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The History of the University of Texas at El Paso

By auntyjanet
  • State School of Mines and Metallurgy Opens

    State School of Mines and Metallurgy Opens

    El Paso citizens donate 22 acres and three buildings east of Fort Bliss—the site of the former El Paso Military Institute—for the School of Mines. 27 Students enroll for the first day.
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    State School of Mines and Metallurgy

  • 1916: An Eventful Year

    1916: An Eventful Year

    The first commencement is held. Later that year the school enrolls its first first female students, Ruth Brown and Grace Odell. A fire breaks out, destroying the college, and forcing Dean Worrell to look for a new location.
  • * Pancho Villa Raids Columbus, NM

    * Pancho Villa Raids Columbus, NM

  • *US Enters World War I

  • Construction Begins on New Campus

    Construction Begins on New Campus

    Located in the Sunset Heights District, construction begins on the new campus. The buildings are modeled after the architectural style of the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan.

  • World War I Ends

    At that time UTEP's enrollment had reached 100

  • U.T. Department of Mines and Metallurgy

    The school's name is officially changed to the U.T. Department of Mines and Metallurgy
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    College of Mines and Metallurgy, El Paso

  • Another Name Change

    Another Name Change

    The U.T College of Mines and Metallurgy changes its name to the College of Mines and Metallurgy, El Paso
  • St Patrick's Initiation

    St Patrick's Initiation

    Oldest tradition, the St. Patrick's initiation, first reported in The Prospector
  • Sutdents paint "M" for Miners on Franklin Mountains

    Sutdents paint "M" for Miners on Franklin Mountains

    this long-running tradion begins
  • Panco Villa is assisinated

    Panco Villa is assisinated

  • El Paso Jr College Merges with the College of Mines

    The merger increases the College of Mines’ enrollment to 400
  • Black Tuesday

    Black Tuesday

    Devastating stock market crash that marked the beginning of the Great Depression
  • First Homecoming

    First Homecoming

    Fifteen years into UTEP's history, the college celebrates its first of many homecomings. The Prospector describes the event as an opportunity for graduates and upperclassmen to become acquainted. The Miners beat New Mexico State 8-0.

  • First College President

    John Gerald Bary becomes the College of Mines' first Preseident
  • the Great Depression threatens the future of the college

    the Great Depression threatens the future of the college

    Poor economic times cause Texas Legislature to consider closing some state institutions, including the College of Mines.
  • Kidd Field Constructed

    Kidd Field Constructed

    The athletic field is constructed and named after popular professor and Dean, John W. “Cap” Kidd.

  • Sun Bowl Begins

    th first Sun Bowl Game is played at El Paso High School
  • the Centennial Museum opens

    the Centennial Museum opens

  • Miner's First Bowl Game

    Miner's First Bowl Game

    The Miners play their first-ever bowl game; football team loses 34-6 to Hardin-Simmons in the Sun Bowl

  • Enrollment reaches 1000

    The college reaches a milestone as erollment reaches 1000. At the same time, World War I begins.

  • First Graduate Degree Approved

    Regents approve first graduate degree, Master of Arts

  • Attack on Pearl Harbor

    Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, prompoting the United States to enter World War II.

  • Enrollment decreases to 561

    With young men and women serving in war, enrollment hits a 10-year low of 561 students. Meanwhile, the War Department assigns Arm Specialized Training Unity to the College of Mines.

  • WTCM Radio begins

    Campus radio WTCM is established.

  • US Drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima

    The US drops the first of two atomic bombs on Japan, ending World War II.

  • Veteran's GI Bill benefits help push enrollment past 2,000

  • The College of Mines name changes to Texas Western College of the University of Texas

    The College of Mines name changes to Texas Western College of the University of Texas

    That same year, the Miners lose to Verginia 21-12 in the 14th annual Sun Bowl
  • Period: to

    Texas Western College of the University of Texas

  • TWC becomes the first white Texas public college to admit black students.

