History

Texas A&M University-Kingsville had its origin as a public institution in the teacher college movement that swept Texas in the early 1900s. Shortly after the institution's inception as South Texas State Teachers College in 1925, its role was expanded to embrace a wider array of programs typically authorized for comprehensive universities, including the graduate program that began in 1935. The historical expansion of the university's role was reflected in the change of its name to Texas College of Arts and Industries in 1929 and to Texas A&I University in 1967. The university became the nucleus of the University System of South Texas in 1972. In 1989, the university, along with other USST institutions, became a member of The Texas A&M University System. The System Board of Regents in 1993 voted to change the name of the university to Texas A&M University-Kingsville, effective September 1, 1993.