mission Control Center. These will help safely integrate UAS into the national airspace.

In addition to businesses testing at the LSUASC, University researchers continue to test the RS-16, a fixed-wing UAS with a nearly 13-foot wingspan, at the Port Mansfield airport. Officials completed an early morning flight in the dark in June, and collected imagery of the shoreline to compare with traditional ground surveying methods.

Lone Star UAS Center officials are also researching traffic management, situational awareness and radar systems technology – all critical tools that will allow UAS to fly safely beyond the sight of operators.

High school students, too, are learning about drones. Twenty local students attended a UAS Summer Institute in July, programming and flying drones on an indoor course.

LSUASC officials also hosted a meeting in September, inviting the public to hear updates and ask questions.

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ENGINEERING the future

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exas A&M University-Corpus Christi has been at the forefront of fulfilling community needs and expanding opportunities for students. In 2009, the University started a Mechanical Engineering program to help meet the increasing demands of industry in the Coastal Bend and a rapidly growing student population. Now, 81 Islander engineers have graduated. About 420 students currently are enrolled and the pipeline is filled with many more to come.

Building on the success and momentum of the program, A&M-Corpus Christi has added an Electrical Engineering degree program.

Similar to the Mechanical Engineering Program, this degree program was developed to fulfill a community need. The initial class of students is expected to follow a fast-growing trend seen in the Mechanical Engineering Program – that many students find work and stay in the Corpus Christi area after graduation.

Daniel Mendez, class of 2014, is on the cutting edge of the unmanned aircraft industry, just one of the career paths engineering graduates can take. He is working as an engineer with the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence and Innovation at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

One class, Introduction to Aircraft Aerodynamics and Performance, started him on that path. He expanded his understanding of mechanics and autonomous vehicles with a class project that developed a lawnmower programmed to run on its own.

“Weekend chores just got easier,” he explains. “Set it up with a course, ensure the safety precautions are there and let it go.”

This is an example of the problem solving and innovation that engineers can bring to a community.

As high-tech, high-earning programs are added, the city’s economy improves, said Dr. Jim Lee, Economics Professor and Director of the South Texas Economic Development Center at A&M-Corpus Christi.

“This is changing the face of the city’s economy,” Lee said. “As we graduate more professionals who wish to stay in Corpus Christi, we see our economy prosper. It’s the higher wages that come with higher education that ripple through our community.”

An economic review by the University’s South Texas Economic Development Center shows the engineering programs total cumulative economic impact projected at $28 million over 10 years.

Engineers are expected to remain in high demand for years to come, according to reports from the Texas Workforce Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics.

Anne Crago and Emily Schneider are two recent Islander graduates with mechanical engineering degrees. They honed their skills in the machine shop and put math and science to work for engineering design.

The pair, who were roommates in college, now work side-by-side with several other Islander engineers, helping support the armed forces. Schneider is with LESCO Logistics; and Crago is with Torch Technologies, companies

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that support the Army’s Aviation Missile Research Development Engineering Center’s (AMRDEC) Maintenance Engineering Division, which is located at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is developing proposals to add more engineering programs, with civil and industrial programs in the pipeline.

“Engineers affect every facet of life,” said Dr. David Bridges, Chair of the Department of Engineering. “We are building on the momentum from the mechanical and electrical engineering programs. And we especially appreciate the community’s continued support. It’s a win-win for all of us.”

Support for growing engineering programs is clear. The City of Corpus Christi’s Type A Board has invested $2 million in the establishment of mechanical and electrical programs. That has been matched with more than $7 million from the community.

The University is working with industry representatives in the community to develop the next engineering degree plans. These partnerships ensure that graduates will meet the need of local employers by teaching what students need to learn to be successful employees.

“All of us at A&M-Corpus Christi are excited about the opportunity to fill the need for a highly skilled workforce in the Coastal Bend,” said Dr. Flavius Killebrew, President and CEO of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. “We have a firm foundation with our successful and popular mechanical engineering program that focuses on unmanned vehicles for air, water and land as well as geospatial sciences.

The next generation of engineering leaders is in our labs and classrooms, learning skills and techniques that will transfer directly to this highly skilled, highly paid workforce.”

Mechanical Engineers: Design machines that make our lives possible, everything from cars to planes. Program began in 2009.

Electrical Engineers: Expand communication networks and design and improve devices.

Program began in 2015.

Civil Engineers: Build better structures like roads and bridges with innovative designs and materials. Program in planning.

