{"id":7542,"date":"2017-11-10T18:29:56","date_gmt":"2017-11-10T18:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/?p=7542"},"modified":"2017-11-10T18:29:56","modified_gmt":"2017-11-10T18:29:56","slug":"utrgv-named-finalist-for-texas-higher-education-coordinating-board-star-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/?p=7542","title":{"rendered":"UTRGV Named Finalist for Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Star Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"UTRGV\u2019s<\/a>

UTRGV\u2019s student leadership retreats and activities, like the one shown here on June 1, 2017, help prepare students for success by focusing on critical development issues like teamwork and empowerment. Photo: David Pike\/UTRGV Archive<\/p><\/div>\n

by J. Edward Moreno<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has named The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley one of eight finalists for the 2017\u00a0Star Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The board received a total 44 nominations and 41 applications for this year\u2019s Star Awards program. Institutions were chosen based on their contributions toward meeting one or more of the goals of the Texas higher education plan,\u00a060x30TX<\/a>, which aims to have 60 percent of the 25- to 34-year-old Texas population holding a certificate or degree by 2030.<\/p>\n

UTRGV was commended for its\u00a0tuition plan, advisement and outreach to support its 15-hour enrollment initiative. The university\u2019s\u00a0in-state tuition and fees cap at 12 hours per semester, and any additional courses a student enrolls in after 12 hours are free (excluding books and special course fees). So, a student enrolled in 15 hours pays nothing for the added course; a student enrolled in 18 hours gets the two extra classes free, etc.<\/p>\n

Dr. Patricia Alvarez McHatton, interim provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at UTRGV, said the university strives to make higher education available for all students.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt UTRGV, our main goal is to see students succeed,\u201d she said. \u201cOur tuition cap at 12 hours is designed to make college financially manageable for students, and to expedite the graduation process, which in turn paves the way to greater student success.\u201d<\/p>\n

The winner(s) of the Star Awards will be announced Dec. 1 during the annual Star Awards luncheon and ceremony in Austin.<\/p>\n

The eight finalists are:<\/p>\n