EDINBURG, Texas - Speaking at an Inaugural Ph.D. Launch Celebration, UT-Rio Grande Valley President Guy Bailey pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket and told the audience he had some breaking news hot off the presses.
Bailey said a ranking agency called Degree Choices had released its latest rankings for national universities just an hour or so ago. He said the rankings were based on economic value.
CUNY’s City College was No. 1. MIT was No. 2. And the University of Florida was No. 3. Also in the Top Ten were Princeton, Stanford, Harvard, and Caltech.
Georgia Tech was No. 12, University of Michigan was No. 13, and Rice University was No. 14.
“You know who number 15 was, Bailey teased. “You guessed it. Us. UTRGV. Think about that.”
There was huge applause from the audience.
“I want you to think about where you are on that list. We don't take a backseat to anyone in the state of Texas. And this achievement isn't something that the President does. It is something that you do,” Bailey said.
“It requires the success of our students. Why do we do this? Because you come here as students and you graduate and you do well. You wouldn't do that if our faculty weren't offering the courses and giving you good instruction, right?”
Degree Choices used two economic metrics: 1. The relationship between the cost of a degree and a student’s eventual earnings. 2. An earnings comparison between different schools.
Click here to read the Degree Choices rankings in full.
Click here to read the methodology Degree Choices used.
“I was a first generation college student and I can't tell you how much better off I was than all the rest of my family,” Bailey said.
The Inaugural Ph.D. Launch Celebration was held to laud the incoming class of 18 students that are undertaking the first ever doctoral program within UTRGV’s College of Engineering and Computer Sciences.
“Engineering at UTRGV is booming. It really is,” Bailey told the students. “We’re so proud of what you've been able to achieve and what you've been able to do. I want to welcome all of you on behalf of the entire University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.”
Bailey pointed out that UTRGV is only in its eighth year.
“Think about that. We're in our eighth year. That’s not very long. And in eight years we've accomplished some remarkable things,” Bailey said. “This Ph. D program is one of them. And the growth of engineering is part of that. I can't tell you how crucial that is to what we are as an institution, and I can't tell you how crucial that is to where we're going.”
Bailey went on to say 2023 has been a “big year” for UTRGV in terms of awards and recognition. He said Washington Monthly came out with rankings that showed UTRGV the highest ranked national university in Texas. He also spoke about the rankings published by Third Way.
“Third Way ranked universities on the economic mobility of students who go there. We were 6th in the United States. Think about that. Sixth in the United States,” Bailey said.
“What does that mean? That means our students, they end up so much better off economically than where they started. Think about that. What else is the purpose of a university than to help better your students, right? You're really living up to your potential when you do that.”
Bailey later spoke about one of the “huge advantages” UTRGV has: family.
Again, directing his remarks to the students, Bailey said: “What Ph.D. programs like this do… they help us keep kids in the Valley. Our future, our strength depends on keeping you in the Valley. We hope you'll start businesses here. We hope that this Ph.D. - Keith you can agree with this - helps us attract companies and businesses to stay right here in the Valley.”
The “Keith” Bailey was talking about was Keith Partridge, president of McAllen Economic Development Corporation. Patridge, too, spoke at the event.
“Stay here, be part of it,” Bailey told the students. “Be part of the family of the Rio Grande Valley. It is a wonderful place. And I want to thank you first of all for everything you do. And welcome you to a great celebration. Thanks so much.”
Editor's Note: Here is a video recording of President Bailey's remarks at the Inaugural Ph.D. Launch Celebration:
https://youtu.be/IB2awrWj-D4
