By Letty Fernandez

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – This summer, UTRGV is helping students earn a degree while social distancing at home by offering all summer courses fully online and announcing a big Summer Relief Package for new and current undergraduate and graduate students.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey, in a memo to students earlier this month, said student success always has been and continues to be the university’s priority.

“I know these are difficult and uncertain times,” Bailey said, “but I hope this announcement truly provides some comfort. We have no measure of success other than your success.  Your progress toward your degree is crucial to us. UTRGV is and will always be committed to student success, and part of that commitment is to be there for you when you need us most.”

The Summer Relief Package is available for all students, including undergraduate, graduate, transfer and transient (non-UTRGV students) who already have enrolled or who enroll for summer classes by May 29.

A major incentive of the package is up to $1,000 in summer relief for eligible students. Every student who enrolls in six hours in one summer session or over the course of both summer sessions is eligible for up to $1,000 of relief after their current Federal and State aid (like Federal Summer Pell and Summer Boost Grant), scholarships, and other gift aid is applied. Any remaining tuition balance not covered by the above programs can be covered by this up to $1,000 of relief.

Other incentives included in UTRGV’s Summer Relief Package are:

• Free Zone 2 Parking Pass – A free Zone 2 parking pass for the 2020-21 academic year will be provided to every student who completes six hours in one or both summer sessions. *Accelerated Online Program students are not eligible for this incentive.
• $100 VBucks – Receive $100 in VBucks for the 2020-21 academic year that can be used to purchase meals and retail goods and services.
• UTRGV Swag – Students will receive a package of UTRGV swag delivered to their homes.

For more information on the Summer Relief Package, visit https://link.utrgv.edu/summer-relief-package/.

SUMMER GOES FULLY ONLINE

In addition to announcing the Summer Relief Package to help mitigate some financial burden for students, Bailey also notified students this Summer Semester will be fully online.

“Based on the current status of the pandemic, modeling of its future progress, and our continued commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of our campus community, it will be necessary to move our Summer Semester online,” Bailey said. “Rest assured that, with more time to prepare for this online transition than what we had for this spring, most of our online summer offerings will be taught asynchronously.”

Bailey said that delivering courses asynchronously means that students will be allowed to learn and complete their work on their own schedule. Of course, certain courses that cannot be delivered asynchronously will be offered synchronously, which will allow students to set schedules and timeframes with instructors online at the same time.

Summer Session I for UTRGV starts June 1; Summer Session II begins July 6.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TUITION ADVANTAGE

Beginning Fall 2020, UTRGV students can take advantage of the Tuition Advantage program, which was increased by $20,000 in March. The already historic program will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for qualified students with a family income of $95,000 or less.

UTRGV Tuition Advantage is open to all in-state undergraduate students, including incoming freshmen and returning and transfer students, who meet the program’s requirements. 

To learn more about the Tuition Advantage program, visit www.utrgv.edu/ucentral/tuition-advantage.