The Regional Economic Impact
of the
University of Houston System
Produced by the Institute for Regional Forecasting
Principal Analyst
Barton A. Smith, Ph.D.
Economics Professor, Emeritus
University of Houston
2013
Table of Contents
Executive Summary............................................................................................................................. 4
I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 1
The Influence of Institutions of Higher Education ...................................................................... 1
The Many Roles of Universities within an Urban Community ................................................ 1
Expanding a Region’s Human Capital Base .............................................................................. 2
Community Service ................................................................................................................. 3
Synergies Between Academia and Area Businesses................................................................ 5
The Demand-Side Macroeconomic Impact of Institutions of Higher Education ........................ 5
Jobs and Spending Created on Campus................................................................................... 5
The Spread of Initial Impacts to the Rest of the Economy ...................................................... 6
II. MEASURING THE IMPACT OF A LOCAL UNIVERSITY ................................................................... 7
Estimating Economic Impacts: Demand-Side Analyses .............................................................. 7
Identifying New Outside Dollars.............................................................................................. 7
With/Without Perspective vs. Before/After Analyses ............................................................. 7
Modeling the With/Without Worlds ....................................................................................... 8
The Use of Input-Output Models ............................................................................................ 8
The Multiplier Effect ............................................................................................................... 9
Leakages ................................................................................................................................ 10
Getting Started ...................................................................................................................... 10
Documenting Supply-Side Influences ....................................................................................... 11
The Supply-Side Literature .................................................................................................... 11
What Can Be Done ................................................................................................................ 12
III. THE IMPACT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ..................................................................... 13
The Demand-Side Impact of the University .............................................................................. 13
The Direct and Indirect Impacts ............................................................................................ 13
Isolating the Exogenous Component of University of Houston Spending ............................. 13
Import Substitution ............................................................................................................... 14
With and Without the University of Houston ....................................................................... 14
Choosing the Most Appropriate I-O Model .............................................................................. 15
Alternative Options ............................................................................................................... 15
The IMPLAN Model ............................................................................................................... 16
The Supply-Side Influences of the University of Houston ........................................................ 16
The University’s Mandate ..................................................................................................... 16
Delineating the Multiple Dimensions of the University/Community Connection ................. 17
IV. EMPIRICAL RESULTS OF THE DEMAND-SIDE ANALYSIS .......................................................... 17
Demand-Side Analysis ............................................................................................................... 17
Identifying Exogenous Spending Related to UH System Activities ........................................ 17
Results of the IMPLAN Demand-Side Analysis .......................................................................... 20
Direct, Indirect and Induced Effect of UHS Regional Economic Stimuli................................. 20
The Relative Importance of the UH-MSA Stimulus ............................................................... 21
The Victoria Impact ............................................................................................................... 22
The Distribution of Gains ...................................................................................................... 22
Fiscal Dividends to State and Local Government .................................................................. 22
Summary of the Demand-Side Effects .................................................................................. 23
Supply -Side Considerations ..................................................................................................... 23
Educating the Local Populace/Enhancing the Stock of Local Human Capital ........................ 23
Community Service ............................................................................................................... 29
CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................... 31
TABLES............................................................................................................................... 33
APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................... 51
Executive Summary
Increasingly, major urban areas recognize the vital relationship that exists
between economic development, the education of its work force and the presence of
quality institutions of higher education. Simply put, urban economies where institutions
of higher education play a prominent role are stronger and more robust than those
without such institutions. Houston is certainly no exception. The benefits generated by
the four universities of the University of Houston System (UHS) make a notable
contribution to the economy of the area. However, Houston’s thriving economy is now so
diverse that no single entity can claim exceptionality. With thousands of companies and
governmental and non-profit organizations in Houston, it is impressive that only a dozen
or so economic institutions, private or public, are more important than UHS to the
Houston economy. Put into context, UHS has a similar impact as the University of Texas’
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center or Halliburton.
This study’s Tables and Appendices sections enumerate the specific data behind
our conclusions, but here is a snap shot of the more prominent findings:
Gross Regional Product (annual):
Total Regional Sales (annual):
Degrees Awarded (2005-2009):
$2.3 billion
$3.8 billion
56,000
In addition, this study acknowledges the considerable community service rendered
by UHS faculty, staff and students. Assigning a dollar figure to such services is beyond the
scope of the study, but they are clearly of value to the region and Appendix 6 provides an
overview (not a comprehensive list) of such assets.
Please note that the IMPLAN model was used for the current study, whereas the
REMI model was used in 2006. Although it may be of interest to note percentage
increases in some categories from 2006 to 2012 – Total Sales went up 22%, for example,
and Gross Regional Product rose about 60% – keep in mind that since different economic
models were used, not all such calculations will be precise. Also note that this study
occasionally makes a distinction between the three Houston metropolitan universities
(UH, UHCL and UHD), which are referred to collectively as UH-MSA, and UH-Victoria,
which is technically located in another region.
While this study can and should be interpreted as generally positive – UHS
continues to play a significant role in the area’s economic vigor and stability – it updates a
cautionary observation from the 2006 report. Overall, Houston still continues to invest
less than many other urban areas in providing higher education resources and in
producing its own college graduates. Thus far, a prosperous Houston has been successful
in recruiting a high-skilled work force from outside the region to meet this shortfall. But it
is progressively more precarious for an urban area to leave a sizeable portion of its
population without higher education and to fail to develop a sufficient source of its own
human capital.
The Regional Economic Impact
of the
University of Houston System
I. INTRODUCTION
The Influence of Institutions of Higher Education
The Many Roles of Universities within an Urban Community
Analyzing the impact of any one particular aspect of a large nationally
recognized university may prove useful, but it will miss the forest for the trees. That’s
because these institutions are complex organizations, providing a wide variety of
highly differentiated services to a region. First and foremost, a university provides for
the educational needs of the citizens it serves. This is a particularly daunting task
locally, given the nearly 70,000 graduating high school students within the Houston
metropolitan area each year.
Today, meeting this need is more important than ever. A college degree is
essential for the economic success of the rising generation. The urgency has been
exacerbated by the fact that the requirements of having a post-secondary education
are far greater today because of the dramatic ascendency of the high tech sectors in
the American economy. Indeed, all sectors of the national and Houston economies
have become high tech to some extent. This means that industry is much more
heavily dependent upon labor with knowledge-based skills, the type that are most
readily available from quality institutions of higher education. As a result, young
people today who are limited to only a high school education or “cheap” substitutes
for a substantive higher education experience are doomed to the lowest paying jobs,
that is, if they can find a job at all.
For policy makers in Houston, the challenge is to get the vast majority of its
youth to complete their high school education, prepare them adequately for
additional education in college or technical school and then provide them with the
opportunity to accomplish that goal. Colleges and universities are particularly
important in large urban areas where substantial segments of the high school student
population find it difficult to achieve their educational dreams and find that the
necessity to leave home to obtain an education push costs way beyond their reach.
1
However, local colleges and universities do more than just provide for the
needs of a portion of their resident population. Most major cities have a multitude of
institutions of higher learning and together they provide a culture of learning within
the overall community that is difficult to describe because the whole is always
significantly greater than the sum of the individual parts. While each institution has its
own particular strengths, specializations and comparative advantages, together a
metropolitan area’s colleges and universities provide an environment of higher
education that can transform a population into one that is diverse and cosmopolitan,
energized with ideas, better endowed for providing service in both the public and
private sectors and more capable of producing personal incomes commensurate
with a high quality of life.
Expanding a Region’s Human Capital Base
In addition to the obvious benefits to individuals within the community, the
regional economy itself receives benefits in a more macro-economic way. A portion of
the product of any area’s universities becomes a part of the region’s stock of human
capital. 1 Today’s metropolitan areas can only thrive and grow if they have ample
access to a labor force with high levels of human capital. This is why education is one
of the two most important factors in the annual report published by Forbes magazine
ranking the “Best Places for Businesses and Careers.” This report has compared the
largest 200 metropolitan areas for more than 15 years. Indeed, two higher education
measures are utilized in that study: first, the level of educational attainment of the
metropolitan population as a whole; and second, the number of highly ranked
colleges and universities in the area. In this year’s report Houston is listed as number
20 overall out of the 200 cities examined, but its educational rank is only 99. 2 One can
only imagine what its ranking would have been without the presence of the University
of Houston System. 3
It is particularly interesting that in that Forbes report the “number of highly
ranked colleges and universities” is stressed. In evaluating the state of a region’s
higher education facilities one should be careful to avoid the simple numbers game.
It is easy to simply count the number of students or degrees awarded each year as
some measure of higher education adequacy, but progressively the issue of the
quality of that education has become a serious matter for industry, both locally and
nationwide. More and more private sector leaders are complaining that many
1
The term “human capital” is economists’ jargon for the sum of the skills, knowledge, and know-how
that are embedded within the regional labor force.
2
See Appendix 1
3
“The Best Places for Business and Careers”, Forbes, June 27, 2012 (http: //www.forbes. com/best-places-forbusiness/)
2
American educated students have inadequate skills and knowledge base to meet
today’s industry requirements. This is especially true in the sciences, mathematics,
engineering, and computer sciences. Thus, every urban area is not just dependent
upon the number of colleges and universities within its borders, but also upon the
quality of those institutions in terms of recognized scholarship, the expertise of its
faculty and the skill set of its students and graduates. Thus, a city such as Boston can
take pride not only in the number of institutions of higher education within its
region, but also in the quality of those institutions. 4
The importance of a major presence of colleges and universities within a
region goes beyond just producing college graduates for the local area’s labor market.
The presence of these institutions also provides a package of amenities that helps a
community attract additional people with high educational attainment because
highly educated people consider the presence of good colleges and universities as a
major attraction in making their locational choices in a nation that is more mobile
across regions and communities than ever before.
Community Service
Not that long ago, oil stimulated the first significant wave of urbanization. That
aspect of energy sector’s impact vastly accelerated during the boom of the 1970s.
Today, thanks to a much more diversified economy, and following the national trend,
Texas today is dominated by its urban centers. Along with that evolution have come
new challenges for the state and its larger cities.
More than a century ago when America was still primarily rural, the nation
recognized the need to link academic pursuits with the agricultural sector by
establishing land-grant colleges and by providing continuing financial support for
agricultural extension services. At the time, the Texas economy was also largely rural.
In today’s more urban and industrialized America, the need to broaden the scope and
vision of extension services to urban America has never been greater. That’s as true
of Texas and Houston as it is for the megatropolises of the East Coast. Oil stimulated
the first significant wave of Houston area urbanization. That aspect of the energy
sector’s impact vastly accelerated during the boom of the 1970s, but after the energy
bust of the ’80s when Houston’s economy became more diversified the urbanization
process continued to accelerate. In fact, most of Texas today is dominated by its
urban centers, with new challenges that had not previously been addressed.
Fortunately for both the state and nation many local universities see that as a
part of their role. This is especially true of major public urban universities that have
4
Of the largest metropolitan areas, Boston, San Francisco-Bay Area, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and
New York City are among some of the notable cities with the highest “education ranking”. (See
Appendix 1)
3
accepted public service to the local community as a part of their mandate. In
America’s large metropolitan areas blessed with quality institutions of higher
education, the resources they make available are often their single most important
source of urban problem solving and policy analysis.
In many cases, the community service rendered is an extension of the teaching
responsibility of these institutions. Academic theory can be rather abstract to many
students and appear irrelevant to the real world they will soon face unless those
students get their feet wet with practical experience. Thus, universities, with a
proliferation of programs and institutes, give students a much better chance to apply
their new knowledge to real-world problems. Service to the community is also
beneficial to faculty as well, bringing them back down to earth and reminding them of
the most pressing problems faced by their non-academic counterparts. Thus,
university engagement with the community not only aids the community, but also
makes for better students, researchers and more relevant teachers.
Often community service comes in the form of direct participation in particular
programs, from helping local impoverished households to aiding the institutions of
primary and secondary education. Community service also comes in the form of
providing irregular, but critical expertise to metropolitan governments and
organizations. In some cases these tasks require the knowledge and experience of
faculty. In other cases these tasks are perfectly suited for student internships.
However this service manifests itself, the bottom line is that the academic
community associated with high quality research institutions becomes a deep
reservoir of expertise that the non-academic community can tap when needed.
Given the challenges of urban society and the fiscal limitations imposed upon this
nation’s hierarchy of governments, the university community usually becomes the
only economically viable source of help that a metropolis can turn to. Of course, this
academic connection to the broader community helps the regional economy thrive
and grow. As urban problems are solved, the dis-amenities associated with city size
are diminished, allowing the inherent benefits of urban economies of scale to
continue to promote growth that adds to the community’s prosperity, not its
problems.
The link between local universities and its community also contributes to the
urban amenities that can make any metropolitan area more attractive to the highly
educated work force it needs. Despite locally produced skilled and educated labor,
Houston has always needed to import a sizeable portion of its educated labor force
from outside the region. Attracting that type of labor is not always easy. Thus, it is
important to remember that highly educated individuals are attracted to places
where the search for knowledge is active and an integral part of community affairs.
Today, more and more of America’s young educated population are searching for
areas in which to live that offer low costs and valued amenities. While large urban
4
areas find it difficult to compete with more pristine areas in terms of natural
amenities, they have a significant comparative advantage when it comes to the
knowledge and arts environment that urban areas can provide, amenities which are
greatly augmented by the presence of quality institutions of higher education.
Synergies Between Academia and Area Businesses
Urban universities produce impacts that go beyond the additions they provide
to the region’s human capital and the amount of available local expertise. Major
research universities produce, as a by-product of their academic research, knowledge
and discoveries directly useful to the local private sector. Typically, the research
advances within a community are not just random discoveries. They are often a
reflection, not only of a general search for knowledge within the world community,
but of the needs of the local region as well. It is not surprising to see a concentration
of knowledge of forestry in Oregon universities, marine science in Washington,
robotics engineering in Michigan or chemistry and geology in Texas. Thus, the
relationship between a university and the community of which it is a part becomes a
symbiotic one, with each benefitting the other. For example, Houston was the perfect
place to conduct research in energy, medicine and space.
Often the symbiotic links become so strong that formal “partnerships” are
formed between the academic and non-academic communities. The partnerships
may take the form of joint ventures, cooperative research efforts, the sharing of
personnel and equipment, or the sharing of research and testing costs. The presence
of this type of interactive environment not only benefits the firms that are already
within the region, but also makes the region more attractive to firms considering
moving there. Indeed, the presence of quality universities acts as a magnet for new
businesses, not only because of the ease of access they provide to state of the art
expertise relevant to private sector firms, but also because of the general culture of
knowledge that emanates from the academic community that attracts both firms and
the individuals those firms wish to hire.
All of these benefits described above are referred to by regional economists as
“supply-side effects.” This term emanates from the fact that what is being delineated
affects a region’s supply of key resources, capital, technology and labor. Hence these
types of impacts stimulate local economic growth by promoting “supply” as opposed
to increasing the demand for local products. The latter stems from an increase in the
demand for goods and services supplied to users outside the region. These
“demand-side effects” are described in the subsection below.
The Demand-Side Macroeconomic Impact of Institutions of Higher Education
Jobs and Spending Created on Campus
5
While the primary motive and rationale for vibrant higher education should
not be the direct dollars it brings into the community, these benefits are also an
important spillover to an urban region and also spur economic growth. For “college
towns” the impact is obvious. The town’s very existence revolves around the
university. For a large urban area the impact is less obvious, yet universities within
large urban areas do provide a non-trivial stimulant to their local economy.
University’s themselves create jobs and increase spending for local businesses, but
the impact goes much deeper than that.
In Houston no single entity dominates the economic landscape unless you
aggregate them into their relevant composite sectors. Of course, in that case the
energy sectors, either upstream or downstream, are dominant features of the
Houston economic landscape. Single entities like the Texas Medical Center and NASA
stand out in Houston as visible icons of the regional economy, but given an economy
with more than 3 million jobs, their role is only a small part of the overall local
economy.
In that context, the University of Houston is simply just another important
piece of the puzzle. Yet, any enterprise considering moving to Houston and hiring
7,000 employees would be considered a tremendous prize to the region and would be
highly courted by the City of Houston and the Greater Houston Partnership. Thus, the
jobs the University of Houston directly creates, the household income that it
produces, and the local spending by the University generated in the course of its
operations and expansion play a significant role in the overall metropolitan area
economy. 5
The Spread of Initial Impacts to the Rest of the Economy
The impact of jobs, income and spending directly tied to the university do not
stop there, however. A good portion of the incomes generated by the university is
spent locally, further expanding the regional economy as it grows to accommodate
that increase in demand. That is why “college towns” are so dependent upon their
local university. Without their university they’d not only lose the direct jobs created
at those institutions, but also the sizeable spillover effects to virtually all sectors of
the local economy that are dependent upon the demand for goods and services
stimulated by the incomes generated by the campus itself.
This type of impact has been modeled by economists for more than half a
5
The terms local, regional, or metropolitan area in general can refer to a variety of geographic
definitions. However, it should be noted that for all empirical analyses in this report, all of these
terms are meant to refer to the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area, a U.S. Census and Federal
Government definition of Houston which includes Harris County and the seven counties surrounding
it, Montgomery, Liberty, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Waller.
6
century, but the task must be carefully done. Hosts of studies conducted over the
years for every imaginable economic enterprise have been conducted without
careful attention to the requirements for accurate estimation. In the next section,
more detail is provided regarding what those requirements are, so that the reader
can understand the differences between correctly and incorrectly done analyses.
II. MEASURING THE IMPACT OF A LOCAL UNIVERSITY
Estimating Economic Impacts: Demand-Side Analyses
Identifying New Outside Dollars
The first rule for correct impact analyses is that a stimulative demand-side
effect upon a region is created only to the extent that a new economic activity brings
in new “outside dollars.” However, what constitutes “outside dollars” is not always
obvious. For local universities “outside dollars” can stem from students attracted to
a local university from outside the region, from direct and indirect support from
governments outside the region, and from gifts and grants for research or programs
that come from sources beyond the local borders. However, in addition, local
universities can “save local dollars” by diverting what otherwise might be spent by
local residents for education at out-of-town locations, keeping those dollars within
the region through spending on locally provided education. This phenomenon is
called “import substitution” by regional economists. In effect, potential lost dollars
are drawn back to the region by the availability of quality local higher education. For
urban areas where the demand from stay-at-home students is quite high, this
economic impact upon a metropolitan area can be substantial. 6
With/Without Perspective vs. Before/After Analyses
Analysts have attempted to estimate the impact of exogenous events for
decades. 7 In many cases, past studies have erroneously compared outcomes before
some new economic activity versus outcomes after that activity has occurred or
begun. Such examples include the comparison of economic growth rates before and
after tax or spending changes, property values before and after neighborhood
improvements, and environmental changes before and after industrial development.
6
Note that students who without a particular local university would remain in the region as a
non-student or attend another local university produce no “demand-side” impact since all that is
happening is a shift in demand (dollars expenditures) from one part of the local economy to another.
The net effect is zero.
7
The term exogenous has a very precise meaning. This is anything of significance to an economy that is
determined outside the workings of the economy itself. Thus, market forces determined solely in
world and national markets produce outcomes (prices, demands, etc.) exogenous to a regional
economy.
7
The error with this type of approach is that it fails to isolate the impact that can
be directly attributable to a particular economic activity from all other influences that
would have produced change anyway. The relevant question is how does the new
level of economic activity compare with what would have happened had the particular
activity or enterprise not have been a part of the local economic environment. For
Houston, economic growth will occur with or without the University of Houston. The
question is how different would economic activity have been in Houston were it not
for the fact that it has a first-class university system serving over 70,000 students each
year, hiring 7,000 employees, spending over $1.5 billion dollars within the Houston
economy, and interacting in a multitude of ways with the community it serves. While
there are no economic models that have been successful in isolating the synergetic
and amenity impacts of a local university, for years there has been a standard
economic framework to estimate the demand-side impact of increased spending,
income and employment by the university.
Modeling the With/Without Worlds
Since in ex post studies the without world is not observable, impact analyses
require the ability to estimate or forecast what would have occurred in the absence
of any new activity, project or facility. That world can then be compared to the
reality observed at present. If the study to be performed is an ex anti analysis, then
the model utilized must have the capability to “forecast” both the “with” and
“without” scenarios.
In the case of economic development, policy makers might ask what might be
the impact of the relocation of a major firm to the local region in terms of jobs, real
incomes, local sales, and perhaps governmental tax collections. Once again, this
cannot be answered without the ability to forecast and compare the economic
outcomes without the relocation versus the outcomes with the relocation. The
application of simple before/after analysis can seriously bias the result either
positively or negatively.
The Use of Input-Output Models
Virtually all economic analyses of demand-side impacts utilize a form of
economic models referred to as input-output (I-O) models. These models link all
sectors within an economy with each other and with outside (exogenous) demands
that influence those sectors. That is why they are often referred to as demand-side
or demand-driven models. Regional economists have known for years that a local
economy can be divided into economic base sectors and secondary sectors. The
former sells goods and services outside the region, while the latter sells goods and
services only to local households and businesses within the region. For any
community with the need for imports (which includes them all), exports are required
8
to bring in the dollars required to acquire those imports. 8 Indeed, such regions
cannot exist without exports and cannot grow without an increase in the sale of their
exports. Because at the regional level the demand driven models (like Keynesian
models) are so focused upon exports to areas outside the region, input/output
models are often referred to as “export based” models. The export sectors can
either be defined in terms of the flow of goods and services (where their products
go) or in terms of where their revenues come from (whether or not their sales
emanate from outside the region, bringing “outside dollars” into the region). It is
only with the application of such models that one can attempt to pursue
with/without perspective analyses.
For every new dollar that comes into the region, that dollar becomes local
income that gets re-spent creating even more demand for goods and services. In
other words, the initial impact does not end with the direct increase in exogenous
spending. Once correctly identified, the outside dollars brought into the community
produce an impact significantly greater than their totals alone imply. A portion of
every one of those new outside dollars generated locally will get spent again on local
goods and services by households who experience an increase in income and from
business who spend for needed inputs required to produce the product or service
they are exporting. In fact, the process will continue as these secondary sales
produce additional tertiary sales and so on.
If out of every dollar of new income 100% were spent locally, then this process
would continue forever, resulting in an infinite expansion of the local economy.
However, not all of the new dollars are spent locally. It may be the case that out of a
portion of the dollars of new demand from outside the region, a business may have
to purchase a sizeable amount of its inputs from outside as well. Furthermore, of the
net income that is generated within the region, much will be spent on outside goods
and services. This flow of dollars outside the region is referred to as “leakages” and
these leakages are what keep the initial stimulus from expanding forever. That is, the
process ends only because each dollar of new local income is not totally spent locally,
but also on imports.
The Multiplier Effect
The relationship between the increase in new exogenous outside dollars
entering the region and the overall impact as those dollars wind their way through
the economy is referred to the “multiplier effect.” When each new outside dollar
entering the economy produces as much as a $3 to $4 in overall sales growth, the
8
A vast amount of the consumption of urban residents emanates from the import of goods and
services from other regions, thus requiring a substantial amount of exports in order to support the
urban population.
9
initial impact is multiplied 3 to 4 times. The ultimate equilibrium of this additional
local spending is referred to as the indirect and induced impacts and the total impact
is the sum of all three: direct, indirect and induced. The ratio of the total impact to
the direct impact is referred to as the multiplier. Thus, if the multiplier were 2.5,
then for every $100,000 of new exogenous spending within the community, there
would ultimately be a total increase in regional sales of $250,000. Multipliers can
also be defined in terms of employment, so if the employment multiplier were 3,
then the addition of a new firm into a region hiring 200 new workers would
ultimately produce a net increase of 600 total regional jobs.
Since the size of the multiplier impact depends upon the extent of the leakages
out of the initial exogenous dollar stimuli, its value depends upon the dependency of
the region on imports from the outside. Because the larger economies provide a much
greater breadth of products and services internally, they require fewer purchases
from outside the region (imports). Thus, the re-spending process continues longer, is
more influential upon the local economy, and hence the multiplier is larger. Small
economies, on the other hand, require so much of their factor inputs and
consumption needs from external sources that the process quickly dissipates, and
hence the multiplier can be quite small. Such differences also exist between sectors. In
Houston, for example, the petrochemical industry produces low household incomes
because it is so highly capital intensive and relies on inputs that are mostly imported
from outside the region. Hence, for that sector secondary spending within the region
is much more limited and the multiplier associated with new demands for chemicals is
relatively small. The point is that multipliers associated with any particular increased
activity can range from less than .5 to more than 4.
Leakages
The role of leakages suggests another important way that regional economies
can be stimulated. If any new business or activity diverts some of the leakages back
into the local economy, this too can have a stimulative effect. In essence, dollars that
would have otherwise left the community are being “brought back” and have the
same economic effect as new dollars brought in. This phenomenon in the economics
literature is referred to as the “import substitution” effect. Some economic activities
stimulate the overall regional economy almost exclusively through import
substitution.
Getting Started
The demand-side approach, utilizing demand-side input-output models, is
quite straightforward and very well documented in the economics literature. The
first step in this type of analysis is to identify all of the exogenous increases in
spending within the community that are associated with any particular economic
activity. For Houston, oil prices and the revenue it generates would be an exogenous
10
variable or determinant of the upstream energy sector that is a part of the region’s
economic base, and hence the overall economy. For the city’s institutions of higher
education, revenues earned from outside the region, bringing outside dollars into the
region, would be considered exogenous demand and would constitute a part of the
region’s overall “economic base.” An increase in those revenues would be
stimulative to the overall regional economy.
The identification of exogenous spending is not always easy. For example,
during the 1980s and 1990s a host of nationwide studies were conducted regarding
the economic impact of new sports venues in American cities. Often these studies
erroneously took as the increase in demand total sales for tickets, concessions, and
after-event spending at local establishments, such as restaurants. But, obviously,
this is inconsistent with the basic definition of exogenous spending, because many of
those expenditures emanated from local residents and would have been spent on
other local goods and services had they not been spent on a sports event.
The real question becomes how much of the event related expenditures is new
spending, bringing in outside dollars which would not have otherwise occurred in the
absence of the new venue (the with / without perspective) . In this case it would
require a detailed accounting of (1) how many out-of-towners are expected to
attend each event and hence bring “outside dollars” into the community; and (2) how
much of the spending at these events by locals might have otherwise been spent on
“imports” - goods, services, travel, etc. For promoters of some particular activity or
facility, this correct approach is often disappointing because it usually reduces
estimates of the overall impact considerably below their exaggerated expectations.
Documenting Supply-Side Influences
The Supply-Side Literature
The supply-side impacts are quite different than the demand-side impacts, the
latter of which is primarily a typical macro-economic story. The supply-side impacts
have to do with a region’s comparative advantages as it tries to attract the needed
labor and capital. In other words, these are impacts that affect the region’s “supply
curve” by making inputs to the regional production process more available, thereby
lowering production costs. Often the supply-side story is more important than the
demand-side story in terms of economic development and the ultimate creation of
jobs and income. For example, the expansion of port facilities will indeed produce
demand-side impacts (largely during the construction phase), but the most significant
impact will be supply-side effects associated with the enhancement of the region’s
comparative advantage in the movement of nationally and internationally traded
goods.
