ROMA, Texas — Seeking to expand access to higher education and pipeline regional workforce development directly into Starr County, the City of Roma, Roma Independent School District, and Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) have entered into a historic multi-faceted partnership aimed at establishing a permanent university footprint in the border community.
Signed during a ceremony attended by municipal officials, academic leaders, and state lawmakers at Roma City Hall on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes a framework to deliver university faculty research to local residents, expand dual enrollment options for high school students, and ultimately create a year-round TAMIU administrative and academic facility in Roma.
As an immediate outcome of the agreement, TAMIU and municipal leaders announced the launch of the TAMIU-City of Roma Speaker Series. Held twice each academic year, the series will bring university faculty to Roma to present research on pressing regional topics, including international trade, public health, transportation, public safety, and economic development.
The inaugural presentation in the series, scheduled for Nov. 17, will feature Dr. Daniel Covarrubias, director of TAMIU's Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development. Covarrubias will deliver a lecture titled "The Digital Border: Trade, Technology, and What the Data Say About Roma, Texas."
VIPs are pictured at Roma City Hall following the signing of an MOU between Texas A&M International University, the City of Roma, and Roma CISD. (Photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Roma Mayor Jaime Escobar emphasized that while physical infrastructure projects remain vital to Starr County’s economic trajectory, human capital investment is paramount to sustainable regional growth.
“For generations, families in Roma have worked hard, made sacrifices, and encouraged their children to pursue higher education, understanding that education opens doors to opportunities that ultimately transform lives,” Escobar said.“Through this MOU, we are establishing a framework for two important initiatives that will directly benefit our community.”
Escobar noted that beyond the bi-annual academic lecture series, the primary long-term objective of the municipal partnership is securing a physical presence for the Laredo-based university within Roma’s city limits.
“Perhaps most exciting for us is our shared goal of establishing a permanent TAMIU presence in Roma,” Escobar explained. “This would provide our students and families with year-round access to university representatives for college admissions guidance, financial aid assistance, academic program information, and opportunities for professional development—a permanent presence in our city, which can develop and evolve into something greater down the line.”
Escobar noted that while local partnerships with South Texas College and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley have laid a strong academic foundation, bringing TAMIU into the fold expands direct access without requiring residents to travel outside Starr County for specialized university resources.
In tandem with the city agreement, TAMIU and Roma ISD signed a five-year dual-enrollment partnership allowing eligible high school students in grades 9 through 12 to earn simultaneous high school and university credit through approved TAMIU coursework.
To lower financial barriers for local families, TAMIU President Dr. Christopher Maynard announced that qualifying Roma ISD students will be eligible for TAMIU’s Concurrent Scholarship Program, which covers tuition and applicable fees for approved university courses.
“At Texas A&M International University, our mission is simple: to provide transformative educational experiences that will change the trajectory of students, families, South Texas, and beyond,” Maynard said. “Our commitment to success extends far beyond our campus in Laredo.”
Maynard highlighted the university’s existing pipeline with Starr County, noting that over 800 TAMIU alumni hail from Roma and Starr County, with more than 50 students from the immediate area currently enrolled on the main campus in Laredo.
“This five-year agreement that we are signing today with Roma ISD gives us a foundation for continued collaboration,” Maynard added. “Along with our partnership with the City of Roma, it strengthens the connection among the university,the district, and the community. Our message is simple: a university education is within your reach, and Texas A&M International University is here to be your partner.”
Roma ISD Superintendent Carlos M. Gonzalez emphasized the operational scope of the new coursework options, noting that the agreement enables local students to enroll in specialized university subjects not currently accessible through existing institutional agreements.
“It’s going to create opportunities for our beloved city, for our school district, but it’s going to help our students with dual enrollment in classes they can’t take elsewhere,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez also proposed expanding the collaborative framework to encompass local environmental and eco-tourism initiatives, specifically targeting the revitalization of the Roma Bluffs World Birding Center.
“I’d like to do an MOU with the city on how we can get our kids involved with the birding center and revive it and make it vibrant,” Gonzalez said. “If we can work with TAMIU and the City of Roma and look for grants to see how we can revive it... let’s get it done.”
Both Escobar and Gonzalez commended Dr. Juan Gilberto Garcia, TAMIU Vice President for Enrollment Management and a native of Roma, for his role in orchestrating the joint venture between his hometown and the university.
State Sen. Judith Zaffirini speaks at Roma City Hall. (Photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)
Texas Senate Dean Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo), who witnessed the signing ceremony, commended the local leadership for expanding dual credit access and lowering the cost of post-secondary education along the Texas-Mexico border.
Zaffirini, who authored the 1993 legislation establishing TAMIU as a four-year institution within the Texas A&M University System, highlighted the immediate economic benefits dual enrollment provides for families in Starr County.
“Think of the money the students and their families will save for every course that you get credit for early,” Zaffirini said.“That’s less money that you have to spend in future tuition and fees, transportation, room and board. Dual enrollment is critical.”
Addressing high school leaders and student council representatives in attendance, Zaffirini also stressed the value of language proficiency, noting that native Spanish speakers can leverage advanced placement examinations to claim college credit hours early in their academic careers.
“Higher education truly is the key to a better future,” Zaffirini said. “Because throughout South Texas, including Roma,we face economic challenges, higher education opportunities will directly impact our communities. Education is the key to more prosperity and success. When we educate individuals, we help the families, we help the community, and we help the state.”
