KINGSVILLE (Aug. 26, 2026) — After presenting a proposal focused on advancing student success and improving postsecondary outcomes, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) was recently selected for funding under the Student Success Acceleration Program (SSAP) 3.0 by the Texas higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).
TAMUK will receive $300,000 to support their selected proposal titled HORIZON: High impact Opportunities for Retention, internships, and Zero-Gap Occupation Navigation, a targeted approach to support economically disadvantaged and first-generation college students through retention/persistence, graduation, and immersive career readiness training inside and outside of the classroom, supported by free access to industry-recognized certifications.
Through HORIZON, TAMUK’s Career Engagement, Student Success (including Academic Advising), and Academic Affairs will collaborate to expand elements of TAMUK’s Focus on Your Future and First to Go initiatives that address the needs of undergraduate economically disadvantaged students, and expand support for first-generation undergraduate students.
“HORIZON will be aligned with all the different initiatives that we currently have,” TAMUK Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Assistant Provost Dr. Maria Velez-Hernandez said. “Our institution is different than many others. We have so many students that are first generation who need this kind of support system that they may or may not have at home or in high school. We want to be a university that is ready for those kinds of students. If you’re ready for them, then you’re ready for everyone. We came together not just as one unit, but as different areas that we know would be beneficial to support this career readiness.”
Dr. Jody A. Marín, Director of University Writing Center and English Professor is the Principal Investigator (PI) for HORIZON and is joined by Co-PI Velez-Hernandez.
Joining Marin and Velez-Hernandez in supporting the grant’s goals and key activities are:
Dr. Robert Ayala, Acting Vice President for Student Success
Mr. Ralph Leal, Co-PI, Director of Career Engagement and Corporate Relations Dr. Fidel Bem, Co-PI, Dean of Academic Advising & Retention
In support of the SSAP 3.0 grant goals, the above areas represented will work together to accomplish three activities that include the Launch Your Future into the Horizon retreat for First-Time in College Students (FTICs), Horizon Scholars: College-to-Career Pathways and the Javelina Horizon Professionalism Workshop Series.
The Launch Your Future into the Horizon retreat is a two-day summer retreat at the TAMUK campus featuring professionalism, career-readiness, and workforce development workshops, including NACE Career Readiness Competencies and micro-credentialling via Coursera.
Horizon Scholars: College-to-Career Pathways is a Course redesign initiative to incorporate high-impact, experiential, and career focused learning and other credentials-of-value into the curriculum to increase career readiness and support persistence and degree completion. Specifically, these courses will offer service-learning, internships, and/or certification opportunities.
The Javelina Horizon Professionalism Workshops will be focused on practical and professional applications, confidence-building, and strengthening students’ professional identity and marketability.
“This gives us an opportunity to emphasize how TAMUK is different than other institutions,” Marin said. “A&M-Kingsville is very student-focused and staff, faculty and administration love our students. That’s what this is all about. We care about our students and we want to guide them into their career because life happens. We want students to know that we’re here to help you get to the end and beyond that.”
The SSAP grant period begins Sept. 1, 2026.
ABOUT THE SSAP 3.0 GRANTS:
The SSAP 3.0 Grants is meant to support students’ persistence and completion of credentials of value leading to successful career and labor market outcomes in Texas. The Request for Applications (RFA) solicits proposals from Texas public institutions of higher education for the development, enhancement, and scaling of evidence-based programs and initiatives for an identified target student population in at least one of the three program areas that include Academic Supports, Career Services and Advising, and Financial Supports.
SSAP 3.0 Grants support an important priority of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)—to positively impact metrics related to the state’s strategic plan for higher education, Building a Talent Strong Texas. This includes funding programs that improve retention rates (1-year), increase existing capacity to serve more students (scaling), expand program impact (scope), or otherwise increase credential attainment/graduation rates, academic achievement, and affordability for students.
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