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The Brownsville City Commission has approved a memorandum of understanding with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley aimed at beefing up education programs and opportunities at the Brownsville campus.

UTRGV first reported the MOU on March 16. It was approved by the city commission on Tuesday. The agreement came after Brownsville city leadership met with university officials late last year to express the need for more academic programming in Brownsville and less shuttling of Brownsville UTRGV students to the Edinburg campus for classes.

The agreement requires the creation of a “Task Force of the Future” made up of city and university representatives and charged with drafting an action plan for reinstating and/or developing classes and degree programs in Brownsville to reduce the need for students to travel to Edinburg.

Brownsville Mayor John Cowen Jr. initiated the discussion with UTRGV after Brownsville’s graduation was moved to Edinburg in October, with the aim of bringing back academic programming along with graduation, plus enhancing student life in Brownsville returning university athletics to the local campus.

Cowen said he had worked closely with state Sen. Adam Hinojosa, state Rep. Erin Gamez, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. and the city commission in getting to this point.

“We have been advocating for more in-person instruction, reduced busing to Edinburg, an increase in academic programs offered here, more investment in the Brownsville campus, moving graduation ceremonies back to Brownsville, and collaborating on future facilities to potentially host more UTRGV sporting events here,” he said in a Friday statement from the city.

During a visit with UT System Chancellor James Milliken and UTRGV President Guy Bailey earlier this month, city leaders “revisited our concerns,” Cowen said.

“We now have an MOU in place,” he said. “I look forward to collaborating closely going forward on these items and future areas of opportunity.”

The Task Force is expected meet at least once a month to evaluate classes and degree programs to ensure a balance between academic offerings on the two campuses, according to the city. The group is scheduled to present a plan in July outlining how UTRGV will reinstate classes and/or degree programs in order for the majority of Brownsville’s undergraduate students to be able to complete their degrees in Brownsville, the city said.

The Task Force also will discuss “strategies and space/facilities planning towards improving current and future programming for the Brownsville campus and in Cameron County,” while also analyzing economic trends and future workforce needs to provide informed recommendations when it comes to course offerings, according to the city.

Per the MOU, the group is also charged with making sure academic degrees and resources, including Permanent University Fund money, are equitably distributed between the two campuses according to state law governing education — also that “medical and research programs of the medical school component of the university have a substantial presence in Cameron County.”

“The Task Force’s respective leadership teams will report updates and discuss opportunities for collaboration to benefit Brownsville students, the city and the university,” according to the city. “In addition, the Task Force is expected to assist and support UTRGV with bringing back the UTRGV Brownsville commencement ceremony to Brownsville.”

The post Brownsville, UTRGV form task force to reclaim classes, commencement appeared first on MyRGV.com.