Academic Excellence
UTRGV is deeply dedicated to ensuring and sustaining academic excellence. In the Rio Grande Valley, less than 20% of residents held a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2019. Over the last seven years, we have launched highly demanded degree programs, established a Memorandum of Understanding with the UT Center at Laredo to expand our social work program at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and established a School of Podiatric Medicine, the first in Texas. Furthermore, we have become a national leader in awarding undergraduate and graduate degrees to Hispanic/Latino students – particularly in foundational fields like STEM and Health – and in promoting the academic achievement of Pell-eligible students.
As we look forward, we will heighten our academic excellence and more effectively engage new and existing learners by:
- Continuing to offer the most sought-after and highest quality degree and non-degree programs,
- Promoting teaching excellence and academic innovation, and
- Fostering experiential learning opportunities, career development, and networking opportunities for our students.
As a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a student body that is more than 90% Hispanic/Latino and over 60% first-generation, we also recognize the importance of elevating academic excellence without sacrificing our commitment to access and affordability. Overall, we are dedicated to providing our students with the highest-quality education at the best value; to enriching their lives and to enhancing their professional pursuits.
- Signature Initiatives in Support of Academic Excellence
- Expand High-Quality Academic Programs: Enhance the quality, value, and reputation of academic programs by measuring existing programs against relevant external benchmarks and strategically developing new degree and non-degree programs, both independently and in collaboration with employer partners and the UT system.
- Promote Educational Attainment: Provide all students with a high-quality, bi-cultural educational experience; Strengthen undergraduate-to-graduate degree pipelines through programs such as the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) and the Vaqueros MD Early Assurance Program (EAP).
- Invest in Teaching Excellence and Academic Innovation: Recruit and retain diverse faculty; Provide access to robust training and support services for faculty including through the B3 Institute and the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE); Invest in technology and infrastructure to enhance the quality and accessibility of online and hybrid program delivery.
- Foster Workforce-Aligned Co-Curricular Experiences: Continue to support career readiness for all students through internships, practicums, and experiential learning programs, including the AHEC Scholars Program, and act as a portal for industry partners interested in employing UTRGV graduates.