New McAllen Teaching Site Offers 12 Graduate Level Courses
The University of Texas-Pan American is making it easier than ever for McAllen residents to earn graduate degrees.
In June 2009, Edinburg-based UTPA partnered with the City of McAllen to establish a UTPA McAllen Teaching Site, and classes began there in August 2009.
“UTPA needed better access for students coming from other areas, particularly graduate students coming to classes after work,” says Dr. Cynthia Brown, vice provost for graduate studies at UTPA. “The City of McAllen also had identified a need for upper level education in the region.”
Having the center in McAllen helps attract and retain businesses by creating a well-trained and educated workforce.
You might say the result was a match made in college heaven.
“Everyone is so excited. The grand opening was well attended by faculty, deans and city leaders,” Brown says. “We’re so thrilled to kick this off. The furniture is all brand new, and the classrooms are very smart, with interactive video capability so students can see what’s going on in a room all the way across campus.”
More than 200 students signed up for classes as soon as the UTPA McAllen Teaching Site opened. The center opened offering 12 graduate-level courses in the colleges of education, business administration, arts and humanities, and science and engineering.
“We’re focusing on business professionals and offering a new certificate in business administration. It will allow students to hone their overall skills in business education, or it can serve as a stepping stone into the MBA program if you choose,” Brown says. “We’re also using the McAllen site for our English Institute. It consists of eight levels, and we’re putting the higher levels in McAllen.”
Other plans for the McAllen Teaching Site call for professional-development courses, certification training classes, SAT and GRE prep courses, and other continuing education courses demanded by the community or identified by local government and businesses as important to maintaining a competitive workforce.
“UTPA hasn’t had a comprehensive, professional continuing education program for years because of lack of space. We have the highest utilization of classroom space of any Texas university,” Brown explains. “The McAllen site will be great for continuing-education classes like Ethics for Lawyers that haven’t had a permanent home.”
The 10,000-square-foot facility has eight classrooms and is located on South Main Street along Eastbound Frontage Expressway 83 in the Main Place Shopping Center adjacent to La Plaza Mall. While UTPA is leasing the current site, the university plans to evaluate the possibility of establishing a permanent site in McAllen by 2012.
“This is a great first step with the City of McAllen,” Brown says. “It clearly will lay out a wonderful partnership moving forward.”
Story by Jessica Mozo
