People
The dedication of our faculty, staff, and administration is our greatest asset – we would be nothing if not for our people. We are committed to further investing in our people, their well-being, and their personal and professional advancement, and we will continue to cultivate an environment that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion for all. Since UTRGV was established in 2013, we have conducted two university-wide climate surveys to better understand the morale of our employees, current pain points within our culture, and opportunities for further growth. In response to these surveys, we have developed goals and action plans for improving our campus climate, and we have taken significant strides in progressing towards these goals. For example, we recently launched a new peer recognition program called Bravo Vaqueros that empowers our employees to acknowledge the excellent work of their peers. We are investing in additional programs for both staff and faculty to develop leadership skills.
However, achieving UTRGV’s full potential requires continued strengthening and unification of our culture, creation of opportunities for career advancement, empowerment of our people to own their professional development, and diversification of our faculty and staff. We must also further strengthen trust and accountability across our institution by fostering a collaborative community among our faculty, staff, and administration. Our people are foundational to our current and future success, and we will strive to maintain a welcoming community where all can flourish.
- Signature Initiatives in Support of People
- Foster a Distinctive and Collegial Culture: Continue to enhance the culture and climate at UTRGV by increasing collaboration among faculty and staff, promoting equity in shared governance, and taking decisive action in response to campus climate survey findings.
- Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Promote enhanced cultural awareness and sensitivity through additional programming and venues for civil discussion and increase representation of underrepresented minorities among UTRGV’s faculty and staff.
- Support Holistic Professional Development: Strengthen career progression and succession planning for faculty and staff by providing access to professional development opportunities, leadership competency training, and career pathways through programs including UTRGV’s Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration.
- Promote Employee Retention and Well-Being: Position UTRGV as an employer of choice for faculty and staff by offering competitive pay, flexible work options, and access to wellness and recreation programs.