UTEP’s State of the University held Thursday, new campus initiative addressed

UTEP held it’s State of the University address Thursday, during fall convocation.

During her address, UTEP President Dr. Diana Natalicio said UTEP has experienced significant growth. UTEP welcomed 25,000 students this fall, a 4 1/2% increase in enrollment.

Dr. Natalicio said the Texas legislature’s cut in funding to public universities was disappointing. UTEP alone saw a $5,000,000 decline in state funds. The cut could potentially impact UTEP’s tuition. Every two years, all UT universities conduct a campus-wide tuition review and consultation process. UTEP’s was launched this fall and a proposal will be submitted to the board of regents for review.

“The recent decline in legislative funding, make this tuition review process especially critical and as the tuition and fees advisory committee does it’s work this fall, we encourage students faculty and staff to become informed and engaged in the process,” Dr. Natalicio said.

Dr. Natalicio also talked about UTEP’s newest initiative, “UTEP Edge.” The 10-year initiative will encourage student experiences.

“It’s one thing to read a text, and draw conclusions from it but it’s another thing to experience,” UTEP student Renee Trejo said.

The UTEP senior is studying English. She has studied abroad in England and will soon begin an internship.Trejo is also one of 2,500 students who works on campus.

“I’m able to go to class, then go back to work, go to class, come back to work. So the commute is much more easier,” Trejo said.

It’s those “highiimpact” activities such as on campus jobs, internships and study abroad opportunities, UTEP wants all students to focus on.

“It’s an opportunity for them to bridge the gap between what they learn in the classroom with what they’re learning outside the classroom, “Dr. Gary Edens, UTEP’s Vice-President of Student Affairs said.

Dr. Edens tells ABc-7 they thought of the initiative when submitting their quality improvement plan for the university. During the last 10-year cycle, UTEP focused on advising and working closely with EPCC. High impact opportunities have always been available, but Dr. Edens says they want it to become the norm for each student.

“We’re a commuter campus, that’s hard, because so many of our students come to campus, and they kind of have their world off campus,” Dr. Edens said.

Dr. Edens says the multi-step process will mean creating scholarships, and collaborating with business and organizations for opportunities.

“It’s a day-by-day, year-by-year process. This is a 10 year initiative we won’t have everything done in the first year,” Dr. Edens said.

While the initiative is just getting started, students like Trejo says they’re excited to experience the environment it’ll create on campus.

“It’s more of a community that we’re building, within faculty staff and students, it’s a unity,” Trejo said.

UTEP will track students as the graduate college and observe their experiences to determine how successful the initiative was.