Ninety-six students enrolled in the academy in Fall 2024, making it the largest inaugural cohort in the academy program’s history.
Students in the academy can pursue engineering degrees while co-enrolled at Texas A&M University and Collin College. Students save money during their first two years by taking Texas A&M engineering courses at Collin College before transitioning to Texas A&M.
“Texas A&M realized that they were turning away qualified students from their College of Engineering due to capacity issues,” said Collin College Dean of Academic Partnerships Jamie Mills. “They created these engineering academies at community colleges to ensure qualified students would have a better opportunity to enroll in the program. The first two academies opened at Blinn College-Brenham and Houston Community College in 2015, and they now have 10 academies, with Collin College being the most recent to launch its first cohort in Fall 2024.”
Once students are accepted into the academy, they will:
• Experience Texas A&M engineering courses taught by Texas A&M professors at Collin
College.
• Join a community of Engineering Academy peers.
• Participate in student activities and organizations at both institutions.
• And so much more
Evelyn Yezak, an engineering student interested in aerospace engineering, shared her experience as part of the academy’s inaugural cohort at Collin College.
“There are many benefits to attending Collin College that relate to me,” Yezak said. “I live close to Collin College, so some of the benefits are not having to drive three hours to Texas A&M and not having to cut back on costs because of housing.” Also, I have been taking classes at Collin College for a bit, so it’s nice to see that smooth transition from Collin classes to Texas A&M. I get the feeling of being a part of the big university but without the shock factor of being dropped in and left on my own.”
Texas A&M professor LaTasha Starr elaborated more on the importance of the students maintaining a “safety net” – a supportive environment – as they transition from community college to a university.
“The Texas A&M Academy at Collin College is an opportunity to continue the strong legacy of Texas A&M with a safety net of a nearby family, neighborhood, or community, which is what community college is all about,” Starr said. “Our goal is to provide a university experience without stripping away the community at the onset. We’re keeping the net in place and allowing students to be held and helped as they continue their journey.”
To learn more information and to apply for the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Collin
College,
visit www.collin.edu/tamuengineering.
For information about Collin College, visit www.collin.edu.