The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College

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The University of Texas at Brownsville
New UTB logo
Motto Disciplina praesidium civitatis (Latin: Education, the Guardian of Society)
Established September 1, 1991
Type Public State University
Endowment US$ 12.5 million[1]
President Dr. Juliet V. García [2]
Provost Alan F. J. Artibise [2]
Academic staff 734 (Fall 2010)[3]
Students 13,836 (Fall 2011) [4]
Location Brownsville, Texas, USA
Campus Urban, 524 acres (2.3 km2)
Colors Burnt Orange and Navy Blue
Mascot Ocelot
Affiliations UT System, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Red River Athletic Conference
Website www.utb.edu www.utbathletics.com

The University of Texas at Brownsville (abbreviated as UTB and formerly known as the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College [UTB/TSC]) is an educational institution located in Brownsville, Texas. The university is on the land once occupied by Fort Brown. It is a member of the University of Texas System. The institution was formed from a partnership between Texas Southmost College and the University of Texas-Pan American at Brownsville. From 1991 to 2011, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College became a substantial presence in South Texas education, providing unique opportunities for more than 17,000 students from Texas, as well as from Mexico and elsewhere. The partnership has ended. UTB is becoming a standalone University of Texas institution, and Texas Southmost College is becoming once again an independent community college. UTB itself offers baccalaureate and an increasing number of graduate degrees in liberal arts, sciences, education, business, and professional programs designed to meet regional, national, and international needs.[5]

UTB and TSC have overlapping facilities on the same campus. UTB continues rapid physical growth with additions such as the International Technology, Education and Commerce Center (formerly Amigoland Mall), the Education and Business Complex (Fall 2006), the Recreation, Education and Kinesiology Center (Spring 2009), and Casa Bella (Fall 2011).

Contents

History [edit]

Texas Southmost College [edit]

Main article: Texas Southmost College

Texas Southmost College (TSC) was established in 1926 under the name "The Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley." It admitted its first class on September 21 of that same year. In 1931, its name was changed to "Brownsville Junior College." In 1950, the institution was given its current name.

University of Texas-Pan American at Brownsville [edit]

In 1973, Texas Southmost College formed a partnership with Pan-American University, now known as the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA). The partnership allowed Pan-American University to establish a four year university in Brownsville. The resulting independent institution was referred to as Pan American University at Brownsville. In 1989, Pan American University joined the University of Texas System, creating the University of Texas Pan-American at Brownsville (UTPA-B). Brownsville sought a University directly under the UT System and in 1991 the University of Texas Pan-American at Brownsville became the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB).

University of Texas at Brownsville-Texas Southmost College [edit]

After UTB was created, a partnership was established between UTB and TSC, allowing TSC students to seamlessly transition to the four year University without reapplying. The university has academic colleges including business, education, liberal arts and nursing. UTB-TSC's funding came from both the college tax district as well as the State of Texas. After failure to pass a 2002 multi-million-dollar bond, the TSC tax district voters successfully passed a $68 million bond issue[6] to construct additional classrooms ($28 million), additional library space ($14 million), Workforce Training Classrooms ($17 million), Center for Early Childhood Studies ($4 million), and Center for Alzheimer's, Diabetes, Cancer, and Heart Disease ($5 million). Dr. Juliet V. Garcia served as UTB-TSC President from 1991 to 2011; Dr. Garcia is also the first Hispanic woman to be the President of any university in the United States.

End of Educational Partnership with Texas Southmost College [edit]

On Nov. 10, 2010, the University of Texas System Board of Regents voted to end the University of Texas at Brownsville's educational partnership with Texas Southmost College.[7] On Feb. 17, 2011 the TSC Board of Trustees voted 4-3 to separate from UTB.[8] Juliet V. Garcia now continues as the president of UTB.

