Photo Illustration by Mario Gonzalez
BY Sergio Garcia | SOCIAl MEDIA EDITOR
1. From UTPA and UTB to UTRGV
In 1927, Edinburg College opened its doors for the first time. In 1933, it was renamed Edinburg Junior College and then it became Edinburg Regional College in 1948. In 1952, a new name was adopted, Pan American College. After being accredited a university, the institution was renamed Pan American University in 1971 and then University of Texas Pan American in 1989. In Brownsville, the Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley was established in 1926. After the creation of the Southmost Union Junior College District in 1945, it was renamed Texas Southmost College. In 1973, a local four-year extension program through Pan American University was established and Pan American University-Brownsville was born. In 1991, Pan American University-Brownsville became independent from Pan American University and UT Brownsville emerged. That same year, UTB formed a partnership with Texas Southmost College, which lasted until 2011. UT Brownsville separated from TSC and became autonomous. In 2013, the UT Rio Grande Valley was founded after the merger of UTB and UTPA. The institution opened its doors on Aug. 31, 2015.
2. UTRGV location
Many students think that UTRGV only includes facilities in Edinburg and Brownsville. However, the university owns a total of 550 acres in Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, McAllen, Rio Grande City and South Padre Island.
3. Student population
This semester, 27,715 students are enrolled at UTRGV, of whom 3,954 are entering freshmen.
4. Motto
The official motto of UTRGV is “Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis” or “Cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy.”
5. School of Medicine
The UTRGV School of Medicine opened its doors in the summer of 2016. Fifty-five students were welcomed into the first class.
6. Official colors
The official colors of UTRGV are orange, gray, green and navy.
7. Student food pantry
The UTRGV food pantry helps students who are struggling to meet their nutrition needs.
8. Official mascot
The official mascot of UTPA was Bucky the Bronc and for UTB it was Ozzie the Ocelot; the official mascot of UTRGV is the Vaquero.
9. Founding president
Guy Bailey was appointed president of UTRGV on April 28, 2014.
10. Student Media
The UTRGV Student Media department consists of four programs: Pulse magazine, which publishes once a year; UTRGV-TV, which produces a weekly newscast on YouTube; UTRGV Radio, which streams live at utrgv.edu/studentmedia/radio; and The Rider newspaper, which publishes weekly.
