The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas

Texas A&M University

Former names	The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (1871–1963)
Type	Land-grant university Sea-grant university Space-grant university Senior military college
Established	1871
Academic affiliations	Texas A&M University System AAU CONAHEC ORAU URA APLU
Endowment	$9.8 billion (2016)
President	Michael K. Young
Provost	Carol A. Fierke
Academic staff	4,900
Students	68,825 (Fall 2017)
Undergraduates	53,690 (Fall 2017)
Postgraduates	15,135 (Fall 2017)
Doctoral students	4,997 (Fall 2017)
Location	College Station, Texas, U.S.
Campus	College town, 5,500 acres (20 km2)
Colors	Maroon and white
Athletics	NCAA Division I – SEC
Nickname	Aggies
Mascot	Reveille IX
Website	www.tamu.edu

Texas A&M University (Texas A&M or A&M) is a coeducational public research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It is a state flagship university and since 1948 is the founding member of the Texas A&M University System. The Texas A&M system endowment is one of the 10 biggest in the nation. Texas A&M's student body is the largest in Texas and the largest in the United States. Texas A&M's designation as a land, sea, and space grant institution–the only university in Texas to hold all three designations–reflects a range of research with ongoing projects funded by organizations such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research. In 2001, Texas A&M was inducted as a member of the Association of American Universities. The school's students, alumni—over 450,000 strong—and sports teams are known as Aggies. The Texas A&M Aggies athletes compete in 18 varsity sports as a member of the Southeastern Conference.

The first public institution of higher education in Texas, the school opened on October 4, 1876, as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas under the provisions of the Morrill Land-Grant Acts. Originally, the college taught no classes in agriculture, instead concentrating on classical studies, languages, literature, and applied mathematics. After four years, students could attain degrees in scientific agriculture, civil and mechanical engineering, and language and literature. Under the leadership of President James Earl Rudder in the 1960s, A.M.C. desegregated, became coeducational, and dropped the requirement for participation in the Corps of Cadets. To reflect the institution's expanded roles and academic offerings, the Texas Legislature renamed the school to Texas A&M University in 1963. The letters "A&M", originally A.M.C. short for "Agricultural and Mechanical College", are retained as a link to the university's tradition.