FACILITIES AND STUDENT SERVICES

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Academic and Research Facilities

The University Library, housed in an elegant and comfortable six-story building with seating capacity for 2,300 users, is open on a daily basis, 94 hours a week. It houses over one million books and government publications, as well as over one million microforms. Subscriptions are maintained to 2,600 journals and newspapers. Most materials are available for loan to university students, faculty, and staff.

Books, journals, and audio-visual materials are listed in the Library's computerized catalog. This catalog allows users to conduct searches by author, title, subject, and key word. It is accessible from computers located on all floors of the library, campus offices, and at home. In addition, the Library LAN (Local Area Network) provides access to over 150 electronic databases in all major areas of study at the University. These databases provide bibliographic information as well as selected abstracts, full text research articles, and reports. Internet access to catalogs of other academic libraries is also available.

The professional staff of the Reference Department provides instruction and assistance in locating and using traditional hardcopy as well as the electronic resources of the Library. Librarians are available to provide assistance with specialized collections in departments such as Government Documents, which receives half of all materials published by the Federal Government; and Special Collections, which houses rare books as well as the following thematic collections: Art, Printing, Military History, Western Fiction, Chicano Studies, Border Studies, and Oral History. The Library's manuscript and archival materials are also located in the Special Collections Department.

The Access Services Department provides automated checkout services, makes reserve materials available, and provides inter-library loan/document delivery services. CPM (Current Periodicals and Microforms) houses journals and newspapers that have been published within the last two years, newspapers, and microform.

Support for students and faculty, who are involved in distance education, is provided by the library. Support includes delivery of books and other materials by mail, consultation with librarians, and access to electronic resources via the Internet.

The Library Technology Center provides IBM and Apple microcomputers for student use. Standard word processing and other software packages are available. In addition, the Center has an extensive collection of educational videotapes for use in the Library.

Self-service photocopying equipment is available on all floors of the Library and a full-service Copy Center is located on the first floor. Study rooms and graduate study carrels are conveniently located throughout the library.

The Center for Effective Teaching and Learning (CETaL) is a resource for university faculty. CETaL provides the faculty with workshops, the opportunity for faculty mentoring, and a library of teaching and learning materials. Through these services, faculty can then document their teaching effectiveness.

CETaL seeks to cultivate an environment where teaching is highly valued and where teachers strive continuously to improve their effectiveness. It is a scholarly center working to find, document, and report the best teaching practices at UTEP and elsewhere. In addition, CETaL aids faculty in doing scholarly research on teaching, curriculum, and other issues related to delivery of instruction.

CETaL is a resource for those who understand that teaching is a complex and interactive process among many parties in a variety of environments, and that it can be taught, improved, and evaluated.

The office of Technology Planning and Distance Learning (TPDL) is a resource for UTEP faculty, students, and staff. Its mission is to provide graduate and undergraduate students, who are unable to take advantage of a traditional class schedule, with appropriate opportunities to participate in the learning process through the use of alternative media and methods for the delivery of instruction. The TPDL office serves as the UTEP campus center for design, delivery, and evaluation of distance education; it also collaborates with public and private institutions to meet the expanding needs for higher education and workforce retooling in the region; and it develops graduate and undergraduate instructional programs that integrate a variety of print materials, face-to-face interactions, World Wide Web (WWW), Internet, interactive videoconferencing, and other electronic communication for teaching and learning.

In addition to scheduling and coordinating the use of distance learning facilities across the network service areas and other learning sites, TPDL services include technical support to faculty, staff, and students in the design and adaptation of instructional material for distance learning; training and assistance in the proper use of equipment in the distance learning classrooms; and the staffing and providing of technical assistance during video conferences and multimedia classroom use.

Located in UTEP�s new UGLC, the office of TPDL also enables UTEP to be an active partner of the new "Virtual University" of Texas: the TeleCampus. University courses are offered at a distance across the various University of Texas component campuses using a variety of technology-based delivery systems, such as interactive videoconferencing, the World Wide Web, and the Internet, coupled with print media, digital library resources, and face-to-face instruction at off-campus sites. Two of the full degrees offered through the UT TeleCampus are the MBA, offered by UTEP�s College of Business Administration and seven other University of Texas campuses, and the MEd Tech (Educational Technology On-Line), which UTEP, UT Brownsville, UT Austin and several other Texas Universities will deliver via the Internet.

Students interested in undertaking distance courses through the UT TeleCampus must be fully admitted to a UT academic component university and complete the Inter-Institutional Distance Education Admission & Registration (IDEAR) form located on-line at the UT TeleCampus web site. Once admitted to one of the 15 University of Texas campuses, students can select courses offered via the distance education delivery options of the UT TeleCampus. Students are required to abide by the host university policies, procedures, and requirements regarding course drop/withdrawal and graduation policies. For further details on the registration process and student qualifications, visit the UT TeleCampus at www.telecampus.utsystem.edu.

The administrative offices for UTEP�s distance learning programs are located in the new Undergraduate Learning Center (UGLC), Suite 316. TPDL staff can be contacted by phone at (915) 747-6675; fax at (915) 747-8610; and e-mail at tpdl@utep.edu. The TPDL web site with a complete listing of course offerings can be visited at http://www.utep.edu/tdl.