Merger with UTPA and Medical School [edit]

On December 6, 2012, University of Texas regents approved a proposal to merge UTB, the University of Texas–Pan American, and a planned medical school into one regional institution.[9]

Admissions [edit]

Until the fall of 2011, UT Brownsville had open admissions, meaning prospective students had no admissions criteria.[10] In August 2011 the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved new admission standards for UT Brownsville, and awaited the approval of the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges.[11] The end of open admissions left University of Houston-Downtown as the sole remaining Texas state university which had not yet abolished open admissions.[10] The UT Brownsville closed admissions will begin in the fall of 2013.[11] The University of Houston System Board of Regents unanimously approved new admissions standards in February 2012, with closed admissions for UH Downtown also beginning in the fall of 2013.[12]

Campus [edit]

UTB's campus sits on 524 acres (2.3 km2) of land in the southern part of Brownsville, Texas. A resaca, or oxbow lake, flows through the heart of the growing landscape. The university's unique architecture plays off the campus's rich history in Fort Brown. Many of the oldest buildings on campus remain from the old U.S. Army outpost. The university has also acquired many buildings in the surrounding area, including a former Holiday Inn hotel complex, former condominiums, the Amigoland Mall, and many historic buildings of downtown Brownsville. The university continues to expand, recently purchasing substantial acreage east of Fort Brown.[13]

Notable buildings [edit]

On-campus

Off-campus

  • Andres Cueto Building[citation needed]
  • International Technology Education and Commerce Campus (ITECC)
  • Young House[19]

Undergraduate [edit]

Graduate [edit]

Notable academic programs [edit]

UTB is home to academic centers and programs that receive local, state, and national recognition.

  • Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy Research focuses on astrophysical source modeling, gravitational wave data analysis, and the phenomenological astrophysics of gravitational wave sources.
  • Center for Biomedical Studies was established to conduct biological and medical research on regional health issues and biotechnological approaches that may contribute to regional development.
  • The Center for Civic Engagement's mission is to create an engaged campus that connects faculty, staff, students, and external partners to revitalize the surrounding community. On September 1, 2010, UTB submitted its application for the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Dr. Kathy Bussert-Webb, an Associate Professor in the Language, Literacy, and Intercultural Studies Department of the College of Education and also the CCE Director, led the effort; she was assisted by Ms. Ethel Cantu, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, the CCE staff, the Carnegie Task Force, and many faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Webb remained as the CCE Director until August 31, 2010. She then returned full-time to the UTB classroom and she looks forward to assisting the CCE and the campus in even more community engagement efforts. [20]

Student life [edit]

Student government [edit]

The Student Government Association at UTB hosts the officers of the student body. The SGA runs a three-branch system, with the Executive Board consisting of the Student Body Officers, the Legislative Board consisting of the Student Senate, and the Judicial Board consisting of the Chief and Associate Justices.

Student organizations [edit]

The university recognizes more than 50 but less than 100 urmom student organizations.[20] In addition, it supports the Student Organization Council, an official student governance organization that represent student interests to faculty, and administrators.

Greek Life [edit]

Media [edit]

Students express their opinions in and outside of class through periodicals including The Collegian [23] and the Sting Radio.[24]

Traditions [edit]

Traditions at the University of Texas at Brownsville are perpetuated through several school symbols and mediums. At athletic events, students frequently show their support by chanting the "Sting 'em Hard" slogan while displaying the Sting 'em Hard hand gesture—the gesture mimicking the scorpion, the university's mascot.

Athletics [edit]

Texas–Brownsville (UTB) teams, nicknamed athletically as the Scorpions, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). Men's sports include golf and soccer; while women's sports include golf, soccer and volleyball.[25]

The UTB Scorpions women's volleyball team was ranked #18 in the NAIA,[26] but lost the standing after a bad 2008 season. In 2009, under new head coach Todd Lowery, formerly of National American University, the Scorpions began to shine again, achieving a #12 ranking in the NAIA.[27] In December 2011, the UTB volleyball team won its first national championship.[28]

In soccer, the UTB Scorpions play their games at the REK Center field, pending construction of their own athletic field. In two years with the NAIA, each soccer team has lost only two games in Brownsville, the men's loss coming against the University of St. Thomas in 2007 and the women's loss coming against conference rival Texas Wesleyan University in 2008. In men's soccer, the team has a 12-0 conference record in two years.

