Regents approve construction funding for new university in South Texas

The University of Texas System Board of Regents has approved a total of $196 million for four initiatives to establish a new campus in South Texas. The Texas Tribune says the new university is being created by combining University of Texas-Brownsville and University of Texas-Pan American and adding a medical school. The projects approved: A $70 million science building in Hidalgo County on the existing UT-Pan American campus; a $54 million medical building in Edinburg; another $54 million for capital improvement projects at the Cameron County campus of the new university; and $18 million to acquire facilities from Texas Southmost College in Brownsville, which is ending its relationship with UT-Brownsville.