SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 304 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to join Texans across the state in celebrating March 1, 2017, as Texas A&M University--Texarkana Day at the Capitol; and WHEREAS, Texas A&M University--Texarkana was established in 1971 as East Texas State University--Texarkana and offered upper-division and graduate classes on the campus of Texarkana College; and WHEREAS, The school became a member of The Texas A&M University System in 1996, and in 2006, construction began on a new campus dedicated to the developing university; in 2010, it welcomed its first class of entering freshmen; and WHEREAS, Through the years, the university has continued to grow and to expand its academic and extracurricular offerings to students; Bringle Lake Village, a 294-bed residence hall, opened in 2011, and intercollegiate athletics were introduced in 2014; the university added its first doctoral program, a Scholars of Practice program in Education Leadership, in 2016; and WHEREAS, The university has been recognized as one of the 50 Best Graduate Nursing Schools in America by the Top Master's in Healthcare Administration website and has been named one of the 50 most-affordable bachelor's-degree-granting colleges; it is truly fitting that a day be set aside to honor this exceptional institution of higher education; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th Legislature, hereby commend the students, faculty, administrators, and staff of Texas A&M University--Texarkana on their commitment to excellence in education and extend to them best wishes for a productive and memorable Texas A&M University--Texarkana Day at the Capitol; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor of this special occasion. Hughes ________________________________ President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 27, 2017. ________________________________ Secretary of the Senate ________________________________ Member, Texas Senate