Texas Western College 1959-1960.pdf - Utep

History of the College
THE PRESENT TEXAS WESTERN College of the University of Texas was cre-
ated in 1913 as the School of Mines and Metallurgy by a legislative act. .
This act, passed by the Thirty-third Legislature, charged the institution
with teaching and research in mining, metallurgy and allied subjects, and
placed it under the control of the Board of Regents of The University P
of Texas.
The school opened in September, 1914, in the buildings of the former
El Paso Military Institute, which were donated by the City of El Paso.
In 1916 the Main Building burned, resulting in a decision to move to the
present site west of Mount Franklin. The Thirty-fifth Legislature voted
an emergency appropriation of $ioo,ooo for new buildings. In 1919 the
Thirty-6fth Legislature made the "School" or "College" a branch of The
University of Texas.
During the next several years the "College of Mines," as it became
known, experienced a growth that justified expansion of its educational
program. The liberal arts were included in the curriculum as early as 1927,
and in 1931 the Board of Regents authorized the College to confer the
degree of Bachelor of Arts. At successive dates the Bachelor of Science,
Bachelor of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Music were added.
In 1940 the board approved the Master of Arts degree. The degree o€
Bachelor of Science in Nursing was approved in 1956.
During early years the chief administrative official of the College was
a dean who took his authority through the President of The University of