Unfortunately, the supply-side literature is not nearly as well developed as the
demand-side literature and the empirical studies have generated disappointing and
11
often conflicting results. In part, the problem stems from the difficulty in defining the
quantitative and pecuniary extent of the initial impact. One line of supply-side
studies has attempted to document the impact of various differences in regional
taxes and service provisions. While governments tend to worry about the tax issue in
trying to attract businesses to their region, current evidence does not support the
notion that lower business taxes significantly stimulate economic expansion at the
regional level, especially if it comes at the sacrifice of key services important both to
businesses themselves and to the labor they hire. In fact, there is somewhat better
evidence, though certainly not conclusive, that better government services attract
growth and development, even if it entails moderately higher taxation. These studies
have led to theoretical pieces on the optimal amount of local government spending,
but any empirical confirmation in the literature is virtually nonexistent.
Other studies have tried to link economic growth and development to local
amenities including weather and environmental quality. Once again, the empirical
results have been inconclusive. Given the extreme difficulty in measuring in dollars
the value of these amenities in some uniform and meaningful manner across urban
areas, it shouldn’t be surprising that standard empirical analyses falter.
What Can Be Done
The lack of some simply applied urban supply-side model can be very
frustrating to decision makers especially when supply-side effects are thought to be
highly important. In the case of properly done cost-benefit analyses, the supply-side
effects are usually the only relevant effects. For example, just a few years after
completion, Houston would be foolish to tear down Reliant Stadium and rebuild an
even better version just to generate jobs and incomes (demand-side effects). The
only possible rationale for such a decision would have to stem from arguments that a
new improved stadium would somehow further enhance Houston’s comparative
economic advantages to a degree that would outweigh the costs (a supply-side
benefit).
It is important to understand, however, that the problem is not in identifying
potential supply-side effects or even documenting their influence. The problem is in
quantifying those influences in the same fashion in which the demand-side I-O
models so nicely do in providing estimates of net gains in employment, aggregate
regional sales, aggregate personal incomes, regional gross domestic product and
public sector tax revenues. Note, all but the first are denominated in dollars,
something that supply-side analyses have a difficult time coming to grips with. Since
it is extremely difficult to place dollar values on such things as clean air, reduced
congestion, or more parks, it shouldn’t be surprising that it is practically impossible
to create supply-side models that can produce estimated total economic impacts in
terms of dollars.
12
Because of their importance in the decision-making process and because they
are often required in federally mandated socio-economic impact studies, analysts are,
nonetheless, forced to do something. One line of endeavor is to try to place very
rough estimates of the “value” of the benefits into an analysis of net social gain. If
properly done with detailed sensitivity analysis, this type of exercise can be useful and
insightful. Another approach, which is more commonly used, is to simply delineate the
benefits and where possible try to correlate them with various measures of economic
activity.
III. THE IMPACT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
The Demand-Side Impact of the University
The Direct and Indirect Impacts
The University of Houston has a large annual budget, comparable to one of
Houston’s larger corporations. Furthermore, a substantial portion of that budget
stems from outside sources and hence represents a true stimulant to the regional
economy. The portion of the budget identified as truly exogenous represents the
“direct effect” of the University. In addition, the University itself hires a significant
number of Houstonians and purchases a sizeable amount of goods and services from
local businesses. This is the “indirect effect”. A large portion of the money spent by
the University locally will be re-spent on additional local goods and services in
virtually all sectors of the economy, most notably in the region’s secondary sectors.
The substantial increase in household income in the form of University salaries for
faculty and staff benefits those secondary sectors as those salaries, along with
University expenditures, increases spending at local vendors. The increase in local
sales stemming from consumer spending out of this increase in household income is
called the “induced effect.” The total impact of the initial direct dollars includes both
the direct effects along with the indirect and induced effects.
Isolating the Exogenous Component of University of Houston Spending
Since not all of the University’s budget and the accompanying expenditures of
students are exogenous, coming from outside sources, those sources of revenue that
emanate from outside the region had to be isolated. However, identifying outside
dollars first requires a definition of outside and inside. The economic impact of the
University of Houston upon the state of Texas is different from the impact upon the
metropolitan area of Houston. In the former case, state monies provided to the
University of Houston are inside (or internal) dollars and hence do not provide a
stimulus to the state economy. In the latter case, that same expenditure represents
outside dollars that would not have otherwise been brought into the community (the
Houston Metropolitan area) and hence produces a real economic effect upon the
region, including the multiplier expansion. From the region’s perspective, state
funding and research support would entail the transfer of outside dollars. Spending
13
by students from outside the region and research and educational grants emanating
from outside the region would also be considered a flow of outside dollars. This
study defines the “region” as the eight-county Houston MSA. Any flow of dollars from
outside this area is considered exogenous.
Import Substitution
In general, support from local agencies or foundations, or expenditures by
local students would not be considered outside dollars. Spending by local residents
would also not typically be considered outside dollars, however, it might be argued
that if it weren’t for the University of Houston, a portion of those “internal dollars”
would otherwise have been spent outside the region as local high school graduates
would be forced to seek education elsewhere. Hence, the recapture of those dollars
back into the region will produce the same type of economic impact as a direct flow
of new dollars from outside sources (import substitution). Therefore, these dollars
are also included in the direct impact of the University. In the case of the University
of Houston, its absence would provide an enormous vacuum of higher education in
the region, forcing most of Houston’s young local high school graduates to seek
higher education away from home. This would entail a substantial outflow of money
out of the region and would create a substantial drag on the local economy had it not
been for the presence of the University of Houston. 9
With and Without the University of Houston
Thus, in proceeding to do an economic impact analysis of the University of
Houston one must hypothetically construct the without world. What would the local
economy look like in the absence of the University? To make such an exercise
meaningful, it should be assumed that no other similar state university would exist
locally. In a world where no alternative substitute exists, then it can be assumed that
in the “without world” state funding would be lost to the community, the “outside
students” attending UH would go elsewhere, a large portion of “local” students
would be forced to leave the region for their education, and only a very small portion
of research dollars captured by UH would go to other institutions within the region. 10
In contrasting this state of the world against the current realities, one is then
prepared to determine exactly what portion of UH revenues and hence spending is
9
It could also be argued that all local students who stay in Houston for their higher education shift their spending
habits from “ordinary consumption,” which is associated with substantial leakages, to education related spending
with less leakages. This too would produce a stimulative effect on the local economy. However, this phenomenon
is less discussed in the regional economics literature and hence is excluded from this report’s analysis. This is likely
to make the estimates provided here somewhat conservative.
10
The greatest portion of the small amount of research dollars that might be captured by other
regional institutions would almost certainly go to Rice University, the only entity within the region to
have the academic facilities and credentials to replicate some of what is done at UH.
14
truly exogenous. To be conservative, grants and gifts to the University from local
sources are not counted as exogenous revenue in this study. However, one might
argue that they should not be automatically excluded as exogenous stimuli unless
one can be fairly confident that in the absence of the University of Houston, such
monies would have simply been given to another local organization or charity.
Choosing the Most Appropriate I-O Model
Alternative Options
Once the exogenous expenditures are fully identified, then the next step in
demand-side impact analysis is to apply those figures to some available I-O model.
Typical outputs from such a model include the overall increases in employment,
personal income, and aggregate sales (demand) attributable to those expenditures.
Over the years, many models have been available. During the 1970s and early ’80s
local analysts could use the Houston-Galveston Area Input-Output Model. This model
was first developed in the late 1960s with federal funding as a part of a 12-region
effort throughout the entire state of Texas. However, as federal funding evaporated,
efforts to maintain this model were extremely modest. 11
However, there are several alternatives to the old HGA I-O model. The U.S.
Department of Commerce produces the RIMS II model, which is an inexpensive
regional extrapolation of the national I-O model which is regularly maintained. Most
analysts agree that this model is rather poor in quality, detail and forecast accuracy.
Perhaps the most sophisticated model available today is the REMI model, produced
by Research Economic Models, Inc. of Massachusetts, a private institution with
historical ties to Harvard and M.I.T. The advantage of this model is that it provides a
dynamic profile of impacts over time and it incorporates at least some relative price
effects that other models neglect. The problem with all of these models is that they
use very simplistic algorithms to adapt the U.S. Department of Commerce’s national
I-O model to each individual region within the country. 12 Thus, regardless of their
level of sophistication, these I-O models are limited both conceptually and empirically
by regional data deficiencies and urban economy complexities.
11
I-O models require regular updating, usually every five years. The creation of the data base used in
the I-O models’ transaction matrices requires very extensive and expensive surveys of large portions
of a region’s businesses. The costs of these surveys made updating of state and regional I-O models
prohibitive without federal support. The Houston-Galveston Regional I-O model was updated three
times as cheaply as possible by cutting corners. Though many debated the accuracy of this model, it
continued to be used through the very early ’90s.
12
The Houston-Galveston Regional I-O model, as were all regional models built in the 1960s and early
1970s, was built from data specific to the Houston region. Thus, it was much more reflective of the
actual realities of the region than current alternatives.
15
The IMPLAN Model
The model chosen for this study is referred to as the IMPLAN model. Among
analysts it would be likely considered to be of mid-level sophistication. It has one
extremely beneficial attribute, however. Unlike most other models, which are simply
black-boxes that can neither be pierced into or altered, the IMPLAN model allows the
local analyst, who is likely to know much more about his own regional economy than
any technocrat behind a computer at some national headquarters, to adapt the
model to the unique peculiarities of the region that he is analyzing.
The IMPLAN model also allows the analyst to custom-define the industry or
activity he is trying to analyze. For example, even though the IMPLAN model defines
440 sectors within the Houston economy that can be influenced by increased flow of
outside dollars (sales), these sectors are often too broad to be fully representative of a
very particular, unique impact. For example, in Houston the petrochemical industry is
included in the IMPLAN model as a single sector, even though it consists of rather
heterogeneous parts. With respect to higher education, the IMPLAN model also
lumps all types of educational institutions into a single sector which includes
community colleges, junior colleges, 4-year colleges and universities that have little or
no research activity, and major universities with large graduate student populations
and substantial amounts of research activities. Clearly, UH doesn’t accurately fit into
such a composite sector. However, IMPLAN allows the analysts to adapt the model to
an organization’s peculiarities that differ from the simplifications of some composite
sector. That is what was done in this study.
Once the model is chosen, the remaining last step in analyzing the impact of
the University of Houston was to input the amounts of new outside dollars brought
into the region with as much specificity as possible to reflect the realities of the
University of Houston as distinguished from the general higher education sector.
Then, the IMPLAN model does the rest, estimating the full impact of those dollars as
they get multiplied throughout the overall economy.
The Supply-Side Influences of the University of Houston
The University’s Mandate
The primary purpose of the University of Houston is not explicitly to create
jobs, but to provide educational services to the local population and to provide the
region with knowledge-endowed workers. This is the primary supply-side role. In
addition, the University of Houston shares a variety of other responsibilities in
common with many of this nation’s major urban universities: to provide an
information and knowledge base for the overall community; to generate ideas and
technology that can be utilized by the local public and private sectors, and to provide
a reservoir of resources for the region from service oriented community outreach
16
programs to the provision of expert consulting, based upon the depth of its own
knowledge base. These too are supply-side functions.
Delineating the Multiple Dimensions of the University/Community Connection
While putting dollar values on all of these would be extremely difficult and in
some cases nearly impossible, the mere delineation of these community supply-side
impacts is instructive. In this study, the relative importance of these functions will be
left to the reader to evaluate. In some cases, the role of the University as a provider
of these types of services will be put in context with the region’s growing need for
such services, particularly highly skilled labor.
In terms of the production of educated Houstonians, this study examines the
University’s role in meeting the human capital needs of this growing region. It will
also examine the historical shortfall in the production of “home-grown” college
graduates and the expected widening of that shortfall in the future if the status quo is
maintained. In terms of the spillover effects associated with research and
community service, the primary focus of this study is simply to delineate most of
these University activities to give the reader an idea of the breadth of the
university/community connection that exists. To a limited degree comparisons will
be made with the level of educational attainment in Houston versus other major
metropolitan regions within the United States.
While there will be some discussion in the text of these supply-side influences,
the reader will, for the most part, be referred to the Tables and Appendices to attain
an appreciation of the University’s role in providing educational opportunities for local
residents, in connecting with the community to solve regional problems and meet
community needs, and in synergistically interacting with the private sector that
empowers both the University and the region’s economic base.
IV. EMPIRICAL RESULTS OF THE DEMAND-SIDE ANALYSIS
Demand-Side Analysis
Identifying Exogenous Spending Related to UH System Activities
Exogenous spending emanating from the University of Houston is examined in
two ways. First and foremost, the sources of revenue were identified so that internal
revenue sources could be separated out from external or outside sources. The former
includes such items as tuition and fees from local students not expected to go outside
the region for education in the absence of the University of Houston System (UHS).
Also separated out are gifts and grants received from local sources that in the absence
of UHS are assumed would have been given to other local groups. 13 Exogenous
13
A summary of the revenue flows into UHS are provided in Appendix 2.
17
expenditures used in the analysis include spending by the University itself, out-ofregion student spending, and estimated import substitution from local student
spending that would have otherwise been lost had the students left the region to
obtain higher education elsewhere. (See Tables 1 and 2.)
To allow for a fine-tuning of the education sector in the IMPLAN model data on
spending as well as revenues were utilized. Spending is divided into four main
categories, expenditures (1) for the basic operating expenses of the University, (2) for
construction, (3) for research, and (4) from student spending on campus for things
which are not part of the University budget. These categories were separated out in
order to make the IMPLAN analysis more reflective of the University of Houston as
opposed to the general higher education sector utilized by the basic IMPLAN model.
It should also be noted that the data for the UHS revenues and spending are
separated between the exogenous stimuli produced within the Houston MSA, which
includes the University of Houston (UH), UH-Downtown (UHD), and UH-Clear Lake
(UHCL), and the stimuli from UH-Victoria (UHV), since Victoria is in a different region
than the Houston MSA. Throughout this report, the entire University of Houston
System is referred to as UHS. The three universities that impact the Houston regional
economy will be referred to as UH-MSA.
The reader must look at both Table 1 and Appendix 2 to get a sense of the flow
of funds entering the region, and how those revenues are expended. This data comes
from the University’s own accounting records and the University’s information on
student costs for in-region students; out-of-region, in-state students; and
out-of-region, out-of-state students. In addition, data was provided by the University
that includes current enrollment figures on each of these student categories. The
actual data imputed into the IMPLAN model extracts from all of these data sources,
identifying just those expenditures that can be attributable to either the flow of
outside dollars into the region or the recovery of funds back into the region (import
substitution).
While identifying how the money is spent (expenditures) proves helpful in
correctly allocating the stimuli to the correct sector, it is actually the flow of funds
that is crucial in identifying what portion of those expenditures emanates from
“outside dollars’. Of the revenues received by the University of Houston, tuition is
the dominant source (See Appendix 2). However, not all of the tuition revenues
represent exogenous demand from outside of the region, since much of the tuition
received emanates from local residents. Only to the extent that those students would
have been forced to attend college outside of the region in the absence of the
University of Houston System would their local expenditures be considered
exogenous in the sense previously discussed as import substitution. The same would
be true of much of the “net sales of services and activities.” Bookstore sales are also
18
part direct outside dollars brought into the region, part import substitution sales, and
part spending out of local dollars, the latter of which is excluded from the analysis.
Obviously, operating and research dollars from federal and state agencies,
national and state foundations, and from private corporations headquartered outside
of Houston represent additional outside dollars brought into each region that provide
a direct stimulus to their economies. 14 The more difficult task involved estimating the
amount of stimulus from student expenditures. Approximately 22% of UH-MSA
students attending the three universities in the Houston region come from out of the
region. 15 The amount of money spent by these students is certainly new outside
dollars. This is broken down into tuition and fees (captured in the UHS accounting
figures), bookstore sales (most of which occur on campus, but which is separate from
University accounting), and living expenses either for on-campus or off-campus
students. For the remaining 78% of the students who are residents of the Houston
metropolitan area the key challenge is making an estimate of the amount of dollars
being brought back into the regional economy because of the presence of UH-MSA.
Such an exercise is fraught with dangers and susceptible to exaggeration. Thus, every
effort is taken to be quite conservative in approaching this effort.
First, it is assumed that had students been forced to attend college outside of
the region, most would have spent no more than what out-of-region students pay at
UH-MSA. Second, it is assumed that two-thirds of the students would have stayed
within the state, paying no more for tuition and fees than what they actually do pay
at UH-MSA. Third, it is assumed that those who would have left the state would have
paid no more for tuition and fees than what out-of-state students now pay to attend
UH-MSA. All of these assumptions are conservative.
First of all, without a significant increase in state higher education capacity,
there is no way that all of the two-thirds of the current local resident student body
could attend in Texas. 16 Secondly, many of the options within the state (such as
Baylor, Rice and SMU) have much higher tuition and fees and most out-of-state
tuition in other states is even higher. Finally, it is assumed that the extent of import
substitution for living expenses is limited to the difference in the cost of living in
Houston for locals and the cost of living for out-of-region students in Houston. But
with the cost of living in Houston so low that it is almost assured that living expenses
14
No attempt was made in this analysis to determine what portion of research support from “local”
sources might be properly considered import substitution and therefore all local dollars were
excluded. This will very modestly bias downward the impact results of this paper.
15
In Victoria virtual all of the student body is within region.
16
This could really only happen if in fact the UH-MSA were replicated somewhere else in Texas.
19
elsewhere for students forced to obtain an education out of the region would be
substantially higher.
As shown in Table 1 the total direct stimulus to the Houston economy from
student spending is estimated as $840,124,681. Of that amount, $71,701,200 comes
from sales at the bookstore. Of the non-book spending 28% emanates from nonresident students even though they constitute only 22% of the overall student body.
In contrast, the stimulus from student spending associated with the Victoria university
is only $55,196,341 and virtually all that stimulus is in the form of import substitution
because without UHV, all of the student body would be forced to go out of the region
to attain an education. 17
Combined, the total exogenous spending emanating from the Houston MSA
universities equals $2,184,505,847. Of that total, 78% emanates from UH,
13% from UHD and 9% from UHCL. For the Victoria County area, the UHV direct
stimulus is $109,683,744.
However, the sources of new exogenous spending vary substantially across
universities. Appendix 2 shows the dramatic difference in the sources of revenue
among the four primary universities. For example, as one might expect UH to rely
much more heavily on research grants and awards and less on net tuition, whereas
UHCL revenues are dominated by net tuition and State appropriations. 18
Along with the total amount of exogenous spending, Table 1 includes statistics
on the number of UHS employees in each region and the total level of the University
of Houston System employee compensation. These latter statistics are not essential
for use in the IMPLAN model, since, given exogenous spending, IMPLAN calculates its
own estimate of employees and compensation, but those calculations are based
upon a generic “higher education” sector. Utilizing the employment statistics in Table
1 allowed for fine tuning of the model’s impact estimations to be more specific to the
realities of UHS.
Results of the IMPLAN Demand-Side Analysis
Direct, Indirect and Induced Effect of UHS Regional Economic Stimuli
17
The breakdown of student expenditures is $7,513 for tuition and fees and approximately $1,200 for
books. Living expenses are estimated by the University to be $5,122 for students living with family
locally, $12,192 for students living on campus, and $14,922 for students living on their own off
campus.
18
Total exogenous research dollars were obtained from UHS records broken down by university and
by source. Appendix 3 tables provide a detailed breakdown of the research dollars generated and
expended by college within UH. Monies from clearly local sources were eliminated as not constituting
exogenous spending. The remainder were totaled and are also reported in Table 1.
20
These estimates of exogenous spending along with the adjustments for UHS
employment and employee compensation were next inputted into the IMPAN model.
The empirical results as displayed in Table 2 are divided into the direct, indirect, and
induced effects, and for each category the increase in employment, labor income,
gross regional product, regional sales, and population are provided. The direct effect
is the immediate impact of increased exogenous spending on these variables. So, for
instance, the employment figure represents the new jobs directly created on campus
(faculty and staff), the employment at the bookstore, and the employment directly
associated with those sectors benefitted by student spending for living expenses.
Each sector, however, must purchase inputs from local vendors to support
their various activities. UHS must purchase supplies, equipment and energy among
other things, and student landlords must do the same. This constitutes the indirect
effect. As shown in Table 2, both of these effects generate an increase in household
income. 19
As this income is spent within the region (some on locally produced goods and
services and some on “imports”), this spending generates a further economic stimulus
within a broad spectrum of the regional economy. This is referred to as the induced
effect. Together the sum of these three effects equals the overall impact of that initial
direct stimulus. As can be seen in Table 2, the various multipliers associated
with the UH-MSA impact within the Houston MSA (total divided by direct) range from
2.53 to 3.41, with the highest multiplier being associated with labor income. The
overall impact of UH-MSA in the Houston MSA is estimated as an increase in
employment by 25,115; labor income of $1.5 billion, gross regional product of $2.2
billion, regional sales of $3.6 billion, and population of 44,397. Probably the most
important of these statistics are employment and gross regional product.
The Relative Importance of the UH-MSA Stimulus
While the total impact in terms of dollars, jobs, and population might look
impressive, the relative contribution to Houston’s very large urban economy is
modest. Indeed, the gains in employment and gross regional product are only about
1% of the region’s totals. Nonetheless, these contributions should not be underrated
either. Some rough comparisons can be made with other institutions and enterprises.
For example, the UHS universities within the Houston MSA produce an economic
impact approximately equivalent to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center or that of the private sector giant Halliburton; and its impact is approximately
half the combined impact of NASA’s Johnson Space Center and all of its direct
contractors. Of course, the small percent impact is due to the fact that Houston’s
economy is now quite diversified. Yet, with thousands of firms and governmental and
19
In general, labor income as produced by the IMPLAN model is equivalent to household income.
21
non-profit organizations in Houston, it is impressive that only about a dozen economic
institutions, private or public, are more important to the Houston economy.
The Victoria Impact
On the surface it appears that the economic impact to the Victoria economy
shown in Table 2 is small and insignificant. It certainly is small in absolute terms in
comparison with the impact of the other universities upon the Houston economy. But
its relative impact is actually much larger. While total job creation, including the
multiplier effects, is only 1,395 jobs, this contribution to the Victoria economy is more
than 2.7% of the labor force and UHV’s contribution to gross regional product of
$90.5 million is equal to somewhat more than 2.4%. Thus, relatively speaking UHVictoria plays a more significant role in the local economy there than the other three
universities combined play in Houston, and any expansion in the Victoria university, at
least from a demand-side perspective, would mean more to that local economy than
a similar expansion of UH-MSA would for Houston.
The Distribution of Gains
As might be expected, the economic impacts of the three UH universities within
the Houston MSA are not evenly distributed across sectors. Of course, it is no surprise
the greatest impact is found in the education sector. These three universities add
more than 7,900 jobs to this sector alone. Because higher education is relatively labor
intensive, it also should not be surprising that UH-MSA provides a significant stimulus
to consumer-related businesses as faculty incomes and student living expenses get
spent in sectors such as retail sales and consumer services. Table
3 provides a partial breakdown of gains by sector in the Houston MSA. Food services,
housing, construction and retail sectors in general benefit the most because of the
induced effects of rising incomes.
The pattern is similar in Victoria. However, higher education within Victoria
County in the IMPLAN model is included in their sector labeled “other state and local
enterprises” because there are too few institutions of higher education in the county,
which on confidentiality grounds prevents the federal government from releasing the
type of detailed data on the sector for which the IMPLAN model relies.
Fiscal Dividends to State and Local Government
Another interesting aspect of the overall economic impact of UHS is its
generation of significant fiscal dividends to state and local governments as reported in
Table 4. Because of the direct and induced spending generated, state government
gets almost $68.5 million per year in increased state revenues from the UHS stimulus
in both regions (Houston MSA and Victoria). Local governments in the Houston
region received an additional $83 million per year and in Victoria about $750,000
22
per year. 20 These numbers are very substantial and particularly noteworthy is that
the state’s substantial investment in higher education within the Houston region
produces a “rebate” of $68 million in the form of increased revenues, substantially
reducing the net cost of the legislated appropriations to higher education.
Furthermore, since most aspects of the UHS are exempt from taxation, it is
remarkable that local governments receive so much additional revenue, especially
since they contribute little to the expense of higher education at the UHS. This can
be attributable to the indirect and induce effects of the initial stimulus.
Summary of the Demand-Side Effects
In summary then, we see that from a demand-side perspective, UHS produces
a significant impact upon the two regional economies, but one that is not absolutely
critical. It should be pointed out, however, that in today’s diversified Houston
economy there are few if any single entities that just dominate that region
economically. Even during the 1990s when Compaq and Enron were the icons of a
vibrant new Houston, they too were relatively unimportant as stand-alone
institutions. In terms of sectors, however, it should be pointed out that all degreegranting institutions of higher education in Houston would constitute a substantial
part of the overall economy and expansion of the sector as a whole would produce a
significant and perceptible impact on regional jobs, income and aggregate sales. 21
Supply -Side Considerations
Educating the Local Populace/Enhancing the Stock of Local Human Capital
For years, Houston enjoyed a demographic mix that included a reasonable
amount of college-educated population. Whereas most of America’s more
established cities grew from large amounts of immigration of poor individuals and
households, Houston’s growth during much of the second half of the 20th century
involved the migration of educated middle and upper-middle income households
from various parts of the nation. 22
20
This would include state sales tax revenues both from consumer spending and taxable business to
business transactions, corporate franchise taxes, and a host of state fees and specialty taxes. Local
taxes include taxes generated by all entities, including municipalities, school districts, municipal utility
districts and hosts of special taxing districts.
21
This is especially true of those institutions such as UH-MSA, Rice University, and the educational
institutions within the Medical Center that bring in substantial amounts of students from out of the
region, as well as a substantial amount of outside funded research dollars. In addition, Houston’s
two major community college systems also add significantly to the overall influence of the higher
education sector upon the economy of the region.
22
For example, Boston exploded with growth from immigration of low income individuals from
western Europe such as the Irish, Chicago’s biggest growth spurt was associated with low income
23
The flow of educated population to Houston was originally stimulated by the
rapid expansion of the post-war petrochemical industries in the 1950s and ’60s, the
birth of Houston’s role in the U.S. space program, and the decade long “upstream
energy boom” in Houston during the 1970s. These events along with the significant
migration of Americans towards the Sunbelt cities produced an unprecedented need
for high skilled workers. Each of these major exogenous stimuli to the region required
educated, highly skilled workers and for the most part Houston was forced to
“import” educated labor to the region because the region was simply not producing
enough supply of its own new college graduates sufficient to meet the needs of a
booming economy. Actually, from Houston’s inception the region has always been a
net importer of human capital, a challenge that during most of its history was not
particularly daunting because of the enormous economic opportunities that
presented themselves within the region.
The mix of migrants, however, began to change in the late 1970s and continued
throughout much of the ’80s and ’90s. While the demands for educated labor
continued to grow, migration following civil unrest in Central America and the lack of
economic opportunity in Mexico began to produce Houston’s first major contemporary
flow of unskilled migration into the region. As a result, the average level of educational
attainment in Houston during the past four decades has not been as impressive as some
might have supposed. In 1970 13.5% of the metropolitan population held a bachelor’s
degree or greater. By 2010, the ratio had more than doubled to 27.9%. While that
might appear impressive on the surface, in comparison with the growth in educated
population in many other urban areas, the gains were rather disappointing.
Table 6 shows the gains by decade in the percentage of the Houston
metropolitan population with college degrees along with a projection for 2020 given
current trends. Table 5, on the other hand, shows that among 11 major cities with
adequate data Houston ranked last in terms of the percent of the population holding
some form of a college degree. Boston, Denver and Seattle stand out as urban areas
with a highly educated population, which can explain in part the health of their
economies during the past few decades. This suggests that as Houston grows it will
need progressively more people with college degrees or its growth will ultimately be
choked by a labor market with insufficient human capital.
In addition, the demographic mix of Houston requires significantly more effort
in providing education for the region’s minorities. Table 7 shows that while the
percent of white-non Hispanics in Houston with a college degree is somewhat below
families from eastern Europe, Detroit experienced its highest growth rates during the massive
migration of rural African Americans to the urban north, and one of Los Angeles major population
booms emanated from the escape of poor farmers in the plains states because of the Dust Bowl of
the 1920s and 30s.
24
the levels found in many other urban areas in the U.S., Houston’s minority
percentages are significantly lower. While much still needs to be done to lift
Houston’s African American population educationally, the real tragedy is how low
Houston’s Hispanic population’s ratio is.
Much of the Hispanic population in Houston are first and second generation.
But this is also the case for Houston’s Asian community. The difference is that second
generation Asians have a sharply higher high school graduation rate, and a far larger
portion of Asians graduating from high school go on to college. The University of
Houston in tandem with the region’s community colleges have an opportunity to
make a significant difference for Hispanics, but a massive effort needs to be put forth
to increase their high school graduation rate and to retain those students that get
started in the region’s community colleges before they finish at an institution like the
University of Houston.
Houston’s deficits are not merely a function of migration. In a most interesting
study released by the Atlanta Regional Council of Higher Education, 60 of the nation’s
largest metropolitan areas were compared in terms of their commitment to local
higher education. 23 This group reported data for each metropolitan area on the
number of full time students enrolled in all degree granting institutions of higher
education approved to receive federal student aid. Their study also reported the
number of degrees conferred per year, the total expenditures on higher education,
the total research expenditures, the amount of federal grants and contracts and the
total number of workers employed in higher education. 24
Houston’s ranking among these 60 urban areas is extremely low in most
categories. In terms of college student enrollment per capita, Houston ranked 59th
out of 60, substantially lower than metropolitan areas such as Cleveland, Detroit, and
Baltimore. In terms of per capita degrees confirmed Houston ranked 57th. Because
of the skewedness of the local student distribution toward graduate studies and
professional degrees (such as medicine), Houston did somewhat better in the other
four categories, but it was still far behind most communities. It is ranked 39th in
expenditures on higher education, 21st in terms of research expenditures, 29th in
federal grants and contracts, and 48th in terms of faculty and staff serving higher
education needs. It is no wonder then that Houston’s been losing ground to most
23
See “The Economic Impact of Higher Education on Houston: A Case Study of the University of Houston
System.” April, 2006.
24
The latest data collected is for the academic year 2001-2002. Unfortunately, the federal government
has stopped conducting this level of detailed surveys that produced the data upon which this study
depended. As a consequence we have no new data to report beyond that discussed in the 2005 UH
report. However, there is strong secondary evidence to suggest nothing has really changed since that
report was released.
25
other urban areas in terms of the educational levels of its overall population. Thus,
one cannot simply blame the large immigration of low skilled/poorly educated
individuals to Houston as the primary reason for the region’s sub-par stock of human
capital. Much of the blame must be put on the shoulders of the community and its
lack of commitment to educating its own.
However, were it not for UH-MSA this track record would have been even
worse. Table 8 shows enrollment figures for UH-MSA for the most recent full academic
year and Table 9 shows the rate of graduation during the last half decade. Of the
58,762 students currently enrolled within the three universities in Houston, the UHMSA is producing nearly 7,800 new bachelor degrees, more than 2,500 master degrees
and 241 doctoral degrees. This totals to more than 10,500 degrees per year. That’s a
major contribution toward meeting the region’s labor force needs. But what is
particularly impressive is how many UH-MSA graduates remain within the region. For
the first five years 83% of UH-MSA graduates are still living in Houston. Of course, in
today’s modern American economy where labor is more mobile than ever before, one
would expect that UH-MSA graduates would gradually drift to other regions of the
country. Still, after 20 years, 60% of UH-MSA graduates are living in Houston and
another 17% are living in other parts of Texas. Remarkably, less than a quarter of
graduates have moved out of the state 20 years after graduation. (See Table 10.)
To put in perspective the UH-MSA’s contribution to the amount of human
capital (in terms of higher education), Table 11 shows Houston’s annual need for
additional college graduates, the contribution toward that need by UH-MSA from
graduates expected to remain in Houston, the percent contribution and the deficit
left to be filled, mostly from the importation of skilled labor from the rest of the
country. These numbers, which assume that Houston maintains its current
educational ratio of 27.9%, indicate that currently UH-MSA is providing about 30% of
the region’s human capital needs.
On the other hand, if the region were to try to increase the percentage of
college graduates among its population to be more comparable to cities such as
Seattle, Denver and Boston, the region would need 44,651 additional people per year
added annually over 10 years to achieve that objective. If UH-MSA were to keep
producing degrees at its current level, then its contribution to the region’s educated
population would fall to only 19.6% and there would be a deficit of almost 36,000
college educated people per year that would have to be attracted from other parts of
the county. On the other hand, were the UH-MSA in Houston to increase its
production of college degrees by somewhat more than 50%, it could maintain its
contribution ratio at 30%. This would mean that in the absence of a completely new
university or an enormous expansion of other current universities and colleges in the
area, the UH-MSA would have to be expanded at a pace similar to its growth in the
1970s. (See Table 12.)
26
One implication of these results is that the Houston region will have to continue
to import most of its human capital needs. This means it will have to remain an
attractive place to live for individuals with high levels of education. Recent studies
indicate that more and more university-educated individuals are seeking areas with
low living costs and high levels of amenities. Some areas in the nation such as
California are now beginning to find the retention of educated individuals difficult
because of high living costs, even though the state is generally perceived as a place
with an abundance of living amenities. Other areas are struggling to keep their
educated individuals because of a weak economy, or because they come up short on
the amenity side. Houston’s strong economy is attractive to such persons. So too is its
low cost of living. But perceptions of Houston’s poor environmental quality,
Crime and unaesthetic sprawl remain a detriment. If Houston is going to rely on
“imports” of human capital as its prime source for an educated and high skilled labor
force, then it must dedicate many more resources into quality of life investments.
Interestingly, the two directions in providing increased human capital in the region,
producing your own college graduates and importing them from other regions, are
not competitive alternatives, but complementary. As Houston invests more in higher
education, that very investment becomes an amenity that will help attract other
educated individuals to the region. Indeed, it is highly unlikely that Houston will be
able to attract the type of labor force it needs from other parts of the country
without at the same time providing the stimulating intellectual environment that
such a population desires.
Research Synergism
As pointed out earlier, major research universities do more than merely
educate students. The research conducted at these universities adds to the overall
wealth of knowledge within a region in addition to providing demand-side economic
stimulus and being an integral part of the local education process. The sheer dollars
produced by the University of Houston and UH-MSA are impressive, generating more
than a quarter billion dollars’ worth of research funding per year. But it is in the
details that one can begin to see the benefits to the overall community and the
interaction this provides with other key sectors of the regional economy. Given the
role of pioneering medicine in the region, it isn’t surprising to note that nearly 10% of
UH’s research dollars come from the National Institutes of Health and that over the
years millions of dollars have been provided by NASA. Other major sources of
funding include the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection
Agency, the Department of Energy, a host of private for-profit businesses in energy,
engineering, computer technologies and innovative firms in such areas as
biotechnology and nanotechnology.
Appendix 4 provides a breakdown of funded research by source of funds for
27
the academic years from 2009 to 2012. 25 This delineation will give the reader an
excellent sense of the breadth and focus of the research conducted at UHS and its
application to the two regional economies. It will also provide the reader with a
sense of the substantial extent that the local community including governments,
foundations, non-profits, and for-profit entities are contributing to these endeavors
and are participating as partners in this research effort. Furthermore, the portion
“funded” by other universities provides an excellent indication of the cooperative
efforts that exist between UHS and other stellar universities throughout the
country. 26
Some interesting examples of University/private sector cooperation can be
seen in the University of Houston’s C. T. Bauer College of Business, through its
Business Consulting Lab. This lab works with Houston-area firms on a wide range of
issues. Examples include cooperative work with: (1) a major oil company in
identifying best practices in new product development; (2) a specialty metal products
distributor in optimizing e-commerce efforts; (3) a process management software
company in developing a key marketing plan for expanding from the aerospace
industry to the health care industry; (4) a research team from M. D. Anderson in
forming a business plan for gene therapy technology; (5) a specialty fuels and
lubricants distributor in conducting an order-to-cash analysis that identifies ways to
accelerate cash conversion allowing for revenue growth without increasing debt; (5) a
leading cyber-security boutique in developing a growth strategy; (6) and a major
hospital in identifying best practices in providing services for women.
Similar synergetic efforts are now going on at the University of Houston’s new
Energy Research Park. This complex was purchased and developed for Universitysponsored development that includes research, work force training and industrial
partnerships. The focus on energy is quite broad with training and research
in wind, solar and electric power generation, along with Houston’s tradition fossil fuel
orientation. However, partners within other industries and other institutions of
higher education are constantly being sought to work with UH researchers in the
development of new manufacturing techniques with current technologies and in
pushing forward with new technologies that will impact Houston and the nation in the
21st century. Many of the UH energy research-related centers and institutes are being
relocated there, making them more accessible for cooperative private sector
partnering. For example, UH’s Smart Materials and Structures Laboratory, which has
25
It should be remembered that these figures do not include the thousands of man-hours of both students and
faculty who are pursuing a wide variety of research without funding or with partial funding from the University of
Houston itself.
26
These are often funds in which two or more universities work together as a consortium of
researchers on a particular project.
28
attracted research grants for topics such as sensor development, structural health
monitoring and piezoceramic materials, has relocated there as well as portions of
UH’s Texas Center for Superconductivity and UH’s Petroleum Engineering Program.
Current active research centers include the SSPEED Center, the National Wind Energy
Center, the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping, the Texas Diesel Testing and
Research Center and the Energy Fabrication Device Laboratory. (See Appendix 5)
In a different vein, the University of Houston is engaging with the region’s
health sector by systematically assuring that it is producing the skilled labor needed
throughout the region’s health sector. This extends far beyond the bounds of
optometry or pre-med education, but includes every type of labor force need that
the medical professions require, involving not merely health related sciences, but
also business and social science students as well.
Community Service
While the amount and diversity of research conducted at UHS is stunning, it is
easily matched by the amount of community service rendered by faculty and staff.
The number of University/community links are so numerous that the best we could
do in this report is provide a brief summarization of the University’s involvement in
Appendix 6. There are more than 200 programs, institutes, or departments
emanating from UH alone that directly provide services to individuals, groups or
community agencies within the Houston region and several dozen at the other UHS
universities collectively. While it is impossible in the text of this report to describe
each program in detail, Appendix 6 gives a brief overview of each along with contact
information so the reader can learn more.
These programs vary substantially, including programs directly working with
the community in addressing important regional issues, various forms of non-credit
educational programs to help Houstonians working in a broad range of fields, a
multitude of partnerships with both public and private institutions and organizations,
collaborative work with other institutions of higher education, deliverance of a top
quality menu of arts to the community coupled with collaborative efforts with the
overall Houston arts community and joint efforts with Houston’s multifaceted ethnic
community.
UH-MSA provides Houston with quality facilities such as the A.D. Bruce
Religion Center and the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center. It offers the region a
wide variety of continuing education programs such as the Accelerated Language
Programs and the Center for Executive Development. In addition, the community is
provided with several important programs for the advancement of Houston’s
minority communities. Just as an example, the latter includes College Career Days,
Arte Publico Press, Common Ground Teachers Institute, Academic Achievers Program,
Cultural Enrichment Center, Immigration Clinic, La Nueva Casa de Amigos Optometry
29
Clinic along with somewhat more academic programs such as the African American
Studies Program, the Asian American Studies Center, Center for Immigration Research
and the Center for Mexican American Studies.
Hosts of both private and non-profit organizations take advantage of UH-MSA’s
programs that provide technical assistance and support such as the International
Trade Center, the SBA Guarantee Loan Program, and the Small Business Development
Center, all of which are geared to help small regional entrepreneurs; and such
programs as the Funding Source, Program and Project Evaluations, and Power Tools
for Non-Profit Organizations , which seek to aid the non-profit community in finding
resources and developing efficiency management skills.
In addition to interacting with community organizations, UH-MSA also reaches
out to individuals within the region through such programs as the Development Clinic
of the University Eye Institute, the Community Wellness Center, Brown Bag Medical
Review and Counseling, Color Vision Service, Cougars for Kids Program, Family CAN,
Glaucoma Screening, Homes Clinic, and the Parent Education Program. Among all the
community outreach programs of the University there are more aimed towards the
rising generation than any of the other programs. These range from numerous
summer programs to Engineering Day and from health and early diagnosis programs
to remedial education programs for K-12 students and the local community teachers
that are working with them.
Of course, the University of Houston is well known for its contributions to the
community in fine arts and communications. It provides the region with productions
at the Wortham and Moores Theaters and the annual Houston Shakespeare festival,
art exhibits at the Blaffer Art Museum, and it is home to the region’s public television
station KUHT and two radio stations, KUHF and KUHA. “Engines of Our Ingenuity” is
just one of many popular programs made available to Houstonians by UH. As with
much of the community service menu sited in Appendix 6, many programs in the arts
are geared directly toward the region’s children.
This brief introduction is merely an overview of the enormous list of programs
contained in Appendix 6. All of these connections are a key part of what an urban
research university is all about. While such programs are not typically referred to as
urban extension services, they ought to be. Every major urban area in the nation has
learned to rely upon their collective university community for these types of
resources and help. Given the Houston region’s below-par level of funding for higher
education at full-fledged research universities, it is surprising that metropolitan
Houston fares so well when it comes to university supplied and supported community
services.
30
CONCLUSIONS
Higher education is more important to the nation than ever before. Its role in
the health and vitality of urban areas is also undisputable. Progressively, the nation’s
major urban areas recognize the link between economic development, the education
of its labor force and the presence of quality institutions of higher education. Urban
economies where the institutions of higher education play a large role typically are
stronger and more robust than those economies still stuck in the 20th century.
Surprisingly, Houston falls short of many major metropolitan areas despite the
presence of UH-MSA, Rice, and the Texas Medical Center. The average education
level of the region remains below average even though both the energy and nonenergy components of its economic base are quite high-tech in nature. Because the
percent of the region’s high school graduates is low and because so many of those
that do go on to college must leave the region for that opportunity, Houston
continues to be a major importer of human capital from the rest of the nation. That’s
not all bad. It has given Houston a wonderful cosmopolitan flavor with
representation from almost every corner of the nation and much of the world.
However, the challenge of recruiting high skilled labor to Houston has not always
been easy.
It is also the case that it has been progressively more dangerous for an urban
area to leave a large portion of its population without higher education. These areas
will struggle more than ever with chronic underemployment and unemployment
along with the host of economic burdens associated with a sizeable population with
subpar incomes. In discussing long-term planning for the region, issues of
transportation and flood control often top the list of concerns, but those interested in
Houston’s future can’t underestimate the desperate need to lift up a large portion of
the local population that will be doomed in the 21st century without much greater
educational credentials.
27
While enhancing local higher education opportunities in Houston needs to be
done primarily for supply-side reasons, this expansion also has direct implications to
the regional economy. For example, currently the three UH-MSA universities in
Houston account for more than $2.2 billion in real dollar gross regional product; $3.6
billion in total regional sales; $1.5 billion in personal incomes; an $83 million fiscal
dividend for local governments, and more than 25,000 jobs. Increasing the local
commitment to higher education within the Houston region sufficient to meet the
needs of a growing population as well as upgrading educational levels to be more
27
Most recently Houston has found it easy to attract highly educated people simply because of the
weakness in the labor markets of most other urban areas. However, during times in which the
national economy is more evenly balanced across geographic areas, local businesses have found
recruiting from outside the region much more challenging.
31
competitive with other key urban areas could easily double this impact.
The story is the same for Victoria. While the absolute figures are less
impressive than in Houston with UHV producing $90 million in GRP, $161 million in
regional sales, $62 million in personal income, three quarters of a million dollars in
local government revenues, and approximately 1,400 jobs, UHV’s relative
importance to the Victoria economy is more than twice as great.
Even the state of Texas is a gainer, receiving approximately $68.5 million in
revenues from all four UHS universities. Of course, these direct fiscal gains to
government do not include the additional fiscal gains from the all important
supply-side effects emanating from the increased growth rate because these regions
and the state at large is made more attractive to highly skilled labor and high-skilledoriented businesses.
32
TABLES
33
Table 1
DISTRIBUTION OF UHS EXPENDITURES*
Within the Houston MSA Region
Direct University Of Houston Regional Impact
University Budget Expenditures From Outside Revenues
General University Operating Expenditures
Construction (5 Year Average)
University Research Expenditures
Special Sales Supported for Exogenous Spending
$1,098,422,275
$137,733,207
$91,087,517
$17,138,167
Off Budget Exogenous Spending
Bookstore Sales
Exogenous Student Spending Off Campus
Total Exogenous Spending*
$71,701,200
$768,423,481
$2,184,505,847
Employment Statistics
Number of Employees
Total Employee Compensation
6,947
$596,798,338
* Based Upon Averages Over Last Half Decade
34
Table 1
DISTRIBUTION OF UHS EXPENDITURES *
Within the Victoria Region
Direct University Of Houston Victoria Impact
University Budget Expenditures From Outside Revenues
Outside Funding of General University Expenditures
Construction (5 Year Average)
Outside Funding of University Research
Special Sales Supported for Exogenous Spending
$49,394,105
$3,401,240
$1,692,058
Off Budget Exogenous Spending
Bookstore Sales
Exogenous Student Spending Off Campus
$4,914,000
$50,282,341
Total Exogenous Spending*
$109,683,744
Employment Statistics
Number of Employees
Total Employee Compensation
477
$27,383,064
* Based Upon Averages Over Last Half Decade
35
Table 1
DISTRIBUTION OF UHS EXPENDITURES *
Total for All Universities
Overall University Of Houston System Impact
University Budget Expenditures From Outside Revenues
Outside Funding of General University Expenditures
Construction (5 Year Average)
Outside Funding of University Research
Special Sales Supported for Exogenous Spending
$1,147,816,380
$141,134,447
$91,087,517
$18,830,225
Off Budget Exogenous Spending
Bookstore Sales
Exogenous Student Spending Off Campus
Total Exogenous Spending*
$76,615,200
$818,705,822
$2,294,189,591
Employment Statistics
Number of Employees
Total Employee Compensation
7,424
$624,181,402
* Based Upon Averages Over Last Half Decade
36
Table 2
DEMAND-SIDE IMPACT SUMMARY
Within Houston MSA Region
Impact Summary
Impact Type
Employment
Labor Income
Direct Effect
9,942.30
$735,448,136
$779,696,216
$1,401,334,771
17,575.80
Indirect Effect
2,955.80
$176,592,102
$347,373,722
$533,932,434
5,225.20
Induced Effect
12,216.50
$597,491,817
$1,089,800,004
$1,693,500,395
21,596.10
Total Effect
25,114.50
$1,509,532,055
$2,216,869,943
$3,628,767,600
44,397.10
37
GRP
Sales
Population
Table 2
DEMAND-SIDE IMPACT SUMMARY
Within Victoria Region
Impact Summary
Impact Type
Employment
Labor Income
GRP
Sales
Population
Direct Effect
533.5
$28,541,909
$26,802,370
$55,437,860
918.1
Indirect Effect
221.7
$9,637,951
$17,728,330
$33,260,748
381.5
Induced Effect
639.5
$24,158,996
$45,948,786
$72,995,202
1,100.40
1,394.70
$62,338,856
$90,479,486
$161,693,810
2,399.90
Total Effect
38
Table 3
DEMAND-SIDE IMPACT BY KEY SECTORS
Within Houston MSA Region
Top Employment Impacts
Description
Employment
Labor Income
GRP
Sales
7,931.80
$603,177,945
$615,698,515
$1,115,494,521
places
1,534.70
$32,416,111
$49,273,549
$89,491,582
Housing
1,438.40
$33,194,868
$226,278,631
$260,427,741
Non Residential
Construction
882.2
$57,424,681
$65,228,144
$137,733,207
Retail Stores - General
merchandise
829.7
$23,741,669
$36,903,998
$47,018,256
Private hospitals
688.8
$51,071,811
$55,840,890
$98,658,546
666
$58,629,203
$60,601,198
$93,738,688
Home health care services
475.6
$11,268,591
$11,534,832
$18,487,158
Retail Stores - Food and
beverage
416.7
$12,623,232
$18,101,292
$24,018,676
Services to buildings and
dwellings
395.5
$8,904,393
$11,778,957
$23,319,477
Colleges, universities, and
professional schools
Food services and drinking
Physicians, dentists, and
other health practitioners
39
TABLE 3
DEMAND-SIDE IMPACT BY KEY SECTORS
Within Victoria Region
Top Employment Impacts
Description
Employment
Labor Income
GRP
Sales
Other state and local government
enterprises
488.4
$27,947,272
$25,472,541
$55,722,085
Food services and drinking places
84.8
$1,508,587
$2,440,494
$4,662,194
Maintenance and repair
construction of non-residential
structures
54.5
$2,445,478
$3,083,432
$6,660,933
Private hospitals
48.4
$3,175,733
$3,510,779
$6,508,846
Retail Stores - Sporting goods,
hobby, book and music
47.4
$930,171
$1,439,724
$2,181,992
Real estate establishments
42.3
$402,735
$6,076,530
$7,065,670
Physicians, dentists, and other
health practitioners
39.6
$3,342,628
$3,457,417
$5,384,097
Nursing and residential care
facilities
36.9
$1,271,787
$1,451,877
$2,213,369
Non-depository credit
intermediation and related activities
30.2
$1,732,269
$2,052,313
$3,942,318
Retail Stores - Miscellaneous
25.6
$585,054
$855,971
$1,246,945
40
Table 4
DEMAND-SIDE PUBLIC SECTOR FISCAL IMPACT
Within Houston MSA Region
State and Local Revenue Impacts
Description
Totals to Govt
Businesses
Indirect Bus Tax: Sales Tax
$61,735,917
Indirect Bus Tax: Property Tax
$55,608,326
Indirect Bus Tax: Motor Vehicle Lic
$1,148,553
Indirect Bus Tax: Severance Tax
$3,973,048
Indirect Bus Tax: Other Taxes
Households
$10,384,928
Indirect Bus Tax: S/L NonTaxes
$5,826,214
Personal Tax: NonTaxes (Fines- Fees
$9,171,555
Personal Tax: Motor Vehicle License
$1,810,354
Personal Tax: Property Taxes
$841,412
Personal Tax: Other Tax (Fish/Hunt, etc.)
$668,185
Total State and Local Tax
$138,676,986
Total State Taxes
67,908,365.6
Total Local Taxes
83,260,126.4
Total State and Local Tax
151,168,492.0
41
$12,491,506
Table 4
DEMAND-SIDE PUBLIC SECTOR FISCAL IMPACT
Within Victoria Region
State and Local Revenue Impacts
Description
Totals to Govt Businesses
Indirect Bus Tax: Sales Tax
$324,990
Indirect Bus Tax: Property Tax
$292,733
Indirect Bus Tax: Motor Vehicle Lic
Households
$6,046
Indirect Bus Tax: Severance Tax
$20,915
Indirect Bus Tax: Other Taxes
$54,668
Indirect Bus Tax: S/L NonTaxes
$30,670
Personal Tax: NonTaxes (Fines- Fees)
$366,869
Personal Tax: Motor Vehicle License
$71,628
Personal Tax: Property Taxes
$38,183
Personal Tax: Other Tax (Fish/Hunt, etc.)
$25,689
Total State and Local Tax
$730,022
Total State Taxes
488,179
Total Local Taxes
744,212
Total State and Local Tax
1,232,391
42
$502,369
Table 5
PERCENT OF POPULATION WITH SOME LEVEL OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
Comparisons with Major MSAs
Percent Holding Degrees
Bachelor's Degree or
Higher
All Forms of College
Degrees
Atlanta
34.1
40.52
Boston
42.18
49.57
Chicago
33.53
40.14
Dallas
30.01
36.25
Denver
37.64
45.24
Detroit
26.28
33.92
Houston
27.89
33.64
Los Angeles
30.16
37.09
Orlando
26.59
35.88
St. Louis
29.38
37.28
Seattle
37.43
46.06
MSA
43
Table 6
PERCENT OF POPULATION WITH BACHELOR'S DEGREES
OR GREATER
Within the Houston MSA Region
Percent Holding Degrees
Annual
Additions
BA+
Degrees
Year
Population
Over 25
BA+
Degrees
Percent
BA+
Degrees
1970
1,121,898
151,854
13.54%
1980
1,737,515
373,289
21.48%
22,144
1990
2,273,123
548,353
24.12%
17,506
2000
2,858,299
757,710
27.89%
20,936
2010
3,644,404
1,016,351
27.89%
25,864
*2020
4,530,389
1,307,017
28.85%
29,067
*Estimated
44
Table 7
POPULATION WITH BACHELOR DEGREE + BY ETHNICITY
Within the Houston MSA Region (2010)
Asian
Blacks
Hispanics
Whites
272,013
631,178
1,163,299
1,716,788
With BA +
137,285
145,520
139,655
665,552
Percent
50.47%
23.06%
12.01%
38.77%
Total
Population
45
Table 8
UH SYSTEM ENROLLMENT
Average Fall/Spring for Academic Year 2010-11
Fall 2010
Headcount by Classification
UH
UHV
UHCL
UHD
ALL
In
Houston
Freshman
5,380
205
0
2,238
7,823
5,585
Sophomore
6,060
218
0
1,569
7,847
6,278
Junior
7,345
611
1,914
2,557
12,426
9,870
Senior
9,963
1,209
2,377
5,627
19,175
13,549
Post
Baccalaureate
1,372
238
491
527
2,627
2,100
Master
4,484
1,722
3,185
148
9,538
9,390
Doctoral
1,742
0
74
0
1,816
1,816
Law
832
0
0
0
832
832
Optometry
408
0
0
0
408
408
Pharmacy
474
0
0
0
474
474
38,060
4,203
8,041
12,666
62,966
50,302
All
46
Table 9
UHS CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION LEVELS
Houston MSA and Victoria Regions
5 Year Totals: 2005 – 2009
Degree Type
Degrees Awarded
5 Year Total
Average Annual
UH
Bachelors
Masters
Doctoral
Total
23,540
7,241
1,207
31,988
4,708
1,448
241
6,398
UHCL
Bachelors
Masters
Doctoral
Total
5,746
5,168
0
10,914
1,149
1,034
0
2,183
UHD
Bachelors
Masters
Doctoral
Total
9,706
202
0
9,908
1,941
40
0
1,982
UHV
Bachelors
Masters
Doctoral
Total
1,921
1,525
0
3,446
384
305
0
689
Within Houston
Bachelors
Masters
Doctoral
Total
40,913
14,136
1,207
52,810
8,182
2,827
241
10,562
47
Table 10
UH SYSTEM POST-GRADUATE RESIDENCY Students Graduating
During Five Year Increments
Graduation Years
Graduating
Period
2005-2009
Graduating
Period
2000-2004
Graduating
Period
1995-1999
Graduating
Period
1990-1994
Students
Percent
Students
Percent
Students
Percent
Students
Percent
58,873
46,566
38,332
29,994
Houston MSA
48,865 83.0%
37,475 80.0%
27,284 71.0%
17,996 60.0%
Rest of Texas
5,299 9.0%
5,730 12.0%
5,044 13.0%
5,099 17.0%
Out of State
4,710 8.0%
3,361 7.0%
6,004 16.0%
6,899 23.0%
Location
Total
48
Table 11
UH CONTRIBUTION TO HOUSTON'S NEEDS
This Decades Requirements and Contributions
(UH Status Quo)
Houston's
Need
Population
With BA+
29,067
Staying in
Percent
UH
Contribution Houston Contribution
10,562
8,766
49
30.16%
Deficit
20,301
Table 12
UH CONTRIBUTION TO HOUSTON'S NEEDS Requirements and
Contributions to Match Other Region's Levels (UH Status Quo)
Population
With BA+
Houston's
Need
UH
Contribution
Staying in
Houston
Percent
Contribution
Deficit
35,885
35,885
35,885
35,885
35,885
(UH Contributing to the Gain)
Houston's
Need
UH
Contribution
Staying in
Houston
Percent
Contribution
Deficit
44,651
16,255
13,467
30.16%
31,184
Increased
5,663
4,700
Graduates
53.62%
53.62%
Population
with BA+
50
APPENDICES
51
Appendix 1
BEST PLACES FOR BUSINESS AND CAREERS*
by Educational Rank
Overall Educational
Rank
Rank
Washington, DC
32
8
Seattle, WA
16
14
Oakland, CA
82
15
Denver, CO
5
18
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
22
20
Long Island, NY
57
24
Santa Ana, CA
99
24
New York, NY
39
27
Baltimore, MD
48
29
Philadelphia, PA
62
34
Atlanta, GA
21
36
San Diego, CA
75
39
Dallas, TX
8
43
Portland, OR
36
45
Kansas City, MO
30
49
St. Louis, MO
51
77
Pittsburgh, PA
35
89
Houston, TX
20
99
Phoenix, AZ
81
112
Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
15
115
San Antonio, TX
13
130
City
* Source: Forbes
52
Appendix 2
UHS REVENUES BY CATEGORY *
Academic Year 2011
University of Houston
(UH)
Category
Dollars
Percent
Net Tuition
$282,533,753
27.87%
State Appropriations and Grants
$255,154,160
25.17%
Other Grants, Awards, Etc.
$106,834,774
10.54%
Fed Grants
$120,898,720
11.92%
Net Sales of Services and Activities
$88,111,828
8.69%
Gifts
$79,797,057
7.87%
Additions to Endowments & Investment Income
$38,301,122
3.78%
Miscellaneous Revenues & Earnings
$24,379,956
2.40%
Local Government/Private Grants & Contracts
$17,871,832
1.76%
$1,013,883,202
100.00%
Total
* Note these figures are the actual revenues collected by the various campuses and include some
local spending and exclude other exogenous spending stimulative to the economics such as
student living expenditures
53
Appendix 2
UHS REVENUES BY CATEGORY *
Academic Year 2011
UH – Downtown (UHD)
Category
Dollars
Percent
Net Tuition
$50,064,996
27.08%
State Appropriations and Grants
$48,589,648
26.28%
Other Grants, Awards, Etc.
$31,860,737
17.23%
Net Sales of Services and Activities
$29,525,016
15.97%
Miscellaneous Revenues & Earnings
$14,762,968
7.98%
Fed Grants
$4,454,052
2.41%
Additions to Endowments & Investment Income
$4,077,134
2.21%
Gifts
$1,357,988
0.73%
$204,455
0.11%
Local Government/Private Grants & Contracts
Total
$184,896,994
100.00%
* Note these figures are the actual revenues collected by the various campuses and include
some local spending and exclude other exogenous spending stimulative to the economics such
as student living expenditures
54
Appendix 2
UHS REVENUES BY CATEGORY *
Academic Year 2011
UH-Clear Lake (UHCL)
Category
Dollars
Percent
State Appropriations and Grants
$42,350,581
40.20%
Net Tuition
$40,958,965
38.88%
Miscellaneous Revenues & Earnings
$11,795,363
11.20%
Other Grants, Awards, Etc.
$2,668,829
2.53%
Fed Grants
$2,641,762
2.51%
Additions to Endowments & Investment Income
$1,945,853
1.85%
Net Sales of Services and Activities
$1,520,103
1.44%
Gifts
$1,169,644
1.11%
$287,180
0.27%
$105,338,280
100.00%
Local Government/Private Grants & Contracts
Total
* Note these figures are the actual revenues collected by the various campuses and include
some local spending and exclude other exogenous spending stimulative to the economics
such as student living expenditures
55
Appendix 2
UHS REVENUES BY CATEGORY *
Academic Year 2011
UHS With Houston MSA Region (UHM)
Category
Dollars
Percent
Net Tuition
$373,557,714
28.64%
State Appropriations and Grants
$346,094,389
26.54%
Other Grants, Awards, Etc.
$141,364,340
10.84%
Fed Grants
$127,994,534
9.81%
Net Sales of Services and Activities
$119,156,947
9.14%
Gifts
$82,324,689
6.31%
Miscellaneous Revenues & Earnings
$50,938,287
3.91%
Additions to Endowments & Investment Income
$44,324,109
3.40%
Local Government/Private Grants & Contracts
$18,363,467
1.41%
$1,304,118,476
100.00%
Total
* Note these figures are the actual revenues collected by the various campuses and include some
local spending and exclude other exogenous spending stimulative to the economics such as
student living expenditures
56
Appendix 2
UHS REVENUES BY CATEGORY *
Academic Year 2011
UH-Victoria (UHV)
Category
Dollars
Percent
State Appropriations
$22,115,173
45.88%
Net Tuition
$15,987,005
33.17%
Miscellaneous Revenues & Earnings
$3,624,344
7.52%
Fed Grants
$2,641,762
5.48%
Net Sales of Services and Activities
$1,388,235
2.88%
Additions to Endowments & Investment Income
$942,890
1.96%
Other Grants, Awards, Etc.
$678,219
1.41%
Local Government/Private Grants & Contracts
$512,741
1.06%
Gifts
$310,292
0.64%
$48,200,661
100.00%
Total
* Note these figures are the actual revenues collected by the various universities and include
some local spending and exclude other exogenous spending stimulative to the economics such as
student living expenditures
57
Appendix 3
AWARDS BY COLLEGE
2009
Award Total
Awards by College
0
2010
Award Total
2011
Award Total
2012
Award Total
0
0
0
0
$6,072,855.00
$4,032,878.00
$3,692,291.00
$5,339,991.00
$84,750.00
$24,750.00
$32,500.00
$7,500.00
College of Education
$5,560,084.00
$2,318,931.00
$2,861,207.00
$857,628.00
College of Liberal Arts & Social
Sciences
$7,335,204.00
$9,062,473.00
$7,223,272.00
$8,977,836.00
College of Natural Sciences &
Mathematics
$37,236,926.00
$39,512,161.00
$34,395,739.00
$40,959,665.00
College of Optometry
$5,735,377.00
$6,104,874.00
$5,179,582.00
$6,615,223.00
College of Pharmacy
$3,915,006.00
$5,999,115.00
$3,808,494.00
$3,704,403.00
College of Technology
$1,711,473.00
$3,915,087.00
$1,559,133.00
$849,500.00
$26,279,212.00
$29,685,395.00
$22,125,587.00
$27,458,724.00
Division of Research
$8,078,354.00
$6,200,164.00
$4,579,208.00
$5,481,951.00
Graduate College of Social Work
$4,184,270.00
$3,701,692.00
$3,000,490.00
$1,967,701.00
$69,047.00
$152,548.00
$226,875.00
$174,988.00
$138,000.00
$0.00
$53,186.00
$34,952.00
$33,605.00
$34,475.00
$19,863.00
$0.00
$1,231,792.00
$1,521,724.00
$1,407,859.00
$3,898,645.00
UH Law Center
$820,919.00
$310,456.00
$316,804.00
$269,508.00
VP Student Affairs
$236,300.00
$425,300.00
$236,300.00
$236,559.00
$108,723,174.00
$113,002,023.00
$90,718,390.00
$106,834,774.00
C.T. Bauer College of Business
College of Architecture
Cullen College of Engineering
Hilton College of Hotel &
Restaurant Management
Honors College
Library
Provost
Total Awards by College
58
Appendix 3
EXPENDITURES BY COLLEGE
2009
Expend Total
2010
Expend Total
2011
Expend Total
2012
Expend Total
$2,769,757.00
$3,255,169.00
$3,424,527.00
$4,799,028.00
$52,104.00
$38,108.00
$29,309.00
$30,621.00
College of Education
$2,604,621.00
$2,218,621.00
$2,504,172.00
$2,727,507.00
College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
$8,278,268.00
$8,504,157.00
$8,672,696.00
$7,863,235.00
$25,962,893.00
$33,113,830.00
$33,693,978.00
$33,653,800.00
College of Optometry
$4,517,832.00
$5,694,290.00
$4,750,016.00
$5,252,003.00
College of Pharmacy
$3,417,190.00
$4,243,009.00
$4,665,770.00
$2,950,801.00
College of Technology
$1,568,048.00
$1,453,309.00
$1,930,724.00
$1,790,431.00
$20,490,394.00
$18,638,058.00
$21,919,061.00
$21,114,215.00
Division of Research
$6,220,939.00
$6,109,735.00
$3,256,369.00
$4,468,302.00
Graduate College of Social Work
$3,207,616.00
$3,424,776.00
$3,004,204.00
$1,931,889.00
Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant
Management
$19,573.00
$105,701.00
$99,615.00
$173,046.00
Honors College
$32,005.00
$54,670.00
$38,703.00
$58,567.00
Library
$33,453.00
$31,645.00
$21,625.00
$43.00
$1,102,281.00
$1,375,490.00
$1,344,791.00
$3,928,655.00
UH Law Center
$183,500.00
$430,361.00
$324,893.00
$80,494.00
VP Student Affairs
$252,167.00
$216,854.00
$331,705.00
$264,880.00
$80,712,641.00
$88,907,783.00
$90,012,158.00
$91,087,517.00
Edpenditures by College
C.T. Bauer College of Business
College of Architecture
College of Natural Sciences &
Mathematics
Cullen College of Engineering
Provost
Total Expenditures by College
59
Appendix 4
UHD
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Agency
Agency Name
2009
Award Total
2010
Award Total
2011
Award Total
FEDERAL AGENCIES
College Work Study
$295,575.00
$367,258.00
$409,926.00
Dept of Ed
$1,043,848.00
$988,747.00
$1,343,573.00
DOD/ONR
$96,357.00
Federal Pell Grant Program
$14,772,687.00
Homeland Security
NASA
NIH
$230,804.00
$40,117.00
$22,766,107.00
$26,860,114.00
$43,899.00
$112,698.00
$1,051,391.00
$1,136,252.00
$237,330.00
$104,276.00
NRC
$50,000.00
NSF
$495,087.00
$853,436.00
$678,864.00
SEOG
$524,650.00
$509,325.00
$420,590.00
USDA
$67,400.00
$43,500.00
$296,825.00
$17,526,408.00
$26,860,993.00
$31,453,235.00
$15,000.00
$42,800.00
$21,292.00
$49,760.00
$39,600.00
$39,880.00
$37,480.00
Total Awards for Federal Agencies
STATE AGENCIES
JAMP/State of TX
THECB
TG
$66,950.00
Tex Prep
$39,100.00
TTSP
$203,262.00
Texas Grants FY09
$3,043,196.00
$4,829,318.00
Total Awards for State Agencies
$3,367,508.00
$4,961,758.00
$98,372.00
LOCAL AGENCIES
Evogen (PA)
$1,500.00
Foundations
$10,000.00
$7,500.00
$30,500.00
HISD
$40,000.00
$40,000.00
$75,780.00
$58,400.00
$52,850.00
Walmart
Welch Foundation
$40,000.00
$40,000.00
Project Grad
$116,700.00
$133,100.00
$105,000.00
Total Awards for Local Agencies
$208,200.00
$239,000.00
$309,130.00
$5,000.00
GRAND TOTAL ALL AGENCIES
$21,102,116.00 $32,061,751.00 $31,860,737.00
60
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Federal Agency
Federal Agency Name
2009
Award Total
Institute for Museum and Library Services
$33,605.00
2010
Award Total
2011
Award Total
$34,475.00
$19,863.00
$2,555,167.00
$3,199,790.00
$2,750,617.00
National Endowment for the Arts
$65,000.00
$104,500.00
$73,500.00
National Endowment for the Humanities
$20,050.00
$13,500.00
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Institutes of Health
$21,668,807.00
$25,557,949.00
$21,613,670.00
National Science Foundation
$18,410,979.00
$16,412,596.00
$14,971,471.00
U.S. Dept. of Labor
$692,605.00
$330,000.00
$296,094.00
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
$94,995.00
$80,000.00
$173,995.00
U.S. Dept. of Commerce
$508,991.00
$414,796.00
$904,072.00
U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
$1,536,189.00
$3,046,861.00
$301,276.00
U.S. Dept. of Defense
$3,227,759.00
$5,442,133.00
$8,007,141.00
U.S. Dept. of Education
$3,232,639.00
$8,061,725.00
$6,518,878.00
U.S. Dept. of Energy
$3,907,832.00
$9,325,504.00
$6,554,031.00
U.S. Agency for International Development
$19,000.00
U.S. Dept. of Interior Minerals Management
$144,000.00
U.S. Dept. of Justice
$15,333.00
U.S. Dept. of the Interior
$271,516.00
$184,428.00
U.S. Dept. of State
$181,889.00
$73,652.00
U.S. Dept. of Transportation
$146,900.00
$60,360.00
$50,000.00
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
$1,713,033.00
$7,535,381.00
$1,080,739.00
U.S. Small Business Administration
$5,772,855.00
$3,201,711.00
$3,346,437.00
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
$10,000.00
Veterans Administration
Total Awards for Federal Agencies
$24,999.00
$135,254.00
$63,790,738.00
$83,412,479.00
61
$6,225.00
$66,933,550.00
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Foundations
2009
Foundation Name
Award Total
Alcohol Beverage Medical Research Foundation
2010
Award
Total
2011
Award
Total
$50,000.00
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
$50,000.00
Alternatives Research & Development Foundation
$36,753.00
Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation
$478.00
Bernard Harris Foundation
Brookdale Foundation
$100,000.00
$100,003.00
$80,000.00
$80,000.00
$4,000.00
Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation for International Scholarly
Ex
$25,000.00
Cure Alzheimer's Now Foundation
$75,000.00
Ed Rachal Foundation
$40,000.00
Epilepsy Foundation of America
$20,000.00
Foundation for Child Development
$48,400.00
$48,055.00
FRAXA Research Foundation
$60,000.00
$86,423.00
Greater Texas Foundation
$3,023,207.00
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation
$25,000.00
Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
$124,880.00
Houston Endowment, Inc.
