Back to School: What You Need to Know
Last Updated on August 28, 2017 at 11:00 AM
Originally published August 28, 2017
By Leonard Martinez
UTEP Communications
Welcome back, Miners! The start of a new semester is always exciting and, sometimes, even includes some changes. From a new Doctor of Pharmacy program and new parking lot names to a first few weeks full of fun activities for the whole campus community, here are a few of the things you should know, whether you’re coming to campus for the first time or returning for another semester as a Miner.
Pharmacy School Opens
Forty-one students have enrolled in the new Pharmacy School as its first cohort. The school, which will offer a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, is the first of its kind on the Texas-Mexico border and is among the few Pharm.D. programs at a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Among the school’s goals are to increase the number of Hispanic pharmacy students. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that as of July 1, 2015, Hispanics made up 17.6 percent of the nation’s population, and only 4 percent of the nation’s pharmacy students are Hispanic, said School of Pharmacy Dean José O. Rivera.
The University had been part of the UTEP-UT Austin Cooperative Pharmacy Program since 1999. Students in this six-year program did the first two years and the last two years at UTEP and the middle two years at The University of Texas at Austin. The University’s final cooperative class students will graduate in 2019.
Interdisciplinary Research Building Construction Continues
Work on the Interdisciplinary Research Building (IDRB) is underway at the corner of University Avenue and Sun Bowl Drive. Prep work is being done for construction of the building, which is expected to start going up in the spring.
The Texas Legislature authorized $85 million in funding for this approximately 160,000-square-foot, five-story building in 2015. Planning for the facility began in December of that year after UTEP President Diana Natalicio charged a committee of faculty, staff and students with determining the optimal use of the proposed facility.
“The design of this exciting new IDRB facility is the result of a highly intentional strategy to increase UTEP’s capacity to foster interdisciplinary research collaborations among faculty across the campus. It responds to growing evidence that research breakthroughs are enhanced by bringing together widely diverse perspectives and expertise. UTEP students who gain experience in this interdisciplinary research environment will have a competitive edge as they move on to postgraduate and career opportunities,” President Natalicio said.
The first floor, which will be partially underground, will have core facilities and heavy equipment. The second floor, nicknamed “Main Street,” will handle the heaviest pedestrian traffic with a café, building visitor center, galleries to showcase research, meeting rooms and an 80-seat auditorium. The top three floors will have wet and dry labs and interdisciplinary research suites designed for maximum flexibility in size and use.
Among the highlights will be a “canyon-like” patio between the IDRB and the Undergraduate Learning Center. A planned bridge will span the canyon, which will have a water feature.
“This collaborative, state-of-the-art facility is another example of how UTEP is creating a new national research university model,” said Vice President for Research Roberto Osegueda, Ph.D. “With more than 300 faculty and staff engaged in research, millions in funding resulting from a record number of proposals, and invaluable research opportunities for our students, this space will only enhance our contributions toward solutions for the future.”
The IDRB will be constructed in phases and is expected to be ready for use in fall 2019.
Parking Lots Renamed
The University of Texas at El Paso has renamed the campus's 60-plus parking areas based on street locations, proximity to a building or a campus function.
Most of the new parking lot signs will be up before the University's fall semester begins on Monday, Aug. 28, 2017. Each lot and structure will be identified at each entrance. With few exceptions, the lot number will be sequential moving north and east.
As part of a Wayfinding Plan that was developed in conjunction with the comprehensive Campus Transformation master plan, the goal is to provide campus visitors and students, faculty and staff with a more intuitive and descriptive idea of where to park, depending on where the motorist needs to be for class or to take care of campus business.
The public is encouraged to visit parking.utep.edu and review the new map.
If you have questions, please contact the PTS office at 915-747-5724 or parking@utep.edu.
Free Miner Metro Shuttle Service
Miner Metro Shuttle service is free for all students, faculty, staff and visitors. Fall shuttle service begins Monday, March 28. All routes have ADA accessible shuttles available.
To find out what time the shuttle will arrive at your bus stop, download the free Miner Metro Tracker GPS app for accurate and reliable real-time bus updates. For more information visit http://utep.doublemap.com/
Go to parking.utep.edu for current shuttle maps, parking permit purchases, Sun Metro schedules, and carpool information.
All shuttle routes run Monday through Friday during the hours listed below.
Route #1 East (Blue)
Monday - Thursday: 6:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Buses run in five to 10-minute intervals during peak hours: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Buses run in 30-minute intervals during non-peak hours.
The last inbound trip leaves at 9:15 p.m. from the Rim Road/Hawthorne Street bus stop to the Miner Canyon bus stop.
Fridays: 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Buses run in 10 to 15-minute intervals.
The last inbound trip leaves at 5:45 p.m. from the Rim Road/Hawthorne Street bus stop to the Miner Canyon bus stop.
Route #2 (Green)
Monday – Thursday: 7:30 a.m. – 5:37 p.m.
Buses run in seven to nine-minute intervals during peak hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Buses run in 15-minute intervals during non-peak hours.
Fridays: 7:30 a.m. -5:37 p.m.
Buses run in seven to nine-minute intervals during peak hours: 8:37 a.m. – 4 p.m. Buses run in 15-minute intervals during non-peak hours.
The last inbound trip leaves at 5:28 p.m. from the Rim Road/Hawthorne Street bus stop to the Memorial Gym bus stop.
Route #3 (Orange)
Monday -Thursday: 6:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Buses run in five to 10-minute intervals during peak hours: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Buses run in 20-minute intervals during non-peak hours. The last inbound trip leaves at 9:20 p.m. from the Miner Alley bus stop to the Miner Canyon bus stop.
Fridays: 6:30 a.m. – 5:50 p.m.
Buses run in five to 10-minute intervals during peak hours: 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The last inbound trip leaves at 5:40 p.m. from the Miner Alley bus stop to the Miner Canyon bus stop.
Route #4 (Red)
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Buses run in 30-minute intervals. The last inbound trip leaves at 5:37 p.m. from the Arizona Avenue bus stop to the Rim Road/Hawthorne Street stop.