Industrial Engineers: Work to make things more efficient, cost effective and safe.

Program in planning.

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R ESEAR C H

Mapping Application Allows Emergency Responders See Scenes Virtually A

mapping application that allows first responders to quickly and easily “see” an emergency situation with a digital command center is heading to the commercial market this year.

The SituMap app, created by Dr. Richard Smith, Assistant Professor of Geographic Information Science and Geospatial Surveying Engineering at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, is the first product for CartoFusion Technologies.

SituMap acts as a digital command center that shows law enforcement officers maps of crisis areas.

The easy-to-learn, multi-user, multi-touch software mapping application is designed to cultivate participation, collaboration, conversation and rapid decision making. Smith says there is nothing else like it available on the market.

“That’s one of our biggest challenges; to find a competitor with which to compare ourselves,” he said. “We’ve found our niche, but we’re going into unchartered territories.”

On the table-sized touch screen display, multiple high-level decision makers can zoom, rotate and draw. They can search locations, measure distances, and create strategically located representational pins.

Directions can then be relayed to officers at the emergency location.

CartoFusion Technologies, working with the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center, has lined up investors and partners, including A&MCorpus Christi, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, and Texas A&M System Technology Commercialization. Smith and CartoFusion will also set up in the Innovation Center to take advantage of marketing, mentoring and business guidance.

SituMap is the first of many such pipeline projects to follow that will get their start in Texas A&MCorpus Christi’s research labs, work with the Innovation Center, and enter the commercial market to become a hiring business in the Coastal Bend, improving the area’s economy and the overall community.

“We have lots of angles to explore, and we are excited that the Innovation Center can help with many important tasks such as market analysis, business plan development, and access to office space,” Smith said.

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Isotope Core Laboratory Celebrates First Year A

new laboratory located in the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Natural Resources Center is taking research up a notch.

In its Isotope Core Lab (ICL), the University now has some of the most technologically advanced equipment in the field of stable isotopes. In the past year, the ICL has analyzed thousands of samples in support of research conducted

by University scientists in seven other campus labs.

“Stable isotopes are being used by Island University researchers to study the source and fate of hydrocarbons in the environment, groundwater contaminants, food web dynamics and past climate fluctuations,” said Dr. Paula Rose, Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences. “In addition, the lab promotes collaborations among our University faculty, other research institutions and industry.”

R ESEAR C H

Island University Researches, Tests Sports Performance Skills and Products Researchers and students in the Department

of Kinesiology are using technology to test athletes’ visual skills as a way to improve sports performance.

Testing peripheral vision and reaction time using software programs, computerized devices and a physical test can help athletes assess skills and lead to improved performance.

Dr. Randy Bonnette, Professor of Kinesiology, and his students currently test Islander athletes, but would like to offer this type of performance testing to athletes in the community in the future.

The department is becoming the center of choice for companies looking to put their products to the test.

“We have gained recognition nationally and internationally with our research and facilities,” said Bonnette. “Our Kinesiology Department is quickly becoming the ‘go to’ place for individuals who wish to learn more and become an expert in the field of sport performance.”

The team of researchers and students has tested products like electronic shoe inserts, sport performance drinks, TRX bands, and other strength and conditioning equipment to see if these products really make a difference in performance.

Isotope analysis is important in understanding our environment. It can help determine if methane found in groundwater is contamination from fracking or if it is naturally occurring. It can also help in assessing fish populations to track changes in migration or diet that can be signs of issues within an ecosystem.

The University received funding from the National Science Foundation and the City of Corpus Christi’s Business and Job Development Corporation to set up and equip the lab.

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R ESEAR C H

Texas Gulf Research to Benefit from BP Settlement Funds Island University Leads RESTORE Center of Excellence

Leaders with Texas’ RESTORE Centers of Excellence

plan to use millions in spill-related Clean Water Act funding on research and science activities that will benefit Texas and help restore the health of the Gulf of Mexico. In July, BP settled federal, state and local claims totaling more than $18.7 billion in penalties for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Texas OneGulf, a consortium of nine Texas institutions led by the Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, was one of the first designated RESTORE Centers of Excellence in the nation to receive funding from the U.S. Treasury.

The establishment of the Centers in January is part of Texas’ ongoing implementation of the federal RESTORE Act, which requires that the five Gulf states affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill establish centers to conduct research into environmental, health, economic and energy issues in the Gulf of Mexico region.

