A new agreement between Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Beeville ISD is giving high school students the opportunity to explore high-demand, high-paying careers in land surveying and geospatial engineering.
Through the university’s Islander Academy program, 22 students from A.C. Jones High School in Beeville, Texas, are dual enrolled in Digital Drafting and Design, a course that introduces the principles of surveying and mapping through computer-aided drafting (CAD) and design. Taught remotely, the course makes college-level learning convenient and accessible for Beeville students by allowing them to participate without leaving their high school campus.
Beeville ISD Superintendent Travis Fanning (left), Beeville ISD Superintendent, poses alongside Dr. Kelly Miller, TAMU-CC President during an MOU signing event held on Oct. 1, 2025.
“This collaboration opens doors to limitless possibilities, empowering Beeville students to get a head start on their college journey at a reduced cost, while building the confidence needed to be bold, innovative leaders,” said Beeville ISD Superintendent Travis Fanning. “Together, we are preparing our students for future careers and opportunities that await them.”
Beeville students in the program describe the experience as challenging but rewarding, noting that the course has introduced them to new technologies and problem-solving skills in addition to the opportunity to gain college credit and credentials before graduation.
“This is a unique and one-of-a-kind opportunity for our students,” said Matthew Esqueda, Director of Career and Technical Education for Beeville ISD. “Though this agreement, we will be able to expand our CTE offerings and develop young professionals in the in-demand fields of Geospatial Engineering and Land Surveying.”
Dual enrolled students from A.C. Jones High School in Beeville, Texas, pose alongside mascots from TAMU-CC and Beeville ISD during an MOU signing event held on Oct. 1, 2025.
The course is part of a Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway guided by the Point of Beginning Initiative, established by the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science (CBI) at TAMU-CC to create educational pipelines in Geospatial Engineering and Land Surveying (GELS) throughout Texas. With fewer skilled professionals entering the geospatial and land surveying fields, the initiative aims to increase awareness and education at the K-12 level, attracting new talent to fill high-paying jobs left vacant by a retiring workforce.
Beeville ISD is the first district in the Coastal Bend to offer students access to courses within the GELS pathway through Islander Academy. The opportunity builds on the proven success of Klein ISD near Houston, where enrollment is thriving and graduates have continued into related careers or degree programs at TAMU-CC. With strong industry support from the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS), Klein ISD’s program became the first approved high school Program of Study in Geospatial Engineering and Land Surveying in Texas, a distinction that has earned national recognition and positioned the program as a statewide model for replication.
“These fields are essential and shape nearly every aspect of our community,” said Seneca Holland, Undergraduate Program Coordinator for the Geospatial Science program at TAMU-CC and program lead for the GELS pathway. She also serves as a Geospatial Research Scientist at CBI. “By providing this opportunity, we hope students will continue in the GELS pathway and build rewarding careers in geospatial engineering and land surveying right here in the Coastal Bend.”
The TAMU-CC Islander Academy Dual Credit program offers high school students a bridge to higher education, enabling them to earn college credits while in high school and jumpstart their academic journey. Classes are offered online, on campus, and at area high schools. Beeville’s A.C. Jones High School is joining Flour Bluff, Gregory-Portland, Rockport-Fulton, and Klein Collins as participating regional schools. The Island University is proud to provide these classes to students at the participating schools at no cost. To learn more about the TAMU-CC Islander Academy dual credit program, visit www.tamucc.edu/islander-academy.