Chancellor talks affordability, Brownsville campus concerns

Editor’s note:

Pulse magazine interviewed John Zerwas Tuesday to discuss his reflection of his visit to UTRGV. This story has been updated to include the chancellor’s interview. 

Updated at 6 p.m. Nov. 11

UT System Chancellor John Zerwas addresses Brownsville campus improvements, college affordability through the Promise Plus Program and university goals.

Zerwas said UTRGV administration and leadership has heard students “loud and clear” and are making efforts to bring more to Brownsville.

“I’m aware [UTRGV administration is] expanding the seat for the engineering program so that an entire four-year engineering program can be completed at the Brownsville campus,” Zerwas said. 

He added he is aware of the shuttle services in the university, and while it is “great” it can also be an “inconvenience” for students who go back and forth between campuses.

During the interview, Zerwas mentioned the UT System has created the Promise Plus Program to improve students’ college affordability. 

“[A student] may have one or two financial aid programs … but there’s an amount of tuition and fees that aren’t covered when you get those two grants,” Zerwas said. 

He described the Promise Plus Program as the financial help that will assist students to reduce any tuition and fees.

“Qualification is obviously from a family that has an adjusted gross income of less than $100,000,” he said. “The [UT System] board is very focused on trying to make sure there’s no financial hurdles for people that want to come to college.” 

Zerwas added the overall debt for UT institutions students is lower than the $21,000 average across other universities in the state.

“I think [UTRGV] is on a great trajectory to continue to see phenomenal growth,” he said. “I think we’re going to see research dollars plowed into, that hopefully in the near future [UTRGV becomes a] Carnegie R1 level university.” 

A Research 1 institution is a “very high spending and doctorate production” defined by a spending of $50 million in research and having 70 research doctorates awarded annually, according to the Carnegie Classification website. 

“We want to make sure that people and the young men and women at the Rio Grande Valley have an opportunity to get a four-year education,” Zerwas said. 

Original Story

Improvements for Brownsville students and affordability were among the topics discussed between University of Texas System Chancellor John Zerwas and UTRGV leadership, including the Student Government Association president, during his visit Thursday.

During his visit to the Edinburg campus, Zerwas met with members of the Student Government Association (SGA), Spirit Program, Trailblazers and the UTRGV School of Medicine. 

According to SGA President Juan Espinoza, one of the main concerns raised during the meeting was ensuring Brownsville students are represented. 

“[Zerwas] highlighted how they are bringing more programs to the Brownsville campus, such as … more engineering classes,” Espinoza said. 

He added students from Brownsville have voiced the need for more representation, events and classes to reduce travel between campuses.

“What I think will make [Brownsville] students feel a bit more heard is having that increase of programs for their education,” he said.

Affordability was an additional topic discussed. Espinoza said Zerwas is working with UT System institutions to help students get the funding they need, especially for students who want to attend law school or medical school. 

“One of the things [Zerwas] mentioned, too, is how Texas is one of the cheaper places you can get an education in,” he said.

Espinoza added the chancellor expressed his No. 1 concern throughout UT System institutions is ensuring low costs so as many students as possible can afford an education.

Zerwas, who was appointed UT System chancellor in August, leads 13 academic and health institutions that serve more than 256,000 students, including leading research universities and nationally top-ranked universities, according to the Office of the Chancellor website. 

The chancellor also met with UTRGV President Guy Bailey and his executive team, said Patrick Gonzales,  vice president for University Marketing and Communications. 

“The first question he asked was, ‘How can [UT] System help make the university … and students successful?’” Gonzales said. 

He added the chancellor also visited the UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center and the Center for Urban Ecology in McAllen, which works in collaboration with UTRGV.

“It was just good to have [Zerwas] introduce himself in this new role, ask questions and just engage in great discussions about what the future holds for higher education in Texas, with the [UT] System and UTRGV,” Gonzales said.