Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University is a land-grant, sea-grant[?] and space-grant[?] institution located in College Station, Texas. The university is centrally located, approximately equidistant from three of the 10 largest cities in the United States (Houston, Dallas and San Antonio). It is also near the state capital Austin. The university’s enrollment includes approximately 44,000 students studying for degrees in 10 academic colleges.

Texas A&M was the state’s first public institution of higher education, opening on October 4, 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. The school owes its origin to the Morrill Act of 1862, which established the nation’s land-grant college[?] system.

In 1963, the name of the institution was changed to "Texas A&M University" to more accurately reflect its expanding role as a leader in teaching, research, and public service for the state, nation and world. The initials "A" and "M" are a link to the university’s past; they no longer represent any specific words as the school’s curriculum has grown to include not only agriculture and engineering, but architecture, business, education, geosciences, liberal arts, medicine, science, and veterinary medicine.

Texas A&M is known for:

• Leadership in Agriculture[?]
• The College of Veterinary Medicine[?]
• The Dwight Look College of Engineering[?]
• The George Bush School of Government and Public Service[?]
• The Lowry Mays College & Graduate School of Business[?]
• Military Leadership (Texas A&M Corps of Cadets[?])
• The Texas A&M University System[?]

Texas A&M is a strongly traditional campus. Traditions include:

• Texas A&M Corps of Cadets[?]
• Aggie Band[?]
• Silver Taps[?]
• Yell Leaders[?]
• Midnight Yell Practice[?]
• Aggie Bonfire[?]

The Texas A&M campus is home to the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum[?].

Students are known as "Aggies[?]", or "Fightin' Texas Aggies" and graduates are "former students" (Texas A&M does not call these alumni, nor graduates).

The school does not have a mascot per say, but instead has it's own unique tradition. The "First Lady" of A&M, and the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets[?] is a collie[?] named Reveille[?] that is present at all football games and many other University functions.