UT System Regents Allocate $118M to UTEP Campus Revitalization

The University of Texas System Board of Regents has approved a $118 million funding allocation over three years to address critical maintenance and revitalization projects at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). This investment targets life and safety upgrades, restoration of building exteriors, mechanical systems, and enhancements to high-value research facilities on UTEP’s campus, which includes 105 buildings in need of repair. A key component of the funding supports a major Student Union upgrade project, replacing Union West with a new facility and renovating Union East, financed through a phased increase in student union fees approved by both UTEP students and Texas lawmakers. The fee hike will begin at $70 per semester in Spring 2026 and increase incrementally to $150 per semester by Fall 2027, reflecting the first increase since 1987. University leadership, including President Heather Wilson and UT System Regents Chair Kevin Eltife, emphasized that these funds will ensure a safe, modern, and cost-effective learning environment, reaffirming the campus as a vital hub for students and researchers. Lawmakers such as Senator César Blanco and Representative Vince Perez praised the initiative as a crucial investment in the university's future.