Texas A&M University is a land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant institution located in College Station, Texas. The university is centrally located, approximately equidistant from three of the 10 largest cities in the United States (Houston, Dallas and San Antonio). It is also near the state capital Austin. The university's enrollment includes approximately 44,000 students studying for degrees in 10 academic colleges.
Texas A&M was the state's first public institution of higher education, opening on October 4, 1876 as the 'Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas'\. The school owes its origin to the Morrill Act of 1862, which established the nation's land-grant college system.
In 1963, the name of the institution was changed to "Texas A&M University" to more accurately reflect its expanding role as a leader in teaching, research, and public service for the state, nation and world. The initials "A" and "M" are a link to the university's past; they no longer represent any specific words as the school's curriculum has grown to include not only agriculture and engineering, but architecture, business, education, geosciences, liberal arts, medicine, science, and veterinary medicine.
On November 18, 1999 12 were killed and 28 injured when a huge bonfire structure under construction at the campus collapsed.
Texas A&M is known for:
Students are known as "Aggies", or "Fightin' Texas Aggies" and graduates are "former students" (Texas A&M does not call them alumni, nor graduates).
The school does not have a mascot per se, but instead has its own unique tradition. The "First Lady" of A&M, and the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets is a collie named Reveille that is present at all football games and many other University functions.