TAMIU Shares Update, Honors Community Partners, Faculty at Fall 2024 Convocation

Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Fall 2024 University Convocation provided a University update and recognized outstanding faculty and community partners in a ceremony Nov. 13, 2024, at the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Theatre.

TAMIU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Claudia San Miguel, and  TAMIU Interim President Juan J. Castillo presented faculty awards, and the Innovador Award. Castillo provided the University Update highlighting the state of the University.

Among highlights, Castillo noted TAMIU has the lowest tuition of any South Texas university.

“That’s important as parents and students consider their higher ed options. In addition, at TAMIU the published tuition rate is the price students pay regardless of their field of study.  Students aren’t forced into a field of study based on what they can afford to pay—they’re free to pursue their passion for the same published tuition rate, which has been the same since 2021,” he observed.

Castillo said those reduced costs have translated to TAMIU having the second lowest student debt among all South Texas graduates, $6,000 below the State average. 

On the academic side, he shared that TAMIU’s recruitment of students in the Top 10% of their high school classes rivals flagship universities by percentage of the freshman class they represent.

TAMIU’s first-year persistence rate is 85%, the highest of all State regionals and 5% above the State average for comprehensive regionals (CRU’s).  Average time to degree is 4.7 years and TAMIU’s six-year graduation rate is 5% above the average for the State’s CRU’s.

The University’s enrollment gains have been equally impressive and position the University strongly as the Legislature convenes in 2025, Castillo said.

“This semester, we broke another record for Fall enrollment, enrolling 8,945 students.  More importantly, those students also generated a milestone increase in Semester Credit Hours (SCH), upon which State funding is calculated -- exceeding 100,000 for the first time. Our legislators like to see that we are delivering on our mission, and this is a truly strong indicator of that,” he said.

He noted that the consistent enrollment and SCH growth post-Pandemic has had an additional benefit: it helped the University provide a combination of bonuses and pay increases to deserving employees.

“Their ongoing commitment to this University and its mission inspires us, guides our students, and supports their success. It’s important that we provide highly competitive pay and benefits,” Castillo said. 

Award recipients recognized at the Spring Convocation were:

2024 Innovador Award:

The University’s Innovador Award was created in 2019 to recognize an individual or organization making a lasting impact on education, particularly higher education, in Laredo and the South Texas region. This year’s Innovador Award recipients were the Sisters of Mercy, represented by Sister Rosemary Welsh, Sister Beth Yoest, and Sister María Luisa Vera.

Castillo shared the significance of the selection of the Sisters of Mercy.

“The 2024 Innovador Award Honorees represent a special community that has created a generational impact on healthcare and education in Laredo and South Texas.  The Sisters of Mercy have been at the forefront of healthcare and outreach through a tradition of engagement, giving, learning, and teaching dating back to 1894...over 130 years. Our Innovador recipients continue that legacy, leading a quiet revolution in community-based healthcare and education here for over 70 years," he said.

Past Innovador Award recipients include Evelyn and the late Carroll E. Summers, Jr.; the late Frank Staggs; Guadalupe and Lilia Martínez Foundation Trustees Bob and the late Shirley González, and State Senator Judith Zaffirini. 

Faculty Awards:

The Senator Judith Zaffirini Medal for Scholarship and Leadership is awarded annually to a faculty member who has exhibited meritorious service and exemplary leadership to TAMIU. Dr. George R. Clarke, TAMIU Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade was this year’s recipient.

The Distinguished Teacher Award celebrates the extraordinary dedication, passion, and innovation that shape exceptional educators and was presented to Dr. Kaitlyn Chacón, TAMIU assistant professor of English, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Humanities.

The Distinguished Scholar Award recognizes exceptional academic achievement in research and a firm commitment to advancing knowledge in one’s field and was awarded to Dr. Haibo Wang, Distinguished Professor, Division of International Business & Technology Studies. A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business.

The Outstanding Teacher Award celebrates someone who truly exemplifies the heart and soul of educationand was presented in absentia to Lilia Patricia Cantú, a recently retired University College senior lecturer. 

The Instructional Technology Excellence Award recognizes the integration of technologies into instructional practices that foster an engaging and dynamic learning environment for students and was awarded to Judith Gutiérrez, lecturer in Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Mathematics and Physics.

For additional information, contact the TAMIU Office of Public Relations, Marketing, and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu, click on tamiu.edu, or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.

Registration for TAMIU’s Wintermester and Spring 2025 courses is underway online via Uconnect.

TAMIU Spring 2025 classes begin Jan. 21, 2025. Late registration begins Jan. 21 at 8 a.m. and continues through Monday, Jan. 27 at 11:59 p.m.

For more, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 326.2250, email registrar@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Zaffirini Student Success Center, suite 121, or visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration. 

Information is also available on the University’s website, tamiu.edu, and social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X-Twitter, and YouTube.