AUSTIN, TX - At their quarterly meeting on Thursday, January 21, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) will honor Texas A&M University -Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) with a "Recognition of Excellence" award for The College of Nursing and Health Sciences' eLine Military Program. The innovative program gives college credit to members of the military and veterans for their medical experience in the service.

The eLine Military Program's unique mission fills two critical needs in our state, a nursing shortage and civilian employment for military veterans. Often when individuals leave the military, their training and experience does not translate easily to civilian life, particularly those who served in a medical capacity as medics or corpsmen. Through this program, their hands-on experience can be given college credit and translate into the credentials needed or recognized in the civilian world.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

"Congratulations to Texas A&M University -Corpus Christi for achieving such a Recognition of Excellence. The eLine Military Program is a unique solution to many of the challenges our military and veterans face when returning to civilian life. As a Vietnam Veteran, I appreciate the great benefits this program has for our servicemen and women who are looking to further their education and employment. The program also has a significant impact to our communities by reducing our statewide nursing shortage so that more nurses and healthcare providers are available to treat our families."

In 2006, to address the shortage of nurses, particularly in South Texas, Senator Hinojosa worked to secure $45 million from the Legislature for a new 165,000 square foot nursing, health sciences and kinesiology facility at TAMUCC. In 2007 there were 1,089 students in the nursing program; by 2010 when the new building opened, there were 2,081 students, Thanks to the funding to make the new facility a reality, TAMUCC doubled their students to educate nurses to serve in our communities.

The recipient of the 2013 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) "Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Award", the eLine Military Program started in 2010 and has repeatedly been recognized by the White House and the Department of Defense as a model that can be used by other nursing schools across the country.

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