FEATURED: The Texas Legislature passed a resolution on Thursday, April 3, 2025, honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s upcoming 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of growth and impact in the Valley. UTRGV President Guy Bailey praised the recognition as a testament to the university’s achievements and community support. Included in this image in the front row, along with UTRGV leadership, students, staff, from left, are Dr. Maggie Hinojosa, Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Student Affairs; Rep. Ryan Guillén, R-Rio Grande City; Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo; Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen; and Bailey.
Photograph By CHRISTOPHER CABELLO
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University of Texas Rio Grande Valley honored at Texas Capitol ahead of its 10-year anniversary
By MELISSA VÁSQUEZ
On Thursday, April 3, 2025, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley received an early birthday gift from the Texas Legislature, which passed resolutions honoring the university’s upcoming 10th anniversary of its creation.
A resolution is a formal expression of recognition, opinion, or decision, other than a proposed law, that may be offered for approval to one or both chambers (Senate and House of Representatives) of the Texas Legislature.
Identical resolutions were filed and approved in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.
Filed is used to refer to a measure that has been introduced into the legislative process and given a number.
Presented by local lawmakers in both the Senate and House of Representatives, the resolutions celebrate a decade of achievements, growth, and transformative impact in the Rio Grande Valley and across the state.
“As we approach our 10th anniversary, this resolution from the Texas Legislature is more than a recognition – it’s a celebration of shared vision and hard-earned progress,” UTRGV President Guy Bailey said. “This journey has been made possible by the unwavering support of our Valley legislators and the extraordinary people we serve. What we’ve accomplished together has transformed not only our university, but the entire region. And we’re just getting started.”
Students interning at the Capitol also joined in on the festivities.
Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and Sen. Adán “Adam” Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi, presented the resolution on the Senate floor.
“The university is a model institution for excellence in higher education, research, innovation, and community engagement,” Sen. Juan Hinojosa added.
“From offering affordable tuition and research opportunities to championing bilingual and bicultural learning, UTRGV is a leader in higher education and a point of pride for our state,” Zaffirini said.
“Your commitment to education, innovation, and opportunity is making a genuine difference not just in South Texas, but throughout the entire state,” Sen. Adán “Adam” Hinojosa said.
In the Senate, it was Senate Resolution 358, whose lead primary author was Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, which was adopted in that chamber.
Zaffirini and Sen. Adán “Adam” were primary authors of Senate Resolution 358.
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, was the primary author of House Resolution 761, which carried the same language as Senate Resolution 358.
Rep. Óscar Longoria, D-Mission, Rep. Armando “Mando” Martínez, D-Weslaco, Rep. Ryan Guillén, R-Rio Grande City, and Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Palmview, were joint authors of House Resolution 761.
Martínez presented House Resolution 761 on the House of Representatives’ floor.
“UTRGV is an award-winning institution that has conferred more than 56,000 degrees since opening its doors in 2015,” Martínez said. “Members, we can Gig ‘em, we can Hook ‘em, we can Wreck ‘em, but in the Valley, we say ‘V’s up’ for UTRGV!”
In the House of Representatives, a member authorized by the primary author of a bill or resolution to join in the authorship of the measure and have his or her name shown following the primary author’s name on official printings of the measure, on calendars, and in the journal. The primary author may authorize up to four joint authors.
Calendars is a list of bills or resolutions that are scheduled or eligible for consideration by the members of the Senate or House of Representatives on a specified date.
The journal is the official publication that records the legislative proceedings of each chamber, including record vote information.
The record vote is a list recorded in the journal of the individual vote of each member of a committee or full chamber (Senate or House of Representatives) on a particular motion or measure.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, Weslaco, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, and South Padre Island. UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015, and the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016.
The identical text of the Senate and House of Representatives resolutions follow:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas (House of Representatives of the State of Texas are) pleased to recognize The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in honor of the school’s 10th anniversary, which is being celebrated in August of 2025; and
WHEREAS, Known for its broad range of academic programs, affordable tuition, and supportive campus environment, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is an award-winning institution that has conveyed more than 56,000 degrees since opening its doors in 2015; and
WHEREAS, Significant accomplishments during the university’s first decade of operation include adding 42 new bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degree programs and an increase in research expenditures of nearly 600 percent; ongoing student success is reflected in the university’s record-breaking enrollment, retention, and graduation rates; and
WHEREAS, This exemplary institution made historic strides in medical education when it opened the only school of medicine in South Texas in 2016, and it has since expanded quality health care services in the region with 25 clinical care sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley; and
WHEREAS, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley opened the state’s first School of Podiatric Medicine in 2022 and will further expand student opportunities with the opening of the region’s first comprehensive academic cancer and surgery center in 2025 and the state’s second School of Optometry in 2027; and
WHEREAS, In 2021, the university’s Student Government Association executed a student referendum that would enhance campus life by adding a Division I Football Championship Subdivision team and other programs, and in the fall of 2025, the football team will kick off its inaugural season and establish the first Division I college football program at the university and in the region; and
WHEREAS, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has earned national acclaim for its commitment to value, social mobility, and economic impact and has been ranked the number one university in Texas in 2023 and 2024 by Washington Monthly magazine and the number one best public university in Texas for value and social mobility by the Wall Street Journal; the school has further gained recognition as a community engaged university by the Carnegie Foundation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas (House of Representatives of the State of Texas), 89th Legislature, hereby recognize The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as a model institution for excellence in higher education, research, innovation, and community engagement and extend to its leaders, faculty, and staff congratulations on a decade of success and best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the university as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate (and Texas House of Representatives).
In addition to the Senate and House resolutions, other major highlights about The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley include:
- Award-Winning Institution: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has conferred more than 56,000 degrees and is recognized for its broad range of academic programs, affordable tuition, and supportive campus environment.
- Academic Growth: In its first decade, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley added 42 new bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degree programs.
- Research Expansion: Research expenditures have risen by nearly 600 percent, reflecting a strong commitment to innovation and scholarly excellence.
- Record-Breaking Enrollment and Success: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has set historic highs in enrollment, retention, and graduation rates, underscoring its student-centered focus.
- Impactful Medical Education: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley opened the only medical school in South Texas in 2016, enhancing local healthcare with 25 clinical sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
- Pioneering Programs: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley opened Texas’s first School of Podiatric Medicine in 2022 and will open the region’s first comprehensive academic cancer and surgery center in 2025, followed by the state’s second School of Optometry in 2027.
- Division I Football: A student-led referendum paved the way for a new Division I Football Championship Subdivision team, with the inaugural season set for fall 2025 – the first Division I college football program in the region.
- National Acclaim: UTRGV is ranked No. 1 in Texas by Washington Monthly in 2023 and 2024 and recognized by The Wall Street Journal as the best public university in Texas for value and social mobility.
- Community Engagement: Recognized as a community-engaged institution by the Carnegie Foundation, reflecting UTRGV’s commitment to serving the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.
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David A. Díaz contributed to this article. For more on this and other Texas legislative news stories that affect the Rio Grande Valley metropolitan region, please log on to Titans of the Texas Legislature.
