Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is a public university in Laredo, Texas. It is part of the Texas A&M University System and home to over 8,500 students each academic semester. TAMIU offers over 70 undergraduate and graduate degrees in four colleges. History 1969: Established as a branch of Texas A&I University at Kingsville, and named Texas A&I University at Laredo, functioning as an upper-level University for juniors, seniors, and graduate students. The Senate bill was introduced by Wayne Connally, brother of Governor John B. Connally, Jr. 1977: University's name changes to Laredo State University. 1989: University joins The Texas A&M University System. 1993: Name changes to Texas A&M International University. 1995: An unsuccessful attempt is made to transfer TAMIU to the University of Texas System. TAMIU becomes a four-year University, welcomes its first freshman class and opens its new campus, the first new University campus constructed in Texas in over 25 years. 2004: Doctoral program in International Business Administration is launched. 2006: Early College High School joins TAMIU (in collaboration with Laredo Independent School District). 2009: 40th Anniversary Celebration (2009-2010) begins. 2010: Dedicates Autism Interventions Center. 2010: Dedicates new University Success Center. 2011: Dining Center Expansion in Student Center opens. 2012: With the approval of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, the University Success Center is renamed the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center. Formal dedication ceremonies are scheduled in September 2012. 2014: Enabled by legislation authored by State Senator Judith Zaffirini and approved by the 79th Texas Legislature in 2005, the University announced its historic launch of a University-level academy on its campus for highly gifted and motivated high school seniors, to be known thereafter as The Texas Academy of International and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Studies. Academics Texas A&M International University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees through four colleges. They include: College of Arts and Sciences A. R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business College of Education College of Nursing and Health Sciences Rankings According to U.S. News & World Report in "2015 Best College Rankings" TAMIU has been moved up and ranked No. 20 in Top Public Regional Universities, West, and in 2014 TAMIU's rank was 35th. In 2015, The Economist Magazine's "List of America's Best Colleges" ranked TAMIU ninth in the nation, ahead of all other schools in Texas. In 2013, the National Council on Teacher Quality, based in Washington, D.C., ranked