University of Texas at El Paso to reestablish its mining engineering program

On Sept. 10, 2024, The University of Texas System (UT System) Board of Regents chairman Kevin P. Eltife announced a $20 million investment for The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to reestablish its mining engineering program. UTEP has relaunched this program in order to address the rapidly increasing demand for mining engineers. “Instead of losing a program or reconsolidating of several programs, we have the announcement of a new program at UTEP,” said 2023 SME President K. Marc LeVier. “UTEP set a goal of $40 million to get the program initiated, and this investment will bring UTEP back in the game.” UTEP was founded in 1913 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy. However, in 1966, the initial mining engineering program was ended. Now as of September 2024, the university has announced the rebirth of this program, a critical step for the industry. “Thanks to the UT System Board of Regents’ investment, funding will primarily support scholarships, faculty salaries during startup, recruitment, labs and student experiences,” said UTEP College of Engineering dean Ken Meissner. According to Meissner, the university plans to hire six new faculty members over a period of three years, in order to ensure the program is properly staffed. “UTEP has an excellent track record recruiting faculty in the STEM fields,” said Meissner. Last year, universities in the United States graduated only 312 mining engineers. There will be an estimated average of 500 job openings annually over the next 10 years. The restart of the mining engineering program at UTEP will help close this gap, with the program projected to produce up to 100 mining engineers each year once fully established. No universities in Texas currently offer a mining engineering program. “With this investment, UTEP is set to become the only mining school in Texas, which has the #1 mining economy in the entire U.S. with a nearly $10 billion industry. There’s no doubt that this investment is going to open us up to reaching more students with an interest in mining, and causing students to consider mining,” said Meissner. Texas plays a significant role in the mining industry, particularly due to its diverse natural resources. Yet, since the program’s end in 1966, Texas has not served as an education hub for engineers in the industry. “Texas in 2023 had $9.75 billion in revenue generated from mining and not one mining engineering program,” said LeVier. “Many of these graduates will fill needs in Texas and there will be positive impacts for Texas.” However, with this program’s reestablishment, UTEP could serve as a major player in attracting young, bright minds into the industry. Currently, industry officials are worried about the stagnant workforce pool, with a large portion of leaders set to retire by 2030. With its launch in 2027, UTEP “hopes to offer the nation 100 mining engineering graduates a year, a 30 percent increase in mining engineers from just one university,” according to Meissner. Given proper structuration, funding and resources, the program has the potential to become one of the biggest and best in the country. As a leading research university, UTEP holds an R1 status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a prestigious ranking that must be retained. As an already notable school, the institution garners sufficient attention. Now, it is set to attract the eyes of those interested in or in pursuit of a mining career. “In Texas alone, we have 1.6 million college students, with 93 percent of our residents staying in Texas for their undergraduate education. UTEP will be able to tap a new pool of mining engineering students based in Texas and Northern Mexico,” said Meissner, regarding UTEP’s strong pull for the industry. Given the university’s geographical location, the program aspires to attract not only students from Texas, but also northern Mexico. UTEP has a deep track record of industry collaboration, top-tier engineering education and the ability to recruit bilingual talent for the mining industry that is global in scope. Located along the Rio Grande, where the United States and Mexico converge, the university serves as a Hispanic-serving institution. According to Meissner, 84 percent of UTEP’s students are Hispanic and 70 percent are bilingual or Spanish speaking. “We believe UTEP students can help fill the needs of the global mining industry,” he said. As industries increasingly rely on various minerals, including rare earth elements and other critical materials, UTEP’s program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to innovate in mineral extraction and processing. By focusing on sustainable mining practices, the program will prepare graduates to tackle environmental challenges while maximizing resource efficiency, ensuring that society can meet its mineral needs responsibly. The mining engineering program will foster collaboration between academia and industry, creating opportunities for research and development in mineral processing techniques. This partnership will not only enhance local economic development but also contribute to the advancement of mining technologies that prioritize safety and environmental stewardship, and further direct attention to Texas’ essential role in mining. Mineral resource development in Texas may get a more serious look as well by explorers and developers as a result,” said LeVier, regarding the potential of the new program. “Remember, nuclear is becoming popular again, and Texas has an established uranium mining resource and production history as well as other mineral resources that are aligned with the large list of critical minerals.” With the establishment of this new program, LeVier is confident that the SME can play a crucial role in supporting UTEP’s new mining engineering program through various avenues. By facilitating connections with professionals and organizations in the mining sector, SME could help assist UTEP by making scholarships, internships and mentorship programs available, which would enhance student engagement and practical experience. “SME can provide assistance with lecturers, current topic discussions online, the SME Mentor Program, student interactions at MINEXCHANGE annual meetings, reference books, OneMine, ABET accreditation, career mentoring, identifying potential internships available, industry connections, collaboration with other researchers – the list is exhaustive,” said LeVier. These initiatives would not only attract prospective students to the program but also foster relationships between students and industry leaders. Through these collaborative efforts, SME could significantly enhance UTEP’s mining engineering program, benefiting both students and the broader mining community. While UTEP’s establishment of a new mining engineering program is a significant step toward addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in the mining sector, it highlights a broader need for more educational programs across the country and beyond. The global push for sustainable resource extraction and processing, driven by technological advancements and environmental concerns, underscores the necessity for a robust workforce equipped with specialized knowledge. As industries increasingly rely on diverse minerals, including those critical for renewable energy technologies, the gap between the demand for skilled engineers and the current educational offerings becomes more pronounced. One step toward meeting this demand could be achieved with the passage of the Mining Schools Act of 2023 through the House of Representatives. “The bill should be increased in annual and total funds, if the U.S. is serious about increasing our mineral independence,” said LeVier. This raises the broader concern — the United States’ heavy reliance on foreign nations for minerals, partially due to its lack of centralized mining agency. This dependency poses significant economic and national security concerns, particularly as global competition for resources intensifies. Much of the country’s mineral supply chains are dominated by imports, which can be precarious during geopolitical tensions or supply-chain disruptions. “The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) was the expert that was able to coordinate in the government the needs for decent mineral production, innovation and education. Facts prove that these areas have all gone down since the loss of the USBM,” said LeVier. Established in 1910, the USBM was closed in 1996. A centralized mining agency in the United States would ideally streamline regulatory processes and coordinate efforts across various federal, state and local entities. This could promote sustainable mining practices, facilitate partnerships between educational institutions and industry, and foster research into new extraction technologies. Without a cohesive strategy, the mining sector faces fragmented regulations that can stifle innovation and discourage investment. This lack of organization makes it challenging to efficiently explore and develop domestic mineral resources, which are abundant but underutilized.

University of Texas at El Paso to reestablish its mining engineering program

Authored by: Carrie Smith

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