This is your Friday update, which takes a quick look at the week ahead and some developments that El Paso Matters is following.
Slight Enrollment Drops at UTEP, EPCC: The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College reported small decreases in student enrollment this fall compared to last year. EPCC reported 24,203 students in comparison to 24,375 in 2021. UTEP registered 23,880 graduate and undergraduate students this year, which is a slight drop from the 24,003 who enrolled last year. Both institutions reported a strong increase in first-time college students. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso started its fall 2022 semester on Sept. 13, and will not have its final registration numbers until next month.
UTEP Student Groups Help Migrants: Several UTEP student groups are joining forces to raise goods and money to help support recently arrived migrants in El Paso. The donations will support work being done by Annunciation House and Reynolds Home. The student groups are seeking waterproofing material, such as tarps, for people sleeping outside; travel-friendly foods and snacks; adult shoes size 8 and higher for men and size 5 and higher for women; and men’s and women’s pants. Drop-off locations are in the first-floor main office of Old Main on the UTEP campus, as well as off-campus locations at Amanecer, 1708 Montana Ave., Suite A; and Reynolds Home, 8023 San Jose Road. Phone in advance of off-campus donations at 915-929-9055. You can also call that number for information on how to make monetary donations, which will be used for bus tickets and other needs for the migrants.
Second Monkeypox Case: City of El Paso public health officials confirmed Monday the county’s second case of monkeypox in a man in his 40s. The man is recovering at home, officials said. The city’s epidemiology team is working to identify his close contacts and will offer them the vaccine. The county’s first case was reported in mid-August in a woman in her 50s. Monkeypox is a viral disease similar to smallpox and is transmitted most often by skin-to-skin contact. While most cases have been in men who have sex with men, monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease and anyone — regardless of age, gender or sexuality — can get the disease. As of now, the city is only offering Jynneos, the monkeypox vaccine, to people after they have been exposed to someone with the virus.
EPCC Redistricting Committee Needs Volunteers: El Paso County Community College is preparing to begin its redistricting process and is looking for volunteers to serve on its redistricting committee. After every national census, governmental bodies must redraw the political boundaries for their elected officials to ensure equal presentation. The city and county of El Paso have already completed their redistricting. For the application to serve on the EPCC committee and for eligibility requirements visit: go.epcc.edu/redistricting.
Free Pet Microchip Scanner at East Side Park: The city of El Paso in partnership with 24Pet and Best Friends Animal Society is setting up the first 24Pet Reunite Site at an East Side park. The reunite site is a stand-alone, solar-powered microchip scanner that the public can use to read a pet’s chip to find its owner, instead of taking the pet to the animal shelter. The scanner was placed at Salvador Rivas Jr. Park, 12480 Pebble Hills Drive, because of the large number of lost pets found in that neighborhood. Residents can also use the site to ensure their pet is microchipped, learn their pet’s microchip number and find out where to get their pet microchipped.
