Nov 02, 2014 10:06 PM EST By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Texas A&M University-Kingsville announced Friday a new initiative to expand engineering educational and research programs to Rio Grande Valley in January.

The initiative will make it possible for engineering students in Rio Grande Valley to earn a Texas A&M-Kingsville degree from the Weslaco campus. Initial offerings from this engineering initiative will include bachelor's programs in chemical, environmental and natural gas engineering.

"This is a monumental day for both Texas A&M University-Kingsville and the Rio Grande Valley," A&M-Kingsville President Dr. Steven Tallant said in a statement. "We have had a long-standing commitment to the Rio Grande Valley through our Citrus Center and engineering projects that are addressing some of the environmental challenges in the region. By offering engineering courses in Weslaco, we are building on that commitment and providing students with quality education that will prepare them for high-paying careers in STEM fields."

Students will receive the first two years of instruction from Rio Grande Valley community colleges. Students will then transfer to the Weslaco campus for their third and fourth years of college.

As the initiative grows, other programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels will be added.

"We are excited to offer more engineering opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley -- an area that continues to grow at a phenomenal pace," Dr. Stephan Nix, dean of the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering, said in a statement. "As the region grows, so will the need to develop a STEM-based workforce. Our college has a lot to offer the students of the Valley and we are eager to provide them with opportunities to develop as researchers, scholars and engineers."

Classes will be held at the A&M-Kingsville Citrus Center in Weslaco. While a limited amount of courses will be offered in January, the first cohort of engineering students is expected to be admitted in Fall of 2015.

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