“The Harte Research Institute is gratified and humbled to lead a statewide effort,” said Dr. Larry McKinney, Executive Director of the HRI. “The Center of Excellence gives us opportunities to bring together all the best Texas scientists – not just from A&M – in one place to focus on Gulf problems that affect Texas.”

Texas OneGulf will address priority issues such as establishing a network of Texas-based Gulf of Mexico experts; developing metrics to objectively assess the health of the Gulf; and developing a system to ensure the state’s emergency responders can quickly access academic resources when responding to oil spills, hurricanes and other disasters.

Texas OneGulf and the Subsea Systems Institute at the University of Houston will equally share an initial $4.036 million. The RESTORE Centers of Excellence, including Texas OneGulf, will receive 2.5 percent of $5.5 billion in Clean Water Act fines to be paid out over 15 years.

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R ESEAR C H

Researchers Tag ‘Monster Mako’ for Shark Week

Scientists with the Harte Research Institute

(HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi got a shark’s view of Texas coastal waters while filming a special for Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week.”

During a 10-day expedition, scientists with HRI’s Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation (CSSC) tagged and studied the shortfin mako shark, one of the fastest shark species in the world, for “Monster Mako,” which aired in July to open the 28th season of “Shark Week.”

“Sharks are such great ambassadors for the ocean and generating public awareness, and there is none better than the mako,” said Dr. Greg Stunz, expedition team leader and CSSC Director. “By partnering with ‘Shark Week,’ it allows us to share amazing video showing the sheer power and beauty of these creatures with other shark enthusiasts worldwide.”

Nine mako sharks were caught at artificial reefs off the Texas coast and tagged with scientific instrumentation to document the world of the mako shark. Data from the tag allowed the scientists to track movement, depth, speed and acceleration, and view footage capturing each mako’s behavior.

“Monster Mako” was the top show for “Shark Week” with about 3.2 million viewers for the first airing and 1.1 million on the next replay.

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R ESEAR C H

Sportfish Research Includes App, Guts Collection and Injury Prevention

Sportfish are the focus of several ongoing projects at the Island University with a new app, a call for donating fish guts and the development of a device that improves the release aspect of catch-andrelease fishing.

These projects aim to protect the survival of sportfish, assist in the recovery of an overfished Gulf, and may result in longer fishing seasons for anglers.

iSnapper

iSnapper, a new mobile application, allows recreational fishermen to report their catch, providing researchers with access to accurate data about how private fishermen are impacting the numbers of coveted sportfish. The app, created by the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation (CSSC) at the Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies, launched in May. Visit iSnapper.org for links to download.

Fish Guts Collection

In this study, the prized catch wasn’t the fish so much as its guts. Dr. James Simons, Associate Research Scientist with the Center for Coastal Studies, collected fish guts from anglers from Port O’Connor to Port Mansfield and 100 miles offshore. “Of course, the stomach and intestine – the fish guts – will tell us what the fishes last ate, while in the tissue samples we are looking for levels of nitrogen and carbon isotopes,” said Simons.

iSnapper.org

This indicates the fish’s position in the food web and is an indicator of food source.

Snapper Sinker

A federal Fisheries Innovation Grant has boosted the study of pressure-related injuries suffered by red snapper during catchand-release fishing.

The grant will also research devices that allow the released fish to sink slower and avoid pressure-related injuries, called “barotrauma,” that can result in expanded abdomen, protruding stomach through the mouth and bulging eyes.

Students studying sportfish and conservation-related research are supported by the R.N. “Dick” Connolly Endowed Scholarship, established in 2007 as a gift from the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi.

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Island University Continues Community Outreach

The Island University is committed to continuing outreach to the South Texas community and beyond.

In June, a group of Texas teachers ditched their textbooks for a week of hands-on field science experience during the first-ever Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies Coast to Classroom Teacher Expedition.

The Coast to Classroom program provides Texas science teachers with an opportunity to work one-on-one with coastal scientists in the field. The teachers began their five-day boat cruise in Freeport, Texas, and traveled down the coast, stopping in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Port Aransas and the Laguna Madre for field science and lectures on Texas natural history.

In late July, the College of Science and Engineering hosted 20 local high school students during the inaugural A&M-Corpus Christi Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Summer Institute.

As part of the institute, students programmed and flew drones on an indoor course. They also participated in lectures, hands-on activities and field trips.

The UAS Summer Institute was funded by a generous grant from the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, which provided tuition for all 20 students.

