It is estimated that over 2 million jobs are being created in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. To help meet that need in our region, Senator Hinojosa worked with A&M Corpus Christi and community leaders to secure the first $2 million in state funds for mechanical engineering in 2009 then electrical engineering in 2015. Since then, Senator Hinojosa has secured a total of $26 million for engineering at A&M Corpus Christi.
The mechanical engineering program specializes in teaching engineering as it relates to the Gulf of Mexico, including offshore platforms and offshore mapping. The engineering program has been extremely successful and is critical to the growth of the region. Engineers will be available for area industries and will enhance local economies. During the 2017 session, Senator Hinojosa secured $4.2 million to support engineering programs, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and the STEM pipeline initiative. This past session, Senator Hinojosa secured $2.3 million in new funding to establish the Civil & Industrial Engineering Program.
In addition to the funding for the engineering program, in 2019 Senator Hinojosa helped secure significant funding for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. For the 2020-2021 Biennium this included:
- $139.4 million for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ($8.4 million increase from 2018-19 Budget);
- $4.2 million for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Engineering Program; and
- $2.3 million in new funding to establish the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Civil and Industrial Engineering Program.
- $7 million for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems for a total of $21 million since 2015.