University College News

New College Focuses on Not Letting Freshmen Fall Through the Cracks

Getting the completion rate up is a top priority. In order to do this a new college has been established at UTB-TSC.

This is the very first semester for the University College. Its purpose is to guide freshman through the often heavy workload higher education requires, in order to receive a bachelors degree.

Author, Journalist Tobar Visits University

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College’s University College hosted Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Hector Tobar on Monday, Feb. 6.

Hector Tobar Tobar’s visit was part of the selection of his book, “Translation Nation: American Identity in the Spanish-Speaking United States” as the first choice of University College’s Common Reader Program. The book is being used in University College’s First Year Seminar, a one-hour course instituted this year for first year students. Faculty and staff members teaching the course use the book in classroom discussions and on some assignments.

Provost's Essay Contest Winners Honored by Mexican Consulate

Winners of the first Provost’s Essay Contest at The University of Texas at Brownsville were honored by the Consulate of Mexico in Brownsville at a ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Provost’s Essay Contest Winners Honored By Mexican Consulate

Consul Rodolfo Quilantán Arenas gave participants a certificate recognizing their awareness of the diversity and culture of Mexico through written words. The winners also received small handcrafted items representing different states of Mexico.

Winners Named in Provost's Essay Contest

Alejandra Flores looked to her family to find inspiration to write what she knew about.

Winners Named in Provost’s Essay Contest “It was kind of easy because I had gone through that experience,” said Flores, 18, of La Joya and a freshman accounting major at The University of Texas at Brownsville. “My parents were born in Mexico and came over here and I was born there and came here. They showed me customs and traditions.”

University College Announces Essay Contest for First-Year Students - Fall 2011

The University of Texas at Brownsville’s University College and Dr. Alan F.J. Artibise, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, are sponsoring an essay contest for first-year students. Dr. Terry Overton works with Stephani Sifuentes during her First Year Seminar class.

University College is using the Common Reader Program’s selection of “Translation Nation: American Identity in the Spanish-Speaking United States” by Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Hector Tobar in First Year Seminar classes.

Freshmen Encouraged to Make A Commitment to Graduate

More than 500 freshmen attended the university’s second annual Freshman Convocation on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at The Arts Center.

Freshmen Encouraged to Make A Commitment to Graduate The event served as a formal welcome to the more than 2,300 first time students that began fall semester on Monday, Aug. 22.

“Your deans and administrators are making sure you have all the resources you need – from the very best professors in your classrooms to high tech equipment in the labs – to get the most out of your education here,” said Dr. Alan Artibise, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The university will have its second annual Freshman Convocation at 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 25 at The Arts Center.

Freshman Convocation The keynote speaker will be Steven DeSutter, president and chief executive officer of Stripes LLC owned by Susser Holdings Corp. in Corpus Christi.

“I hope to encourage incoming freshmen to make a decision to finish what they start as freshmen,” said DeSutter. “A degree is an essential in every industry for the future and that includes convenience retail, my industry.”

University Begins Fall Semester

The university began another academic year as classes started for fall semester on Monday, Aug. 22, 2011.

“I had a very productive summer and because I work full time as an audio visual technician at Media Services I practically live on campus,” said David Guerra, a senior business and marketing major from

David Marquez, Coordinator of Student Judicial Affairs, helps guide students to their classes on the first day of fall semester.

Brownsville. “I'm excited that this is my last semester at the university. Now that I am about to graduate I know many opportunities will come my way, especially later on once I get my master’s degree.”

Faculty and Staff Prepare for New First Year Seminar for Freshmen

Faculty and Staff Prepare for New First Year Seminar for University Freshmen Some of the university’s faculty members and staff have been preparing to teach a new class created for incoming freshmen starting this fall.

The First Year Seminar is a one-hour course aimed at giving first time college students the skills needed to succeed in college. About 2,100 incoming freshmen have filled 87 sections of the course administered by University College. Another 200 freshmen will take the course in the spring.

University Introduces Common Reader Program

The University of Texas at Brownville and Texas Southmost College is adding to the freshman experience with the introduction this fall of the Common Reader Program.

University Introduces Common Reader Program Incoming freshmen, and select upper level classes, will participate in the program designed to welcome and bring together students through a common academic experience. Each freshman will receive a copy of “Translation Nation: American Identity in the Spanish-Speaking United States,” by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hector Tobar to read in either fall or spring semester.