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Island University and Buc Days Host ‘Ideas Challenge’ Competition T

he College of Business, the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center and Buc Days have teamed up to form the Buc Days Ideas Challenge, a business concept competition that will highlight the most promising innovations, inventions or entrepreneurial concepts developed by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi students.

“We are fully committed to supporting entrepreneurship in the Coastal Bend,” said Dr. John Gamble, Dean of the College of Business.

“Some of the brightest young minds are here at the Island University, and the Buc Days Ideas Challenge gives our students the opportunity to present their entrepreneurial ideas to the Corpus Christi business community.”

The top three finalists were selected in early February after a live pitch to a panel of Coastal Bend business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Social Entrepreneurship Class Addresses Challenges Faced

by Nonprofits

In the Social Entrepreneurship class taught

by Dr. Margaret Lucero, business students are learning how to address the current challenges faced by nonprofit organizations and offer solutions to help them run more efficiently.

Each group conducts research using the Mary and Jeff Bell Library’s databases, observes the nonprofit in its workspace and interviews key people in the organization.

The business students combine this research with knowledge from previous coursework and give presentations in the class, which covers organizations that are focused on social missions. Nonprofit organizations who have participated in the project include Mary McLeod Bethune Daycare, the Art Center of Corpus Christi and the Corpus Christi Literacy Council.

Top prizes for the Buc Days Ideas Challenge were:

First place - $3,000; a one-year membership to the College of Buisness Student Incubator; entry as a top 40 semifinalist in the Raymond Ideas Challenge at Texas A&M University-College Station.

Second place - $2,000 and

a one-year membership to the College of Buisness Student Incubator.

Third place - $1,000 and a

one-year membership to the College of Buisness Student Incubator.

Best video - $500 For more information on the Buc Days Ideas Challenge, go to bucdaysideaschallenge.com.

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“We are an important part of the community at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi,” said Lucero, a Professor of Management. “It is important for students to understand that the management concepts they are studying can be applied to their jobs and may also enable students to help in their communities.”

Lucero says that she uses projects that help students to develop their critical thinking skills and engagement within the community.

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Class of ’83 Islander Alumnus Larry Wyche Promoted to Three I Star General in United States Army

slander Alumnus Larry Wyche continues to make his alma mater proud. In April, Wyche was promoted to Three-Star General in the United States Army. The new title means Wyche is now Army Materiel Command’s Deputy Commanding General and Redstone Arsenal’s Senior Commander.

In 1982, Wyche was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the ROTC program at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. During his rise through the ranks, Wyche says he never forgot his early days as an ROTC cadet.

“ROTC instilled values and gave me the basic foundations to become a good leader,” said Wyche. “Those foundation builders still play a major role in my life today.”

After graduating in 1983 with a bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&MCorpus Christi, Wyche went on to earn two master’s degrees.

In November, Wyche gave a speech on leadership during a visit to campus.

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New Bachelor’s Degree in Atmospheric Sciences Begining Soon T

he Island University will offer a bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences starting Fall 2016.

The new program received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board last year.

The University’s Atmospheric Sciences degree will be only the second of its kind offered in the state.

Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers as broadcast meteorologists, weather forecasters, or climate researchers with federal agencies such as the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, NASA, National Weather Service or private companies.

New Electrical Engineering Program Now Underway 24

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exas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s new Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering is in its second semester.

The degree, approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in January 2015, is the University’s second engineering degree.

The program builds on a successful and popular mechanical engineering program with a focus on unmanned flight, maritime and geospatial sciences.

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New Graphic Design Degree Program Approved for Island University T

he Island University is planning to offer a new degree in graphic design in fall 2016. The program received approval from the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents in September and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in October.

Graduates will be very competitive in the workforce, University officials said, having breadth of skills, knowledge and extensive portfolios.

Island University to Offer Doctor of Nursing Practice T

exas A&M University-Corpus Christi will soon offer a new Doctor of Nursing Practice for registered nurses who have earned graduate degrees.

South Texas, like the rest of the nation, is facing a shortage of primary care clinicians, said Dr. Mary Jane Hamilton, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at A&M-Corpus Christi.

The two-year program will begin in the fall of 2016.

