University of Texas–Pan American

The University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) was a public university in Edinburg, Texas, United States from 1927 until 2015. Founded as Edinburg College, it was a component institution of the University of Texas System. The university served the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas with baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. The Carnegie Foundation classified UTPA as a "doctoral research university". From the institution's founding until it was merged into the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), it grew from 200 students to over 20,000, making UTPA the 10th-largest university in Texas. The majority of these students were natives of the Rio Grande Valley. UTPA also operated an Upper Level Studies Center in Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas. On August 15, 2014, Dr. Havidan Rodriguez was appointed interim President of UTPA, the institution's final leader.

In 2015, UTRGV entered into operation following the merger of UTPA and UT–Brownsville, founded as an extension of then-Pan American University at Texas Southmost College. UTRGV also created a new medical school. On August 31, 2015, UTPA formally ceased operations to yield to the newly formed university, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Merger with UTB and Medical School

On December 6, 2012, University of Texas regents approved a proposal to merge UTPA, the UT-Brownsville, and a planned medical school into one regional institution. On December 12, 2013, the UT Board of Regents voted to name the new organization the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Almost immediately, students on both campuses began objecting to the new name as a caricature and racial stereotype of Mexican, Latino, Chicano, and Hispanic culture. Two days after the new mascot was approved, the UTPA student government passed a resolution in opposition, and three days later, hundreds of students rallied on the Edinburg campus to protest the new name.

On August 31, 2015, UTB was officially dissolved and UTPA's name was changed to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Campus

Main campus

UTPA's main campus, now one of the primary campuses of UTRGV, is located in the western part of Edinburg, and comprises 289 acres.

Most of the academic buildings are enclosed by or span a covered walkway over the perimeter of the original campus. In 2007, UTPA added a new wellness center, and dormitory (Unity Dormitory 2007). On the northeast corner of campus is the Edinburg Baseball Stadium, which is considered one of the premier college baseball settings. The stadium was completed in 2001.

Starr County Upper-Level Center

The Starr Country Upper-Level Center is located in Rio Grande City. The center opened in 2003 and was rededicated and moved to a new location in 2009. Most courses offered are in bilingual education. There are also limited courses in criminal justice, history, English, and anthropology. over 200 students have graduated from the Starr County Upper-Level Center.

Coastal Studies Laboratory

Established in 1973, the Coastal Studies Laboratory (CSL) began as UTPA's marine biology laboratory and now serves the same role for UTRGV. It is located in the city of South Padre Island, which is located about 70 miles east of main campus. The CSL offers graduate-level biology courses and houses several ecological programs that are independent of UTPA.

McAllen Teaching Site

The McAllen Teaching Site was opened in 2009 in McAllen, Texas, and offers education and business courses. The site primarily serves professionals in the city of McAllen.

Colleges

The university included these academic divisions:

College of Arts and Humanities
College of Business Administration
College of Education
College of Engineering and Computer Science
College of Health Sciences and Human Services
College of Science and Mathematics
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
College of Physics and Geology

Reserve Officers' Training Corps

The University of Texas–Pan American hosted the college-based Army ROTC program, which was carried on by UTRGV.

Rankings

U.S. News & World Report rated UTPA as a tier 2 University. Among public schools in Texas, UTPA ranked only behind the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M.

In 2009 UTPA ranked behind only Florida International University for bachelor's degrees awarded to Hispanic students.

According to the U.S. government, among schools with an enrollment of at least 5,000 students, UTPA ranked as the second-most affordable school in the nation.

