2016-17 Annual Report
President's
Message

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is proud to present our 2016-17 Annual Report.


This report highlights a few of our most significant accomplishments over the past year and highlights UTRGV's progress toward becoming an emerging research university. We have much to be proud of as we enter our third year; we also have much work to do.


All of the accomplishments mentioned throughout this report and all of those not mentioned reflect the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff. It also reflects the incredible support we receive from our alumni, donors, elected officials, and other members of the Rio Grande Valley community. We continue to have the most exciting opportunity in American higher education, and we look forward to continuing our work together to take advantage of this opportunity and to make UTRGV a success.


Dr. Bailey's signature

Guy Bailey, UTRGV President


The pathway to an emerging research university
Offer: a comprehensive range of excellent undergraduate and graduate programs. Chart: 63 Bachelor's, 50 Master's, 4 Doctoral | Award: at least 30 Ph.D. degrees annually. Chart: Emerging Research University: 30 Ph.D.'s, UTRGV: 13 Ph.D.s | Generate: at least $30M is restricted research expenditures
Educational
Opportunities

New Graduate and Professional Programs:

Traditional:
MS in Ocean,
Coastal and
Earth Sciences

MS in Agricultural,
Environmental, and
Sustainability Sciences

BS in Hospitality
and Tourism Management
(Fall 2018)
Accelerated:
M.Ed. in Educational
Leadership

MS in Nursing
Administration

MS in Nursing
Education
Expansions:
Mathematics and
Science Academy
(expanded to Edinburg Campus)

Physician Assistant
Studies program
(from 50 students to 100 by 2019)
13
New graduate programs
under development.
12
Gilman Scholarships awarded
to students for study abroad,
the second most in the UT System.

Top Stories

Research
Impacting the Rio Grande
Valley and Beyond
48%
Current students majoring in STEM/health fields.
$28.7 million
Research expenditures for 2016-17, a 60.7% increase from three-year average (FY 2013-15) of legacy institutions.
$27.1 million
Projected 2017-18 research expenditures.
$15 million
Awarded to the School of Medicine by The Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation to help establish the UTRGV Institute of Neurosciences.

Top Stories

Construction

Projects Underway:
  • ● Music, Science and Learning Center in Brownsville
  • ● Science Research Building in Edinburg
  • ● Interdisciplinary Engineering and Academic Building in Edinburg
  • ● STARGATE Building on Boca Chica Beach
  • ● Medical Research Facility at DHR in McAllen
  • ● Community Garden in Brownsville
  • ● MPAC – Interdisciplinary Academic Building in Brownsville
  • ● Weslaco Center for Innovation and Commercialization
  • ● Lab and Dock for Coastal Studies in Port Isabel

    • Top Stories

    Blurry construction image (for decoration) Graphic renders of future UTRGV buildings: Science Research Building, Interdisciplinary, Engineering and Academic Building, Medical Research Facility at DHR, Music, Science, and Learning Center, STARGATE Building, MPAC - Interdisciplinary Academic Building

    Affordability

    UTRGV has the third-lowest resident undergraduate tuition and fees among Texas public universities. Rates are guaranteed not to increase for up to four years and are capped at 12 semester credit hours (some exclusions apply).

    In addition, more than three-quarters of UTRGV students receive some form of financial aid, and UTRGV is ranked No. 1 in lowest overall costs for low-income students among all the nation's four-year public research universities.

    Quality

    UTRGV was ranked in Forbes Magazine "America's Top Colleges" each of the past two years and debuted in this year's U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

    UTRGV also ranked fourth among the "Top 20 Best Online Colleges in Texas" by OnlineCollegePlan.com, and is the eighth best college in Texas, according to CollegeConsensus.com

    Impact

    UTRGV has been recognized for its ability to enroll a large number of students from low-income backgrounds and graduate them into promising careers that help them climb the income scale.

    UTRGV was named a Social Mobility Innovator (SMI) by CollegeNET Inc., which ranks four-year U.S. colleges and universities according to social mobility. UTRGV also ranked fifth nationally among the "Top Colleges by Mobility Rate."