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Campus Diversity Fall 2015 Enrollment

41.05% White American

D IVER SIT Y/ FAST FACT S

2.7% Asian American 2.83% Other 3.4% International

6.3% African American 45.2% Hispanic American

Statewide Diversity

Texas Public Universities Fall 2015 40.8% White American 3.3% Other 6.6% International

6.9% Asian American

12.1% African American

30.3% Hispanic American

FAST FACTS: 9,804

1,857

Undergraduate Students

Graduate Students

11,661 Total Student Enrollment Our colors are

23:1

2,272

Student-toFaculty Ratio

Living on Campus

Blue & Green

*Fall 2015 Student Enrollment Reports

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Our mascot is

Izzy the Islander We are the

Economic Impact EC ON OM IC IMPACT/ UNI V E R SI TY FI N ANC IALS

A degree from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi produces a significant boost in its graduates’ lifetime earnings. Based on gains in earning streams from a university education, the University’s contribution to additional lifetime earnings of Texas residents is estimated at $1.1 billion annually.

For each dollar of state-appropriated funds, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi generates $13.70 in economic activity across Texas communities.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi boosts employment in Texas by a total of 11,585 full-timeequivalent job positions. Excluding student workers, 3,459 Texas residents are directly employed through the University and another 8,126 jobs are created as a result of economic activity related to the University.

Source: EDA University Center for Regional Economic Research

University Financials Fund Sources FY 2015 ($199.33 Million)

21.74% State Appropriations General Revenue

4.45% State Appropriations Benefits

0.52% Other Operating Income

3.58% Higher Education Fund

6.26% Contribution from Fund Ballance 5.28% Sales and Services 3.17% Gifts

20.94% Contracts and Grants

34.05% Tuition Fees

Expenditures FY 2015 ($199.33 Million)

8.67% Scholarships 6.41% Debt Service

18.45% Operations and Maintenance 8.84% Depreciation Expense

3.40% Utilities

2.83% Equipment (capitalized)

10.36% Benefits

41.05% Salaries and Wages

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2015 Statement of Foundation Financial Position

F OU N D AT ION F I NANCI AL S

Current Assets

Investment Securities Cash and Cash Equivalents Accounts Receivable

$42,298,642 $468,002 $27,211

Other Assets

Unconditional Promises to Give (Long Term) 0 Mineral Interests $280,317 Remainder Interests in Trusts $746,747 Total Other Assets $4,732

$43,825,651

Total Assets

Liabilities and Net Assets

Accounts Payable

$55,435

Net Assets

Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted Permanently Restricted

$6,567,79 8 $6,705,756 $30,496,662

$43,825,651

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

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2015

Millions of Dollars

FYE Total Liabilities and Net Assets

Statement of Foundation Financial Position

Assets Current Assets

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Investment Securities Accounts Receivable

Total Current Assets Other Assets

Unconditional Promises to Give, Long Term

Mineral Interests

Remainder Interests in Trusts

Other Assets

Total Other Assets

Total Assets

2015

2014

$ 468,002 $ 42,298,642 $ 27,211 $ 42,793,855

$ 656,494 $ 40,088,555 $ 211,874 $ 40,956,923

- $ 280,317 $ 746,747 $ 4,732 $ 1,031,796

F OU N D AT ION F I NANCI AL S

For the years ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014

$ 10,000 $ 305,914 $ 790,088 $ 6,014 $ 1,112,016

$ 43,825,651

$ 42,068,939

Liabilities and Net Assets Liabilities

Accounts Payable

Total Current Liabilities Net Assets

Unrestricted

Temporarily Restricted

Permanently Restricted Total Net Assets

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

$ 55,435 $ 55,435

$ 36,415 $ 36,415

$ 6,567,798 $ 6,705,756 $ 30,496,662 $ 43,770,216

$ 6,299,943 $ 6,328,411 $ 29,404,170 $ 42,032,524

$ 43,825,651

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Division of Institutional Advancement 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5745 Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5745

6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5741 Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5741

Discover the Island University, the only university www.tamucc.edu

in the nation located on its own island, in the heart of the Texas Gulf Coast. The Island University has earned its spot as the premier, urban doctoralgranting institution in South Texas, supporting a UAS test site, two institutions, and more than 20 research centers and labs.

Offering more than 80 of the most popular degree programs in the state, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has been proudly providing a solid academic reputation, renowned faculty, and highly-rated degree programs since 1947. The University is also part of the distinguished Texas A&M system.

Business and Accounting Degree Program Accreditation Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Top 25 for Best Weather Best College Reviews

Best by the Sea

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Home of Unmanned Flight

Federal Aviation Administration UAS Test Site

Top 20 Colleges for Hispanics in Texas The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education

Top 25 in Texas for Most Affordable Four-Year Online Programs OnlineColleges.net

Sp2016