Under the auspices of the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, UTEP is embarking on an initiative to deliver instruction via new communication and instructional technologies through the Office of Technology Planning and Distance Learning (TPDL). Located in UTEP�s new UGLC, the Office of TPDL has enabled UTEP to be an active partner in the new UT TeleCampus, offering university courses across the U of T System Campuses using a variety of interactive videoconferencing, web-based delivery systems, and the Internet.

TPDL�s mission is to be the UTEP campus center for the design, delivery, and evaluation of distance education; to collaborate with public and private institutions to meet the expanding needs for higher education and workforce retooling; and to develop graduate and undergraduate instructional programs that integrate a variety of print, fact-to-face, and electronic communication for teaching and learning. TDPL will help faculty, staff, and students design and adopt instructional materials for distance learning; learn to run equipment to distance learning classrooms; and schedule or conduct facilities as well as provide technical assistance during video conferences and during periods of multimedia classroom use.

TPDL�s office is located at the new Undergraduate Learning Center (UGLC), Suite 316, and can be contacted by phone at (915) 747-8901, by fax at (915) 747-8610, and by e-mail at tpdl@utep.edu. TPDL�s web site can be visited at http:/www.utep.edu/tdl.

UTEP's specialized research centers provide research opportunities for faculty and students, coordinate academic and research programs, and sponsor seminars and conferences of interest to the university community.

In the Materials Center for Synthesis and Processing (MCSP), faculty and students conduct research on the synthesis and processing of materials, including advanced, optical, and semiconducting materials. A major goal of the MCSP is to increase the access of minorities and women to careers in science and engineering by providing outstanding research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students.

The Materials Research Institute (MRI) administers UTEP's interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in materials science and engineering. It also sponsors materials-related conferences and seminars and coordinates UTEP's linkages with materials programs in Mexico.

Through manufacturing-related research, outreach, and education, the Institute for Manufacturing and Materials Management (IM3) brings University-based research and technology to the plant floors of manufacturers in El Paso, Ciudad Juárez, and Las Cruces. IM3's manufacturing outreach programs assist area manufacturers in personnel development, technology utilization, product commercialization, and process and facility modernization. As a partner in the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, IM3 helps manufacturers convert from defense-related to civilian production and utilize technology originally created for the defense industry.

By providing information and technical assistance to private and public sector organizations, UTEP's Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development, part of a consortium that also includes centers at Texas A&M University International and the University of Texas Pan-American, enhances the competitive position of the Texas-Mexico border region in the emerging global economy while integrating the region into the state's economy. UTEP's Center focuses on demographic and economic analysis, community education, information services, international trade assistance, project coordination, surveys, and data acquisition.

The Center for Environmental Resource Management (CERM) coordinates faculty and student research addressing problems of waste, air quality, water resources, energy, and environmental policy affecting the El Paso Southwest. Students receiving support through CERM get first-hand experiences on projects such as management of water resources in the El Paso/Cd. Juárez area, development of alternative energy technologies including wind energy and solar ponds, and investigations of environmental toxicology in desert habitats. CERM also coordinates education and community outreach programs, including UTEP's doctoral program in environmental science and engineering.

Established through a five-year, $6.5 million grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Pan American Center for Earth and Environmental Science (PACES) contributes to NASA's Mission to Planet Earth by maintaining a database of remote sensing, geophysical, geological, and environmental data generated by NASA and other agencies, focused on the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Faculty and students affiliated with PACES are developing a high-level computer language to facilitate the access and integrated analysis of the data and use the Center's databases for pure and applied research in the earth and environmental sciences. PACES represents a collaboration between UTEP and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Ames Research Center, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, along with other universities and agencies.

Established in 1992 through a five-year, $4.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, the Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC) supports biomedical and biostatistical research focusing on the U.S.-Mexico border region. The Center includes a Cell Biology Unit, consisting of three core research facilities (the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Core Facility, the Cell Culture Core Facility, and the Analytical Cytology Core Facility) housed in the Biology Building and the Biostatistics Unit housed near the Department of Mathematical Sciences. A local area network connects all members of both units electronically.

The Laboratory for Environmental Biology, a component of UTEP's Centennial Museum, is the major research and teaching support unit for the field collections oriented biological sciences at the University. It is a major regional center for collections of plants, modern vertebrates, modern mollusks, and late Cenozoic fossil vertebrates and mollusks of the Southwest and Mexico.

The Center for Geotechnical and Highway Materials Research coordinates basic and applied research related to the nation's transportation infrastructure. It is an internationally known center of excellence in nondestructive testing of transportation facilities and is expanding its activities to include transportation planning and infrastructure management. The Center's laboratory facilities are comprehensive and modern. It is equipped with a modern soil and paving materials research test facility for conducting the most advanced dynamic and static laboratory tests, such as cyclic triaxial, resonant column, resilient modulus, and almost all tests for mechanistic design of flexible pavements.

