Texas A&M University – Texarkana students are excited about the Patterson Student Center. This new student center will be a great addition to student life, providing students opportunity to engage with others. The facility includes a full size basketball court, weight room, Starbucks café, multi-purpose classrooms, and offices for coaches and staff.

The grand opening for the student center was October 4th. Texas A&M Chancellor Sharp attended the event, speaking to an excited crowd. Sharp expressed great thanks to Cari Patterson, who made sure budget cuts, which would have postponed the addition of the new facility were not made to A&M – Texarkana after a visit with Governor Abbott.

However, the new student center was still not open for students’ use until now, while the university was still in the process of getting a permit to allow use of the new center.

The state-of-the-art facility will provide new opportunities for students.  Athletes are excited about the new weight room and fitness center, and other students are ready to use the full-size basketball court. While many are excited about the athletic equipment, some are excited about the comraderie provided by a Starbucks and a lounge area for students to get together. Having a Starbucks on campus will be convenient for students and staff in a morning rush and do not have time to stop for coffee.

The first big event held at the Patterson Student Center will be the Fall 2018 commencement ceremony, on December 14th.

The new student center is a symbol of growth for the University. The grand opening of the student center was a groundbreaking moment for the university. It is the first building dedicated strictly to student life on the campus. It will provide students a place to stay on campus but get away from the stress of school. Not only will it be good for students, the student will play a key role in recruiting future students when giving tours. This is just one step for A&M-Texarkana, as the campus continues to grow. The University is excited for now about the newest addition to campus. However, it is important to continue to develop the campus and look forward to future advancements.