UTEP has demonstrated its ability to compete as a vibrant university across all disciplines from academics to campus life. Currently UTEP has sixteen sports that compete in Conference USA at the Division IA level of the NCAA. With more than 21,000 students enrolled, UTEP is ready to take the next step towards becoming a Tier I institution.
Because most nationally recognized universities have superior academics and athletics programs, we are proposing a Campus Life and Athletics Enhancement Initiative.
The decision is yours to make.
The Campus Life and Athletics Enhancement Initiative will:
(1) Provide an additional $1 million dollars for Student Life Enhancements and activities
The additional revenue that will be made available to the students of UTEP will:
· Strengthen and increase opportunities for participation in clubs and organizations
· Enhance Student Life facilities and expansion of student organization meeting space
· Expand student programming and funding for student travel and projects
· Provide money for the start up of new student organizations
· Increase student service awards for student groups including debate, theatre and performing arts; orchestra; marching and pep bands; cheerleaders and Gold Diggers
· Continue growth in Student Service areas such as the University Career Center, Student Development Center and the University Counseling Center
(2) Increase revenue and provide a stable funding base for Athletics by creating an Athletic Fee
The additional revenue available for athletics will help UTEP compete at the highest level of Division I Athletics by:
· Increasing the sport teams recruiting budgets to allow them to go after national recruits
· Hire and retain top level coaches by having the resources to pay them at current market rates
· Cultivate interaction between student-athletes, the general student body and other campus organizations to improve engagement with UTEP Athletics
· Increase community outreach by coaches and student athletes
· Increase funding of game-day entertainment, promotions, and give aways
· Allow students to enjoy the full campus “athletics” experience – the Marching Band, the Cheerleaders, Homecoming, Tailgating, and the Miner Maniacs
· Increase competitiveness and success which leads to increased television exposure.
On March 10th and 11th, all currently enrolled students will have the opportunity to vote on the Campus Life and Athletics Enhancement Initiative.
By voting to approve the student referendum you will be setting the stage for UTEP to achieve a higher profile and compete annually for conference championships and in NCAA post-season competition for all of its team sports, recruit the nation’s top athletes, maintain national recognized coaches and continue to build state-of-the-art facilities.
Athletics and UTEP are striving for one common goal:
To Enhance UTEP’s Reputation
UTEP Athletics provides high visibility to the university both locally and nationally. The UTEP Athletics program is mentioned daily in the local media. UTEP Athletics teams often receive national media coverage during broadcasts on ESPN, ESPN2, CBS College Sports and the men’s basketball tournament on CBS. The market value of television exposure received by UTEP Athletics during the 2008-09 Academic Year, for football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball exceeded $27 million dollars. The value of this positive marketing increases the Miner experience and helps to tell the Miner story around the world.
Athletics contributes to UTEP’s steps in becoming a Tier I institution by:
· Increasing UTEP national and international alumni network
· Enhancing the image and creating greater pride and bragging rights for UTEP and El Paso
· Enriching the quality of life on campus, and
· Home sporting events having a direct economic impact on UTEP and El Paso
So please vote on March 10th and 11th.
As of the fall 2008 semester, UTEP ranked number sixteen out of thirty-four institutions in the State of Texas in the cost of Student Tuition and Fees.
In a ranking of Student Service Fees and Athletic Fees of eighteen Public Universities in the State of Texas, UTEP is the only institution of the eighteen that doesn’t have an Athletic Fee. In 2008 the average Athletic Fees in Texas was over $140 per student per semester.
If approved, the Student Life and Athletic Enhancement Initiative will take effect in the fall of 2011. Your Student Service Fees will decrease by $2 a credit hour and the new Athletic Fee will be $10 per credit hour, so the net increases for the initiative is $8 per credit hour. The athletic fee will increase by $2 for years 2012 and 2013 but Student Service Fees will stay the same.
In summary, the Campus Life and Athletics Enhancement Initiative will provide $1 million dollars to:
· Strengthen and increase opportunities for student clubs and organizations
· Enhance Student Life Facilities and expansion of student organization meeting space
· Expand student programming
· Provide money for the start up of new student organizations
· Increase student service awards for student groups including the band, cheerleaders and Gold Diggers
· Continue growth in Student Service areas such as the University Career Center, Student Development Center, and the University Counseling Center
In return for your support, the Athletics Department will make three pledges:
(1) Provide Fun and Affordable entertainment for all students. By paying your Athletic Fee, the student body receives ten thousand football season tickets, twenty- one hundred basketball season tickets and the opportunity to attend any other home sporting events free of charge.
(2) The second pledge is the Athletics Department will continue building Pride and Tradition at UTEP, making the Miner Nation proud.
(3) The third and most important pledge is one that affects every UTEP student. That is the pledge is to further enhance the image of UTEP locally, nationally, and internationally. For many people, athletics helps to shape positive opinions of a university. That is why we owe it to you to excel and gain visibility for UTEP.
Enhancing campus life and athletics at UTEP is in your hands. Show the world the tradition established in 1966 still lives on. Please vote on March 10th and 11th.