A gift from Concho Resources will allow Texas A&M University and Midland College to enroll the first cohort of students for the Texas A&M-Concho Engineering Academy at Midland College in fall 2019. This innovative co-enrollment partnership was developed to address the state’s growing need for engineers. Qualified students will be admitted to the Texas A&M College of Engineering, complete the first two years of coursework at Midland College and finish their engineering degrees in College Station, Texas. The program will accept applications through June 30.
“We are proud to support the Texas A&M-Concho Engineering Academy at Midland College,” said Tim Leach, chairman and chief executive officer of Concho Resources. “The program creates new opportunities for students in West Texas and will enhance the pipeline of highly skilled local talent that our industry and region need to be successful.
“As the Permian Basin continues to grow over the next decade, access to higher education is essential for meeting our industry’s increasing demand for an innovative and technical workforce,” Leach said. “We look forward to engaging with program participants about their very bright future in our evolving and technology-driven industry.”
The Texas A&M-Concho Engineering Academy at Midland College allows students to pursue one of 21 majors within the College of Engineering at Texas A&M.
“We are pleased to offer students in Midland a unique pathway toward a first-rate degree from an engineering college ranked among the top 10 in the world,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “Our goal is to attract the very best students to Texas A&M Engineering, even if circumstances require them to stay close to home for the first part of their college career. These students will be Aggies in Midland from day one.”
By offering opportunities like the engineering academies, Texas A&M is able to better serve Texans.
“As a public university, we are committed to serving students across Texas,” said Michael K. Young, president of Texas A&M. “The engineering academy in Midland gives students in West Texas an opportunity to begin their quality education, that leads to graduation from one of the top engineering schools in the nation, in a field vital to the local region.”
“Engineering is a critically important program to the community of Midland and to the mission of Midland College,” said Steve Thomas, president of Midland College. “The Texas A&M-Concho Engineering Academy at Midland College is a natural partnership designed to provide a highly trained engineering workforce to fill much-needed local engineering and technology jobs."
In Texas, the projected need for engineers in the workforce is 53,000 by 2024. To meet this need, universities and two-year colleges must work together to bridge the gap and attract and retain students who are interested in STEM fields. Students in the Engineering Academy enroll in math, science and core curriculum courses through Midland College and have the unique opportunity to enroll in engineering courses taught by Texas A&M faculty on the Midland College campus.
Texas A&M Engineering Vice Chancellor and Dean Dr. M. Katherine Banks said the academies have the potential to reach beyond the typical pathways for access to a top-ranked engineering program.
“The academies provide new pathways to a first-rate engineering education,” Banks said. “At a time when many Texas families are worrying about the cost of college, students can live at home for the first two years of college without postponing their participation in an engineering program that is highly regarded by employers across the country.”
Visit engineering.tamu.edu/academies for more information about how to apply and other details about the Engineering Academy.