AUSTIN (April 30, 2009)-Fort Hood is set to transfer 662 acres to the Texas A&M University System for the creation of Texas A&M – Central Texas in Killeen.

Central Texas congressmen will join authorities from both Texas A&M University and Fort Hood for the signing ceremony Thursday morning in Austin.

Congress approved transfer of the land in 2004, but Fort Hood area community leaders and lawmakers have been working for a decade to win approval and funding for a freestanding public university campus.

On Sept. 1, 1999, Tarleton-State University Central Texas opened its doors to students with the primary mission of developing an upper-level graduate university to serve Fort Hood soldiers, their families and Central Texas residents

The facilities were supplied by Fort Hood, Central Texas College and the Killeen School District, but supporters always intended the school to become a freestanding public university.

The developments come almost two years after supporters were dealt a setback.

During the 80th Legislative in 2007, the Texas House passed three bills for Tarleton State University - Central Texas to become that stand alone school and receive all the funding necessary to make that happen.

Gov. Rick Perry however vetoed the bills that would have changed enrollment-counting methods to make Tarleton State University - Central Texas eligible to become part of the A&M System and would have reduced the enrollment requirement for issuance of tuition revenue bonds.

The 600+ acres brokered in Thursday’s deal are valued at about $1.7 million; the Army however has agreed to accept in-kind consideration in exchange for use of available classroom space and for educational services in areas including nursing, computer networking, mental health education and business.

Fulltime spring enrollment at Tarleton State - Central Texas exceeded the 1,000 students required for the University Center to become Texas A&M Central Texas in the fall of 2009.

Once fulltime enrollment reaches 1,500, $25 million in tuition revenue bonds can be sold to fund the start of work on the new campus.

State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, pre-filed legislation in November aimed at protecting the potential funding for the stand alone university.

His bill would strike the expiration date for issuance of the bonds, which is currently Jan. 1, 2010.