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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The University of Texas at El Paso is celebrating |
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the centennial of its creation in 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, On April 16, 1913, Texas governor O. B. Colquitt |
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signed S.B. 183, 33rd Legislature, Regular Session, which |
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established the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy; the |
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institution was guided by the regents of The University of Texas, |
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and today, it ranks as the second-oldest academic institution in |
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the UT System; and |
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WHEREAS, The school was renamed the College of Mines and |
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Metallurgy in 1920 and became Texas Western College nearly 30 years |
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later; since 1967, it has been known by its present name; and |
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WHEREAS, During the civil rights era, UTEP played a crucial |
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role in breaking down barriers; it became the first state college to |
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integrate undergraduate classes in 1955, and it later was the first |
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school in the UT System to hire an African American administrator; |
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in 1966, the basketball team fielded the first all-African American |
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starting lineup in NCAA championship history and upset the highly |
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favored University of Kentucky for the national title; its bold |
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stand led other teams to begin recruiting African American |
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athletes, marking a turning point in college athletics; and |
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WHEREAS, The institution has continued its tradition of |
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diversity, and it now ranks third among all U.S. universities in |
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awarding bachelor's degrees to Hispanics and among the top 10 in |
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preparing Hispanic students for success in completing doctoral |
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degrees; and |
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WHEREAS, Long a leader in higher education, UTEP was |
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recognized in 1996 by the National Science Foundation as one of six |
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model institutions for excellence in the nation, and four years |
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later, it was acknowledged by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral |
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and research-intensive institution; the Texas Legislature |
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designated it as one of seven emerging Tier One institutions, and in |
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2012, the United States Department of Education rated it as the |
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national research institution with the lowest net cost; moreover, |
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Washington Monthly ranked the school 12th among all national |
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research universities and first in fostering social mobility in the |
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lives of its graduates; and |
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WHEREAS, Benefiting from the skilled guidance of president |
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Diana Natalicio, UTEP has a current enrollment of nearly 23,000 |
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students and offers degrees in 70 bachelor's programs, 75 master's |
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programs, and 19 doctoral programs; and |
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WHEREAS, For the past century, The University of Texas at El |
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Paso has contributed immeasurably to the economic and cultural |
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vitality of the Paso del Norte region, and it has proven a powerful |
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force for social progress in the Lone Star State and beyond; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the centennial of the creation of |
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The University of Texas at El Paso and extend to all those |
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associated with the institution sincere best wishes for continued |
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success; 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 House of Representatives. |