A building that housed The Monitor for more than two decades is getting a $41.3 million transformation as The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley prepares to open its new School of Optometry.
The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Thursday approved $41.3 million in Permanent University Fund bond proceeds to renovate the former AIM Media Texas property at 1400 E. Nolana Ave., where The Monitor operated for more than 21 years.
The building will become the academic and clinical home of UTRGV’s new Doctor of Optometry program, replacing a longtime newspaper operation with classrooms, pre-clinic laboratories, research areas, patient-care space, and faculty and administrative offices.
Regents also approved tuition and fees for the program, clearing two major milestones as UTRGV works toward welcoming its first class of about 40 students in fall 2027. The program still requires approval from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education before it can launch.
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