A national leader in research and education focusing on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Center for Inter-American and Border Studies (CIABS) provides support for faculty and student research, sponsors seminar series and publications addressing border issues, and works to forge linkages between UTEP and universities in Mexico and the rest of Latin America. CIABS also coordinates UTEP's undergraduate degree programs in Latin American and border studies, as well as the only U.S. Ph.D. program in Border Studies, which is offered in conjunction with the University of Texas at Austin.

Established in 1996, the Public Policy Research Center coordinates UTEP's efforts to research, analyze, and/or interpret public policy. Faculty and students from a variety of disciplines analyze issues in three broad areas: general economic policy; international trade policy, with an emphasis on the North American Free Trade Agreement; and investment in both physical and social infrastructure. Recent research has addressed issues related to regional economic development, criminal justice, water policy, and health reform. PPRC sponsors community forums on policy issues, and students undertake activities such as conducting exit polls during local, state, and national elections.

The FAST Center for the Structural Integrity of Aerospace Systems was established in 1995. Funded primarily by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, FAST is a partnership among UTEP, Texas A&M University, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. FAST's interdisciplinary teams of faculty and students conduct research to test the safety of aging military aircraft, using non-destructive evaluation to detect and characterize flaws before defects reach critical size that could lead to catastrophic failure. The Center also offers a series of technical seminars, bringing experts in the field to campus to interact with UTEP students.

The Center for Electronics Manufacturing (CEM) was established in 1995 through a grant from the Department of Defense to conduct cutting-edge research that enables the electronics industry in general and the defense electronics industry in particular to meet today's challenges; to transfer DoD technology to the civilian electronics industry; and to support human resource development in science and engineering. Faculty and students at CEM conduct state-of-the-art research projects in four areas: Quality Assessment and Control, Agile Production Control, Industrial Base Modeling, and Interface and Control. CEM also sponsors curriculum development and leads technology transfer efforts with small business through an Industrial Lecture Series and participation in regional, national, and international conferences.

Student Services

The University of Texas at El Paso offers a wide array of support services for students to ensure that student needs, concerns, and interests are addressed.

PERSONAL LIVING

On-Campus Student Housing is provided in the University's high-rise co-educational residence halls. All rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with a telephone, sink, desk, bed, and overhead storage. Laundry rooms, a fitness room, sundeck, TV lounges, kitchen, and storage rooms are available in the residence halls. Optional living environments include 24-hour quiet floors. Suites and private rooms may be selected, if available. Cable TV is also available. The residence halls are conveniently located on campus adjacent to the Library, the Student Health Center, the Commons Dining Hall, and some recreational facilities.

The student family apartment complex consists of 60 units, each with two bedrooms, living room, kitchenette, and full bathroom. All apartments are unfurnished except for a stove and refrigerator. Reservations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, though full-time students are given priority.

Applications for admission to The University of Texas at El Paso and application for the residence halls or the student family apartments are separate transactions. A housing application will be mailed upon request when a student applies for admission to the University, or an application may be obtained from:

University Housing System

Kelly Hall #105

The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX 79968

(915) 747-5352

Food Services: A myriad of dining establishments is located throughout the University campus. The Union offers a full-service cafeteria, The Beef & Barrel, delicious Italian cuisine at Giuseppe�s Pizzeria, and freshly made sandwiches at Subs and Spuds. The Faculty and Staff Dining Room and The Corner Store are also located in the Union. The El Paso Natural Gas Conference Center, the primary dining facility for resident students, is also available for the University community at large. In addition to a full-service cafeteria, it features a franchise restaurant and an Italian eatery. University Catering, a fine dining operation, is available for banquets, receptions, meetings, and private functions. For refreshments and quick snacks, Snack Stop kiosks are conveniently located throughout campus.

The University Bookstore, located on the first floor Union East, provides required academic textbooks and supplies for students. The Bookstore also provides the University community a large variety of reference books, school and office supplies, computer software and accessories, calculators, emblematic clothing and gift items, commencement apparel, magazines, paperbacks, sundries, and convenience snacks. Other services include year-round book buy backs, special book and software orders, commencement invitations, graduation rings, specialty plaques, computer hardware orders, and check cashing.

 

 

HEALTH AND FITNESS

The Student Health Center offers confidential health care services and activities to all University students presenting a validated UTEP I.D. The staff includes one physician, two nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and a pharmacist. The majority of services, laboratory tests, and pharmacy services are provided at minimal fees. Referrals outside the Health Center, including x-ray referrals, are at the student's own expense.

Student insurance is available and highly recommended for every student without coverage by some hospitalization policy. Information may be obtained by calling ECA Associates at (915) 533-9891, or the Health Center at (915) 747-5139.

Services of the Student Health Center include primary health care, health promotion with emphasis on physical fitness, women's health issues, and cholesterol monitoring. Confidential HIV/AIDS testing and counseling are available on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Student identification is NOT required or requested for HIV/AIDS testing.

The Health Center facilitates compliance with the University's requirement that all students must submit proof of immunization, or be immunized, for Tetanus-Diphtheria, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella by providing the required immunizations. In addition, the Health Center offers Tuberculosis screening. Immunizations are provided at a nominal fee.

