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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 100th anniversary of its founding in 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, On April 16, 1913, Governor O. B. Colquitt signed |
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Senate Bill No. 183, creating the Texas State School of Mines and |
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Metallurgy, an educational institution to be established by the |
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citizens of El Paso and overseen by the board of regents of The |
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University of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the school is the second oldest academic |
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institution in The University of Texas System; renamed several |
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times, it became the College of Mines and Metallurgy in 1920 and |
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Texas Western College in 1949; it has been known as The University |
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of Texas at El Paso since 1967; and |
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WHEREAS, Recognized as a leader in American higher education, |
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UTEP has received numerous accolades for academic distinction; the |
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National Science Foundation has tabbed it as one of six models for |
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excellence, and the Carnegie Foundation has classified it as a |
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Doctoral/Research-Intensive institution; the U.S. Department of |
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Education has identified it as the national research institution |
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with the lowest net price, and Washington Monthly has ranked it 12th |
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overall among American universities and number one in fostering |
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social mobility among its graduates; in 2009, the Texas Legislature |
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designated UTEP as one of our state's seven emerging Tier One |
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universities; and |
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WHEREAS, UTEP currently serves nearly 23,000 students |
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through its 70 bachelor's, 75 master's, and 19 doctoral degree |
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programs; this prestigious school ranks third among all U.S. |
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universities in awarding undergraduate degrees to Hispanics and is |
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one of the top 10 in preparing Hispanic students to successfully |
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complete doctoral programs; the school's more than 100,000 alumni |
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are accomplished leaders in fields ranging from science, |
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engineering, health, politics, and business to law, entertainment, |
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the arts, and education; and |
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WHEREAS, UTEP plays a significant role in fostering economic |
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development and enhancing the quality of life of the Paso del Norte |
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region; and |
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WHEREAS, In winning the National Collegiate Athletic |
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Association championship, the 1966 Texas Western College men's |
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basketball team marked a turning point in the history of American |
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higher education that now inspires all UTEP students to achieve |
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individual aspirations, fulfill family dreams, and enrich |
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communities in Texas and across the nation; UTEP remains the only |
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university in the State of Texas to win the national title in men's |
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basketball; and |
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WHEREAS, For a century, The University of Texas at El Paso and |
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its graduates have been making important contributions to Texas and |
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the world beyond, and it is most fitting that they be honored on |
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this momentous occasion; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate The University of Texas at El Paso |
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on its 100th anniversary and extend to the university's |
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administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni sincere best |
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wishes for continued 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 of Texas at El Paso as an expression of |
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high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |