Bienvenidos

UTRGV is honored to host the 2023 National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies Tejas Foco Conference (NACCS-Tejas) and we are thrilled to have you on our campus. That’s because The Future of Texas is being shaped here. Chicanx history is deeply rooted at UTRGV, and our students, faculty, and staff have helped make us one of the nation’s premier HispanicServing Institutions (HSI).

During Fall 2022, 91% of UTRGV’s 31,559 enrolled students identified as Hispanic. And of that total, more than half are the first in their families to pursue a university degree. Both of us were once first-generation students ourselves, so providing that support from admission through graduation is personal as much as it is a professional duty

In 2021, UTRGV was one of just ten universities across the United States to earn the prestigious Seal of Excelencia. This three-year certification not only highlights UTRGV’s commitment to serving Latino students, but it also validates the programs and initiatives we implement to ensure our students’ success. And this semester, we are happy to say that we have also joined Excelencia in Education’s distinguished network of Presidents for Latino Student Success a diverse group of leaders from colleges and universities who are committed to making their respective institutions learning environments where Latino students thrive Additionally, the UTRGV Center for Mexican American Studies and the UTRGV Center for Bilingual Studies play critical roles in this effort and within our B3 Institute, which facilitates the process through which the university becomes a bilingual, bicultural, and biliterate institution.

What can we expect at the NACCS-Tejas conference?

The NACCS-Tejas conference addresses critical and timely issues in higher education, including community-centered curriculum, teaching innovation, research, and recent national discussions (and controversies) regarding Ethnic Studies programs. Here, you will also find diverse voices and perspectives from many disciplines across the nation. Scholars, artists, and activists address issues related to the greater Mexican American and Latina/o communities and the importance of Mexican American and Latinx Studies We want to thank everyone involved in the planning and execution of this conference, and especially recognize the following individuals and entities here at UTRGV for their contributions: Dr. Miryam EspinosaDulanto and Dr. Rosalva Resendiz (Conference Co-Organizers), Center for Mexican American Studies, Department of Criminal Justice, College of Education and P-16 Integration, and the Office of the Provost.

Lastly, we wish you a productive and enjoyable conference and hope to see you again on campus soon.

V’s Up!

Sincerely,

Guy Bailey, Ph D UTRGV President

Janna Arney, Ph.D.

UTRGV Executive Vice President and Provost