A form on which the required immunizations can be documented is available from the undergraduate Admissions Office or the University Student Health Center. Since most secondary schools are required by law to maintain similar records, a copy of the high school immunization record may be submitted. Students not in compliance with the immunization requirement may be denied registration.

All emergencies are referred to adjacent hospitals, and University police are available to administer first aid. Minor illness, injury, or health concerns are treated by the Health Center's professional staff.

The Health Center is located at 2001 Wiggins, directly across from the University Library. General hours of service are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with evening hours also available. The Center is closed on Friday between noon and 1:00 p.m. For additional information, please call the Center at (915) 747-5624 for information concerning walk-ins, appointments, and evening hours.

The Recreational Sports Department provides an opportunity for each member of the University community to voluntarily participate in a wide variety of sports and recreational activities.

The Intramural Sports Program includes approximately 40 activities for men and women. There are team sports such as flag football, volleyball, basketball, and indoor soccer, as well as individual and dual sports such as tennis, racquetball, golf, and wallyball. Many activities include "Co-rec" leagues for teams comprised of equal numbers of men and women participants. Activity schedules are printed each semester and are available at Memorial Gym, Room 103 and our web site at http://www.utep.edu/rsd.

Drop-in recreation involves leisure time use of recreational facilities for basketball, volleyball, indoor racquetball, outdoor racquetball, and tennis. Sports equipment is available for checkouts. Reservations for UTEP�s playing fields must be made by registered student organizations at the Recreational Sports Department office. Racquetball reservations must be made on a daily basis Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. with a playing time between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. A validated UTEP ID must be carried at all times.

Sport clubs are open to all students. Many clubs compete against other schools, while others exist for instruction and recreation. Current clubs include fencing, men�s soccer, water polo, and racquetball.

The Department maintains an Outdoor Equipment Center which offers skiing, camping, backpacking, and water sports equipment for minimal rental fees. For information, please call 747-5103 or come by Memorial Gym, Room 103.

The Swimming and Fitness Center is one of the finest recreational facilities in the region and offers the University community an outstanding opportunity to participate in a variety of recreational activities. The facility includes two lap swimming pools, one and three-meter diving boards, and an exercise room. The operating hours are 6:00 a.m. � 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. "Hours subject to change." All currently enrolled UTEP students may utilize the facility free of charge with presentation of their validated UTEP ID. UTEP alumni, faculty, staff, and families may utilize the facility for a nominal fee. For more information, call 747-8100. For further information, visit our web page at http://www.utep.edu/rsd.

PERSONAL SUPPORT

The University Counseling Center provides a variety of psychological services to the UTEP community. The core of these services is brief counseling to currently enrolled students on topics including anxiety, depression, family or relationship problems, and emotional life skills.

Career counseling is available to assist students with questions relating to choice of major and future career goals. Personal counseling is available for a limited number of sessions to help students overcome personal problems that are interfering with their university experience. If a student requires services that are beyond the scope of the University Counseling Center, a counselor can assist the individual to find appropriate resources in the community.

Since individual assessment and brief counseling can only meet a portion of students� needs, the University Counseling Center is also moving into the 21st century with new technologies to expand and improve services it offers UTEP students.

The Student Development Lab provides students with a range of audiovisual aids providing information and practical techniques for working with stress, self-esteem, relationships, and other problems. Our Multimedia Student Center gives students a safe place and helpful suggestions for accessing the many new psychological resources now available on the Internet and World Wide Web. Finally, the Center�s new Psycho-Social Resource Library has a wide range of books, pamphlets, tapes, etc. on many interesting and important topics.

Our home page, accessible from the UTEP home page or directly at http/www.utep.edu/counsel/, provides students with immediate information to help understand and deal with depression, panic disorder, ADHD, abusive relationships, and dozens of other issues.

While there is still no substitute for an understanding ear and expert problem-solving advice, these new advances are helping our counselors help students more and more effectively.

Professional staff members also make presentations to small groups, seminars, and classes on topics of interest to the campus community such as stress management, career choice, assertiveness, psycho-social development, etc. The Counseling Center staff are also available for consultation with students, faculty, and staff regarding student problems and the needs of individual students.

The University Counseling Center is located in the Union West, Room 104. The phone number is (915) 747-5302.

The Women's Resource Center serves to foster the personal growth and development of women as competent, independent, confident, and healthy individuals and to expand understanding within the University community of personal, political, and social issues of concern and interest to women. The Center strives to ensure a campus community in which women and men can live and work together in a mutually respectful and supportive environment where equality, responsibility, and personal empowerment are encouraged and fostered. Following a feminist model of empowerment, the Center works toward fostering, recognizing, and affirming the abilities, accomplishments, and potential of UTEP women.

