UTRGV and City of Brownsville Sign Agreement to Boost Programming, Cut Travel

UTRGV & City of Brownsville approve a memorandum of understanding that creates a task force to improve equity between the two campuses

Sam Allen | Pulse Magazine

On March 18, UTRGV and the Brownsville City Commission officially approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) designed to improve academic programming, reduce travel, promote equitable resource distribution and enhance student life for UTRGV students on the Brownsville campus. 

The MOU creates a “Task Force for the Future” with equal representation between the University and City of Brownsville officials. 

The task force’s purpose is to collaboratively discuss strategies for improving academic programming, facilities, funding and proportionality across both campuses. 

The first meeting of the Task Force for the Future is set to take place within three weeks of the signing on March 18,  and meetings will continue on a monthly basis.

 In July 2025, the task force must present a draft action plan to University and City leadership which will outline how they plan to achieve the MOU’s outlined goals. 

 The University’s representatives on the task force will be led by former UTRGV Provost, Janna Arney and will consist of: 

• Patrick Gonzales, Vice President of Marketing and Communication
• Stephen Hirst, Associate Vice President for Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs 
• Veronica Gonzales, Senior Vice President of Governmental and Community Relations 
• Jose Davila-Montes, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts 
• Alma Rodriguez, Dean of the College of P-16 Integration.

Pulse reached out to the City of Brownsville for comment regarding the city’s representation on the task force and perspective of the MOU, but due to traveling the mayor was unavailable.

Brownsville students who commute between campuses will be given a voice within the task force, according to Task Force for the Future member, Patrick Gonzales.

“The first thing we want to do is make sure that those programs that were previously at the University of Texas Brownsville are still available and that students can graduate in four years without having to travel,” Gonzales said. “Second, we want to bring the new programs that Brownsville never had, that they now have access to because of UTRGV. Depending on the resources and the facilities, [we will] see what other programs that are currently just available on the Edinburg campus, which ones can come to Brownsville and vice versa.”

Some Vaqueros on the Brownsville campus reacted positively to the prospect of more class offerings and reduced need for travel.

“[More classes in Brownsville] would be better because there’s really no transportation [to the Edinburg campus], especially if you do not have a car. There’s hardly any classes here for my major, some are in Edinburg and some are at [South Padre Island]. I have to spend money to get there as well,” said Carla Gomez, a UTRGV marine biology senior.

The signing of the MOU follows UTRGV’s decision to move all future commencement ceremonies to the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg this past October. The move prompted outcry from some Brownsville students and their families as well as City of Brownsville officials, who vowed to bring graduation back to Brownsville, improve local class offerings and student life. 

“I think it’s really cool [UTRGV] is considering having  more classes here. I’m from Harlingen and I don’t want to move away from my family which is why I stayed here. I come to [the Brownsville campus] because it’s closer to Harlingen. I’d rather take an asynchronous class, and I hate asynchronous classes, than go to Edinburg every day,” said social work freshman, Hailee Mendoza.

The MOU underscores UTRGV’s commitment to possibly returning commencement ceremonies to Brownsville.

While the task force works to address the commencement issue, all future ceremonies will be held in Edinburg until adequate facilities become available in Brownsville, according to Gonzales.

“I want to make it clear that as we’re approaching the 10 year anniversary of UTRGV, Brownsville students are graduating faster than they did previously. They’re being afforded more programs than previously at UTB. That’s a major win for academic opportunity. And they’re paying less, believe it or not. Students at UTRGV are paying less tuition and mandatory fees on average than they did 10 years ago at UTPA and UTB. Bringing both campuses together as UTRGV has proven to be a great decision, and the student success numbers are off the chart. This MOU is going to enhance that even further,” Gonzales said.