Texas A&M University System invites Blinn College to locate at new research and development campus

Blinn board will consider constructing facilities at RELLIS Campus during special May 31 meeting

May 24, 2016

Texas A&M University System invites Blinn College to locate at new research and development campus
Blinn board will consider constructing facilities at RELLIS Campus during special May 31 meeting

The Texas A&M University System has invited Blinn College to build facilities at the newly announced RELLIS Campus, formerly Riverside campus, that would allow the community college to enter into innovative partnerships with the universities of the Texas A&M System.

John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, recently unveiled plans to invest $150 million to create a new research and development campus to help companies move ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace while also offering a new path toward a college degree.

The RELLIS Campus initially would include seven new buildings, and companies would be invited to construct their own research facilities on the 2,000-acre site. The focus would include robotics, driverless and connected vehicles, advanced manufacturing, large-scale testing, as well as smart power grids and water systems.

A planned education center would offer students the opportunity to pursue four-year degrees from Texas A&M System universities that participate at RELLIS.

At a special meeting on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, the Blinn board will consider halting construction on its site at 851 N. Harvey Mitchell Parkway in Bryan and constructing a new facility on a ground lease at the RELLIS Campus. Prior to receiving The Texas A&M System’s invitation, Blinn had begun developing the Bryan site for a new campus that would allow the College to develop additional, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and other core curriculum offerings, and expand its workforce, technical, and research programs.  

“We believe RELLIS represents a unique opportunity for Blinn College and we are glad the Trustees are considering it,” Chancellor Sharp said. “It will be a great opportunity for thousands of young Texans as well.”

The RELLIS Campus is named for the Texas Aggies’ core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service.

“This proposal has the potential to strengthen the Blinn College District’s exceptional reputation for leadership and innovation,” said David Sommer, Blinn College Board President. “This invitation reflects Blinn’s longstanding tradition of partnering with the state’s leading institutions, and our community, to the benefit of students and taxpayers.”

“The trustees and I are honored to have been invited to partner with the Texas A&M System on the RELLIS Campus,” said Dr. Mary Hensley, Blinn District President/CEO. “The vision for this campus and the opportunity to establish a national model for collaboration between universities and community colleges is extremely exciting.”

Blinn College and Texas A&M University have a proud history of cutting-edge, innovative partnerships. Since 2001, the   Texas A&M-Blinn TEAM (Transfer Enrollment at A&M) Program  has served as the nation’s model for a collaborative, co-enrollment partnership between a major university and a community college. The TEAM Program has allowed thousands of additional qualified students to earn their degree from Texas A&M while enjoying the benefits of enrollment at both institutions, and in 2014 the program received the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s coveted Star Award as one of the top educational initiatives in Texas.

Texas A&M and Blinn built upon the TEAM Program’s success with the   Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn-Bryan  and the   Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn-Brenham, offering students additional pathways to pursue an engineering degree from Texas A&M and helping to meet the nationwide demand for highly skilled engineering graduates.