New semester for UTEP students

The University of Texas at El Paso started a new semester this week.

On Monday, thousands flocked to campus to begins another set of classes. This year, UTEP is expected to see more students.

Gary Edens, Vice President of Student Affairs, said UTEP recorded 23,992 students who attended last year.

Edens said UTEP is on track to surpass that number,

“We usually don’t advertise our enrollment until everybody is done registering, but we’re on track for a record number of new students coming to the university, Edens said.

Edens said there is a student increase across the board.

For example, students who graduate in the top ten percent of their senior class at any Texas high school are automatically accepted into any state public university. Edens said many are choosing to attend UTEP.

The university is also seeing more transfer and international students.

“Not only are they coming here, they’re staying here and completing their degrees,” Edens said.

UTEP is expected to announce its final enrollment numbers in the next couple of weeks.

A new initiative will be lunched this fall semester to help bridge a gap between academic and student affairs.

UTEP Edge wants combine what students are doing in the classroom and their experiences outside of class.

From undergraduate research and civic engagement, UTEP says the experiences increase confidence, enhance personal and professional skills and equip students with a competitive advantage when they graduate and enter the workforce.

“We want them to study abroad, we want them to participate in internships and co-ops because we know that if they can make the connection between what they’re learning in the classroom with what they accomplish in their careers they will be that much more successful,” Edens said.

UTEP offers 72 undergraduate programs, 74 master’s programs and 21 doctoral degree programs.