TAMIU Gets Record $17.8 Million TEXAS Grant to Help Entering and Transfer Students

There are about $17.8 million reasons parents and students weighing their higher education options this Summer and Fall should consider their hometown Texas A&M International University (TAMIU).

That’s because TAMIU has just received the highest Toward Excellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant financial aid allocation, $15 million, among regional universities in the Texas A&M University System, with an additional $550,000 dedicated exclusively to helping transfer students who have already earned an Associate’s degree continue their Bachelor’s degree at TAMIU.  The additional $2.8 million allocated to TAMIU for the 24-25 academic year will allow the University to support more students in making their dream of a higher education a reality.

TAMIU vice president for Enrollment Management, Juan Gilberto García, Jr. said this sizable infusion of student financial assistance has measurable potential for students and their families.

“With a maximum per semester grant amount of $5,387, these combined grants can assist over 550 students with satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for up to four years,” García said.

He said both programs are offered through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), with the Texas Transfer Grant program being a new offering.  The THECB invites Texas higher education institutions to participate in the allocation process for the optional program.

“TAMIU was eager to be considered for this new Texas Transfer Grant allocation. We’re pleased that our campus has been singled out to receive funds that target transfer students who have already earned an Associate’s degree.  We especially want to encourage our growing number of partner community and junior colleges like Laredo College, Lone Star College, Southwest Texas Junior College, and others to encourage their Associate’s degree graduates or soon-to-be graduates to consider this attractive option to further their education. We believe this is a win-win situation for all,” García explained.

To be eligible for the TEXAS Grant, students must be a Texas resident and a graduate of an accredited Texas High school and complete the Recommended, Foundation, or Distinguished Achievement Program in high school. Students must enroll in a non-profit college or university within 16 months of graduation and have accumulated no more than 30 college credit hours. Students must file a FAFSA or TASFA, and have an SAI of 6472 or less, and demonstrate financial aid. Male students must register for the Selective Service (or be exempt). To learn more about the priority consideration for initial students and to review the renewal requirements, please visit https://www.tamiu.edu/finaid/grants.shtml 

To be eligible for the Texas Transfer Grant, students must be a Texas resident, registered for Selective service (or be exempt), apply for financial aid assistance and show need, be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program, and have earned an associate degree from a Texas public two-year institution. The maximum award for 2024 is $5,387 but the award posted per student is determined according to other need-based aid that the student already receives.

Texas Transfer Grant students are encouraged to apply for financial aid by the priority deadline and submit any pending financial aid documentation and their final transcript from the school of their earned associate’s degree.

García noted that Texas Transfer Grant participants must also be aware of the academic obligations that come with their grant award.

“Recipient students need to know and understand the program’s renewal requirements. They need to meet TAMIU’s SAP Policy of maintaining an Institution 2.0 grade point average, a passing rate of 67% or more, and not exceeding 180 attempted hours. Eligibility ends if a student does not meet the SAP or exceeds the maximum time frames issued by the THECB,” he noted. 

Awarding for the new Texas Transfer Grant begins this Summer 2024 and beyond. García said the program’s funding is for summer and Fall 2024, and Spring 2025. The grant is available for up to two years if the degree plan is four years or up to three years of assistance if the degree plan is more than four years.

Information about both Texas Grant programs at TAMIU is available online from the TAMIU Office of Financial Aid at https://www.tamiu.edu/finaid/grants.shtml.  Email financialaid@tamiu.edu, call 956.326.2225, or visit offices in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, room 214. 

Fall 2024 Registration at TAMIU is now underway.

To learn more about the University’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.  For additional information on transferring to TAMIU, contact the Office of Recruitment and School Relations at enroll@tamiu.edu, phone 956.326.2270, or click on https://www.tamiu.edu/prospect/transfer.shtml

The first day of classes for the Fall 2024 semester is Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. 

TAMIU summer hours through Aug. 9 are Monday - Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 8 a.m. – 12 noon on Fridays.  Regular office hours resume Monday, Aug. 12.

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