Academic Support Services
ACADEMIC ADVISING CENTER FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
The Academic Advising Center (AAC) is here to support you in successfully navigating your university experience from beginning to end in a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment. All undergraduate students are assigned a professional academic advisor housed in the AAC who will work with you until graduation. This person will help you better understand your educational pathway, as well as learn how to use available tools, such as degree road maps and Degreeworks, that will provide you specific information about how you are progressing through your program of study. Our goal is to help you make well-informed decisions so you can craft an educational experience that is unique to you.
Contact Information:
Email: academicadvising@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-7120
Edinburg: International Trade & Technology Building (ITT)
Brownsville: Main 1.402
For more information about please visit the Advising website.
CAREER CENTER
The UTRGV Career Center is dedicated to assisting students in identifying and developing skill sets that pave the way for meaningful and influential career trajectories. We offer a variety of career education and internship opportunities, granting students access to practical experiences that complement and enhance their academic learning.
Throughout the year, we provide essential services and adaptable programs designed to empower students to make significant strides on their career paths. Both students and alumni have access to a suite of tools, including resume review, interview preparation platforms, mentoring programs, and career exploration technology. Specific tools include Handshake, a jobs marketplace that helps connect students to internships, full-time, and part-time employment opportunities; Forage, which helps students build real-life skills for future employment roles through virtual job simulations; and VMock, a virtual career assistant that provides personalized feedback on resumes, elevator pitches, and simulated interview responses. These resources are designed to support students as they successfully navigate their career journey at UTRGV.
Contact Information:
Email: careercenter@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 882-5627
(956) 665-2243
Edinburg: ESTAC 2.101
Brownsville: BINAB 1.105
For more information please visit the Career Center website.
CENTER FOR ONLINE LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY (COLTT)
The Center for Online Learning and Teaching Technology (COLTT), is the support unit for the design and delivery of online courses and programs at UTRGV, including those that are delivered 100% online and hybrid or are web-augmented. UTRGV offers various minors, certificates, undergraduate, and graduate programs online, some of which are offered fully online, in an accelerated mode or partially online. For more information about our programs and courses, please visit the Online Learning website. Students who need support with the Learning Management System (LMS) can access 24/7 support by calling our main office numbers noted below.
Contact Information:
Email: COLTTHelp@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 882-6792
(956) 665-5327
Edinburg: Maryalice Shary Shivers (EMASS) 3.142
Brownsville: Casa Bella (BCASA) 613
For more information please visit the COLTT website.
DEAN OF STUDENTS
The role of the Dean of Students is to provide care and support to students by ensuring that issues are properly addressed and to facilitate opportunities that help meet their academic and personal goals. The office is a resource connecting students who are navigating personal or academic issues to supportive campus and community resources, serves as student advocates, and promotes students’ rights and responsibilities.
Contact Information:
Email: dos@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 882-5141
(956) 665-2260
Edinburg: University Center 323
Brownsville: Student Union 1.20
For more information please visit the DOS website.
DEGREE PROGRESS & GRADUATION INITIATIVES (GRADUATION HELPDESK)
Degree Progress & Graduation Initiatives (DPGI) promotes timely progress toward graduation for UTRGV undergraduate and graduate students. This Student Success unit tracks and monitors student progress and intervenes with creative solutions when complicated progress and graduation barriers are encountered by students. These may include things like academic issues, financial constraints, denied appeals, course availability, and even personal issues. Outreach to the office should be conducted by students, faculty, staff, or administrators when usual channels have already been exhausted and the issue needs to be elevated.
Contact Information:
Email: graduationhelpdesk@utrgv.edu; degreeprogress@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-7919
Edinburg: Student Services Building Executive Tower (ESSBL 2.104)
Brownsville: Interdisciplinary Academic Building (BINAB 1.105)
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The mission of International Student Services is to enrich the academic and cultural experience by providing quality support to our UTRGV international student population. The rich diversity brought to UTRGV by international students is a crucial element of our unique culture and a truly distinctive aspect of our community. We celebrate each other’s differences in a way that is welcoming and inclusive for everyone, while also embracing the fact that a shared desired joins each and every student here for a world-class education.
Contact Information:
Email: international@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 882-7092
(956) 665-2922
Edinburg Campus: ESTAC Bldg. 3.128
Brownsville Campus: BMAIN Bldg. 1.308
For more information please visit the ISS website.
LANGUAGE INSTITUTE
The Language Institute (LI) extends the academic resources of the university through high-quality and affordable language learning programs to advance language proficiency in people of all age groups. Upon completion of the program, participants will have acquired a language level that will enhance their opportunities for advancement.
Contact Information:
Email: li@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-2133
Edinburg: CESS Bldg., Rm. 1.700
For more information please visit the LI website.
LEARNING CENTER
The goal of the UTRGV Learning Center (LC) is to assist students by promoting academic success in your coursework. Our tutors and peer leaders are recommended and hand selected by our faculty based on their content knowledge as well as their ability to work with students who are at various levels of their academic career. The following are the main academic support programs that we offer at the Learning Center (click link for description and availability):
The Learning Center offers one on one and small group Tutoring (in person and online), as well as support for study groups and a variety of workshops hosted at the Learning Center, residence halls on both campuses and online. Peer Collaborative Learning programs include Supplemental Instruction (SI), Performance Based Supplemental Instruction (PBSI), Structured Learning Assistance (embedded tutoring), Philosophy as a Way of Life (PWOL) sessions, BMED Coached Study Hour Sessions (CSHS), and Peer-led Team Learning (PLTL). Peer Collaborative Learning programs are only offered for a sub-set of classes at UTRGV, and specifics about how they work will be described further on relevant course syllabi. These programs significantly increase student success in these courses by providing students scaffolded support in learning course material.
