Soaring with Purpose On the Rise at A&M-Texarkana | Momentum in Motion
I t’s not difficult to spot the signs of progress on the A&M-Texarkana campus. From any location, you can look around and see the physical manifestation of the University’s growth. From the state- of-the-art James C. Morriss Business, Engineering, and Technology Building to innovative new student housing and dining concepts and the newly installed Local Habit Coffee Airstream, the University’s upward momentum is obvious. Dominating the changing landscape of the A&M-Texarkana campus is the James C. Morriss Business, Engineering, and Technology Building. The $45 million academic building is slated to open for the Fall 2026 semester and will support growing demand for degrees in business and technology-related fields. The 50,000-square-foot facility will house the RRCU Center for Financial Literacy and Investment, numerous laboratories for mechanical engineering and design, and will include a 225-seat lecture hall/auditorium to support large lectures and other events. At nearby Eagle Landing, more than a hundred students reside in the University’s innovative housing community. Eagle Landing consists of two distinct living environments: tiny house-styled, single- occupancy residences custom-constructed from shipping containers, and double- occupancy, quadplex-style units that house eight students per building. The next phase of Eagle Landing is in the planning stages and will ultimately provide apartment-style housing for an additional 600+ students. To better accommodate student dining needs, the University has made significant
improvements to the dining hall, expanding the space and adding more food offerings daily. Crave, a new sous-vide-style restaurant offering a variety of food options, opened in the winter of 2026 and serves students until 9 p.m. daily. Another exciting addition to the campus culinary scene was the arrival of the Local Habit Coffee trailer near the Building for Academic and Student Services. Constructed from a customized Airstream, the new campus addition offers a full line of beverages and pastries and was an immediate hit with the campus community. Fueling the broad-reaching ascendency of Texas A&M University- Texarkana is what can only be described as an unprecedented period of enrollment growth. The Spring 2026 semester saw a 17% increase in students over the Spring 2025 semester and marked the 7th consecutive term of record enrollment at the University, firmly establishing A&M- Texarkana as one of the fastest-growing universities in the nation. There are a number of factors behind the enrollment growth, but chief among them is the ability for students to receive a world-class education in highly sought-after degree fields without incurring a mountain of debt. University administration and academic leaders are constantly working with local healthcare, business, manufacturing, and other industry leaders to determine which new academic programs should be added. This helps A&M-Texarkana provide local and regional employers with exceptionally well- prepared graduates in the highest-demand fields. Couple the academic excellence of
a Texas A&M University System degree with A&M-Texarkana’s robust scholarship and partnership programs, and it’s easy to see why enrollment continues to soar. Another facet of the University’s upward momentum is in the athletic program. The program has grown from eight intercollegiate teams to 22 with the addition of football. The first members of the Eagles football team will arrive on campus in the fall of 2026 and will play a full schedule of games beginning in the fall of 2027. The addition of women’s flag football in the fall of 2027 will bring the total number of sports to 23. The University is in the early stages of constructing the on-campus RRCU Athletic Complex, which will house the University baseball, softball, tennis, track & field, and football programs. The A&M-Texarkana Athletic Department has applied for membership into NCAA Division II Athletics and has accepted an invitation to join the Lone Star Conference when the transition is complete. With changes already taking place and those that are on the horizon, there has never been a better time to be at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. “The ascendancy of Texas A&M University-Texarkana is nothing short of remarkable,” said University President Dr. Ross Alexander. “The word is out…this is a place where a student can earn a world- class degree at an affordable price, in an environment where they are set up for success. Couple that with multiple housing options, a robust student life experience, and championship athletic programs, and it’s easy to see why so many students are choosing A&M-Texarkana.”
42 | Texarkana Community Directory | 2026
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs