Texas A&M Campus (San Antonio, Kingsville: neighborhoods, community college, living in)

[CelesteDF]

Today's SABJ has an article on development of the TAMU-SA campus:
Texas A&M could start development of San Antonio campus by 2009 - San Antonio Business Journal:

Excerpts:

• The Texas A&M University System expects to have development plans ready to review for the future Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus in August and ground should be broken on the campus as early as mid-2009.
• Marmon Mok has been selected to lead a professional team in preparing the campus development plan. Sasaki Associates, a nationally recognized planning firm with expertise in higher education, is also working on the team.
• The Texas Legislature authorized the creation of a stand-alone campus if the campus can reach enrollment of 1,500 students; current enrollment is 1,021 students. San Antonio's 18-to-24-year-old population is projected to increase by almost 20,000 by 2015.
• Verano Land Group LP is the developer of the area surrounding the future site and has donated the land for the campus. Verano has plans for City South, an "integrated urban village" on about 2,700 acres along South Loop 410 bounded by Pleasanton Road and South Zarzamora Street. The campus would be surrounded by that mixed-use development. Verano has pledged $1 million toward the campus' development and has committed to help raising an additional $7 million for scholarships.

[boywithstick]

As someone who lives in the far southside, 1604 & 16 south to be exact, I am thrilled at the idea of adding a major university to the south side. I received my Batchelors in Business Administration from UTSA in May 2007. I took classes at the downtown campus whenever possible to save on gas and time spent driving (as well as having to find a parking spot!). When it was not possible to take classes at the downtown campus (which happens more often as you get to the more higher level courses) I would drive to the downtown campus and then take a shuttle from the downtown campus to the main campus. I'm planning on starting grad school this coming August and I will be attending UTSA once again and doing the same thing all over again. If Texas A&M San Antonio were up and running already I would most likely go there, but because it's not, I will willingly choose and be happy to attend UTSA. I am glad that my young nieces and nephew will have the choice to attend either school (or any other school of course.) It's all about choices. Once Texas A&M San Antonio gets up and running, San Antonio will be the only city in Texas with both an A&M and UT system! Isn't that what we should be focusing on and celebrating?

[oldmanshirt]

The development in City South is rapidly escalating. It so refreshing to see large developments occurring somewhere besides the Far North and Far West sides!

[tgannaway89]

It doesn't look like the school will reach the minimum required enrollment this fall. Construction appears to be postponed until 2010. (What a schocker )

The making of a college - San Antonio Business Journal:

[metalfish]

I was actually driving down 410 and 35 south recently and there were people ridin hiorses down the side of the road. Its strange to think thats gonna be gone soon.

[713 to 210]

Originally Posted by tgannaway89

It doesn't look like the school will reach the minimum required enrollment this fall. Construction appears to be postponed until 2010. (What a schocker )

The making of a college - San Antonio Business Journal:

What are you talking about? The tone of this piece was very positive. They are only 100 students away. Why are you so negative about bringing a first class institution of higher learning to SA?

[SanAntoQT]

Originally Posted by 713 to 210

What are you talking about? The tone of this piece was very positive. They are only 100 students away. Why are you so negative about bringing a first class institution of higher learning to SA?

He's not being negative about bringing a first class institution of higher learning to SA. He's negative about it being built on the southside.

[tgannaway89]

Originally Posted by SanAntoQT

He's not being negative about bringing a first class institution of higher learning to SA. He's negative about it being built on the southside.

I'm just not sure the demand is there for this project yet. I'm really glad that the Southside is jumping on the growth train. I don't mind the land donation being accepted. I really don't like that we are going to pull millions of dollars from other viable schools to fund this school. I've said before it would be good but should be postponed. Perhaps in another decade or so the Southside would have more warrant in their plea for a major university. Let's use this money where it's most useful first! They've already had the enrollment requirement dropped and attempted to have it dropped again last year. They will not receive funding until they cross that threshold which used to be over 3X as many students as it is today. This story only helps prove my point, stating that the school hasn't drawn enough students yet.

I'm about building for demand... not building hoping for demand.

[sinsativ]

My son tried, they told him one more year, not enough credits, needed to be a sophomore or something already.

[boywithstick]

Originally Posted by tgannaway89

I'm just not sure the demand is there for this project yet. I'm really glad that the Southside is jumping on the growth train. I don't mind the land donation being accepted. I really don't like that we are going to pull millions of dollars from other viable schools to fund this school. I've said before it would be good but should be postponed. Perhaps in another decade or so the Southside would have more warrant in their plea for a major university. Let's use this money where it's most useful first! They've already had the enrollment requirement dropped and attempted to have it dropped again last year. They will not receive funding until they cross that threshold which used to be over 3X as many students as it is today. This story only helps prove my point, stating that the school hasn't drawn enough students yet.

I'm about building for demand... not building hoping for demand.

Have you ever been to Texas A&M University-Kingsville System Center San Antonio? Classes used to be held in portables on Palo Alto College's campus and now they're held in an old elementary school. Would YOU want to attend classes in this type of facility? Plus it's an extension of the Kingsville campus, it's not even it's own San Antonio campus. Would you want to say you graduated from a school with a name as long as Texas A&M University-Kingsville System Center San Antonio? I think you have to consider these factors as to why enrollment isn't growing as quickly as some might expect. I disagree that the demand for higher education on the south side isn't there, it's that there isn't a facility that south siders really want to attend YET. I believe that most of us who can travel across town to attend other universities will continue to do so until we have a facility we will be proud to attend here on the southside.