Texas A&M University Galveston Campus

Texas A&M University at Galveston is Home to Juneteenth Freedom Bell

Today is Juneteenth which commemorates Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger announcing on June 19, 1865, that all enslaved individuals were to be freed. One way that Juneteenth is remembered at Texas A&M University at Galveston is through a Freedom Bell on display in the Jack K. Williams Library.

Read more about the bell here: tx.ag/TS8grhL

Sea Trial Updates: Captain Gives TS LONE STAR STATE High Marks! Whoop!

The TS LONE STAR STATE has returned from sea trials this week after spending several days off the coast of Delaware and Virginia testing propulsion and safety systems.

Capt. Wade Howell and team report that all went well, and only minor deficiencies needed to be corrected before delivery.

Capt. Howell also reports that the ship is nearing full completion and that additional system startup and commissioning is ongoing.

We look forward to seeing the ship in Galveston at the end of the summer.

(Photos courtesy of Tote Marine Services and published with permission)

The Royal Institution of Naval Architects awards Fatemeh Asadi, recognizing her as a force for good in welcoming people to the engineering industry!

In April 2026, the Royal Institution of Naval Architects announced Fatemeh Asadi, an ocean engineering PhD candidate at Texas A&M University at Galveston, as the winner of the 2026 Developing Careers Champion Award. The award recognizes Asadi's work to improve career development and knowledge acquisition for people entering marine engineering careers.

Read more: tx.ag/9hdoG8R

June 16, 2026 4:30 p.m.

New Student Conference and Sea Camp Update due to expected Inclement Weather.

Texas A&M University at Galveston officials are closely monitoring the risk for potential heavy rainfall, road flooding and gusty south winds through Thursday morning. There is significant uncertainty in the local impacts and implications for our area are currently unknown.

The campus will operate as normal on Wednesday. Anyone who is unable to safely come to campus should contact their supervisor. Dining services will maintain regular mealtimes.

New Students, current Students, faculty and staff should continue to monitor Sea Aggie Alerts, campus email, campus social media (), and the Galveston Campus mobile app (available on App Store & Google Play) for information related to campus impacts.

Stay weather aware, Ags.

TRAVEL INFORMATION
Road and travel conditions should be monitored by visiting the Texas Department of Transportation at drivetexas.org or calling toll-free at 800.452.9292 before departure.

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JUNE 17-18 NEW STUDENT CONFERENCE: MESSAGE TO STUDENTS & GUESTS

Due to this weather event, students and guests should not come to campus. The New Student Conference is pivoting to a virtual experience. All sessions will take place online on Thursday, June 18th. More details about a virtual conference will be sent out tomorrow morning, June 17th.

Anyone who would prefer to register for a later date and have an in-person experience for your New Student Conference can log into their Applicant Information System to see which NSC dates are available and choose the NSC that best meets their availability. After logging into the Applicant Information System, select "Reschedule NSC" to find available New Student Conferences.

Students can access any updated schedules through the Texas A&M at Galveston Mobile App (available for download on the App Store and Google Play).

If you intend to participate in the virtual NSC on June 18, then no further action is needed.

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SEA CAMP UPDATE

Sea Camp (overnight) June 14-20: Continuing as normal. Schedule modifications will be made as necessary to account for weather. Alternate rainy day indoor activities are prepared.

Sea Campus Kids (day camp) for Wednesday, June 17 is cancelled. Sea Camp will notify campers via email directly.

Sea Camp Costa Rica June 18-27: Camper check-in on June 18 is continuing as planned as is the departure to Costa Rica on June 19.

As cyber threats get smarter, our defenses need to be sharper than ever to defend our digitally connected world. 🛡️💡

Backed by the US Navy, TAMUG researcher Dr. Irfan Khan has developed a way to turn the tables on hackers with AIS-NIDS—an innovative AI cybersecurity system that adapts in milliseconds to neutralize digital attacks before they can even strike. Instead of waiting days for human engineers to discover and patch a breach, this self-sustaining tech shifts cybersecurity from a reactive scramble to a predictive defense.

Read more: tx.ag/GYotuMV

June 15, 2026 I 5:30 p.m.

