LOWEST NET PRICE
OF ATTENDANCE
BEST PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY
PERFORMANCE OF
PELL-ELIGIBLE
STUDENTS
AMONG ALL TEXAS
UNIVERSITIES FOR
SOCIAL MOBILITY
LEAST STUDENT
DEBT
1
st
in
Texas
utrgv.edu/88th
2
nd
in
Texas
1
st
in
Texas
1
st
in
Texas
1
st
in
Texas
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by
the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the rst major public university of the
21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the oppor-
tunity 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 bene t from the Permanent University Fund – a public
endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and
other institutions.
UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites
throughout the Rio Grande Valley including in Boca Chica Beach,
Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus),
Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus),
Harlingen, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, and South Padre Island.
UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its rst class in
the fall of 2015, and the School of Medicine welcomed its rst class in the
summer of 2016.
About UTRGV
THE FUTURE
OF TEXAS
Legislative Priorities
88th Legislative Session
BEST COLLEGES IN
AMERICA FOR VALUE,
AMONG TEXAS SCHOOLS
#3
10
BEST VALUE
FOR YOUR
MONEY
TOP
Source: Forbes.com, 2021
Source:
Money.com, 2022
Through a comprehensive portfolio of programs, UTRGV serves local
businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals to enhance workforce &
economic prosperity throughout the region.
ECONOMIC IMPACT:
• 1,885 Jobs Created & Retained
• 160 Businesses Started & Expanded
• $11,865,034 Capital Investments
• $56,103,004 Sales & Contract Awards
WORKFORCE & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT:
• 410 Training Events & Courses
• 5,770 Training Participants
• 2,126 Clients Consulted
Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Statistics*
(Data Information & System, Entrepreneurship & Commercialization,
Procurement Technical Assistance, Professional Education,
Small Business Development, & Veteran’s Business Outreach)
UTRGV’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) promotes economic
development throughout the 4-county region by providing comprehensive
business advising, training, and technical assistance services to start-up and
existing businesses.
ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT:
• 425 Jobs Created
• 990 Jobs Retained
• 134 Businesses Started & Expanded
• $10,103,634 Capital Formation Created
• $36,571,753 New Taxable Sales Generated
• 155 Training Sessions to Businesses
• 1,338 Training Participants
• 852 Clients Consulted
“Building the Texas Economy One Business at a Time”
Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Statistics*
(Small Business Development Center)
Workforce & Economic Development
President
MESSAGE FROM
The 2022-2023 biennium brought The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) much success. In 2015, UTRGV enrolled its
rst class of students, and seven years later, UTRGV is nationally known for providing affordable, high-quality education, accessible
healthcare, pursuing and disseminating research, preparing an educated workforce, and engaging community partners in novel and
impactful ways.
With an enrollment of almost 32,000, UTRGV is one of the nation’s largest Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), serving the 150-mile
Texas/Mexico border region known as the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). The RGV is a “medically underserved area” with one of the
highest shortages of physicians and mental health providers in the nation. To meet numerous healthcare needs, UTRGV and its
School of Medicine (SOM) engages in instruction, research, medical education, health care, and public service.
Affordability has always been a cornerstone of UTRGV’s mission. We are proud to have been ranked:
• 1
st
in Texas and 2
nd
nationally for “Least Student Debt” by U.S. News and World Report
• 1
st
in Texas and 8
th
nationally by Forbes.com for “Top Colleges for Your Money”
• 1
st
in Texas and 2
nd
in the nation among public universities for lowest net price of attendance by Washington Monthly (2021)
• 4
th
in the nation for “Most Economic Mobility” by Thirdway.org (2022).
The SOM welcomed its rst class in 2016 and since then has graduated three classes of diverse and talented physicians. While young,
the SOM has had a dramatic impact on increasing access to primary and specialty care in the RGV. The school continues to grow its
clinical footprint across the Valley. The SOM is also conducting important research in diabetes, Alzheimer’s, addiction disorders and
various cancers as part of an ambitious plan to build a robust clinical trials program to translate research into tomorrow’s cures.