Academic Coaching for Excellence Programs (ACE)
Academic coaching is open to all students, but is required for students with an approved academic suspension appeal. Academic coaches can help you address any obstacles to your academic success that might come your way by helping you better understand and adapt your approaches to learning and challenging you to think about how your personal and professional goals relate to your academic/educational goals. Students and peers themselves, academic coaches understand that we all hit points in our career when we can use some support, and by working with you one on one, they will help you set goals for changes you need to make to be successful and will be there to support you in following through on your plans. The program accepts referrals, and students can make appointments based on staff availability.
To reach us for connections to any of these services please refer to the following:
Contact Information:
Email: learningcenter@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 882-8208
(956) 665-2585
Edinburg: Learning Center Building (ELCTR) 100
Brownsville: Music, Science and Learning Center Building (BMSLC) 2.118
For more information please visit the LC website.
OFFICE OF ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP AND LEARNING
The Office of Engaged Scholarship & Learning (ES&L) supports student learning experiences beyond the classroom by integrating hands-on learning opportunities into their academic experience. These experiential learning opportunities, such as service learning, research, or creative works, can help students excel in school, succeed in class, and graduate! Students that commit to experiential learning often connect more deeply to their work, get practical experience in field-related activities, and make professional career connections. Each year, ES&L facilitates service learning, presents multiple workshops, provides funding opportunities, and hosts an annual research and creative works conference for students called the Engaged Scholar Symposium (ES2).
Contact Information:
Email: engaged@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-3461
(956) 882-4300
Edinburg: ESTAC 3.106
Brownsville: BSTUN 1.20
For more information please visit the ES&L website.
OFFICE OF PRE-PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Office for Pre-Professional Development (OPPD) at UTRGV is dedicated to empowering students who aspire to postbaccalaureate degrees in various professional programs. These programs encompass a range of fields including law, medicine, podiatric medicine, dentistry, physician assistant studies, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, optometry/ophthalmology, and veterinary medicine. Our mission is to guide, mentor, and support our pre-professional undergraduate students, ensuring they not only meet graduation requirements but also become strong candidates for admission into their chosen degree programs. The OPPD is committed to providing a robust support system for UTRGV students on their journey towards professional success.
Contact Information:
Email: OPPD@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-3515
(956) 882-7992
Edinburg: EITTB 1.402
Brownsville: BMAIN 1.402B
OFFICE OF SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
The Office of Secondary Educational Partnerships (SEP) oversees the university’s portfolio of high school-related programs, including the Dual Credit Program, Early College High School initiatives, and UTRGV Collegiate High Schools. By developing partnerships with school districts, charter schools, and private schools throughout the region, SEP creates opportunities for qualifying high school students to begin their academic journeys and earn college credits. Students are immersed in the university experience by taking rigorous academic courses, benefiting from all academic and personal success resources available through UTRGV, in addition to connecting with the institution’s numerous student life and engagement activities. SEP is also the institutional home for the Greater Texas Foundation Scholars Program—a long-time scholars program designed to support graduates from early college high schools as they transition to UTRGV by providing both financial and non-financial resources. Students who participate in any of these programs should reach out to this office with any relevant questions or concerns.
Contact Information:
Email: ce@utrgv.edu
Phone:
(956)882-7732
(956)665-3128
Brownsville: BMAIN 2.200A
Edinburg: EPOB9: 1.102C
For more information, please visit the SEP website at www.utrgv.edu/dualcredit.
STUDENT SUCCESS INITIATIVES
First-year Experience
First Year Experience (FYE) offers a collaborative and comprehensive set of academic and social experiences aimed at aiding new students transition into UTRGV. FYE provides a year-round mentoring program. Trailblazers (peer mentors) focus on three core pillars of university success: academics, personal growth, and involvement. FYE offers year-round programming to provide support and resources for entering students as well as individual peer mentoring sessions.
Second-year Experience
Second Year Experience (SYE) offers a variety of support services to meet the unique needs of students throughout their second year at UTRGV. SYE provides second year and transfer students with the opportunity for peer mentoring with a Trailblazer. SYE offers year-round programming designed to meet the and provide academic support for second year and transfer students.
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
The University Libraries serve as the chief information center for students during their time at the university. Librarians provide both one-on-one and group instruction helping students navigate resources for their academic research and assignments. The library provides physical and electronic access to books, articles, and course reserve materials. In addition, laptops, tablets, calculators, phone chargers and other media equipment are available for check out. The libraries have over 300 computers for student use, provide assistance to UTRGV students with multimedia production and offer poster printing for class related projects and presentations. The library has individual and group study spaces that can be reserved online through its website.
Contact Information:
Brownsville:
Phone: (956) 882-8221
Text: (956) 825-3578
Edinburg:
Phone: (956) 665-2005
Text: (956) 253-8031
Harlingen:
Phone: (956) 296-1500
Text: (956) 525-4701
For more information please visit the UL website.
WRITING CENTER
The Writing Center (WC) offers UTRGV undergraduate students assistance with academic writing in all disciplines. Writing Consultants, certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), assist students throughout all stages of their writing process. Consultants are prepared to assist students with the following tasks: clarifying an assignment, brainstorming ideas and outlines, understanding genre and audience expectations, revising an essay for effective organization, clarity, and word choice, utilizing appropriate voice and tone, and integrating and citing source materials. In addition to offering face-to-face individual and small group consultations, the WC offers online support via synchronous Zoom and asynchronous daily and weekend writing consultations.
Contact Information:
Email: wc@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 882-7065
(956) 665-2538
Edinburg: ESTAC 3.119
Brownsville: BLIBR 3.206
For more information please visit the WC website.