A&M Texarkana and Smith Blair, a Xylem Brand, Form New Academic Partnership

TEXARKANA, Texas - Texas A&M University-Texarkana and Smith-Blair, a Xylem brand, have entered a new academic partnership that will allow company employees to take courses at the university with reduced tuition prices. The partnership was officially launched on July 15, 2024, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the A&M-Texarkana Campus.

"We are pleased to announce that Smith-Blair, a Xylem brand, has become our newest community academic partner," said Texas A&M University-Texarkana President Dr. Ross Alexander. "As a company they are constantly innovating and finding ways to better meet the needs of their customers. We look forward to serving their hard-working employees as they look to fulfill education goals that will help further their careers."

"Xylem's Smith-Blair is honored to partner with Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT) and offer affordable higher education to our employees," said Marc Buxton, President and General Manager. "We recognize the value of continuous learning and are excited to collaborate with Dr. Ross Alexander and TAMUT. Go Eagles!"

Under the terms of the new partnership all full-time employees of Xylem's Smith-Blair will receive a tuition discount on all undergraduate, graduate, certificate, or micro-credential programs delivered in-person, online, or through a hybrid format. The agreement also waives the standard application fee. In addition to the tuition discount, any eligible employee who is a new student at the university will receive the First Flight Scholarship, which gives the new student their first class free if they are enrolled in at least 6 hours at the undergraduate or graduate level.

The benefits of the partnership are available immediately and may be used for the upcoming Fall 2024 semester. Employees wishing to take advantage of the new partnership must meet the admissions standards of the program to which they apply and must remain in good academic standing. For additional information about this and additional academic partnerships please visit the university website at www.tamut.edu/partnerships.