EP2007 - Culture - Higher Education

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and El Paso Community College (EPCC) are both vital parts of the El Paso community.

Founded in 1914, UTEP is well known among sports fans for its 1966 basketball championship (featured in the 2006 Disney/Bruckheimer film Glory Road), which broke the color barrier in college sports and put UTEP (then Texas Western College) on the map. But the university excels in other arenas: it ranks among the top three schools in the nation in enrolling Hispanic undergraduates; it has been named the top graduate engineering school for Hispanics; and it is the country’s only doctoral research-intensive university with a large Mexican-American student body.

UTEP offers numerous cultural resources. The campus is home to the Stanley and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts with cutting-edge exhibitions by internationally respected artists. The Centennial Museum and Chihuahua Desert Gardens focus on the natural and cultural history of the region. The UTEP Music Department and the Dinner Theater offer year-round performances, and the work in the Department of Theater, Dance and Film reflects the multicultural perspective of the comm-unity. The school’s nationally competitive athletics program includes basketball, football, track and field, volleyball, and soccer for men and women. You’ll see UTEP Miner fans decked out in orange and navy blue as they support Miner athletics throughout the year.

EPCC boasts hundreds of academic programs and personal enrichment/continuing education courses. In addition to five campuses in the city, it also offers distance education and online courses. Core courses transfer fully to any university in Texas.

The vibrant EPCC arts scene includes musical, dramatic, and dance performances, as well as art exhibits. EPCC is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, and athletics programs include baseball, softball, and cross-country. It also serves as a literal lifeblood to the community; EPCC is the region’s number one blood donor. 

Info:
University of Texas at El Paso
(915) 747-5000

El Paso Community College
(915) 831-3722