UTRGV’s Institute of Neurosciences (ION) is establishing a world-class center of excellence in brain health education, research, and
personalized treatment. The School of Podiatric Medicine (SOPM) is the rst podiatric medical school in Texas, and only one of ten in
the nation. When the Cancer and Surgery Center opens in 2025, UTRGV will have the rst comprehensive academic cancer treat-
ment program in the region and will be positioned to rapidly expand its research portfolio in bio specimen and oncology clinical trials
research.
UTRGV is a game changer for the RGV, and we thank you for your investment in UTRGV and our SOM. With your continued support,
we look forward to what UTRGV will accomplish for the RGV and the State of Texas.
Dr. Guy Bailey
FUNDING FOR INSTITUTIONAL ENHANCEMENT
RETAIN $16.2 MILLION IN CURRENT FUNDING; ADD $6.4
MILLION IN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
Request to increase Institutional Enhancement (IE) funding to expand
educational opportunities to students at the bachelors, masters, and
doctoral levels. Until such time as suf cient formula funding is generat-
ed, UTRGV seeks the additional funding for ve programs within its IE
line item; each of the programs will addresses an urgent national need of
diversifying the scienti c and healthcare workforce by preparing gradu-
ates from the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) for careers. RGV based, there will
be a natural focus on the diseases and conditions that disproportionately
affect minority populations:
• Ph.D. in Physics
• Ph.D. in Human Genetics
• Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
• Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR BORDER ECONOMIC &
ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
RETAIN $1 MILLION IN CURRENT FUNDING; ADD $150,000
IN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
Exceptional Item Request to allow UTRGV’s Small Business Development
Center (SBDC) to add two business advisors (BAs). BAs play a vital role
in the prosperity of the region by providing no-cost, 1-on-1 BA services.
FULLY FUND ENROLLMENT GROWTH
Requesting that the State fully fund enrollment growth.
CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE PROJECTS (CCAP)
Should the Legislature consider funding for CCAP, UTRGV requests
funding support for a new Science, Engineering & Arts Building for the
Brownsville campus.
The new UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine (SOPM), the rst podiatric school in Texas, will play an integral part in delivering health care services to
local communities in the Rio Grande Valley. One of only ten schools of podiatric medicine in the US, UTRGV is ready to prepare students to provide the
highest level of care focusing on the health, individual needs, and humanity of the patients.
Approximately 2.8 million people in Texas, or 14.2% of the adult population, have diabetes. Coupled with obesity and heart disease, the complications
from these diseases can cause blindness and lead to amputations, often of the lower extremities. Including a podiatrist on a health care team can
reduce a patient’s risk of limb amputation by up to 85%. UTRGV’s SOPM will collaborate with the UTRGV School of Medicine and the South Texas
Diabetes Obesity Institute to improve and provide high-quality healthcare in South Texas through evidence-based practice, and medical research.
General Academic UnitSchool of Podiatric Medicine (SOPM)
2024-2025
BIENNIUM
TOP PRIORITY
MEDICAL SCHOOL NON-FORMULA START-UP FUNDING
RETAIN $39.9 MILLION IN CURRENT FUNDING
The UTRGV School of Medicine’s highest priority is the continuation of
the Non-Formula Support used to deliver medical education to the full
complement of medical students. The SOM’s practice plan, while robust,
is still young and is providing care to a largely uninsured and Medicaid
population without the bene t of a healthcare district. Appropriations are
needed to meet curriculum requirements, to support new hires and to
reach full accreditation.
EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
SCHOOL OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE START-UP
$12 MILLION IN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
The THECB in October 2020 approved a request to create a Doctor of
Podiatric Medicine degree for the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine
(SoPM), the rst school of podiatry in Texas. Start-up appropriations are
needed to support operating costs until full formula funding materializes,
and would fund key faculty, staff, and other programmatic costs.
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY CENTER / CANCER
RETAIN $1.9 MILLION IN CURRENT FUNDING AND ADD $3.1
MILLION IN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) has long been a medically under-served
area with wide gaps in specialty care and research; cancer research and
cancer care are among the most critical shortages. The UTRGV SoM
has built the rst South Texas Center of Excellence on Cancer Research
housing 6 investigators and 10 lab personnel from diverse elds.
