TAMIU’s Spring ’22 Enrollment Holds Steady at 7,725 Students
Despite another challenging year bracketed by the response to COVID-19 and its variants, Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Spring 2022 enrollment remains strong, holding at 7,725 students, a less than 1% decrease in enrollment from last Spring’s 7,750.
The University noted that number still has the potential to grow with sub-term classes that begin after Spring Break.
Spring semester undergraduates number 6,211 while total graduate enrollment has grown over 9% to some 1,513 students. Women comprise 62% of students, or 4,782, while men number 2,943, or 38% of the student population. Some 74% of undergraduates are full-time, while 75% of graduate students are full-time. While 97% of students are from Texas, 3% hail from out of state. Countries represented in the total student population number 33.
TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said successfully holding the University’s enrollment is a testament to the shared resilience of students, faculty, and staff.
“There’s no denying that our community and campus, like all communities and campuses, has been impacted by COVID-19. But I think what distinguishes this campus and our ability to hold enrollment steady is our commitment to resilience. Our faculty, staff, and students have responded to this challenge in truly inspiring ways to enable us to continue to deliver our mission of higher education through resilience.
“This, combined with our commitment to healthy, safety, and science, and an infusion of government funding supporting students and helping us to provide needed resources and services, has been crucial,” Dr. Arenaz explained.
Arenaz said he was especially proud of student response and partnership as the campus weathered the COVID-19 storm and its variants.
“After last Fall’s return to a full, vibrant, on-campus experience, our Spring semester students rallied to do their part to stay resilient. Individually and as part of student organizations on campus, they joined in sharing the importance of random, surveillance testing on campus, took part in vaccination efforts, and followed recommended guidance on face-coverings, hand-washing, and distancing. Most importantly, they came to class and collaborated with our gifted faculty, keeping their degree program in progress…and staying healthy,” Arenaz explained.
He said helping students to keep that degree accessible, affordable and on-target has been of paramount importance.
“Our message to students and their families has been one of understanding and partnership…‘We’ve got you covered and are ready to meet you wherever you are to help ensure your success.’ For example, through federal funding, we were able to add visiting faculty, and expand mentors and tutors, supplemental instructors, and learning support specialists. Over 84 positions focused on helping students were added,” Arenaz said.
He noted that thanks to federal assistance meted out since the Pandemic’s inception by programs such as CARES, CRRSAA, and ARP, grants to students have provided over $23.5 million for expenses related to financial hardship, including housing and food insecurity, medical expenses, and lack of educational support, technology, and supplies.
“That assistance for students has been life-altering, enabling over 1,900 students to graduate this past year and begin the next chapter in their lives. Likewise, institutional funding of approximately $26 million has enabled us to weather campus expenses related to the disruption of services, or the need to augment with testing and facility health and safety modifications,” Arenaz observed.
Of this Spring’s student population, he offered some additional insight.
“The average undergraduate is 21 years old and the average graduate student is 33. The youngest student is 14 and the oldest 76. The most popular undergraduate majors are criminal justice, business administration, nursing, biology, and psychology. Popular graduate majors are business administration, curriculum and instruction, criminal justice, educational administration, and public administration. The undergraduate program with the most growth is Computer Engineering which has grown over 164%. The graduate program with the most growth is Online Information Science, growing 200%. In addition, some 56% of undergrads are taking at least one online, hybrid, or distance class, while 85% of graduate students are doing so,” he explained.
Registration for the Summer and Fall semesters opens Monday, April 4, 2022, Arenaz noted.
“We are quite optimistic about our Summer and Fall at TAMIU and believe we are in a good place. We’ll be expanding online offerings for the Summer as this has proven advantageous for students. And of course, we’ll continue to monitor the health and safety of our campus and our community. In addition to resilience, we’ve got a finely-honed capability to be flexible,” he concluded.
To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes for Summer and Fall, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.
Additional registration services for students include:
- An online catalog containing a list of nearly 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs is available at http://catalog.tamiu.edu
- Pay for classes online or create an installment plan at tamiu.edu/pay
- Learn more about tuition payments at tamiu.edu/comptroller/bursar.shtml
- Online textbook purchases can be made via the University’s Bookstore at https://www.bkstr.com/texasaminternationalstore
Students in need of financial assistance can call or email the University’s Office of Financial Aid to explore options through grants, loans, and student employment. For more, contact them at 956.326.2225 or email financialaid@tamiu.edu . Visit online at http://www.tamiu.edu/financialaid/.
