What are your thoughts of UTEP? Is it a school worth attending?

[Rich Cabeza]

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

I hope I'm not treading far off topic here but I'm trying to get Ft. Bliss as my next duty station and one reason being that I'd like to attend grad school at UTEP. How are their grad school programs?

My undergrad is from the University of Illinois at Chicago in Criminal Justice and General Psychology, if that matters.

You'll love it. Get a rental near the school the area's got a lot of character.

[ocean2026]

UTEP is a good enough school. One can learn everywhere. Its not a Cal Berkeley but its a lot better than a Prairie View A&M.

For Business Harvard Berkeley Indiana and a few more -beyond those it doesn't matter that much.

Some average schools have great departments. Sam Houston State may have the best Criminal Justice Program in the country -its definitely in the Top 3 .

[Demps]

UTEP is a joke it always has been and always will be.

UTEP is nothing but a community college posing as a University.

[Ms Kitty 98]

UTEP is not a joke! it has never been or will it ever be; it is not a community college posing as a University, for someone to make such a comment would be like me saying that Arizona is not part of the United States, then that would make me a silly man even though sometimes I wonder about some people from Arizona. Former Astronaut Danny Olivas went to UTEP, and he flew on one of the space shuttle missions, now then why would an astronaut attend a community college?

[joqua]

Originally Posted by Demps

UTEP is a joke it always has been and always will be.

UTEP is nothing but a community college posing as a University.

Well, I say "The Joke's on YOU!"

[malamute]

UTEP won't compete with universities until it gets rid of it's large number of remedial courses and puts some kind of admission requirements in place. At one time 60% of UTEP freshmen were in remedial courses -- that isn't what a university is supposed to be about. I assume that's improved but haven't seen anything recent.

The 6 year graduation rate for a 4 year degree is still too low but there is big money in taking students who would really be more suited to a community college.

[kidicarus89]

Originally Posted by malamute

UTEP won't compete with universities until it gets rid of it's large number of remedial courses and puts some kind of admission requirements in place. At one time 60% of UTEP freshmen were in remedial courses -- that isn't what a university is supposed to be about. I assume that's improved but haven't seen anything recent.

The 6 year graduation rate for a 4 year degree is still too low but there is big money in taking students who would really be more suited to a community college.

I do agree with this. EPCC is doing a great job of positioning itself as the stepping stone to UTEP, and this relationship should be strengthened to the point where UTEP does away with a lot of those joke classes so it can spend more money on professors and offering more upper-division courses. You can't be a Tier 1 school and admit kids out of high school with 8th grade reading levels and pathetic math skills. Let them prove themselves at EPCC before taking on the burden of babysitting people who aren't yet ready for college.

EPCC needs to expand its downtown presence and UTEP could offer at least slightly tougher admission standards to filter out the bottom-level performers.