UTRGV incoming freshmen attend Vaquero Roundup last Thursday on the Student Union lawn on the Brownsville campus. Estefania Ramirez/THE RIDER PHOTOS
Student success sessions at Roundup
Before the first day of the semester on Aug. 28, incoming freshmen attended Vaquero Roundup at UTRGV’s Brownsville campus feeling the UTRGV spirit.
At the event, held last Thursday, thousands of students prepared to learn more about their college and the tools they need to start their journey at UTRGV.
Among the incoming freshmen was Jose Godinez, who will pursue a degree in civil engineering.
“I am most excited about growing up, being responsible and becoming an adult,” Godinez said.
Vaquero Roundup is the second part of orientation for incoming freshmen.
“Since our very first class came to orientation, they did Vaquero Roundup,” said Andrea Yen, director of undergraduate recruitment.
The UTRGV tradition introduces students to their colleges, deans, department heads and classmates.
“It gives a sense of belonging for students, a chance to get to know each other and learn about resources,” said Cynthia Saldivar, director of Student Success Initiatives.
“Roundup gives them time with their [specific] college,” Saldivar said.
She said even though a student may come in with no dual credit hours is taking core classes, they can at least connect with someone from their college.”
Making connections and learning important information is also crucial for freshmen, Yen said.
For incoming Vaqueros, the first year can influence their college journey.
“I would say that what makes college so great is that you get to determine the experience that you have,” Saldivar said.
Lawrence Torres, an incoming mechanical engineering freshman, said he learned a lot from Vaquero Roundup.
“I’m surprised,” Torres said. “I actually ended up learning a lot from it. I feel ready for my first year.”
Yen said that Vaquero Roundup is to prepare incoming freshmen for student success in their college journey.
In the first part of orientation, freshmen go through a process of registering for class and at the Roundup all other pieces, such as student success, are presented for students to be prepared for class, she said.
The afternoon portion of Vaquero Roundup centers on Student Success sessions such as mental health and how to survive college life, according to Yen.
With the help of Student Success, and the Recruitment and Orientation offices, the incoming Vaqueros are introduced to UTRGV in a group of sessions presented by different departments from the university.
“This is supposed to be engaging,” Saldivar said. “It is supposed to be high energy. … We want our kids to be excited.”
The Roundup is also an opportunity for incoming freshmen to meet representatives of student organizations on campus.
Student organizations are invited to provide information, such as post-graduation roadmaps, to those interested.
“I got to meet a lot of organizations such as the E-Sport team and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers,” Torres said. “They were pretty helpful and I might join a couple of them, in fact.”
Joining an organization can be the first step to a variety of opportunities.
“It doesn’t matter where they are or who they are, but find your people,” Yen said. “They are going to be your support system through your college journey.”
