Veteran’s Employment Preference Information

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, women and minorities are encouraged to apply. The UTRGV campus is accessible to persons with disabilities.

An eligible veteran, surviving spouse of a veteran or an orphan of a veteran is entitled to preference in the selection process over other applicants who do not have greater qualifications.

Texas Veteran Definition and Eligibility

Veteran

  • An individual who served in the military for not less than 90 consecutive days during a national emergency declared in accordance with federal law or was discharged from military service for an established service-connected disability;
  • was honorably discharged from military service; and
  • is competent.

Surviving Spouse of a Veteran

  • A person who is the spouse of a veteran who was killed while on active duty;
  • veteran served in the military for not less than 90 consecutive days during a national emergency;
  • the spouse has not remarried, and
  • is competent.

Orphan of a Veteran

  • A person who is the child of a veteran who was killed while on active duty;
  • veteran served in the military for not less than 90 consecutive days during a national emergency; and
  • is competent.

For more information, please refer to the Texas Veterans Commission.

Disabled Veteran

This term means (A) a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (B) a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran

This term means any veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order No. 12985. Note: With respect to this category, contractors may want to consider requiring veterans who self-identify as an "Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran" to provide a copy of their DD Form 214 otherwise known as their Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

Recently Separated Veteran

This term means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

Other Protected Veteran

This term means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S.

military, ground, naval, or air service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

A complete list of campaigns can be viewed at: http://www.opm.gov/staffingportal/vgmedal2.asp

 

Employment Preference for Former Foster Youth

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, women and minorities are encouraged to apply. The UTRGV campus is accessible to persons with disabilities.

Section 1. Subtitle B, Title 6, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 672 requiring state agencies to give an employment preference to former foster youth who were in the permanent managing conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on the day preceding the individual's 18th birthday over other applicants for the same position who do not have a greater qualification. An individual is entitled to an employment preference only if the individual is 25 years of age or younger (day before turning 26).

"State agencies" means a department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the executive branch of state government created by the state constitution or a state statute, including an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003 of the Education Code. However, the employment preference does not apply to the position of private secretary or deputy of an official or department or to an individual holding a strictly confidential relation to the employing officer.

PAL Staff will provide the Employment Preference form letter to qualifying youth when they are 18 years of age and as requested.

You must meet the following to qualify:

  • You were a foster youth under the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on the day before your 18th birthday and
  • You have not reached your 26th birthday.

For more information visit the Department of Family and Protective Services.