University of Texas–Pan American

Infobox_University
name = The University of Texas – Pan American


motto = "Disciplina praesidium civitatis" (Latin: Education, the Guardian of Society)
established = 1927
type = Public state university
president = Dr. Blandina Cárdenas
city = Edinburg
state = Texas
country = USA
students = 17,048 [http://www.utsystem.edu/news/CampusDescriptions/UTPA.htm/ Enrollment] "The University of Texas System". Accessed 22 August 2006.]
faculty = 742
campus = Urban, 238 acres (0.96 km²)
nickname = UTPA, Pan Am
mascot =
colors = Burnt orange and green. White and green prior to UT merger. [http://www.panam.edu/newhop/ Colors] "The University of Texas - Pan American Handbook of Operating Procedures". Accessed 22 August 2006.]
website = [http://www.utpa.edu/ www.utpa.edu]
footnotes = Logo is a trademark of The University of Texas - Pan American

The University of Texas – Pan American, also known as UTPA or UT-Pan Am, is part of The University of Texas System. Located in Edinburg, Texas (Hidalgo County), it serves the Rio Grande Valley and southern Texas with offerings of various baccalaureate, masters-level, and doctoral degrees. Since the University’s founding in 1927, it has grown from a population of around 200 students to over 17,000, making UTPA the tenth-largest university in the state of Texas. The greater majority of these students are natives of the Rio Grande Valley. UTPA also operates an Upper Level Studies Center in Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas.

History

* Edinburg College. Founded in 1927 as a two-year junior college administered by the Edinburg School District.
* Edinburg Junior College. Designated as a junior college in 1933 and admitted to the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of Southern States.
* Pan American College. Hidalgo County permitted to hold referendum for a four-year university in 1951; school became Pan American Regional College on December 20, 1951. Name changed to Pan American College following January, 1952, appointment of a Board of Regents. Became 22nd member institution of the Texas System of Colleges and Universities in 1965, as a state senior college. Approved to offer graduate programs in 1970, beginning with Master of Arts, Master of Education, and Master of Science.
* Pan American University. Achieved full university status and changed name to PAU. In 20-year period from 1965 to 1984, enrollment grew from 2,000 to nearly 10,000. Established second campus at Brownsville in 1973 (now University of Texas at Brownsville). In December 1988, board members reached merger agreement with the University of Texas System pending state legislative approval (one of a series of similar mergers among state universities during that time period), granted in September, 1989.
* University of Texas-Pan American. Adopted present name subsequent to merger, preserving the nearly 40-year legacy of the Pan American name.Handbook of Texas|id=uu/kcunf|name=University of Texas-Pan American|accessed October 13, 2006]

Campus

Academic Profile

As part of its mission statement, the university offers a wide variety of degrees spanning across 6 colleges. Currently, there are 56 bachelor's degrees, 45 master's degrees, 2 doctoral degrees, and one cooperative doctoral pharmacy program with The University of Texas at Austin. [http://www.panam.edu/president/areasofexcellence.htm Areas of Excellence] "The University of Texas – Pan American". Accessed 22 August 2006.]

Awards

In recent years, the university has been recognized as a “hot-spot” for Hispanic students. According to "Hispanic Outlook", in 2005, UTPA was ranked second in the nation for bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics and fifth in the nation for number of master’s degrees awarded. [http://www.hispanicoutlook.com/top100.htm/ Hispanic Outlook Magazine] "Hispanic Outlook Top 100". Accessed 23 August 2006.]

According to a university press release, of the 28 academic fields examined, UTPA also placed in the top 10 of 11 categories, including:
* 1^st in English literature and Multi-interdisciplinary Studies
* 2^nd in Biology, Biomedical sciences, Foreign Language, and Social Services
* 3^rd in Business and Marketing
* 3^rd Runner up in the National SIFE competition (Ethics, Global Economics, Financial Skills, Entrepreneurship, Success Skills)
* 6^th in the Visual and Performing Arts
* 9^th in Communications, and Engineering/Engineering Technology
* 10^th in Protective Services [http://www.panam.edu/2000/news/index.cfm?newsid=3143&curtype=release&curbar=news/ UTPA Press Release] "The University of Texas – Pan American". Accessed 23 August 2006.]

tudent Life

University of Texas Pan American has a vibrant and active student life- Many clubs are active engaged and woven into the fabric of life at UTPA. SIFE,MeCHA,
Accounting Society [http://utpa.accounting.tripod.com/] ,

Athletics

The University of Texas-Pan American competes in NCAA Division I. It is one of five schools in the University of Texas System that compete in Division I; the others are the UT campuses in Austin, El Paso, San Antonio, and Arlington.

UTPA won the 1963 NAIA national men's basketball championship under Coach Sam Williams. Lucious Jackson a/k/a Luscious "Luke" Jackson was one of the players of that championship. Jackson was overall second round NBA draft choice, played on the 1964-65 NBA all rookie team, played in the NBA All Star game that same year. Luke played his entire career with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The basketball program, during the mid 1970's was coached by Abe Lemons. Under Lemons, the program had very successful seasons but, lamentably, failed to get invited to any NCAA tournaments. Coach Lemmons was later hired away by the University of Texas at Austin.

Upon Lemons departure to the University of Texas, Bill White was named the head basketball coach. While at Pan American, Coach White led the Broncs to their first post-season tournament play at the Division I level. During the 1980-81 season, Pan American earned a berth to the 1981 National Invitation Tournament. The Broncs lost to the 1981 NIT champs, the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

The basketball program was later coached by Lon Kruger, who later went on to coach at Kansas State University,University of Florida, University of Illinois and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He went on to coach the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA.

UTPA Tennis program won several doubles NAIA championships from 1959 through 1962 under Coach Don Russell, who himself captured several championships while playing and coaching the team. UTPA baseball squad place 4th in the 1971 College World Series under Coach Al Ogletree.

It has been announced that the Broncos would be charter members of the previously football-only Great West Conference when it begins all-sports play in 2008. [http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700241969,00.html New Great West Conference]

References

External links

* [http://www.utpa.edu/ UTPA Main] "Official page for The University of Texas–Pan American"
* [http://portal.utpa.edu/utpa_main/daa_home/coba_home/ College of Business Administration] "College of Business Administration at The University of Texas–Pan American"
* [http://www.unitedbasketballconference.com/ United Basketball Conference Site]