A Brief History
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi traces its beginning to 1947 as the area’s premier institution of higher education. Today, we’re part of The Texas A&M University System, a network of nine universities, seven state agencies and a comprehensive health science center. The following dates are significant milestones marking our amazing transformation.
1947 -
Ward Island becomes home to the University of Corpus Christi (UCC), an institution affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. A total of 312 students are enrolled.
1970 -
Hurricane Celia causes more than $1 million in damage to the campus.
1971 -
Legislature authorizes the Texas A&I University System to establish a state-supported upper-level institution of higher education in Corpus Christi.
1973 -
Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi opens its doors on Sept. 4, 1973, to 969 students as an upper-level institution offering courses at the junior, senior and graduate levels.
1977 -
The Legislature changes the school’s name to Corpus Christi State University.
1989 -
Corpus Christi State University joins The Texas A&M University System.
1992 -
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board authorizes the University’s first doctoral degree program.
1993 -
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents renames the institution Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. A year later, it becomes a four-year comprehensive university and enrollment increases to 5,000 students.
1997 -
The University revives its intercollegiate athletics program. Today, A&M-Corpus Christi competes in 14 men’s and women’s sports as a member of the Southland Conference.
2004 -
The Board of Regents approves the University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences which opened the following year.
2005 -
Dr. Flavius Killebrew becomes the University’s President/CEO and initiates Momentum 2015, a 10-year plan to establish Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as the flagship university for South Texas.
For more in-depth history, read Dr. Thomas H. Kreneck’s introduction to “Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi: The Island University.” Kreneck is associate director of Special Collections & Archives at the Mary and Jeff Bell Library and curates the historical records of the University.
