Texarkana, Texas – Texas A&M University‑Texarkana announced it will receive roughly $470,000 for the 2026‑27 academic year from a new Texas A&M University System initiative. The money is earmarked to help the campus cover the unreimbursed tuition and mandatory‑fee costs it incurs when eligible veterans use benefits provided by the Hazlewood Act.
State promise to veterans honored
“Texas made a promise to the men and women who wore our nation’s uniform, and we intend to keep it,” said Robert L. Albritton, chairman of the A&M System Board of Regents, in the release. He added that the funding should not weaken the universities that serve large numbers of veterans and military families, and that the initiative offers meaningful relief while protecting the education of every student on campus.
University leadership welcomes the support
A&M Texarkana President Dr. Ross Alexander called the allocation “a considerable difference” for the university’s veteran services. He noted that the funding will allow the school to continue expanding counseling, career‑placement, and academic‑assistance programs that help veterans and their families transition smoothly to civilian life.
How the Hazlewood Act works
The Hazlewood Act grants qualifying Texas veterans up to 150 semester credit hours of tuition exemption, including most mandatory fees, at public colleges and universities. Eligible veterans may also transfer any unused credit hours to a qualifying child through the Hazlewood Legacy program. Certain spouses and dependent children of veterans who are disabled, missing, or killed in service also qualify for benefits.
Based on fiscal‑year 2025 data, state funding reimbursed about 67 % of the cost of exemptions transferred to children through the Legacy program. Direct exemptions used by veterans, however, are not reimbursed, leaving public universities to absorb those costs.
Funding details and future outlook
The A&M System Board of Regents authorized up to $30 million annually for three years to support the Hazlewood Veteran Initiative. The $470,000 allocated to A&M Texarkana applies only to the first year of the program; allocations for the second and third years will be determined in those respective years. The initiative’s funding comes from the system’s Available University Fund.
Local veterans groups and community leaders have praised the move, emphasizing that it strengthens the bond between the university and the many military families that call the Texarkana area home. “Our veterans deserve a seamless path to higher education, and this funding helps ensure that promise is kept,” said a spokesperson for the Texarkana Veterans Association.
Impact on the community
Beyond the direct financial relief, the funding is expected to boost enrollment of veterans and their dependents, increase retention rates, and enhance the overall quality of support services on campus. By reducing the financial strain on the university, the initiative also safeguards resources for other students, preserving the institution’s ability to serve the broader Texarkana community.
As the first year of the Hazlewood Veteran Initiative unfolds, A&M Texarkana will monitor the program’s effectiveness and report outcomes to the system board, ensuring transparency and accountability for taxpayers and the families who benefit.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