In addition to maintaining the $1.9M appropriation to continue research
to develop advanced diagnostic, imaging, and therapeutic modalities for
combating cancer in the RGV, UTRGV seeks $3.1M to support the operations
of a new Cancer Center opening in 2025 in McAllen, the rst comprehensive
academic cancer treatment program in the region.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FUNDING & POLICY PRIORITIES
TEXAS CHILD MENTAL HEALTH CARE CONSORTIUM (TCMHCC)
Continued adequate funding is vitally important to support telehealth care in
schools, to train primary care providers and improve the delivery of child and
adolescent mental health services.
ENHANCE THECB’S GME EXPANSION PROGRAM
Retain and increase GME Expansion Program funding for medical residents
and fellows.
CANCER PREVENTION & RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS (CPRIT)
Continue funding to support its mission to invest in the research prowess of
Texas universities and research organizations and enhance the potential of
breakthroughs in prevention and cures.
MEDICAID 1115 WAIVER
Support the Texas Incentives for Physicians and Professional Services, the
program that Texas Health and Human Services has proposed as a successor
supplemental payment program to DSRIP.
School of Medicine (SoM)
UT Health RGV Cancer
& Surgery Center
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR STARR COUNTY
UPPER-LEVEL CENTER (ULC)
RETAIN $55,230 IN CURRENT FUNDING ; ADD $100,000 IN
EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
Funding would allow expanded services in one of the most chronically un-
derserved areas of Texas. With this modest investment, UTRGV can broaden
services provided to include components of its social work programs and
health and mental wellness trainings.
CONTINUE FUNDING SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE
REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES (CRUs)
Continued support for the state’s CRUs is vital to universities that educate
a disproportionate level of At-Risk students such as UTRGV.
POLICY PRIORITIES
ENHANCED FUNDING FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
TEXAS Grants and work-study programs.
TUITION
Preserve tuition set-asides and the current tuition-setting process.
RESEARCH
Research investments are a critical component of operations and broadly
bene t the state.
HAZLEWOOD
Provide funding for the increasing cost of the Hazlewood tuition bene t.
CONTINUE EXPANSION OF BROADBAND COVERAGE
Will bene t students’ transition to online education across the state and in
the Rio Grande Valley.
UT Health RGV is expanding its healthcare offerings in South Texas with a
new Cancer and Surgery Center, with oncology advisory services provided
by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The UT Health
RGV Cancer Center and Surgery Center will provide our patients in South
Texas with access to state-of-the-art facilities and world-class doctors.
WHY?
The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) along the Texas-Mexico border is a medically
underserved and low resources community with an extremely high cancer
rate and a lack of access to specialty care. Cervical cancer incidence and
mortality rates are approximately 55% higher in the Rio Grande Valley
(RGV) compared with the average rates in the US. Currently the nearest
Cancer and Surgery center is approximately 300 miles away in San Anto-
nio. Nearly 2 million people live south of this facility in deep South Texas
and the population is expected to grow by 10% over the next 10 years
while the number of cancer cases are projected to grow by 15% over the
same period.
SERVICES OFFERED:
• Ambulatory Surgery
• Clinical Laboratory Services
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Infusion Pharmacy
• Infusion Therapy
• Outpatient Cancer Care
• Outpatient Orthopedic Care
• Radiation Oncology Rehab and Physical Therapy
FUNDING FOR INSTITUTIONAL ENHANCEMENT
RETAIN $16.2 MILLION IN CURRENT FUNDING; ADD $6.4
MILLION IN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
Request to increase Institutional Enhancement (IE) funding to expand
educational opportunities to students at the bachelors, masters, and
doctoral levels. Until such time as suf cient formula funding is generat-
ed, UTRGV seeks the additional funding for ve programs within its IE
line item; each of the programs will addresses an urgent national need of
diversifying the scienti c and healthcare workforce by preparing gradu-
ates from the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) for careers. RGV based, there will
be a natural focus on the diseases and conditions that disproportionately
affect minority populations:
• Ph.D. in Physics
• Ph.D. in Human Genetics
• Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
• Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR BORDER ECONOMIC &
ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
RETAIN $1 MILLION IN CURRENT FUNDING; ADD $150,000
IN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
Exceptional Item Request to allow UTRGV’s Small Business Development
Center (SBDC) to add two business advisors (BAs). BAs play a vital role
in the prosperity of the region by providing no-cost, 1-on-1 BA services.
