Howdy!

With the 2017 Texas legislative session behind us and the special legislative session gearing up, we want to take a moment to say thank you to our Aggie Advocates, former students, and public servants for embodying the Aggie core value of selfless service during this legislative session. 

In this Legislative Recap Edition of our newsletter, we will feature a dedicated Texas legislator as part of our Aggie Spotlight Series, wrap up the issues that impacted Texas A&M this session, congratulate some special Aggies on their recent achievements, and honor the memory of a former student who made the ultimate sacrifice as he was finally laid to rest.

Additionally, I am excited to introduce a new member of The Association of Former Students team and director of strategic engagement, Dave Fujimoto ’17. Dave comes to us after 22 years of service in the United States Air Force and is a recent graduate of the Bush School of Government and Public Service. We are pleased that he and his wife, Erin Fujimoto ’91, have chosen to share their time and talents with us, and I look forward to his service to The Association and Texas A&M Advocacy Network during the coming years.

Thank you again for your loyalty and willingness to reach out and voice your support for Texas A&M University and its students. Your efforts during our recent "Calls to Action" were instrumental in preserving the Permanent University Funds (PUF) for our state's flagship universities. 

Thanks and gig ’em,

Marty Holmes ’87

Vice President

Legislative Highlights

The previous few months were a busy and sometimes contentious time for the Texas Legislature. The Senate Finance and House Appropriation Committees deliberated many items regarding state funding for higher education. Below are some highlights from the proposed House and Senate budgets that could have had a large impact on Texas A&M.

Texas A&M boasts the lowest administrative cost ratio among public higher education institutions in Texas at a mere 3.6% - compared to the state average of 9.8%. In addition, Texas A&M leads the state in the areas that are key to the success of its students - the lowest percentage of students with debt, the fastest time to degree, and, in a competitive job market, its graduates earn 54% more than the national average.

Texas A&M not only has the largest student enrollment in Texas, but it has added over 4,000 students over the last biennium while maintaining the highest student performance in the state (see more here). Simply put, Texas A&M is outperforming the competition for less, and is proud to serve the largest student body in the state by providing an accessible, affordable, and exceptional education.

Formula funding 

Higher education formula funding, which is based on the number of enrolled student hours and weighted by program, directly supports the university's core academic mission—teaching. This is overwhelmingly the largest source of state funding for Texas A&M and the most consistent. Stable, predictable state funding promotes efficiency and better planning for the university, Texas A&M students, and their families. 

In the Senate budget proposal (which called for a redistribution of formula dollars), Texas A&M would have received more than $30 million less to educate its students when compared to current funding levels. This proposed change would have left Texas A&M with one of the lowest rates of per-student funding in the state of Texas. Fortunately, the final budget proposal was changed to reflect that of the House, using the established formula funding methodology. 

The final budget proposal will help to ensure the continued success of Texas A&M students and the university as a whole: Texas A&M will receive a 2.6% increase (compared to the current state formula). 

Despite the many financial challenges faced by our state legislators, Texas A&M received adequate funding and will continue to provide opportunities for current and future Texas A&M students. Aggie Advocates played a key role in ensuring that Texas A&M has the state-provided resources necessary to provide a high-quality education at affordable prices.  

Thanks for your continued support!

Colonel Campbell's Final Flight

Missing for more than 48 years, an Aggie shot down during the Vietnam War is finally laid to rest by his family in this short film from The Association of Former Students.

The remains of USAF pilot Colonel William Campbell ’52 were flown this May to Washington, D.C., and interred with those of his widow at Arlington National Cemetery. The Association is grateful to the Campbell family for trusting us to document their father’s return and share this story with the Aggie Network.

For more of Colonel Campbell’s story, please visit tx.ag/ColonelCampbell.

The Association of Former Students serves current and former students through scholarships, programming, and events. The Association is able to create these opportunities through the generous gifts of former students and friends of Texas A&M who wish to impact Texas A&M through the Century Club. If you are interested in impacting Texas A&M through The Association of Former Students, I encourage you to click the button below to help Pass It Back and Pay It Forward.