Through a variety of educational programs, culturally-diverse events, resource opportunities, and comprehensive support services, the Women�s Resource Center provides a centralized resource for meeting the various needs of women students, faculty, and staff of UTEP, as well as the El Paso community. The Women�s Resource Center offers informational and interactive weekly Lunchbag Seminars, educational programming on a range of issues from gender communication to sexual assault, informational resources/referrals, counseling, support and advocacy, scholarship opportunities, financial assistance (emergency loans with a 10% flat interest rate), and a book/video resource library. In addition, there are monthly community service projects, Take Back the Night Rally, and the Clothesline Project. The Center itself provides space for studying, relaxing, socializing, research, and computer usage. Just drop by! Everyone is welcome! Volunteers are invited and encouraged.

The Women�s Resource Center is located in 112 West Union and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, call 747-5291.

Child Care is available for children of all students, faculty, and staff of the University. The University Child Care Center is located at 1825 Hawthorne and is managed and operated by Sara Care Child Care Center, Inc. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Hours for academic year Fridays and summer are 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Children aged three months to 12 years are accepted, depending on availability of space (hourly, daily, weekly care available; Summer Camp for school age). Age appropriate early childhood developmental programs are offered in the curriculum. The University Child Care Center is licensed by the Texas Department of Human Services and is an approved vendor for Child Care Management Services. Financial assistance is available for qualifying parents, through Child Care Management Services. Our phone number is 747-5270.

Disabled Student Services Office (DSSO) provides a program of support to students with permanent or temporary physical, mental, and/or learning disabilities. To register to receive services, students need to schedule an intake interview with the director and provide medical and/or diagnostic documentation of a disability. The documentation should be no more than three (3) years old of initial visit and must clearly state symptoms and limitations that adversely affect academic performance. DSSO provides the following services: notetaking, sign language interpreter, and reader and/or scribe services, priority registration, adaptive technology, diagnostic testing for learning disabilities, assistance with learning strategies/tutoring, alternative testing format and location, and advocacy. All information provided to DSSO will be kept with the strictest rules of confidentiality. If you feel you may have a disability that will need accommodations and/or modifications, contact DSSO at (915) 747-5148 or e-mail: sulopez@utep.edu. You can also visit our web site at www.utep.edu.dsso or our office is located in Room 106 East Union Building.

The Inter-American Science and Humanities Program (Programa Inter-Americano de Ciencias y Humanidades), a component of the Office of International Programs, is designed for students from Spanish-speaking countries who wish to attend UTEP but who need to improve their English. The IASHP coordinates first-level content courses taught in Spanish (for example, U.S. History) that students take while enrolling in other courses to increase their English language proficiency. After sufficiently improving their English skills, students may enroll in any undergraduate degree program offered by the university and use the courses taken through IASHP toward their graduation requirements. The Office of International Programs provides academic and personal advising to all students participating in the IASHP program.

The Office of International Programs serves as the primary source of information and assistance for the international community at UTEP. Its services include advising and programming for international students and scholars, coordinating and promoting study abroad experiences for students, administering the IASHP (Inter-American Science and Humanities Program) and PASE (Programa de Asistencia Estudiantil) programs, and supporting international and multicultural activities on campus. The Office provides international students with financial, immigration, cross-cultural, and personal assistance through one-on-one counseling and regularly scheduled social and cultural activities. International scholars visiting UTEP on short-term teaching or research assignments also participate in the programs of the Office and receive advising assistance. For U.S. and international students seeking to broaden their studies by spending a period abroad, the Office provides counseling and materials on international educational opportunities and offers financial support to UTEP students in the form a Study Abroad Scholarships. Throughout the year, the Office of International Programs highlights the multicultural nature of El Paso and UTEP through cultural events focusing on the university�s diverse nationalities.

The Office of the Registrar provides administrative support to the University. In addition to publishing the University catalog and Class Schedule, maintenance of the academic calendar, and scheduling all classrooms for all academic and non-academic activities, this office is also responsible for the Records and Veterans Affairs offices. The office is located in the Academic Services Building, Room 103. The office telephone number is 747-5550, or e-mail at registrar@utep.edu.

The Records Office is part of the Office of the Registrar and is responsible for all registration and course add/drops transactions, maintenance of student records, distribution of grade mailers to students, processing of enrollment certifications, transcript requests, graduation applications and diplomas, and student identification cards. The office is located in the Academic Services Building, Room 105. The office telephone number is 747-5544, or e-mail at records@utep.edu.

The Department of Student Assessment and Testing provides a wide array of testing services for admissions, professional certification, course placement, and credit by examination purposes. Institutional administrations of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are offered throughout the year; scores may be considered only by UTEP. Additionally, the department conducts research and evaluation activities aimed at identifying and measuring the effects of the university experience on our students.

The Tutoring and Learning Center helps students improve general competency and performance in their academic subjects through a variety of non-credit programs, including TASP preparation, that are free to students enrolled at the University. The office is located in the UTEP Library, 3rd Floor. For further details, refer to the Academic Support section in this catalog.

The Veterans Affairs Office is a part of the Office of the Registrar and serves the needs of student veterans receiving VA educational benefits. The office is responsible for creating and maintaining records that are used for certification of a student's status to the Veterans Administration. The office is located in the Academic Services Building, Room 107. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The office telephone number is (915) 747-5342 or e-mail at veterans@utep.edu.

CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Career Services, also known as The Career Connection, provides assistance to students in finding permanent employment after graduation and part-time employment while enrolled.

