Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi • President's Report 2002–2004
Growing
with the Community
Whether it’s providing opportunities for experiencing the arts, building
an academic pipeline from pre-kindergarten to college, or educating the
young and old about their surrounding environment, A&M-Corpus Christi’s
relationship with the community is flourishing.
| In 1995, an existing partnership between the University
and the Art Museum of South Texas expanded, and in 1997 the Art Museum
joined with the Center for Hispanic Arts and the Creative Arts Center
to become the South Texas Institute for the Arts (STIA). Using the
Antonio E. Garcia Arts Education Center and other satellite facilities,
the Institute has increased outreach opportunities for art exhibitions
and art education for children and adults. The STIA’s participation grew from an estimated 54,000 people in 1998 to more than 65,000 in 2002. Construction on the new Maureen and William Miller educational wing at the Art Museum, designed by internationally renowned architect Ricardo Legorreta, will begin in the summer of 2004. It will house exhibition areas, education and studio space, and meeting and conference rooms. The 7,500 square foot Garcia Center, accessible to an underserved population in a primarily Hispanic area, includes a dance studio/community room, large workshop, offices, library and an exhibition gallery. Each year, more than 22,000 youth and adults participate in such innovative programs as the Celebrate Literacy through Dance and Drama program and Kids Café, a cooperative effort with the Corpus Christi Food Bank that gives parents and children the opportunity to eat a nutritious meal together and to participate in computer, dance/movement or art classes. |
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A highly successful outreach initiative in 2003-2004 was GEAR UP, designed to prepare high school students for postsecondary education. Area high school students spent a day on the A&M-Corpus Christi campus becoming familiar with college life and observing classes in areas of interest. The program grew from 200 to more than 1,600 student participants, most of whom will be first generation college students. The Center for Coastal Studies also reaches out to surrounding communities, providing hands-on environmental education experiences and opportunities to observe wetland conservation. The Aquatic Education Program emphasizes the ecologic and economic importance of wetlands through a variety of activities, including classroom talks, wetland walks/tours, teacher-student events and kayak tours. Since 2002, the program has worked with 170,000 individuals, including over 300 teachers and more than 3,000 students. |
Connecting with our Community