University to see major changes
Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) President Dr. Robert Vela delivered his State of the University Address to discuss the past, present and future of Javelina Nation on Saturday Oct. 14. Faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community were met with the iconic Porky logo projected onto the wooden walls as they entered the recital hall. Many found this intriguing as it represented a time of greatness that the university aims to get back to in the future.In honor of Homecoming week, many alumni members of Texas A&I and TAMUK returned to campus to learn what President Vela has in store for the university. Vela mentioned the eight percent increase in total enrollment and a four percent increase in retention. He stressed the significance of each student’s story on and off campus, highlighting the “power of one.” “I found Dr. Vela’s speech extremely inspiring, his commitment to students is admirable. We need our students to see the culture of what lies beyond their degrees,” Dr. Jaya Goswami, recently retired administrator, said.“Dr. Vela talked a lot about the power of one and making an impact…it really does make a difference and I hope to be that change for somebody else,” alumnus Sydney Hernandez said. Vela also pitched his plan to keep students satisfied while they are attending TAMUK. “I’ve seen so many presidents and I think [Dr. Vela] truly has such an amazing vision…I feel like his vision is so strong and I support him 100 percent. There’s nobody else that could bring Javelina Nation to where it needs to be like Dr. Vela,” Hernandez said.Vela recognized the biggest driving force, The Javelina Promise, which 69 percent of students received as financial aid this semester.Vela spoke about the future and how he plans to incorporate The South Texas Health Hub, with collaborations from Community Action Corporation of South Texas, Texas A&M Health and the School of Pharmacy. He discussed the Campus Master Plan to utilize the land TAMUK owns at Baffin Bay and build an Event and Education Center. With this the university will continue to branch out in these degree plans that have already been established and attract the attention of potential students to further their education here. “I agree with everything [Dr. Vela] is saying. Dr. Vela is taking this school in the right direction and he has a strategic plan which he is already acting on. Whenever you have a plan and are using data to run your university and your direction you will succeed at a higher level,” alumnus Debbie Lee Winslow said. Dr. Vela concluded the address by explaining the importance of giving the Ocelot Captive Breeding and Re-wilding program the proper platform. Here, students learning about wildlife will be able to observe and study ocelots which are an endangered species that TAMUK is aiming to help bring back from the brink of extinction.