UTEP will be hanging up one of its longest traditions this year-the annual homecoming parade.

Dean of students and associate vice president for student engagement, Catie McCorry-Andalis, sent KVIA a statement about the decision to remove the parade from the homecoming week schedule.

“After much information-gathering and reflection, we’ve decided that it was best to bring the excitement of this homecoming event to the center of campus and schedule it at a time when we can better engage our students. We plan to have a large-scale pep rally the Thursday of homecoming week that will bring in elements of the parade, such as participation from our student organizations and UTEP athletics.

We have evolved with our changing and ever-growing student body. In recent years, we have also made adjustments that are more compatible with our transformed and more pedestrian-friendly campus,” McCorry-Andalis said.

This year’s theme is “Bringing Back the ’90s.” Festivities will still include a pep rally at Centennial Plaza to compensate for the parade on Thursday, Oct. 5.