  • TWC trains the nation’s first Peace Corps class.

  • Sun Bowl Stadium constructed

    Sun Bowl Stadium constructed

    TWC wins 34-4 over North Texas State in the first Sun Bowl stadium game.
  • Prsident Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, TX

    Prsident Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, TX

  • NCAA Champions

    NCAA Champions

    Don Haskins leads TWC’s men’s basketball team to NCAA national championship, stunning Kentucky 72-65, using an all-black starting line-up.
  • TWC’s name is changed to the University of Texas at El Paso.

    TWC’s name is changed to the University of Texas at El Paso.

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    University of Texas at El Paso

  • Sophomore Bob Beamon makes a world-record long jump at the Olympic Games in Mexico City. That same year, enrollment at the university is over 10, 000.

    Sophomore Bob Beamon makes a world-record long jump at the Olympic Games in Mexico City. That same year, enrollment at the university is over 10, 000.

  • Martin Luther King Jr is assassinated by James Earl Ray in Memphis, Tennessee.

  • Robert F Kennedy is assassinated in Los Angeles, CA.

  • – UTEP men’s cross-country team wins the NCAA National Championship, and the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity paints a new “M” overlooking the Sun Bowl.

    – UTEP men’s cross-country team wins the NCAA National Championship, and the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity paints a new “M” overlooking the Sun Bowl.

  • Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon.

  • UTEP’s first endowed professorship is named for Lloyd A. Nelson

    Nelson is an early student at the School of Mines and a long-time professor. The professorship is for Geological Sciences.
  • Paydirt Pete becomes the Miners’ mascot and a streaking fad opens eyes on campus.

    Paydirt Pete becomes the Miners’ mascot and a streaking fad opens eyes on campus.

  • First Doctoral Degree

    UTEP’s first doctoral degree, in Geological Sciences, is approved.

  • KCOS-TV- Public television station KCOS-TV goes on air.

  • UTEP leads the nation among schools producing Hispanic engineers.

    UTEP leads the nation among schools producing Hispanic engineers.

  • The six story University Library is completed and the Women’s Center opens.

  • – Vice President George Bush speaks at the May commencement.

    – Vice President George Bush speaks at the May commencement.

  • Dr. Diana Natalicio becomes the first woman UTEP president.

    Dr. Diana Natalicio becomes the first woman UTEP president.

  • The National Science Foundation recognizes UTEP with a Minority Research Center of Excellence Grant.

  • The Minerpalooza festival is created.

  • The Materials Science and Engineering doctorate and the Psychology doctorate enrolls their first students.

    The Materials Science and Engineering doctorate and the Psychology doctorate enrolls their first students.

  • Environmental Science and Engineering doctorate enrolls their first students, and UTEP is designated a Model Institution for Excellence by the National Science Foundation.

  • Educational Leadership and Administration doctorate enrolls their first students, as does the Pharmacy cooperative doctorate.

  • Don Haskins is inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Special Events Center is renamed the Don Haskins Center.

  • – the Undergraduate Learning Center opens, Biological Sciences doctorate enrolls it first students, and UTEP launces the $50 Million Legacy Campaign.

    – the Undergraduate Learning Center opens, Biological Sciences doctorate enrolls it first students, and UTEP launces the $50 Million Legacy Campaign.

  • The 9/11 Attacks

    The World Trade Center and the Pentagon are attacked by a terrorists.

  • Graduate enrollment hits a record of 2, 848

  • $44 million construction begins on the Academic Services and Biosciences building and an addition to the Engineering-Science Complex. Construction also begins on the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.

    $44 million construction begins on the Academic Services and Biosciences building and an addition to the Engineering-Science Complex. Construction also begins on the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.

  • NASA awards UTEP $5 million to develop a center for space exploration technology research.

  • Barack Obama becomes the United States’ first African American president.

  • UTEP celebrates a new a Health Sciences and Nursing building.

    UTEP celebrates a new a Health Sciences and Nursing building.