Regents to present PUF check for new university in South Texas

The University of Texas System Board of Regents Vice Chairman Gene Powell and Regent Ernest Aliseda will be in Harlingen Wednesday to ceremoniously present a check for $196 million to Project South Texas, the initiative to establish a new university and medical school in the Rio Grande Valley.

Powell and Aliseda will present the check to UT Brownsville President Juliet Garcia and UT Pan American President Robert Nelsen at 3:15 p.m. in the lobby of the UT Regional Academic Health Center, 2102 Treasure Hills Blvd., Harlingen. They will be joined by UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., state legislators and community leaders from throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

The $196 million will come from the Permanent University Fund and represents the first time in history that PUF support will go to South Texas for new construction. Regents approved the funding Nov. 14 for new science and academic medical buildings in Edinburg and an academic building in Brownsville.

Prior to the check presentation, Powell, Aliseda and Cigarroa will visit Lyford High School, 8204 Simon Gomez Road, from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. to meet with students and teachers.

The trio also will meet with business and clergy leaders from throughout the Rio Grande Valley and with development board and alumni association leaders from UT Pan American and The University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College.

A campaign is currently under way to seek community input on the new name of the institution, and a search advisory committee is recruiting and reviewing candidates to serve as president of the new university.

For more information, please visit the Project South Texas website.