Chess team [edit]

The University of Texas at Brownsville is widely regarded for having one of the strongest Chess Programs in the nation. In 2010, they placed 2nd in the Final Four of College Chess, which they hosted.[29] As of 2010, the UTB chess team features 3 Grandmasters and 2 International Masters. The team is currently coached by Grand Master Ronen Har-Zvi after their former coach Grand Master Gilberto Hernández Guerrero resigned from that position due to personal family matters.[citation needed]

Notable alumni [edit]

Trivia [edit]

  • UTB is the only accredited university in the United States to also house a foreign consulate.[30]

References [edit]

  • Chilton, Carl Jr. (2001) "The First 70 Years: A History of Higher Education in Brownsville"
  1. ^ "US News Facts- University of Texas at Brownsville (2010)". US News. Retrieved 30 May 2012. 
  2. ^ a b "UTB University Council". University of Texas at Brownsville. Retrieved 30 May 2012. 
  3. ^ "UT Systems 2011 Fast Facts". University of Texas Systems. 
  4. ^ "UTB Fast Facts". University of Texas at Brownsville. Retrieved 30 May 2012. 
  5. ^ www.utb.edu
  6. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20041015021029/www.utb.edu/bond.htm
  7. ^ http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/articles/tsc-119207-board-texas.html
  8. ^ http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/trustees-122947-college-night.html
  9. ^ Kreighbaum, Andrew (7 December 2012). "UT regents approve merging RGV universities, will create medical school". The Monitor. Retrieved 7 December 2012. 
  10. ^ a b Rhor, Monica. "Open admissions may end at UH-Downtown." Houston Chronicle. Friday February 10, 2012. Retrieved on February 11, 2012.
  11. ^ a b "NEW UT BROWNSVILLE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS." (Archive) University of Texas at Brownsville. Retrieved on September 18, 2012. Click on the orange "NEW UT BROWNSVILLE FRESHMAN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS" to see the date when open admissions begins.
  12. ^ Rhor, Monica. "UH-Downtown ends open admissions." Houston Chronicle. Wednesday February 15, 2012. Retrieved on September 18, 2012.
  13. ^ http://www.valleymorningstar.com/articles/-95171--.html
  14. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20070927014548/http://library1.utb.edu/aboutus/oliviera.htm
  15. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20070929094501/http://www.utb.edu/snow2004/08+library.jpg
  16. ^ http://blue.utb.edu/vppa/vp/bondprojects/rekcenter.html
  17. ^ http://www.utb.edu/sa/campusrec/Pages/default.aspx
  18. ^ http://blue.utb.edu/vppa/vp/bondprojects/library.html
  19. ^ http://blue.utb.edu/development/
  20. ^ http://www.utb.edu/sa/stuact/Pages/OrganizationsList.aspx
  21. ^ https://www.facebook.com/KappaOmega11?fref=ts
  22. ^ http://orange.utb.edu/sigmapsidelta
  23. ^ http://utbcollegian.com/
  24. ^ http://www.utbstingradio.com/
  25. ^ http://athletics.utb.edu/golfmen/index.html
  26. ^ http://naia.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/111407aab.html
  27. ^ http://naia.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/092909aaf.html
  28. ^ http://www.kveo.com/news/utb-volleyball-team-crowned-naia-national-champions
  29. ^ http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/articles/texas-110846-chess-college.html
  30. ^ http://portal.sre.gob.mx/brownsville/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=53&op=page&SubMenu

External links [edit]

Portal icon Texas portal
Portal icon University portal
University of Houston System
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Coordinates: 25°53′57″N 97°29′30″W / 25.899143°N 97.491544°W / 25.899143; -97.491544

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