Texas Tech System Establishes Fourth University in El Paso

Officials at the Texas Tech University System today (May 20) announced the establishment of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) at El Paso as the fourth university under the TTU System.

The announcement came after Gov. Rick Perry signed S.B. 120, authored by state Sen. José Rodríguez and sponsored by state Rep. Naomi Gonzalez, both of El Paso. TTUHSC El Paso joins Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (headquartered in Lubbock) and Angelo State University as a freestanding institution of the TTU System.

“This is a great day for the Texas Tech University System and the community of El Paso,” said TTU System Chancellor Kent Hance. “We are proud of the outstanding work completed as a regional campus and excited to continue our commitment to the area as an independent university.”

El Paso is home to the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine and the Gayle Greve Hunt School of Nursing, each of which will graduate its first class of students during the May TTUHSC commencement ceremonies. TTUHSC El Paso is also home to a Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Preparations for the transition from a regional campus to a freestanding university with degree-granting authority have been underway since 2011. The TTU System Board of Regents gave its approval for undertaking this initiative in May 2012.

"Establishing an independent health sciences university is a significant milestone for the Texas Tech family and the result of so many people’s hard work,” said Mickey Long, chairman of the Board of Regents. “We are thrilled to complete the process of adding a new university to the TTU System and continue the momentum in the El Paso region.”

As an independent university, TTUHSC El Paso will benefit regional priorities by promoting access to health care and attracting more doctors and health care professionals to the area. Additionally, the university will be able to focus its research on diseases affecting Latino and border populations and provide quality care in a medically underserved region.

“We are grateful to our governor and state legislators who helped make this goal a reality,” Hance said. “The future is exciting, and we look forward to great things out of El Paso.”