Career Services sponsors CIRCUS (Career Information Resource Center for UTEP Students), a resource library that houses information on employers, government agencies, school districts, graduate schools, career choices, internships, and job search preparation in print and on videotape. Materials of interest to women, minorities, and disabled students are included. Many publications on current job trends and careers are available. The computerized career guidance program GIS is also located in CIRCUS (The Union 114 West, 747-5978).

Career Services also provides career counseling and advises students on resume preparation, interviewing skills, and future job opportunities. The office arranges interviews with agencies, organizations, or schools and counsels students on the best approach to identify and contact prospective employers. The office provides forms, applications, and literature necessary for interviews.

A Resume Review Drop-in Clinic is available in Career Services as well as opportunities for practice interviews. The department sponsors a variety of career and job fairs held on campus.

For permanent employment, companies from all over the United States, as well as the local area schedule interviews during the months of October, November, December, February, March, and April. The office works with hundreds of applicants and thousands of job opportunities each year by arranging for on-campus interviews and referring resumes. This service can save time, minimize effort and, in the final analysis, help students plan for the future. After having attended a Professional Employment Orientation, seniors and alumni can participate in on-campus interviewing or have their resume referred for the purpose of finding permanent employment in their chosen field. Many interviews are conducted through interactive video conferencing. Seniors interested in permanent employment after graduation should register at least a full year prior to receiving their degree.

Part-time job opportunities are posted on the Career Services web page. After filling out the proper application, students can check on jobs and obtain a referral. The requirements for consideration for part-time campus employment are met with an application along with proof of enrollment.

The University has a Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) which has been established with industries and government agencies. The UTEP Cooperative Education Program provides students with the opportunity to apply their classroom learning to major related employment opportunities. The program offers two work options: alternating and parallel. Students participating in the alternating work option are considered full-time UTEP students while at work; this includes local or out-of-town work assignments. The parallel work option does require that the student be enrolled at the University for additional course work. For more information on the Co-op Program, contact Career Services at (915) 747-5640.

Internships in both technical and non-technical positions are offered. Career Services utilizes the latest in computer and interactive technology to provide students with the broadest access possible to career opportunities. Career Services is located in the Union 103 West. Web Address: http://www.utep.edu/~careers.

The Division of Professional and Continuing Education serves three purposes:

  1. To offer non-credit short courses and programs to answer community needs for education or training
  2. outside the regular channels of instruction. Although college credit is not granted for such work,

    certificates are issued from the University upon completion. Continuing Education Units are

    awarded for courses meeting specific requirements.

  3. To coordinate and administer conferences, seminars, symposia, special educational programs, etc.,
  4. initiated by academic units, faculty, and other organizations primarily for non-university personnel and

    agencies. Activities may result in the award of academic credit or Continuing Education Units for

    programs meeting specified requirements.

  5. To conduct intensive professional continuing education for executives, professionals, and their staff

members through a variety of workshops, seminars, conferences, and short courses. These are designed to provide updating and new skills development and may be directed toward individual

growth, organizational effectiveness, or licensing/certification needs.

Sessions vary in length and are taught by instructors selected for their expertise in subject area, related work experience, and demonstrated ability to have successfully conducted similar sessions. They may be college or university faculty members, practitioners from the community, or nationally and internationally recognized talent.

Many of the programs are available in Spanish, and most may be customized for a particular group. In-house presentations can be designed to meet special needs or situations, and may be held at the Division or on-site.

The English Language Institute is a program of the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. It serves the following purpose: to offer intensive English courses and programs designed to meet the needs of non-English speakers for success on the TOEFL, gain academic experience in higher education, and utilize English for professional and personal purposes. Certificates are issued upon satisfactory completion.

The Division is committed to lifelong learning. It serves to link the community to the educational resources needed to grow or keep current and updated.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Graduate Student Association: A university-wide organization serves to address concerns specific to graduate students at UTEP. Information on meeting dates is available from the Graduate School and the Student Association. Students are encouraged to participate in similar organizations at the departmental or college level. UTEP graduate students are affiliated, as well, with the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students (NAGPS) which provides services to existing graduate student organizations, including discounts on publications, insurance, and professional conferences. Contact the Graduate School at 747-5491 or GradSchool@utep.edu for additional information.

Discover what it means to be involved in the Student Development Center! The Student Development Center is a one-stop clearing house of information and resources for UTEP students involved, or wanting to become involved, in university activities. The Student Development Center is where students go if they are wanting to get INVOLVED in leadership activities, community service, wellness programs, or student organizations; including fraternities, sororities, special interest clubs, honor societies, and professional and service organizations.

With the assistance of student leaders, the Student Development Center coordinates UTEP's comprehensive Leadership Development program and University-wide Wellness program. Whether it is the unique Summer Leadership Camp, the inspiring Emerging Leaders program, the Hispanic Leadership Academy, the Women's Leadership Institute, the prestigious Advanced Leaders program, or a host of wellness programs and events, becoming actively involved in campus events and activities is one of the most important steps a student can take toward a rewarding college experience.

