A promising future

Students, such as high school senior Miriam Hernandez, said money and time management are the biggest challenges undergraduates face; however, UTRGV is working on a program that would ease the path for future Vaqueros.

“Working and going to school is very hard for most of the kids because most people lean on money more than leaning on education and that is one of the major conflicts college students go through,” said Hernandez, who attends Gladys Porter Early College High School in Brownsville.

She will attend UTRGV next fall and pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“[UTRGV is] here at home and I’ve always lived in Brownsville and every time I go out, I don’t feel comfortable,” Hernandez said. “I did study as a junior in UTRGV during the summer and I did like the atmosphere. I liked how the teachers were, how the kids were all connected because we are Hispanic and stuff, and I would feel like I would be very comfortable and it’s more beneficial for me and my family.” 

UTRGV Student Success Vice President Kristin Croyle spoke about a program that may help students in their college career during a March 23 Student Government Association meeting.

The proposed Promise Program would aim to ensure that the institution supports any incoming students who want to graduate within four years. Students who commit to the program would be provided with connections to peers, faculty, courses, educational experiences, academic advising and career support, according to documents obtained by The Rider.

Promise students would have to meet several requirements:

–complete the required high impact educational practices identified in their College Promise Plan;

–visit their Promise adviser at least twice a year;

–complete required Career Connection activities each year;

–complete at least 30 academic hours each year that do not include repeated or developmental courses;

–maintain a 2.5 GPA and earn no lower than the minimum grade required for courses;

–complete the courses identified as critical in their College Promise Plan at the time indicated;

–sign up for classes within the first 48 hours of registration eligibility for the fall and spring semesters;

–notify their Promise adviser no later than the study day of the current semester if they are unable to register for a required major course;

–if required, gain admission to their major by the beginning of the fall semester of their junior year;

–and maintain good standing with UTRGV, including with the Financial Aid, Student Accounts and Student Rights and Responsibilities offices.

“The Promise Program will be rolled out to entering freshmen at orientation,” Croyle said. “It will be designed to be able to accommodate a lot of students if we have a lot of students who want to sign up and it will also be college specific. We are ready, almost, as soon as I get the presidential approval to roll out for the [Robert C. Vackar] College of Business [and Entrepreneurship] and we will be ready to roll out for the other colleges after that.”

If approved by President Guy Bailey, only incoming freshmen will be eligible.

Croyle told The Rider if Promise students are unable to graduate within four years but met all program requirements, the university would pay tuition and fees for any pending hours or make appropriate adjustments in course requirements, such as substitutions.

Promise students would not be the only ones making a commitment in the program. Documents obtained by The Rider show that if approved, the university would:

–maintain and guarantee the same tuition and fee rates for the full four years of students’ undergraduate studies;

–make sure students have access each semester to the courses required for their major and to graduate in four years;

–provide high impact educational experiences, such as access to academic internships, undergraduate research opportunities and writing-intensive courses;

–provide opportunities to connect with peers through study groups, volunteer activities, leadership activities and student organization activities;

–provide supportive and accurate academic advising;

–and provide opportunities for career exploration and preparation through the Career Center and through Career Connection activities designed for Promise students.

Each college will have specific Promise plans that may contain different requirements, such as participating in special programs and/or completing an approved academic internship.

“We want to be sure that we include guidance and what helps students to be successful, so we’re including some guidance in the plan,” Croyle said.

In an interview with The Rider last Wednesday, SGA President Alondra Galvan said the program could help motivate students to graduate in four years.

“Students will start off their freshman year,” Galvan said. “They have some requirements but it’s all to help, motivate and encourage and to push the students to graduate in four years. There’s research done, statistics, that show that there is a very low number of students who graduate on time. Sometimes, students do take five, six, maybe sometimes even seven years to graduate. So, the UTRGV [Promise Program], it will push students to graduate in four years.”

Hernandez told The Rider that a program, such as Promise, would encourage students to stay in college. She said she would probably join the UTRGV Promise Program if it gets approved.

“I think it sounds great,” she said. “I would probably join. I like contributing and doing different stuff outside what I usually do in my own bubble.”