Message from the Provost

September 26, 2024

Dear Faculty and Staff, 

So far, the fall 2024 semester has been nothing short of remarkable. From being named the #1 University in Texas by Washington Monthly for the second straight year, to being honored by the 2024 Great Colleges to Work For® program, it has felt like a monthlong celebration. These achievements speak volumes about the dedication and passion each of you brings to our university, and we want to thank you for being such a vital part of our success.  

Today, we are proud to announce that UTRGV is implementing a 2% merit program for qualifying faculty and staff, part of a $9 million investment we are making in employee salaries this fiscal year. This merit adjustment will take effect November 1, 2024, and qualifying employees will see the increase reflected in their December paychecks, a month earlier than in years past. We are committed to processing these merit awards as swiftly as possible, ensuring you can benefit from your hard-earned funds in time for the holiday season. 

Detailed guidelines outlining how we operationalize these salary adjustments will be sent to employees across the institution later today (Thursday, Sept. 26). Once the process is complete and decisions are finalized, every employee receiving an adjustment will receive a personalized letter outlining their total salary increase. 

This marks the ninth straight academic year we have invested in either merit and/or market equity for our employees. Overall, UTRGV has invested more than $73 million in salary adjustments for faculty and staff since our inaugural academic year (2015-2016) and has added more than 1,500 faculty and staff positions. Regardless of your role, we want you to know that UTRGV is committed to supporting our employees through competitive compensation and benefits packages because nothing we have accomplished so far would have been possible without you. 

Again, thank you for helping make UTRGV the #1 University in Texas and one of the best places to work in the nation.

Sincerely, 

Guy Bailey

President 

Luis H. Zayas, Ph.D.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs