The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) plans to offer nearly $3 million in annual scholarships for students enrolling in its forthcoming mining engineering program. This initiative was announced by UTEP President Heather Wilson, who highlighted the program’s potential to produce well-prepared engineers capable of extracting valuable minerals and restoring mined land. The program, expected to commence in Fall 2027, has received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and awaits accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Upon launch, it will be the only mining engineering program in Texas.
The announcement coincided with a $20 million startup funding allocation from the Texas Legislature, supported by the El Paso delegation, as part of the General Appropriations Act. This funding complements previous contributions, including $20 million from the UT System Board of Regents and $7 million from Freeport-McMoRan. UT System Interim Chancellor John M. Zerwas praised local legislators for their support, emphasizing the importance of developing a skilled workforce for Texas’s $10 billion mining industry.
UTEP, established in 1913 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy, last offered a mining engineering degree in 1964. The program’s revival aims to position the region as a leader in mining education, addressing the projected annual demand for 500 mining engineers nationwide. UTEP anticipates graduating up to 100 engineers each year once the program is fully operational.