The UTEP Wellness Program offers services that are designated to reflect an overall wellness approach, including issues of social, physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and environmental well-being. A team of Student Wellness Advocates focus on the education of the community. These advocates are available to give presentations in the classroom, to organizations, or to any group requesting their services. Presentation topics cover a wide variety of issues, including AIDS, alcohol and drug issues, stress, and peer pressure.

The Resource Library, consisting of reading materials and audio and visual aids, contains information on student development, team-building, organizational management, leadership, parliamentary procedure, student affairs, graduate education programs, stress, alcohol and drugs, and dozens of other related topics. These are available for individual use at any time.

The Student Development Center challenges all incoming and currently enrolled students to "redefine education" by joining or creating at least one organization and actively participating in university activities. Redefine what it means to be a "UTEP student" by becoming MORE INVOLVED and "discovering" leadership, wellness, and many more opportunities in the Student Development Center. The Student Development Center and Wellness Program is located in the Union West Building, Room 106, or call (915) 747-5670 or (915) 747-7401.

Through active involvement in Student Organizations, students benefit themselves as well as UTEP. After graduation from UTEP, employers will ask you several questions during employment interviews. Often you are asked to talk about your involvement in extracurricular activities. Make sure that you are able to answer the interviewer's questions. Get involved!!

There are many different organizations at UTEP, each with different objectives. Take a moment to look at the different choices that are open to you. If you have a special interest that isn't already a focus of a student organization, you have the opportunity to create a new student organization. If you are interested in any of these organizations, do not hesitate to go by the Student Development Center at 106 Union West or call 747-5670. You will be given the name, address, and phone number of the organization's contact person. Also look for information booths of the different organizations during Student Orientation or throughout the semester. You can join a student organization at any time during the year; simply attend a meeting or call the Student Development Center.

Social Fraternities and Sororities: The Greek organizations, as they are often called, offer their members the opportunity to participate in different social and community service events. Membership in social fraternities and sororities is by invitation after formal rush in the fall and spring semesters. During Rush Week, prospective members have the opportunity to get acquainted with all of the different fraternities and sororities on campus.

Special Interest Organizations: This type of organization is formed by students sharing an extra-curricular interest. Special interest organizations participate in community service, recreational activities, and/or leadership activities.

Professional Organizations: Professional organizations and professional fraternities allow students the opportunity to meet others with similar career goals. As with other types of organizations, there is room to learn and to develop leadership skills. Professional organizations are particularly important for networking, as you make contacts with people in your field of study in school and in the El Paso area.

Honor Societies: Honor societies are for those students who excel in their academic and extra-curricular involvement. In departmental honorary societies, students meet with the very best students of a particular major or field of study.

Service Organizations: Service organizations, as their name indicates, are dedicated to volunteerism and service within the El Paso and University community.

Religious Organizations: Religious organizations are formed by students of similar religious beliefs. However, organizations do not exclude students of other religions from membership. This type of organization usually sponsors different events such as religious retreats, Bible readings, and community service projects.

Coordinating/Governing Organizations: These organizations are formed as coordinating bodies for student organizations that have a common interest. They serve as a liaison between the organizations and the University administration.

The Office of Special Events and Union Programs works on a daily basis to bring the best in entertainment and culture to the UTEP Campus. In the past, our office has relied on the hard work and dedication of students to produce and present such memorable events as Oscar Night in the Sun Bowl, the 7th Round of the U.S. Off Road Championship Series, the George Strait Country Music Festival as well as concerts by Enrique Iglesias, Luis Miguel, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and many others.

The Office is by no means limited to the concert industry. Wednesday Music Café is a weekly concert series which provides a venue for local talented artists to gain some exposure. The Art and Foreign Film Series consists of critically acclaimed and award winning films that would otherwise not be seen in El Paso. Finally, the Union Exhibition Gallery displays the works of UTEP�s own talented artists as well as acclaimed artists from El Paso and touring exhibitions.

Students interested in the many positions available with our office should visit the Office of Special Events and Union Programs, Room 302, Union East, or call 747-5481.

The Student Government Association is the official voice of the student body in the University decision making process. SGA acts as the students' representative before the local, state, and national governments on issues that affect the student population. Since its inception, SGA has served to communicate student needs, desires, and demands to UTEP administrators, the Board of Regents, and the Texas Legislature. SGA also serves to maintain a pleasant and exciting environment for student life. The range of activities of SGA, both on and off campus, is continually expanding as students increase their interest in the political process that affects their lives.

Each spring, all UTEP students are eligible to participate in the election of Student Government Association officers and the Student Senate. Student Government is modeled after the United States Federal Government with executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The President, Vice President of Internal Affairs, and Vice President of External Affairs compose the Executive Branch that is responsible for the daily operations of the organization. The Legislative Branch consists of one Senator for each 100 students enrolled and is vested with all SA legislative powers; SGA senate meetings are open to all students. Both the Executive and Legislative Branch are assisted in their many projects by student volunteers known as Legislative Assistants. The Judicial Branch is composed of three parts: the Supreme Court, the Traffic Court, and the Student Advocates.

