By News and Media Relations
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s proposed School of Optometry has recently been granted Stage One designation by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), marking a crucial milestone on the path to full accreditation and the program’s planned launch in fall 2027.
In a letter to President Guy Bailey, the ACOE stated that UTRGV’s letter of intent, needs assessment, feasibility study and risk assessment were “complete and sufficiently developed.” This Stage One designation confirms that foundational planning is on track, allowing the program to continue its accreditation process.
“Stage One designation is an important milestone on our path to launching South Texas’s next premier healthcare program,” Bailey said. “The School of Optometry will not only address a critical shortage in vision care but will serve as a beacon for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in South Texas.”
Approved by the UT System Board of Regents in May 2024 and endorsed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in January 2025, UTRGV is set to become only the second public university in Texas to offer a Doctor of Optometry (OD) program.
The new OD program is designed to enroll approximately 40 students per cohort and will employ 20 full‑time faculty, blending research‑active scientists with clinical practitioners. The four‑year, 189‑credit‑hour curriculum will model itself after the nation’s top five optometry programs in terms of board‑pass rates and will include roughly 1,500 supervised patient encounters across specialties such as glaucoma, pediatrics, myopia control, vision therapy and surgical care.
Collaboration with UTRGV’s School of Medicine and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute will integrate cutting‑edge research into the curriculum – an especially vital focus in a region where diabetes‑related eye disease is a leading health concern.
“The School of Optometry’s foundation is rooted in collaboration – with leading researchers, clinical experts and the community,” said Dr. William Miller, dean of the School of Optometry. “We are proud to be shaping a program that combines scientific inquiry with compassionate, hands‑on care for communities across the Valley.”
