TAMIU Annual Report 2020

Despite all the challengeswe have hadover the past eightmonths, I couldn’t be happier with what we have accomplished as an institu- tion. We graduated over 1,800 students this past year, the largest number inour history. This Fall, despite dire predictions, we enrolled over 8,525 students, again setting a record. We arewell on our way to enrolling 10,000 students by 2025. We initiated three new undergraduate degrees in September; a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering, a B.S. in Computer Engineering and a B.S. in Public Health. U.S. News and World Report again ranked us among the best in theWest among regional universities and second in Texas. We are still among themost affordable schools in the country, ranking 5th among the 100most affordable public universities. Great Value Colleges ranked TAMIU 5th in the nation as an institutionwith the highest returnon investment (ROI) -- andwe continue tobe in the top 20nationally for UpwardMobility. Youwill find these impressive rankings, as well as others, in this Report. When Laredo needed our help, our nursing students and faculty volunteered to work as contact tracers, providing critical personnel in themidst of the Pandemic crisis. Our engineering students, along with Dr. Tariq Tashtoush, used our 3D printers to make needed N95 masks, face shields and aerosol boxes for first responders and hospi- tal personnel. Students raised funds and solicited donations for our foodpantry so TAMIU studentswho needed it wouldhave access to a source of food. In addition, they shared the bounty of our Community Garden both on and off campus. BetweenMay andOctober, we gave out over $3M inTAMIUCARES funds aswell as emergency funds providedby The Texas A&MUniversity System. Thoughtful donors also allowed some of their donations tobe used tohelp studentswith emergency needs, an immeasurable gift to people inneed. Over 60%of our faculty and staff increased their giving this year to help provide students with needed scholarship money. Yes, we have been and continue to be engaged as a University, committed to this community and beyond. That is how we Go Be- yond – Together. Someday very soon, all the trials and tribulations of what seems tobe theworst of timeswill return to the best of times. Together, we are ready. Dr. Pablo Arenaz TAMIU President Like everyone, TAMIU has responded to the world’s COVID-19 Pandemic to help ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff. We’ve also reached out to help our community in its most distressing time of need. TAMIU TOGETHER/ LAREDO TOGETHER 4,000+ COVID-19 Tests on Campus THAT’S HOWWE GO BEYOND> TOGETHER Face Shields 505 Flu Shots Administered on Campus PPE Gowns 400+ 5300 Pairs of Gloves on Campus 500 Loaner Laptops for Students 390+ Protective Plexiglass Dividers 93+ Gallons of Hand Sanitizer Gallons of Disinfecting Spray 54+ Hand Sanitizing Stations 32 Services to Laredo Stroke Support Group by 53 Students Full Harvests of TAMIU Garden benefiting students, faculty, food banks A&M System Sampling Test Kits Provided to Laredo Health Department 119 City of Laredo Contact Tracing Efforts Assistance by 409 Nursing Students Student Artwork donated to Local Hospital Nurses 500 2 Service assistance hours generated by School of Nursing Students 6500 Campus signs and instructions on campus safety 6000+ Frontline protective masks, shields, aerosol boxes created by students 60+ 4