UTRGV working on Carnegie re-classification designation

UTRGV on track for community engagement recognition

By Karen Villarreal

While UTRGV’s connection to the community has previously been recognized at the national level, departments from all areas now are working toward a 2026 reclassification as a Carnegie Community EngagedInvolved university.

“This is now an international recognition,” said Estela De La Garza, director of Community Engagement at UTRGV. “We’re working on this to make sure that our investment in and with the community can be recognized.”

UTRGV President Guy Bailey said applying for the reclassification showcases UTRGV’s institutional identity.

“Our strength is in community engagement,” he said. “You see that through our mission, our vision and our strategic plan. Community engagement and community support is critical to our success.”

The assessment also is a chance to reflect on the university’s commitment to mutually beneficial exchange.

“We’re always trying improve how we connect and work alongside our community partners to address issues collaboratively,” Bailey said.

ASSESSING ENGAGEMENT

UTRGV was awarded the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for 2020 among 119 colleges and universities in the United States, and fewer than 10 in Texas. These institutions were recognized for their collaborations to address community challenges at the local, regional, state, national and global level.

On July 12, at the UTRGV Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) in Weslaco, representatives from every division and colleges at UTRGV gathered for a kick-off meeting to review and understand the latest reclassification process. That group will reconvene over the next eight months to report on community engagement efforts during the 2021-24 academic years.

“The engagement that we do here is foundational. It’s integrated in all that we do,” De La Garza said.

Faculty, staff and university leaders from departments and colleges included academic excellence, student success, campus life, research and scholarship, sustainability, health education and patient care, among others.

“This assessment is very rigorous,” De La Garza said.  “We’ll turn it in for review in April 2025, and hopefully, in 2026, we’ll hear that we achieve the designation again.”

UTRGV-WIDE ENGAGEMENT

At the first meeting of the assessment team, faculty representatives introduced themselves and shared some examples of how they have involved community collaboration into their curriculum and provided opportunities for students to contribute.

Dr. Selma Yznaga, a professor in the UTRGV Department of Counseling recognized in 2023 for her work with a prestigious Young Center award, coordinates an internship for students to work in the field with a global nonprofit organization called Counselors Without Borders.

“We work specifically in the humanitarian crisis space of the shelters and respite centers in the Rio Grande Valley – with people who have just stepped into this country and experienced some of the most traumatic events of their lives,” she said. “Working with asylees and refugees at the point of entry to the United States is really challenging, heavy work, and it’s a real honor to do it.”

Julia Perez, assistant athletics director for Student-Athlete Services, said UTRGV Athletics ranked sixth in the nation for community service hours from among all NCAA Division one school sports.

“It’s a huge recognition for our student athletes, coaches, staff or anybody who obviously is involved in the community,” she said.

Dr. Luis Torres-Hostos, founding dean for the School of Social Work, said social work in and of itself is community engagement.

“I think that we can achieve what I’d like to refer to as the ‘Triple Crown’ – a Hispanic Serving Institution, a Research One Institution and a tier one Community Engaged University,” he said.
“If anybody can do it, we can.”

Veronica Gonzalez, vice president for Government and Community Relations, said UTRGV’s trajectory is clear.

In March 2024, UTRGV was awarded $5 million to develop and implement strategies that will help the university reach Carnegie “Very High Research Activity” status, also known as R1.

“We’re on our way to research excellence,” she said. “I think by Fall 2025, we’ll get that designation.”