APLU recognizes UTRGV with prestigious Degree Completion Award

By Victoria Brito Morales

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley was awarded the 2024 Degree Completion Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), beating out fellow finalists University of Kentucky and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The APLU’s Degree Completion Award honors public universities that boost degree completion rates and increase the number of undergraduate degrees awarded, while also addressing achievement gaps among student populations. This award is part of APLU’s ongoing efforts to support public research universities’ initiatives to increase degree completion.

Home to nearly 34,000 students, UTRGV was presented with the honor for the first time at APLU’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday.

“This award highlights UTRGV’s deep commitment to creating pathways for all students to succeed,” said Dr. Luis Zayas, UTRGV provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, who was on hand to accept the award. “This recognition motivates the university community to continue leading with innovation and purpose, and ensuring our impact reaches the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond.”

The annual award works to identify, recognize, and reward institutions that employ innovative approaches to improve degree completion while ensuring educational quality.

UTRGV, a distributed campus across a three-county region in South Texas, was recognized for some key initiatives that led to the university’s four-year graduation rate increasing by nearly 10 percentage points in just five years.

The university, which has prioritized a holistic student success strategy rooted in a shared responsibility for student success across the institution, was acknowledged for establishing a Graduation Help Desk to provide concierge-like support for students facing barriers to progress toward a degree and graduation.

The Graduation Help Desk eventually led to the creation of the Degree Progress and Graduation Initiatives unit to work across the institution and intervene when students encounter graduation obstacles – academic challenges, financial constraints, course availability, denied appeals and personal issues.

Another UTRGV initiative highlighted by APLU was the launching of the Tuition Advantage grant program. The program addresses financial barriers for students and covers the cost of tuition and fees for those with unmet need who have a family income of $125,000 or less.

“By focusing on personalized support through initiatives like the Graduation Help Desk and financial assistance through Tuition Advantage, we ensure that every student, regardless of circumstance, can achieve their dreams,” Zayas said.

UTRGV was announced as an award finalist last month along with the University of Kentucky and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The university is one seven University of Texas System institutions that are APLU members.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey remarked the APLU recognition signifies a tremendous validation of the university’s commitment to student success and educational excellence.

“This award from APLU is a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to student success at UTRGV. It underscores the importance of providing innovative pathways that empower every student to reach their full potential. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.”

For more information about the Degree Completion Award by the APLU, visit here.

ABOUT APLU

APLU is a membership organization that fosters a community of university leaders collectively working to advance the mission of public research universities. The association’s membership consists of nearly 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations spanning across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, six U.S. territories, Canada, and Mexico. Annually, member campuses enroll 5.3 million undergraduates and 1.4 million graduate students, award 1.4 million degrees, employ 1.3 million faculty and staff, and conduct $61 billion in university-based research.