Message from the President
October 14, 2021
Dear UTRGV Family,
For universities, fall brings a sense of renewal as we begin a new academic year. Although COVID-19 continues to delay our complete return to normalcy, your strength and resiliency throughout this pandemic is proof that each of us plays an essential role for UTRGV.
Regardless of where you have been learning or working over the past 19 months, much has changed since last March. During this period, UTRGV has experienced tremendous growth, and we intend to continue this trend. However, achieving our goals will require a fresh perspective and new strategies to navigate the post-pandemic world that awaits us.
As you know, we just celebrated our 5th year anniversary. To plan for our next five years, UTRGV is pleased to announce the kickoff of our next strategic planning process. We will work together to define the vision and direction of the University for the next five years and beyond.
We Want Your Input
This strategic planning process will be inclusive and will rely on broad community participation — we know the more voices that are involved, the more clearly we can identify our priorities. Your feedback is critical to solidifying the strategic direction for our University, and this process will enable us to boldly think about our priorities. UTRGV’s senior leadership will guide the process in collaboration with the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, comprised of members from across the University community. Additionally, we have engaged higher education consultants from Huron to help facilitate this year-long planning process.
As previously mentioned, there will be many opportunities for you to share your unique perspective. For more information on this exciting process and how to provide input, please visit our strategic planning website where you will find a “Share Your Ideas and Suggestions” form. Feel free to use it to submit any ideas or comments you may have throughout this process. We will also schedule several townhalls, focus groups, and interviews over the next several months to ensure everyone who wants to participate in this critical endeavor can.
One such priority for UTRGV’s next strategic plan is the expansion of campus life for UTRGV students. This will include significant expansion of campus housing and activities throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Our planning, with significant input from our students, faculty and staff, will answer the question – what does it mean to be a student at UTRGV in and out of the classroom?
A subset of this expansion is the upcoming student referendum, which the Student Government Association (SGA) senate recently voted to put forth to our student body. This referendum will allow the student body to vote on a proposal by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Division of Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs (SESA) to establish women’s swimming and diving and football; and to provide additional student opportunities in Brownsville and Edinburg with expanded spirit programs and the creation of marching bands.
Now Serving: The Future of Texas
As one of the nation’s premier Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), UTRGV participated in National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week (September 13-19), an annual celebration of HSIs and the cultures that make up our vibrant communities. Though this season of recognition officially began last month, it continues through the end of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), a particularly significant time for UTRGV.
It has been great to see communities everywhere unite in honoring the people who have built our University, region, state, and nation. UTRGV is ready to transform the Rio Grande Valley, the Americas, and the world for years to come because of the contributions made by our Hispanic students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
In addition, we recently applied for the prestigious Seal of Excelencia, a comprehensive certification awarded by Excelencia in Education that recognizes a university’s commitment and ability to accelerate Latino student success. The results of our application should be announced later this semester.
Thank you for everything you do!
Sincerely,
Guy Bailey
President