Happy trails: Broncs celebrate last graduation
For almost 90 years, The University of Texas-Pan American and its earlier iterations have transformed lives in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond, awarding more than 81,000 degrees to graduates who have gone on to make a difference in their communities. On Saturday, Aug. 22, UTPA awarded more than 900 degrees at its final graduation ceremony at The McAllen Convention Center. UTPA and its sister institutions —The University of Texas at Brownsville and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio’s Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen — will unite to form The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley this fall.
UTRGV Edinburg campus garners Tree Campus USA designation
The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized the Edinburg campus of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as a 2014 Tree Campus USA university for its commitment to effective urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship.
Collaborative exchange program renewed with university in China
A six-year partnership between The University of Texas-Pan American and Hengyang Normal University (HYNU) in China was renewed during a recent visit to China by two UTPA faculty members and Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, UTPA president ad interim and provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
UT System Regents give Outstanding Teaching Awards to seven Valley faculty members
Six faculty members from The University of Texas-Pan American and one from The University of Texas at Brownsville have been selected to receive The University of Texas System Board of Regents' 2015 Outstanding Teaching Award. The award is considered among the highest and most prestigious in the nation to recognize teaching excellence.
Students embrace love of STEM at ExxonMobil Bernard Harris camp at UTPA
Middle school students Connie Treviño, Brenda Peña, Pilar Benavidez and Ella Stewart not only successfully designed a spacecraft that kept a ping pong ball contained inside once dropped from more than six feet above ground, they also learned to be comfortable in their own science-and-math-loving skin.
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez featured on national magazine cover
For demonstrating excellence in his profession, Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, a distinguished leader in South Texas higher education, is the featured cover story for the July 15, 2015, issue of the national publication, The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine.
Marie Mora's impact extends beyond the classroom
Dr. Marie T. Mora, professor of economics at The University of Texas-Pan American, not only talks to students about the nation’s inflation and the unemployment rates, she also shares an inside look at working with the experts who generate the data.
Regional collaboration key to student success
The importance of regional collaboration in student success from cradle to career was under the microscope Wednesday, May 20, in McAllen, during a panel discussion hosted by RGV Focus. The group also unveiled its Baseline Report and Community Report, highlighting student success in the Rio Grande Valley.
Bucky the Bronc earns degree along with 1,828 UTPA graduates
After decades of cheering for others and serving as The University of Texas-Pan American’s spirit leader, Bucky the Bronc, completed his studies to earn his degree along with 1,828 graduates, the largest graduating class in the history of UTPA, on Saturday, May 16.
UTPA ranks high in awarding degrees in health care to Hispanics
According to a new report by Excelencia in Education, Finding Your Workforce: Latinos in Health, the College of Health Sciences and Human Services ranked first in the number of bachelor’s degrees and third in master’s degrees awarded to Latinos in health professions or related programs in the nation.
Final Bronc Ring Ceremony comes full circle at Performing Arts Complex
If it had been up to Norma Linda Rodriguez, she would have stayed home with her grandchildren while her daughter, Celine Rodriguez Schulz, attended the final Bronc Ceremony May 11 at the newly opened Performing Arts Complex at The University of Texas-Pan American.
But Schulz, a member of the UTPA Alumni Association Board, had a surprise awaiting her mother.
UTPA Rehabilitation Counseling student receives two national awards
Noel Ysasi, who will graduate with a Ph.D. in rehabilitation counseling on May 16, recently received the Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year awards from both the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association and the National Council on Rehabilitation Education.
Staff honored at 27th Annual Staff Employee Awards Ceremony
Presidents come and go. Faculty come and go. Even students come and go.
Staff members, however, are the ones who stay and keep a university running, Dr. Havidán Rodríguez, The University of Texas-Pan American's president ad interim told a packed Student Union Theater on May 7 at UTPA's 27th annual -- and final -- Staff Employee Awards Ceremony.
UTRGV joins UTPA in discussing diabetes at MORE Health @UTPA
Dr. Francisco Fernandez, inaugural dean of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, and Dr. Sarah Williams-Blangero, director of the South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, are scheduled to speak at the third annual MORE Health @UTPA, which runs from April 30-May 2 at The University of Texas-Pan American.
Youth mental health focus of UTPA conference April 10-11
The University of Texas-Pan American and the Texas State Department of Health Services will host a conference April 10-11 at the UTPA Ballroom to discuss how to help children and adolescents who might suffer from behavioral issues and substance abuse.
UTPA Police Department receives two TxDOT public safety grants
The University of Texas Pan-American Police Department (PD) recently received a total of $6,000 in grants from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). UTPA PD was awarded $3,000 each from the TxDOT’s Click or Ticket It (CIOT) and Impaired Driving Mobilization (IDM) programs.
Dr. Robert Nelsen named president of Cal State Sacramento
Today, the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees appointed former UT Pan American president Robert. S. Nelsen, Ph.D., as president of California State University, Sacramento (officially known as “Sacramento State”). He will assume leadership of the university in July 2015.
Donors and scholarship students come together to celebrate success
Philanthropist Wanda Boush loves cats and has a large collection of feline statues in the RV she has lived in for 30 years in the Rio Grande Valley. But what the 93-year-old transplant from Illinois loves even more is helping students at The University of Texas-Pan American fulfill their dreams of obtaining a college degree.
UTPA FESTIBA Community Festival at Jardín del Arte rescheduled for March 27
The University of Texas-Pan American has rescheduled its annual Festival of International Books and Arts (FESTIBA) Community Day at Jardín del Arte for 6 p.m. Friday, March 27 at the Edinburg City Hall Courtyard, 415 W. University Drive. Community Day at Jardín del Arte is free and open to the public.
New Paralegal Certificate Program offered by UTPA Continuing Education
The demand for paralegal professionals is on the rise as employers seek to hire specialists to fulfill some duties traditionally carried out by attorneys. To address this change in the industry, and to develop more locally trained legal workers, the Office of Continuing Education at The University of Texas-Pan American has introduced a brand new Paralegal Certificate Program to begin April 18.
Texas Book Festival Reading Rock Star tells Valley students: be curious and read more
More than 200 pre-k and kindergarten school children, many clad in birthday party hats and festive party clothes, gathered excitedly in the library of the Emiliano Zapata Elementary School in Mission, Texas March 5 ready to meet the author and illustrator of the birthday-themed number book they recently read and enjoyed in their classrooms.