Since our founding in 2000, Raiders Rojos grew through its partnership with the Texas Tech Alumni Association after the introduction of interest- and identity-based networks and groups, with Raiders Rojos becoming formally recognized as the Raiders Rojos Alumni Network in the early 2020s. However, major statewide and federal shifts beginning in late 2023 dramatically reshaped our trajectory. After the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 17 (SB 17) — prohibiting DEI offices and initiatives at public universities — Texas Tech was required to close its DEI offices on January 1, 2024, which resulted in Raiders Rojos losing its on-campus office space. In early 2025, citing guidance from the U.S. Department of Education issued to university leadership, affinity groups like ours were no longer permitted to host convocations on campus, ending nearly two decades of celebrating graduates at the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center and the Frazier Alumni Pavilion. This prompted Raiders Rojos to move its biannually held Graduation Convocation off campus and to the Overton Hotel & Conference Center, across the street from Jones AT&T Stadium, for its May 2025 Convocation.

By summer 2025, Texas Tech University announced that it would bring the Texas Tech Alumni Association under university operation, ending TTAA’s nearly century-long autonomy and nonprofit status. Combined with the impacts of SB 17, this meant Raiders Rojos could no longer operate as an affinity group under TTAA, culminating in a formal separation in September 2025 and concluding a partnership of more than 25 years.

In September/October 2025, Raiders Rojos entered a new era: we rebranded with a new Double R logo, established our own independent 501(c)(3) organization under the new name Raiders Rojos Alumni Association, opened an off-campus office in Downtown Lubbock, and began a fresh chapter under the leadership of the 2025–2027 Board of Directors.