Admissions, enrollment, and retention

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right;"

!Ethnic enrollment,<br /> 2010

!Male<br />

!Female<br />

!Total<br />

|Asian American

| 89

| 132

| 221

|Hispanic

| 6,148

| 8,985

| 15,100

|Non-Hispanic White

| 492

| 515

| 1,007

|African American

| 59

| 56

| 115

|Native American

| 8

| 10

| 18

|Nonresident/unknown

| 455

| 475

| 930

|Not stated/unknown

| 43

| 67

| 110

|Total

| 7,294

| 10,240

| 17,534

Historically, UTPA had open enrollment such that any student able to graduate from an approved public or private high school was granted admission. This policy was implemented by former president Miguel Nevarez. After Nevarez retired, UTPA moved towards minimum admission standards. The minimum standards for fall 2011 admission were a diploma from a recognized high school and a combined math/verbal SAT score of 860 or an ACT score of 18. Additionally, the minimum criteria were met with a SAT score of 810 or ACT score of 17 if the applicant is in the top third of his/her graduating class or an SAT score of 760 or ACT score of 16 sufficed if the applicant was in the top quarter of his/her graduating class. Any student who graduates from a recognized Texas high school as a member of the top 10% of his/her graduating class is guaranteed admission.

In 1997, UTPA started the University Scholars Program in an attempt to retain top local high-school students. The program is an objective academic scholarship based on three tiers. The first tier is high-school graduation standing. The second tier is advanced placement testing. The third tier is standardized testing scores. UTPA guaranteed full tuition funding for any student who meets one of many objective minimum requirements in all three tiers.

UTPA's first- to second-year retention rate for full-time students was 71%. UTPA's four-year graduation rate is 13% and the 6-year graduation rate is 36%. UTPA offers three residence halls and one building of community of on-campus apartments. Troxel Hall and Heritage Hall are the oldest residence halls on campus, and until 2000, were the only residence options for students. Heritage Hall is an all-female residence hall. At the end of 2009, Troxel Hall closed due to low capacity. In 2000 the Bronc Village Apartments were completed on north campus and offered students 1, 2 and 4 bedroom options. In fall 2006, Unity Hall was opened as the first new residence hall in more than 30 years; it has 204 double rooms and is divided into male and female wings. Heritage Hall, Unity Hall and the Bronc Village apartments combined can hold around 800 students and the UTPA Broncs officially became the UTRGV Vaqueros on July 1, 2015.

; Men's intercollegiate sports

Baseball
Basketball
Cross-country
Golf
Tennis
Track and field (indoor and outdoor)

; Women's intercollegiate sports

Basketball
Cross-country
Golf
Soccer
Tennis
Track and field (indoor and outdoor)
Volleyball

The University of Texas–Pan American competed in the NCAA Division I, in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC); UTRGV has maintained UTPA's WAC membership. It is one of five schools in the University of Texas System that compete in Division I. The other UT institutions that do so are Austin, El Paso, San Antonio, and Arlington.

Notable alumni

Pablo Almaguer (born 1971), chair of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors
Gloria E. Anzaldúa (1942–2004), novelist, educator, cultural theorist
Jose Luis Betancourt Jr., retired rear admiral of the United States Navy
Mike Brisky (born 1965), professional golfer, former member of the PGA
Norma V. Cantu, chairwoman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights
Minerva G. Carcaño (born 1954), American Methodist bishop
Celeste De Luna (born 1974), American printmaker, educator
Mire Chatman (born 1978), professional basketball player
Richard Cortez (born 1943), mayor of McAllen, Texas; county judge of Hidalgo County
Gustavo de la Viña, former Chief of the United States Border Patrol
Dan Firova, former MLB baseball player and current Mexican League manager
William Garrison, retired major general of the United States Army
Apple Green, retired NBA player
Greg Guy, former NCAA basketball scoring champion
Jim Hickey (born 1961), MLB pitching coach
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (born 1946), Texas state senator
Perry Hill, MLB assistant coach
Rubén Hinojosa (born 1940), Congressman
Lucious Jackson (1941–2022), Olympic gold medalist and NBA player
Rossy Evelin Lima, Mexican-American poet
Eddie Lucio Jr. (born 1946), Texas state senator
Otto Moore, retired NBA player
José R. Rodríguez, state senator
Valente Rodriguez, actor
Marshall Rogers, former NCAA basketball scoring champion
Fred Taylor, retired NBA player
Jim Tyrone, retired MLB Player and Member of UTPA College World Series team
Wayne Tyrone, retired MLB Player and Member of UTPA College World Series team
George Williams (born 1969), retired MLB catcher
Jesus Ochoa, shooter of Alex Pretti