The University of Texas System Advisory Group is an addition to Student Government Association. The three UTSSAG delegates work on legislation that affects the entire UT System and is an advisory to the Board of Regents on student issues.

Student Publications: All UTEP students with a GPA of at least 2.0 may serve as reporters, editors, photographers, or advertising salespersons for the University's student publications program. Those publications include: The Prospector, the campus newspaper; The Rio Grande Review, a literary magazine; and other publications sanctioned by the University, including a pilot Spanish-language newspaper, El Minero. At The Prospector, students learn professional newspaper production techniques that eventually can be used to build up a resume or working portfolio for a journalism career. To insure freedom of expression, student publications are overseen by a duly elected Student Publications Board composed of UTEP faculty, staff, and students. The Board works jointly with student editors and staff members. The Student Publication program at UTEP is anchored under the management supervision of the Chairperson, Department of Communication.

The UTEP Department of Intercollegiate Athletics: UTEP is an NCAA Division I school and is a member of the Western Athletic Conference. Sponsored sports are football, men�s and women�s basketball, men�s and women�s cross country, men�s and women�s golf, men�s and women�s indoor track, men�s and women�s outdoor track, men�s and women�s tennis, women's rifle, women�s soccer, and women�s volleyball. Football is played in the 52,000-seat Sun Bowl Stadium, which is located on campus and nestled in the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains; men's and women's basketball play in the 12,222-seat Special Events Center; and women�s volleyball plays at Memorial Gymnasium, which seats 4,000 people. Soccer has a brand new field and scoreboard in Charlie Davis Park, with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. The track program runs at Kidd Field, which seats 10,000 people and has undergone a one million dollar renovation. Teams nationally ranked in recent years include men's basketball, men�s golf, cross country, indoor and outdoor track, and women�s rifle.

Mission: The UTEP Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is committed to providing a regionally and nationally competitive athletics program as an integral part of the educational mission of the University. Programs sponsored shall be in compliance with the University. Programs sponsored shall be in compliance with the highest recognized standards of the institution and its athletics governing bodies. Intercollegiate athletics operates in harmony with the University's stated mission and is committed to the intellectual, cultural, physical, and social development of student-athletes. In particular, the intercollegiate athletics program shall serve as an educational opportunity for student-athletes and as a focal point to bring the student body, faculty, and community together. Opportunities for participation are provided without discrimination.

CULTURAL LIFE

Drama, Music, the Visual Arts: All are available to UTEP students as participants and as audiences. Students may act in, work behind the scenes on, and attend plays produced in the University Playhouse and the Studio Theatre, located in the Fox Fine Arts Center, and in the Union Dinner Theatre. Selections include theatre classics, musicals, contemporary plays, children's theatre, bilingual theatre, and original playscripts, often written by UTEP students or faculty.

Music activities include over 100 student, faculty, and guest artist recitals and concerts per year, most of which are free to the public. Students may join such groups as the University Symphony and Opera, the Ballet El Paso, the University Wind and Percussion Ensembles, Jazz Lab Bands, the University Jazz Singers, choirs, and chamber groups.

Students of the visual arts have access to over 30 studios and equipment for sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, metalwork, and graphic design. The work of students, faculty, and outstanding regional and national artists is exhibited in two galleries in the Fox Fine Arts Building, as well as in the Union Gallery.

The El Paso Centennial Museum was built in 1936 with funds allocated by the Commission for the Texas Centennial Celebration. As the University's museum, it serves students and the El Paso/Juárez communities. The mission of this natural and cultural history museum is to preserve, document, exhibit, and educate about the Southwest and Mexico. Noteworthy collections pertaining to Geology, Anthropology, Archaeology, Paleontology, Ornithology, and Mammalogy include rocks, crystals, minerals, pottery, stone tools, shell jewelry, baskets, and fossil mammoth remains. Basic museum intern and special project classes are offered to UTEP students. Temporary exhibits, lectures, gallery talks, youth classes, workshops for adults who work with youth, and volunteer activities are part of the museum's education program. The museum's shop features books and gifts concerning natural and cultural history. The Museum is free and open to the public during exhibit hours on Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., except on National and University holidays.

KTEP Public Radio: KTEP 88.5 FM Public Radio provides news, information, and music 24 hours per day for the University as well as Juárez, El Paso, and Southern New Mexico. UTEP students can work at the station either as interns or volunteers. KTEP is equipped with the latest in digital broadcast technology. KTEP began broadcasting in 1950 and was the first FM station in El Paso and one of the first in the Southwest. A quarterly program guide is available by calling (915) 747-5152.

Texas Western Press is the 48-year-old book publishing entity of The University of Texas at El Paso founded by internationally known typesetter and book designer Carl Hertzog. Specializing in nonfiction books on the history and cultures of the Southwest, titles published include art and photographic books and Native American studies. Through an affiliation agreement with The University of Texas Press in Austin, the Press�s award-winning books are sold nationally and internationally through chain bookstores, independent booksellers, the University of Texas Press, and Texas Western Press. Texas Western Press is located in the Hertzog Building, on the corner of Rim and Wiggins Road.