The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) has awarded the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) with the title of inaugural Academic Institution of the Year for 2023.
SHPE is the largest association in the U.S. representing Hispanics in STEM fields. UTRGV was established by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas.
According to SHPE, UTRGV was granted the Academic Institution of the Year award for demonstrating exceptional dedication to empowering Hispanics through increased STEM awareness, enhanced access, robust support, and comprehensive development initiatives.
The award is part of SHPE’s Technical Achievement Recognition (STAR) award, which recognizes individuals and institutions in the STEM community actively changing lives through community engagement, professional contributions, and impactful research.
UTRGV President Guy Bailey expressed his pride in the strength of the engineering program and the dedication of its students, faculty, and staff.
Bailey also acknowledged the weight the award carries and thanked the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers for this inaugural award. He mentioned that UTRGV will continue to develop programs, conduct research, and train tomorrow’s educators and engineers.
Dr. Ala Qubbaj, dean of the UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science, said the SHPE recognition highlights UTRGV’s growing role as a leading academic institution in developing the next generation of Hispanic leaders in STEM.
He mentioned that over 4,400 students are currently enrolled in engineering and computer science programs at UTRGV, preparing them to be engineers and leaders in engineering to ensure their success during and after college.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the percentage of Latina representation among UTRGV engineering students is nearly 20%, compared to less than 2% nationwide.
Qubbaj said they are witnessing an unprecedented surge in Latinas pursuing engineering, and they are changing the narrative that engineering is also for women/Latinas.
The 27 recipients of the 2023 STAR awards were chosen from a diverse field of nominees that includes individuals and institutions in industry, academia, and government, including NASA and the U.S. Air Force.
The awards will be presented on Nov. 3 during the 2023 Virtual SHPE National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.
In related news, UTRGV’s reputation as one of the top-value schools in the country has improved, jumping up 72 positions on the U.S. News and World Report 2023-2024 Best Colleges list.
The School of Medicine kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate the Hispanic-serving institution’s deep commitment to honoring the diverse cultures, rich history, and vital contributions of the Hispanic & Latin American communities.
🎉 Today kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month, and we at UTRGV School of Medicine are proud to celebrate!
As a Hispanic-serving institution, we are deeply committed to honoring the diverse cultures, rich history, and vital contributions of the Hispanic & Latin American communities! pic.twitter.com/VyfzKtFvWS
— UTRGV SOM (@UTRGVSOM) September 15, 2023
SUCCESSES AT UTRGV ✌️🎉 #UTRGV’s reputation as one of the top value schools in the country just got another boost, jumping up 72 positions on the U.S. News and World Report 2023-2024 Best Colleges list. Read more about the rankings: https://t.co/QFhSGJBijD pic.twitter.com/6Bn7innTKT
— Newsroom at UTRGV (@UTRGVNewsroom) September 19, 2023
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), has named UTRGV its inaugural Academic Institution of the Year for 2023.
SHPE is the largest association in the U.S. representing Hispanics in STEM fields.https://t.co/4m5aqfX1LE pic.twitter.com/K0WIlputnI— Newsroom at UTRGV (@UTRGVNewsroom) September 18, 2023
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