Happy Birthday, Texas A&M!

Texas A&M University, the first public institution of higher learning established in Texas, observes its 140th birthday today, Oct. 4.

When Texas A&M opened on Oct. 4 in 1876 as the state’s land-grant college, it had precious few students—by some accounts only eight on that first day of classes. It is now the largest university in Texas and one of the largest and most diversified in the nation, with more than 66,000 students currently enrolled.

It also has the largest annual investment in research in Texas and among the leaders nationally, with more than $866 million devoted this year to a host of experiments and scholarly studies, many of which have significant economic or societal impact or potential for the state and nation, university officials note.

In addition to continuing to fulfill its teaching, research and outreach mission as land-grant designation, Texas A&M now also holds federal mandates as a sea-grant and space-grant institution. 

The university’s week-long celebration of its 140 years of service to the state and nation is titled “Fearless at 140” and will include a host of activities that can be viewed here. Events include a workshop series, fitness sessions, scavenger hunt, and a birthday celebration on Academic Plaza.

The highlight is a State of the University address by President Michael K. Young, who is expected to outline his vision for continuing to build on the university’s successes over the past 140 years while focusing on continued pursuit of excellence in transformational education, innovation and impact. More details on his speech are here.

It was not long after the university opened that its former students began to organize themselves. On June 26, 1879, 11 former cadets hosted a reception in Houston initiating the first formal organization of A&M former students. That Ex-Cadets Association later reorganized to form the Alumni Association, then eventually merged with Alpha Phi Fraternity and adopted the name “The Association of Former Students.”