News

BRYAN, Texas — Just three-and-a-half years after its initial announcement, the RELLIS Campus has sprung to life with the construction of state-of-the-art buildings, announcements of innovative partnerships and the opening of the RELLIS Academic Alliance Complex.

Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp is inviting the local community to the RELLIS Campus Festival and Open House, where the RELLIS family can meet their neighbors in the Brazos Valley.

The all-day event is scheduled for Saturday, October 5 on the 2,000-acre RELLIS Campus in Bryan, Texas and is the official ‘Welcome to the RELLIS Campus’ event.

“It has been an eventful three-and-half years since I first announced the creation of the RELLIS campus,” said Chancellor Sharp. “We are headed toward a half-billion dollars in construction, with more on the drawing board. I thought it was time to invite the community to see the campus up close.”

The event will kick off at 2 p.m. with a helicopter flyover and culminate in a fireworks display beginning at 8 p.m. The open house will also include booths from several A&M System agencies, a collegiate corner with university representatives from A&M System regional universities and booths from a variety of local entities, including local fire departments and the Blinn College District.  Family friendly activities, including a petting zoo and inflatables, will also be available, while an assortment of food and beverage options will be on-site in the food truck alley and beer and wine garden.

“Researchers and industry partners at RELLIS are cultivating partnerships that deliver life-saving technology while the workforce of tomorrow earns their certifications and degree,” said Kelly Templin, Director of the RELLIS Campus. “It is definitely the most unique place I have ever worked, and I look forward to introducing the community to our RELLIS family.”

Tours of the RELLIS Campus will operate throughout the day for guests to take-in the large landscape and vast capabilities of the area.

Earlier this year, several new buildings were opened on the campus, including the RELLIS Academic Alliance Complex and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute headquarters. Texas A&M System officials also announced that the campus would serve as the central testing hub for the Army Futures Command, with the addition of a $130 million combat development complex.

For more information about the RELLIS Festival and Open house, visit https://rellis.tamus.edu/media/.

About the RELLIS Campus:

Founded in 2016 by The Texas A&M University System, the RELLIS campus in Bryan, Texas, fosters cutting-edge research, technology development, workforce training and two- and four-year college degrees by tapping the System’s state agencies and multiple universities, along with academic, corporate and government partners outside the System.

Contact: Laylan Copelin

Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications

(979) 458-6425

(512) 289-2782 cell

lcopelin@tamus.edu

BRYAN, Texas —Earlier today, Texas A&M University System officials celebrated the grand opening of the first Texas A&M System academic building on the 2,000-acre RELLIS Campus in Bryan, Texas.

“The RELLIS Academic Alliance Complex is a state-of-the-art facility that will help us lead the way in educating the next generation of Texans,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “We’re bringing the expertise from all across the A&M System directly to our students in one innovation location and providing a totally unique educational experience.”

The 68,000 square-foot building features 10 classrooms, group learning and collaboration spaces, modern allied health teaching laboratories, upper-division science laboratories and more than 40 faculty offices. The $42 million three-story building is part of the planned RELLIS Academic Complex, which will accommodate 2,500 upper-division students once completed.

Currently, nine Texas A&M System regional universities offer 17 bachelor’s degree programs at RELLIS in subjects ranging from criminal justice to marketing and accounting. Upper-division students at RELLIS will begin using the new building this fall.

Earlier this month, the Texas A&M System Board of Regents approved the construction of phase two of the RELLIS Academic Alliance Complex. Expected to be completed in November 2020, this building will provide the needed space for engineering labs and classrooms needed for expected upcoming engineering programs at RELLIS.

In fall 2019, the Blinn College District opened a 83,000-square-foot facility on the RELLIS Campus. The classrooms and laboratories provided space for all students during the first academic year. Upper-division students at RELLIS will now seamlessly transfer across the street to the new complex for their bachelor’s degree program courses.

For more information about the RELLIS Academic Alliance visit https://rellis.tamus.edu/academicalliance/.

About the RELLIS Campus:

Founded in 2016 by The Texas A&M University System, the RELLIS campus in Bryan, Texas, fosters cutting-edge research, technology development, workforce training and two- and four-year college degrees by tapping the System’s state agencies and multiple universities, along with academic, corporate and government partners outside the System.

Contact: Laylan Copelin

Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications

(979) 458-6425

(512) 289-2782 cell

lcopelin@tamus.edu

BRYAN, Texas — Earlier today, Dr. Nancy Shankle Jordan was named as the Texas A&M University System’s Associate Vice Chancellor and Provost of the RELLIS Academic Alliance.

Jordan will provide executive leadership to the RELLIS Academic Alliance to grow and develop the available course and degree offerings. She will also work with the current academic staff to oversee enrollment management and student engagement operations.

“I have known Dr. Jordan for a number of years and have consistently been impressed with her knowledge of higher education and the leadership she has shown in every setting,” said Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. James Hallmark. “I’m excited to have her join us as we build out the educational opportunities available here.”

Jordan comes with extensive experience in higher education, including positions as a department chair and associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences and as associate provost for general education at Abilene Christian University and as an associate provost at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. In her most recent role she served as a provost and vice chancellor at Louisiana State University-Shreveport. During her time at TAMUT she represented the university on the steering committee for the RELLIS Academic Alliance for the A&M System institutions.

“I was honored to serve on the steering committee that developed plans for RELLIS,” said Jordan. “Now I’m thrilled to join the RELLIS Academic Alliance and partner with a wonderful team as we provide our students a distinctive educational experience.”

Jordan studied at Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in English and her Master of Arts in English. She then went on to receive her Ph.D. in English from Texas A&M University.

Beginning fall 2018, degree programs have been offered at the RELLIS Campus by the Blinn College District and several Texas A&M System regional universities. Each program at the RELLIS Academic Alliance creates a seamless pathway for students to earn a bachelor’s degree in a variety of related fields including criminal justice, business and health sciences.

The RELLIS Academic Alliance will celebrate the grand opening of the first Texas A&M System academic building on the RELLIS Campus on August 28.

For more information about the RELLIS Academic Alliance visit RELLIS.TAMUS.EDU/ACADEMICALLIANCE.

About the RELLIS Campus:
Founded in 2016 by The Texas A&M University System, the RELLIS campus in Bryan, Texas, fosters cutting-edge research, technology development, workforce training and two- and four-year college degrees by tapping the System’s state agencies and multiple universities, along with academic, corporate and government partners outside the System.

Contact: Laylan Copelin
Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications
(979) 458-6425
(512) 289-2782 cell
lcopelin@tamus.edu