FULLY FUND ENROLLMENT GROWTH
Requesting that the State fully fund enrollment growth.
CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE PROJECTS (CCAP)
Should the Legislature consider funding for CCAP, UTRGV requests
funding support for a new Science, Engineering & Arts Building for the
Brownsville campus.
The new UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine (SOPM), the rst podiatric school in Texas, will play an integral part in delivering health care services to
local communities in the Rio Grande Valley. One of only ten schools of podiatric medicine in the US, UTRGV is ready to prepare students to provide the
highest level of care focusing on the health, individual needs, and humanity of the patients.
Approximately 2.8 million people in Texas, or 14.2% of the adult population, have diabetes. Coupled with obesity and heart disease, the complications
from these diseases can cause blindness and lead to amputations, often of the lower extremities. Including a podiatrist on a health care team can
reduce a patient’s risk of limb amputation by up to 85%. UTRGV’s SOPM will collaborate with the UTRGV School of Medicine and the South Texas
Diabetes Obesity Institute to improve and provide high-quality healthcare in South Texas through evidence-based practice, and medical research.
General Academic UnitSchool of Podiatric Medicine (SOPM)
2024-2025
BIENNIUM
TOP PRIORITY
MEDICAL SCHOOL NON-FORMULA START-UP FUNDING
RETAIN $39.9 MILLION IN CURRENT FUNDING
The UTRGV School of Medicine’s highest priority is the continuation of
the Non-Formula Support used to deliver medical education to the full
complement of medical students. The SOM’s practice plan, while robust,
is still young and is providing care to a largely uninsured and Medicaid
population without the bene t of a healthcare district. Appropriations are
needed to meet curriculum requirements, to support new hires and to
reach full accreditation.
EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
SCHOOL OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE START-UP
$12 MILLION IN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
The THECB in October 2020 approved a request to create a Doctor of
Podiatric Medicine degree for the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine
(SoPM), the rst school of podiatry in Texas. Start-up appropriations are
needed to support operating costs until full formula funding materializes,
and would fund key faculty, staff, and other programmatic costs.
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY CENTER / CANCER
RETAIN $1.9 MILLION IN CURRENT FUNDING AND ADD $3.1
MILLION IN EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) has long been a medically under-served
area with wide gaps in specialty care and research; cancer research and
cancer care are among the most critical shortages. The UTRGV SoM
has built the rst South Texas Center of Excellence on Cancer Research
housing 6 investigators and 10 lab personnel from diverse elds.
In addition to maintaining the $1.9M appropriation to continue research
to develop advanced diagnostic, imaging, and therapeutic modalities for
combating cancer in the RGV, UTRGV seeks $3.1M to support the operations
of a new Cancer Center opening in 2025 in McAllen, the rst comprehensive
academic cancer treatment program in the region.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FUNDING & POLICY PRIORITIES
TEXAS CHILD MENTAL HEALTH CARE CONSORTIUM (TCMHCC)
Continued adequate funding is vitally important to support telehealth care in
schools, to train primary care providers and improve the delivery of child and
adolescent mental health services.
ENHANCE THECB’S GME EXPANSION PROGRAM
Retain and increase GME Expansion Program funding for medical residents
and fellows.
CANCER PREVENTION & RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS (CPRIT)
Continue funding to support its mission to invest in the research prowess of
Texas universities and research organizations and enhance the potential of
breakthroughs in prevention and cures.
MEDICAID 1115 WAIVER
Support the Texas Incentives for Physicians and Professional Services, the
program that Texas Health and Human Services has proposed as a successor
supplemental payment program to DSRIP.
School of Medicine (SoM)
UT Health RGV Cancer
& Surgery Center
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR STARR COUNTY
UPPER-LEVEL CENTER (ULC)
RETAIN $55,230 IN CURRENT FUNDING ; ADD $100,000 IN
EXCEPTIONAL ITEM FUNDING
Funding would allow expanded services in one of the most chronically un-
derserved areas of Texas. With this modest investment, UTRGV can broaden
services provided to include components of its social work programs and
health and mental wellness trainings.
