The Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy at Alamo Colleges District allows students to remain close to home for their first two years while pursuing one of 19 majors within the College of Engineering at Texas A&M, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The Chevron oil company is helping fund the Academy.
“We are pleased to offer students in the Alamo Colleges District a unique pathway toward a first-rate degree from an engineering college ranked among the top 10 in the world,” Sharp said. “Our goal is to attract the very best students to Texas A&M Engineering, even if circumstances require them to stay close to home for the first two years of college. These students will be Aggies in San Antonio from day one.”
The Academy will focus on first generation college students. Sharp says even though students will be attending college for the first two years, they will be 'Aggies in every sense of the word.'
In their junior year, they will transfer to College Station.
Officials say the Academy gives lower income and underserved students the opportunity to receive training on a well paying career in engineering. For local employers, it will help increase the pool of badly needed skilled employees.
“We are always eager to offer our students new opportunities for continuing their education once they graduate from one of the colleges of the Alamo Colleges District,” said Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Dr. Bruce Leslie. “Our latest partnership with Texas A&M University and Chevron will offer our students a pathway to a bachelor’s degree in a field with excellent job growth and high salaries, benefiting not only the students, but the state’s economy as well."
An additional 53,000 engineers are expected to be needed in the Texas economy by 2024, and Sharp says the Academy will play a big part in improving the lives of young students and their families, while addressing that coming need for engineers.