A new building on the Brownsville campus was completed this summer, expanding the UTRGV community. These changes have resulted in various departments and offices moving to new locations.
Marta Salinas-Hovar, associate vice president for Facilities Planning & Operations, said the reason for the new buildings on the Brownsville campus was to move out of Texas Southmost College lease space.
Salinas-Hovar explained how one of the goals for the Brownsville campus was to continue to grow with owned space.
“We know that in the future we will need at least one, or two, or three other buildings to house some of the departments that are still in lease space,” she said. “But we don’t have any funding currently to build any new buildings, so the administration will either be asking for some additional PUF funding or we will request some TRB [tuition revenue bonds] funding at the next legislative biennium.”
Salinas-Hovar said the university amended the lease agreement with TSC to extend the terms for another two or three years.
As for plans for the near future, the Facilities Planning & Operations department is looking for opportunities to open an employee clinic and consolidating it with the Health Services Clinic in Brownsville. Officials hope to have a proposal to present to the executive administration so a decision can be made allowing them to move forward with the project in the fall.
“We don’t know yet because, again, we would like the student health clinic on our own side of the campus,” she said. “I think that would benefit the students a great deal.”
Changes in Brownsville:
Departments that are moving into the Interdisciplinary Academic Building (BINAB)
-Student Success
-Career Center
-Student Academic Success
-Learning Framework
Moving to Cavalry Hall (BCAVL)
-Veterans Upward Bound
-Military & Veteran Success
-Dean of Students
-Student Rights and Responsibilities
-Student Food Pantry
-Super Hero Project
Moving to Music, Science & Learning Center (BMSLC)
-ASPIRE
-Accessibility Services
-College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)
David Ramirez III, a learning instructional specialist at CAMP, said the move is good on both their end and the students’.
“Personally, I think it’s a big upgrade from where we are at here at Cortez on the TSC side,” Ramirez said. “Several of the departments that are here, such as TRIO, Student Success Services, ASPIRE, Student Accessibility Services and us [CAMP], we serve university students.”
He said students will find it more convenient to go into the lab when it’s nearby classes instead of walking across campus.
The office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs announced that the Vaquero Tech Center will feature an Apple Authorized Campus Store that will open later in the fall. The store will have its own section located in the bookstore on both the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses. The Vaquero Tech Center will include Apple products (except for phones) and accessories at an educational.
“The Apple Authorized Campus Stores are the only Apple retail outlets that sell at a discount on a continuing basis,” said Art Brownlow, a music professor and Faculty Fellow for Academic Innovations.
The products will be available to UTRGV students, faculty, staff and alumni. Legacy institution University of Texas-Pan American and University of Texas at Brownsville alumni also qualify.
Brownlow clarified they are still working out details regarding the payment of the products, but as of now the campus stores are not offering payment plans, although it is something the university is looking to pursue in the future.
VBucks are accepted at both campus stores, and if students have funds available, they can use them toward tech purchases.
In addition to retail, the Vaquero Tech Center will host educational and outreach components not only for the UTRGV community but also for the Rio Grande Valley. Brownlow explained they plan to do professional development for students and faculty by conducting educational workshops. As far as outreach, they plan to bring in public schools for workshops on Saturdays.
Changes on the Edinburg campus were not as impactful as the ones in Brownsville. For more information on the departments’ new locations, contact the Office of Student Success.
The UTRGV School of Medicine Team Based Learning Center is under construction on the Edinburg campus. The center will be an extension of the existing Medical Education Building.