New Student Conference and Sea Camp Update due to expected Inclement Weather.

Texas A&M University at Galveston officials are closely monitoring the risk for potential heavy rainfall, road flooding and gusty south winds over the coming days. There is significant uncertainty in the local impacts and implications for our area are unknown at this time. Additional information will be distributed as the situation warrants.

New Students, Current Students, faculty and staff should continue to monitor Sea Aggie Alerts, campus email, campus social media (), and the Galveston Campus mobile app (available on App Store & Google Play) for information specific on campus impacts.

Stay weather aware, Ags.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Road and travel conditions should be monitored by visiting the Texas Department of Transportation at drivetexas.org or calling toll-free at 800.452.9292 before departure.
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June 17-18 New Student Conference: Message to Students & Guests

Due to this weather event, we are pivoting to a virtual experience for your New Student Conference on June 17-18. More details about a virtual conference will be sent to you tomorrow evening. If you would prefer to register for a later date and have an in-person experience for your New Student Conference, we have added an additional New Student Conference date. You can log into your Applicant Information System to see which NSC dates are available and choose the NSC that best meets your availability. After logging into the Applicant Information System, select "Reschedule NSC" to find available New Student Conferences.

UPDATED SCHEDULES
Students can access any updated schedules through the Texas A&M at Galveston Mobile App (available for download on the App Store and Google Play).

REMINDERS
Please make your decision to change your NSC to a future date by June 16th at 5pm. If you intend to participate in the virtual NSC on June 17-18, then no further action is needed.

Welcome to the Aggie Family, and I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Taylor H. Kemp, Ph.D | Assistant Director for New Student and Family Programs
ph: 409.741.7165 | [email protected]
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SEA CAMP UPDATE
Sea Camp (overnight) June 14-20: Continuing as normal. Schedule modifications made as necessary to account for weather. Rainy day and alternate indoor activities are prepared.

Sea Campus Kids (day camp) June 15-17: Notifications will be made about camp the next day by 6:00pm the day before, through Sea Camp directly.

Sea Camp Costa Rica June 18-27: Camper check-in on June 18 continuing as planned. Departure to Costa Rica June 19 continuing as planned.

The TS LONE STAR STATE has departed Hanwha Philly Shipyard to begin her builder's sea trials. Capt. Wade Howell and a select crew are observing the shipyard team as the builder puts the ship through its paces. Over the next several days, the ship will test all the systems that make her operational and safe.

This includes evacuation and safety protocols, alongside engine, control, and hotel systems such as potable water, toilets, and HVAC. The ship will transit the Delaware River and anchor before proceeding to sea to conduct a series of offshore endurance runs at full speed. These trials include stress-testing the steering at full speed and executing a crash stop to determine the distance required to stop from full ahead, ensuring the machinery can handle the maneuver.

We wish the team the best of luck for a safe and smooth trial!

TAMUG’s Dr. Jessica Labonté finds the “good” in viruses

Thanks in part to COVID-19, when people hear the word virus, they are often left with a less than positive picture. Dr. Jessica Labonté, an associate professor of marine biology in the College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies at Texas A&M University at Galveston researches “good viruses.” Curious about what makes a virus good?

Find out here: tx.ag/zHaSYYG

Sophomore Evelyn Chase spent her winter break sailing alongside the towering blue glaciers and snowy horizons of Antarctica. 🧊

As a marine biology major with a passion for inspiring nature conservation through photography, Evelyn traded the sandy shores of Galveston Island for the icy tides of the Southern Ocean, proving that Sea Aggies are a force for good everywhere — even at the South Pole.

Read more: tx.ag/SrpUYIy

From the Pool to Puerto Rico! 🤿 🌊

Sea Aggies are putting to use snorkeling skills they practiced in the Texas A&M University at Galveston pool before heading to the Caribbean for two weeks. Two Marine Biology faculty and 10 undergraduate students are spending several hours a day studying sea life in the clear waters off La Parguera, Puerto Rico. The trip is led by instructional associate professors Dr. Jamie Steichen and Philip Matich, who also is the undergraduate program chair.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the trip after they return!