Texas A&M University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

The Gardens is a 27-acre public teaching garden focused on expanding Texas A&M’s research and outreach by building a living classroom for educational, inspirational, and recreational experiences while enriching guests’ appreciation and enjoyment of “The Aggie Experience.”

The mission of The Gardens at Texas A&M University is to engage the community in a living teaching environment, encourage curiosity and discovery, and to develop wonder for the natural world.
While Covid-19 affected scheduled, in-person educational activities over the past several months, the Leach Teaching Gardens continue to be an accessible outdoor learning space for students and campus visitors. The Gardens also provides online educational offerings.

The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) recognized the Leach Teaching Gardens as the PGMS Green Star Awards 2020 Grand Winner for taking a lead in the implementation of initiatives that sustain our environment. Examples of the commitments highlighted include a student-led and maintained garden, using Earth-Kind principles, native and adapted plants, smart watering, and other sustainable practices.

The Innovative Learning Classroom Building (ILCB) at Texas A&M University is a key component of the institution's goal to build a culture of excellence in teaching and learning. The new 118,000-square-foot building houses 2,200 general-purpose classroom seats in 10 classrooms. Located across two levels of the building, instructional spaces range in size from 600-seat in-the-round arenas to 72-seat learning studios. Informal study spaces support the formal learning environments, creating a learning landscape for students and faculty to interact across the three-story building.

The ILCB opened in Fall 2020 and immediately became a student favorite. The building is designed to LEED Silver standard and has many features students enjoy such as: outdoor seating, decks, water features, hammock stands, outdoor terrace, and state of the art technology in classrooms in the round as well as in collaborations spaces.

You can view virtual tours https://ilcb.tamu.edu/21CCB/Learning-Innovation-Classroom-Building/Virtual-Tour

TAMU Urban Farm United (TUFU) is an organization on the campus of Texas A&M University (TAMU), whose mission is “Grow to Serve”. The project was made possible through $73,174 from campus environmental grants awarded by the Aggie Green Fund.

With this grant, TUFU introduced aeroponic vertical farming through the use of Tower Gardens to demonstrate the efficacy of growing fresh food sustainably. The project demonstrates methodologies of hyper-local food growing, tower to table, while using organic means of pest control. The heart of the project is around compassion and community building. As food links us all at a very fundamental level, TUFU enables the launch of compassionate actions around solving the problems of food insecurities, as well as educational awareness on sustainability, human health, and environmental health.

This unique grant leverages multiple partnerships to create student-learning opportunities through capstone projects while supplying nutritious food options to customers of The 12th Can as well as campus veterans of the armed forces. The 12th Can resides under the Texas A&M University Student Government Association and their goal is to eliminate hunger at Texas A&M, bring awareness to food insecurity in college communities, and show others the power of the Aggie spirit. The TUFU project has resulted in a campus food forest that serves Aggie community members in need.

TUFU expanded partnerships outside campus boundaries to provide educational opportunities for both Bryan ISD and College Station ISD. For the past year, TUFU has been selling tower to table food to locally owned, Nam Cafe.