UTEP Kicks Off Two-Week Miner Welcome as Enrollment Hits Record 26,000

Move-in trucks lined UTEP's campus on Aug. 20 as the university launched 14 days of student-driven events called Miner Welcome, aimed at helping new and returning students settle into a school that just posted the largest enrollment in its history. The celebration builds toward Minerpalooza, the 36th annual capstone festival set for Sept. 11 at Centennial Plaza, an event that regularly draws as many as 25,000 people from across El Paso.

Move-in day served students living in UTEP's three on-campus residence halls, marking the formal start of the welcome period, according to KFOX. Catie McCorry-Andalis, UTEP's vice president for student affairs, said Miner Welcome fosters meaningful connections and helps students feel at home at UTEP, adding that students with a sense of belonging are more likely to succeed academically and personally. The two-week run of programming is designed to encourage student involvement and build a foundation of belonging from the first days on campus.

That mission carries extra weight this fall. UTEP enrolled 26,297 students in Fall 2025, a jump of more than 1,200 over the prior year, and the university followed that with a spring record of 24,901 students, according to UTEP. The growth marks four consecutive years of record freshman class sizes. About 85% of UTEP's student body is Hispanic, and roughly half of undergraduates are the first in their families to attend college, a demographic reality that university leaders say makes early campus connection especially important for retention.

Fireworks and a Gold Rush Tradition Kick Off the Weekend

The Texas Western Gold Rush, now in its sixth year, takes over Centennial Plaza today at 6 p.m., featuring a live concert, giveaways, fireworks and special guests. The name nods to UTEP's own history: the school was founded in 1914 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy, became Texas Western College in 1949, and took its current name in 1967 following the men's basketball team's 1966 national championship. To mark the occasion, UTEP lit its 2010 “Mining Minds” pickaxe sculpture at the University Avenue roundabout in blue and orange and illuminated the “M” on the mountain facing Sun Bowl Stadium.

Housing and Residence Life hosted its own Welcome Back BBQ Bash on Sunday, offering free food, music and games for campus housing residents. Two days earlier, Late Night at the Rec kept students, alumni and guests at the Student Recreation Center until midnight, with laser tag, a neon pool party and extreme archery starting at 8 p.m. UTEP's MineTracker listing for the event also promoted puppy yoga, a silent disco, esports tournaments and Mario Kart races, and required attendees to check in with a student ID at University Field.

Involvement Fair and New Academic Space Await Returning Students

Pete's Round-Up: Involvement Fair opens Wednesday and runs for two days, connecting students with campus resources, organizations and opportunities to get involved. Students returning this fall also have a new place to attend class: UTEP opened Texas Western Hall in January, a $110 million, 124,725-square-foot academic building with 30 classrooms and a 150-seat auditorium built to serve more than 1,700 students daily, as Hoodline previously reported. The facility replaced a building from the 1960s.

Minerpalooza Caps the Celebration on Sept. 11

Miner Welcome concludes with Minerpalooza, which starts at 6 p.m. on Sept. 11 at Centennial Plaza and is free and open to the public. The festival features games and activities hosted by student organizations, a live music lineup including Battle of the Bands contestants, food trucks and other vendors, and Pete's Playground, a dedicated kids' area. A Beer and Wine Garden lets attendees 21 and older purchase drinks, and admission there is also free.

Getting into the festival costs nothing, but joining in on the student-run activity booths requires physical tickets priced at $1 each, payable only by credit or debit card, according to UTEP. Cash isn't accepted at ticket centers, and unused tickets can't be refunded, though food and beverage vendors will take cash or card directly. New this year is a dedicated Artisan Market at Fox Fine Arts Plaza running from 6 to 11 p.m., where local artists can sell original, handcrafted goods after paying a $50 vendor fee; resold items and UTEP trademarks are off-limits.

Beyond the free entertainment, Minerpalooza doubles as the biggest fundraiser of the year for UTEP's student organizations, which run the game and activity booths to cover their clubs' operating costs, according to KVIA. Individual activities typically cost attendees between one and five tickets. Full details on the Miner Welcome schedule are available at utep.edu/student-affairs/minerwelcome, and Minerpalooza information can be found at utep.edu/minerpalooza.