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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Representatives of The University of Texas Permian |
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Basin are gathering at the State Capitol on May 3, 2023, providing a |
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fitting opportunity to recognize the institution for its 50 years |
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of service; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in Odessa as a branch campus of The |
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University of Texas System in 1973, UTPB was initially an |
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upper-level institution that only accepted junior, senior, and |
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graduate students; its first freshman class, known as the "Pioneer |
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Freshmen," entered the school in 1991; over the years, the |
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university has expanded to include five academic colleges that |
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together offer more than 75 undergraduate and graduate degrees, and |
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it encompasses the main campus in Odessa as well as the Midland |
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Campus; to date, there have been over 28,800 UTPB graduates; and |
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WHEREAS, UTPB has played an instrumental role in the growth |
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and vitality of the Permian Basin region; the university serves as a |
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major source of skilled workers for the area's oil and gas industry, |
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and its liberal arts programs have contributed to the unique |
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culture of local communities; in addition, the university has |
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helped the region tackle critical issues related to the energy |
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industry, education, the environment, and public health; and |
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WHEREAS, To meet the diverse educational needs of its |
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students, UTPB has opened a wide variety of facilities, including |
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its engineering complex and the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center |
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in Midland County and the D. Kirk Edwards Family Human Performance |
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Center in Odessa; the university has also worked to increase access |
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to higher education by partnering with school districts and |
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establishing the Falcon Free program, which covers the cost of |
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tuition and fees for students in need; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its founding 50 years ago, The University of |
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Texas Permian Basin has provided many Texans with a strong |
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foundation for achievement, and it is a pleasure to join in |
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recognizing the institution on this milestone occasion; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of The University of Texas |
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Permian Basin on the occasion of UTPB Day at the State Capitol on |
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May 3, 2023, and extend to all those associated with the institution |
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sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the university as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas Senate. |