CONTINUE FUNDING SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE
REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES (CRUs)
Continued support for the state’s CRUs is vital to universities that educate
a disproportionate level of At-Risk students such as UTRGV.
POLICY PRIORITIES
ENHANCED FUNDING FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
TEXAS Grants and work-study programs.
TUITION
Preserve tuition set-asides and the current tuition-setting process.
RESEARCH
Research investments are a critical component of operations and broadly
bene t the state.
HAZLEWOOD
Provide funding for the increasing cost of the Hazlewood tuition bene t.
CONTINUE EXPANSION OF BROADBAND COVERAGE
Will bene t students’ transition to online education across the state and in
the Rio Grande Valley.
UT Health RGV is expanding its healthcare offerings in South Texas with a
new Cancer and Surgery Center, with oncology advisory services provided
by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The UT Health
RGV Cancer Center and Surgery Center will provide our patients in South
Texas with access to state-of-the-art facilities and world-class doctors.
WHY?
The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) along the Texas-Mexico border is a medically
underserved and low resources community with an extremely high cancer
rate and a lack of access to specialty care. Cervical cancer incidence and
mortality rates are approximately 55% higher in the Rio Grande Valley
(RGV) compared with the average rates in the US. Currently the nearest
Cancer and Surgery center is approximately 300 miles away in San Anto-
nio. Nearly 2 million people live south of this facility in deep South Texas
and the population is expected to grow by 10% over the next 10 years
while the number of cancer cases are projected to grow by 15% over the
same period.
SERVICES OFFERED:
• Ambulatory Surgery
• Clinical Laboratory Services
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Infusion Pharmacy
• Infusion Therapy
• Outpatient Cancer Care
• Outpatient Orthopedic Care
• Radiation Oncology Rehab and Physical Therapy
LOWEST NET PRICE
OF ATTENDANCE
BEST PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY
PERFORMANCE OF
PELL-ELIGIBLE
STUDENTS
AMONG ALL TEXAS
UNIVERSITIES FOR
SOCIAL MOBILITY
LEAST STUDENT
DEBT
1
st
in
Texas
utrgv.edu/88th
2
nd
in
Texas
1
st
in
Texas
1
st
in
Texas
1
st
in
Texas
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by
the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the rst major public university of the
21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the oppor-
tunity 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 bene t from the Permanent University Fund – a public
endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and
other institutions.
UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites
throughout the Rio Grande Valley including in Boca Chica Beach,
Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus),
Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus),
Harlingen, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, and South Padre Island.
UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its rst class in
the fall of 2015, and the School of Medicine welcomed its rst class in the
summer of 2016.
About UTRGV
THE FUTURE
OF TEXAS
Legislative Priorities
88th Legislative Session
BEST COLLEGES IN
AMERICA FOR VALUE,
AMONG TEXAS SCHOOLS
#3
10
BEST VALUE
FOR YOUR
MONEY
TOP
Source: Forbes.com, 2021
Source:
Money.com, 2022
Through a comprehensive portfolio of programs, UTRGV serves local
businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals to enhance workforce &
economic prosperity throughout the region.
ECONOMIC IMPACT:
• 1,885 Jobs Created & Retained
• 160 Businesses Started & Expanded
• $11,865,034 Capital Investments
• $56,103,004 Sales & Contract Awards
WORKFORCE & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT:
• 410 Training Events & Courses
• 5,770 Training Participants
• 2,126 Clients Consulted
Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Statistics*
(Data Information & System, Entrepreneurship & Commercialization,
Procurement Technical Assistance, Professional Education,
Small Business Development, & Veteran’s Business Outreach)
UTRGV’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) promotes economic
development throughout the 4-county region by providing comprehensive
business advising, training, and technical assistance services to start-up and
existing businesses.
ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT:
• 425 Jobs Created
• 990 Jobs Retained
• 134 Businesses Started & Expanded
• $10,103,634 Capital Formation Created
• $36,571,753 New Taxable Sales Generated
• 155 Training Sessions to Businesses
• 1,338 Training Participants
• 852 Clients Consulted
“Building the Texas Economy One Business at a Time”
Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Statistics*
(Small Business Development Center)
Workforce & Economic Development
