Gov. Rick Perry was in the Rio Grande Valley to ceremonially sign a bill that merges the University of Texas-Pan American and the University of Texas at Brownsville create a new university and a medical school.
Perry said at an event Edinburg on Tuesday that the new university "will be a beacon of opportunity, innovation and potential in the Valley." He noted also that the Rio Grande Valley is growing rapidly in terms of population and economic power.
The bill creating the new school was signed into law by Perry in June.
Supporters of the bill have said the new university, and most notably the medical school, are critically needed to serve the education and health care needs in the region along the Texas-Mexico border.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.