UTEP announced Friday that the university received a $12 million dollar award from the Texas Board of Regents.
The Regents’ Research Excellence Program Award is the biggest Texas state-funded research award the university has received.
President Wilson says the university plans on hiring 69 new hires which includes 18 postdoctoral researchers, 29 research faculty and 22 tenured faculty members. The award will be used to develop research in advanced manufacturing, cancer therapeutics, artificial intelligence, and Hispanic student success among other research areas.
With this award, the university expects to nearly double the existing research faculty.
President Heather Wilson told university employees, staff, and faculty during Friday’s convocation that this award will “propel UTEP forward for years to come.”
“UTEP has never had this kind of support from the State of Texas for research,” said Wilson. “It’s a game changer and I am grateful to the Board of Regents and the State of Texas for their trust in us as one of the leading universities in the state. We will use these funds wisely and build on this.”
Other announcements leading up to the new school year included the formal announcement of the 10-Year Campus Master Plan, which includes new construction projects scattered around campus.
After the planned opening of Texas Western Hall in early 2026, the university plans to tear down the Liberal Arts Building. In its place, there will be a new parking garage, and a large natural area designed to reestablish the old arroyo.
Across campus there will be a new housing facility on the north side of Kidd Field. The project is still in its design phase, but Wilson described the layout as a “traditional” style dorm. The dorm will also come with a required meal plan.
Wilson cited the growing applications coming from outside of El Paso and the growing housing waitlist as reasons for the new housing complex.
The new complex will be the most recent addition to Housing and Residency Life since the construction of Miner Canyon in 2015.
UTEP also brought on 77 new faculty members for the upcoming year with each college seeing an addition to its faculty except for the College of Nursing.
Currently, the university is on track to break last year’s record of $45.3 million in fundraising. This will be the fourth straight year the university surpasses its yearly fundraising total.
Wilson also made it a point to emphasize what she believed to be one of UTEP’s biggest strengths. She believes that the university has a responsibility to help every student, even when other institutions may not share that belief.
“Our approach to student success: We don’t take the easy road,” said Wilson. “We don’t pretend that exclusion is excellence. We will be judged not by who we exclude, but by who we include.”
According to Wilson, 46% of students who entered UTEP at the start of Fall 2023 were considered medium or high-risk students.
Looking ahead, UTEP students will vote to approve the Student Union Referendum next month. If approved by the student body, funds for the renovations will come from an increase in Union fees that will increase $30 per semester to $150 per semester during the 2027-2028 school year.
The Student Union Referendum vote will take place between Sept. 16 and Sept. 19.
Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela Armendariz is the editor-in-chief and may be reached at [email protected]: @rivasemmanuel2 on Instagram.