$175,000.00
$75,000.00
James S McDonnell Foundation
$174,435.00
$143,748.00
Jerome Lejeune Foundation
$31,700.00
$35,000.00
$145,785.00
$60,210.00
John S. Dunn Research Foundation
$38,660.00
Keck Foundation
$71.00
Lions Foundation for Sight
$22.00
$20,000.00
62
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Foundations
2009
Award Total
Foundation Name
M. D. Anderson Foundation
2010
Award Total
2011
Award Total
$225,000.00
McCullough Foundation
$10,000.00
National Fragile X Foundation
$2,500.00
Qatar National Research Fund
$276,464.00
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
$100,808.00
San Diego State University Foundation
$135,700.00
$22,926.00
$80,975.00
Simmons Foundation
$89,771.00
South African Responsible Gaming Foundation
$26,858.00
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
$126,000.00
$17,000.00
$138,705.00
The California Endowment
$75,000.00
The College for All Texans Foundation
$28,750.00
The Glaucoma Foundation
$34,320.00
$114,578.00
$40,000.00
The Greenwall Foundation
$90,434.00
$188,634.00
The Simons Foundation
$16,473.00
$7,000.00
$2,263,910.00
$2,112,487.00
The Welch Foundation
$3,112,047.00
TIRR Foundation
$50,000.00
United Engineering Foundation
$90,500.00
United States Israel Binational Science Foundation
$12,650.00
US Civilian Research and Development Fdtn.
$12,200.00
$10,900.00
$6,850.00
Vietnam Education Foundation
$54,641.00
W. K. Kellogg Foundation
$200,000.00
Wallace H. Coulter Foundation
$200,000.00
$4,594.00
William & Ella Owens Medical Research
Total Awards for Foundations
$7,538,478.00
63
$41,181.00
$50,000.00
$3,871,132.00
$3,637,075.00
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Local Agency
2009
Award
Total
Local Agency Name
Aldine Independent School District
$110,000.00
$60,588.00
$100,000.00
$24,522.00
$1,250.00
Houston Community College System
Jackson Middle School
$9,700.00
$10,675.00
North Forest Independent School District
$36,536.00
Mental Health Mental Retardation
Authority
$1,500.00
Metropolitan Transit Authority
Total Awards for Local Agencies
Award Total
$431,266.00
Harris County Flood Control District
Houston Independent School District
2011
$60,000.00
City of Houston, Transtar
City of Houston, Texas
2010
Award
Total
$206,697.00
64
$35,000.00
$70,000.00
$564,640.00
$179,700.00
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Private/Non-Profit Agency
Private/Non-Profit Agency Name
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
Ad Astra Rocket
$66,292.00
Alzheimer's Association
$99,970.00
American Cancer Society
American Heart Association - National Center
$720,000.00
$729,000.00
$77,000.00
$77,000.00
American Heart Association - South Central
Affiliate
$77,000.00
$140,000.00
American Heart Association - Texas Affiliate
$42,000.00
$44,000.00
American Lung Association
$177,285.00
American Petroleum Institute
American Psychological Association
$75,752.00
$75,623.00
$8,500.00
$2,000.00
American Society of Nephrology
$100,000.00
Association for Biology Laboratory Education
$2,000.00
Atlanta Independent School System
$222,834.00
$90,170.00
Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau
$106,154.00
$27,280.00
Baldwin County Early Learning Center
$8,450.00
Baylor College of Medicine
$291,347.00
Beverly Hills Conference & Visitor Bureau
$202,431.00
$38,708.00
$82,548.00
Bracknell Forest Borough Council
$5,250.00
$3,111.00
Brien Holden Vision Institute
$153,623.00
$302,194.00
Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC
$109,689.00
$21,486.00
Colorado School of Mines
$398,380.00
$20,000.00
Cornell University
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
65
$150,000.00
$40,818.00
$114,642.00
$1,841,646.00
$2,128,246.00
$2,220,049.00
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Private/Non-Profit Agency
Private/Non-Profit Agency Name
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
CUNY York College
$4,000.00
Delta Pi Epsilon Research Foundation
$7,594.00
$3,400.00
Escape Family Resource Center
$17,000.00
Europlace Institute of Finance
$93,087.00
EveryChild
$67,500.00
$67,500.00
$75,759.00
Fight for Sight
$21,563.00
$4,200.00
$10,500.00
French American Cultural Exchange
$35,000.00
$45,000.00
$42,000.00
Garth Hill School
$2,506.00
Girls and Boys Preparatory Academy
Houston Advanced Research Center
$10,000.00
$1,655,265.00
Human Frontier Science Program
$189,976.00
Indiana University
$19,200.00
Institute for Health Technology Studies
$398,160.00
Institute of Biomedical Imaging Sciences
$422,975.00
Interfaith CarePartners
$32,073.00
Korea Research Institute for Human
Settlement
$43,103.00
LAM Treatment Alliance
$1.00
$100,000.00
Latino Giving Houston
$3,500.00
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
$209,169.00
Michigan State University
$189,364.00
$59,323.00
$1,485.00
Miller Theatre Advisory Board
$46,537.00
National Academy of Education
$55,000.00
66
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Private/Non-Profit Agency
2009
Award
Total
Private/Non-Profit Agency Name
2010
Award
Total
2011
Award
Total
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia &
Depression
$30,000.00
$15,000.00
Neighborhood Centers, Inc.
$18,000.00
$18,000.00
New Jersey City University
$2,820.00
NFL Charities
$118,693.00
Norfolk Public Schools
$101,889.00
North Carolina State University
$10,000.00
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
$800.00
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
Petroleum Research Fund
$85,771.00
$83,857.00
$120,479.00
$100,000.00
PhRMA Foundation
$60,000.00
Project GRAD - Knoxville Elementary Schools
$10,437.00
Project GRAD - Newark
$16,085.00
Project GRAD - Philadelphia
$97,261.00
Project Grad, Los Angeles
$9,976.00
Psychological Software Solutions
$7,922.00
$8,037.00
$3.00
$68,133.00
Public Broadcasting Service
$314,826.00
Purdue University
$44,809.00
Rice University
$95,000.00
Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence
$32,000.00
Society for the Study of School Psychology
$15,488.00
Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists
$40,000.00
Society of Petroleum Engineers Gulf
$12,500.00
67
$231,958.00
$40,000.00
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Private/Non-Profit Agency
Private/Non-Profit Agency Name
Society of Petroleum Engineers International
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
$79,718.00
$48,600.00
$12,500.00
St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
Strive
$100,000.00
Texas Chapter - ACSM
$75,000.00
$800.00
Texas Children's Hospital
$58,689.00
Texas EcoLab
Texas Heart Institute
$4,646.00
$13,000.00
$107,903.00
$481,962.00
$1,159,027.00
Texas Space Grant Consortium
$5,333.00
The Everett McKinley Dirksen Congressional
Lead
$3,250.00
The Houston Arts Alliance
$121,200.00
$169,400.00
The Lighthouse of Houston
$151,800.00
$5,100.00
The Menninger Clinic
The Methodist Hospital
$24,000.00
$10,000.00
$35,262.00
$163,986.00
$24,852.00
$34,662.00
The World Bank
$324,968.00
TIRR Memorial Hermann
$35,655.00
$37,704.00
$19,978.00
$305,161.00
$321,398.00
$323,713.00
University of British Columbia
$30,000.00
$10,000.00
University of Kansas
$45,259.00
United Way of Greater Houston
University of New Mexico
$65,000.00
Various Private Non-Profit Agencies
$8,236.00
Washington County NB & PW Club
$9,960.00
West Siberian Research Institute of Geology
$287,560.00
Total Awards for Private/Non-Profit Agencies
$9,033,859.00
68
$6,260,269.00
$6,255,116.00
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Private/Profit Agency
Private/Profit Agency Name
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
Acea Biotech
$3,709.00
Alcon Laboratories
$27,974.00
Alcon Research Limited
$28,954.00
American Art Resources
$13,472.00
Apache Corporation
Aramco Services Co
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP
$44,000.00
$165,000.00
$226,650.00
$119,000.00
$6,200.00
$27,337.00
$146,304.00
$78,851.00
$73,543.00
Bausch and Lomb Company
Bayer Corporation
$55,000.00
Biothera
$15,000.00
Boehringer Ingelheim
Pharmaceuticals
$60,143.00
BP America
$184,840.00
Bruker Advanced Supercon
$100,270.00
Cameron
$174,415.00
$92,312.00
$24,000.00
$101,000.00
CenterPoint Energy
$100,227.00
Chevron Energy Technology
Company
Chevron North America
Chung's Products
$43,140.00
$204,555.00
$271,850.00
$70,000.00
$9,048.00
ConocoPhillips
$226,736.00
$535,956.00
$361,500.00
$498,960.00
Cooper Vision Inc
$78,000.00
Covance, Inc
$14,425.00
Cubist Pharmaceuticals
$15,000.00
$77,750.00
$5,030.00
$173,821.00
$20,000.00
$93,530.00
Cyberonics
69
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Private/Profit Agency
Private/Profit Agency Name
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
Daihatsu Motor Corp
$135,000.00
Devon Energy
$550,000.00
$40,000.00
DioGenix
$36,039.00
Edgen Murray Corporation
$55,000.00
Eli Lilly & Company
$240,000.00
Entroplus LLC
$20,003.00
ENVIRON International Corp
Enzon Pharmaceuticals
$10,805.00
$47,653.00
Eureka Genomics Inc
$5,000.00
$27,865.00
EXCO Resources Inc
$150,000.00
$120,000.00
ExxonMobil Exploration Co
$10,000.00
$22,000.00
ExxonMobil Upstream Research
Co.
$83,700.00
$354,704.00
Five Star Products
FMC Technologies
$4,554.00
$188,760.00
$61,500.00
$39,800.00
$44,840.00
$70,683.00
Ford Motor Company
$40,000.00
Freese & Nichols
$75,000.00
Fusion Petroleum Technologies,
Inc
G&W Inc
$84,510.00
$194,512.00
General Electric Co
$59,941.00
$585,000.00
General Motors Corp
$12,500.00
$135,000.00
General Motors Fuel Cell Activities
$202,617.00
Geokinetics
Gilead Sciences Europe Ltd
$148,974.00
$66,750.00
70
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Private/Profit Agency
Private/Profit Agency Name
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
Global Viral Forecasting Inc
Golden Eagle International
$13,000.00
$500,000.00
Google
$25,000.00
Halliburton Energy Services
$25,000.00
Heidelberg Engineering
$52,650.00
$25,000.00
Honda Research Institute USA, Inc
$50,000.00
Horizon Wind Energy
$10,000.00
Houston Neuropsychology Group
$233,576.00
$17,215.00
HRD Corporation
$15,000.00
ILC Dover
$40,000.00
$173,833.00
Infoblox Inc
$36,195.00
Instituto de Ingenieria UNAM
$79,959.00
Integrated Micro Sensors, Inc
$100,000.00
$118,000.00
International Business Machines Corp
Itasca Houston, Inc
$135,525.00
$57,140.00
Jindal Petroleum
Joe W King Orthopedic Institute
John W. Largen, Ph.D.
$100,000.00
$402,000.00
$35,655.00
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
Division
$17,215.00
$127,544.00
Kalsi Engineering, Inc.
$29,370.00
Knowledge Reservoir, LP
$93,578.00
Kuraray American Inc
Lucent Technologies
$49,000.00
$15,947.00
$80,000.00
$398.00
71
$121.00
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Private/Profit Agency
Private/Profit Agency Name
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
Marina Bay Sands
$25,600.00
Medwell Foods, Inc
$7,900.00
Mentis Houston, LLP
Merck & Co. Inc.
$144,856.00
Merck Pharmaceuticals
$19,200.00
$18,852.00
$17,215.00
$136,843.00
$360,782.00
$292,351.00
Meteorological Solutions, Inc
MicroPower Global Corp
$42,000.00
$47,000.00
$5,000.00
$8,000.00
Miller Theatre Advisory Board, Inc.
Mixed Multi-Donors
$83,010.00
$87,646.00
$122,255.00
$2,000.00
$10,000.00
Mobitrum Corporation
Nano EnerTex Inc
$45,000.00
Nanotex Corp
$18,625.00
National Semiconductor Corp
$65,000.00
NSF International
$22,000.00
OptiSolar, Inc
$54,217.00
Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs
LLC
$65,000.00
$140,161.00
OsteoSphere, Inc
$423,400.00
Procyrion Corporation
$28,563.00
$30,016.00
Quantasol Ltd
SABIC Americas, Inc.
$730.00
$44,000.00
Petroleum Geo-Services
Progressive Medical Inc
$199,257.00
$154,000.00
$12,009.00
SEMATECH
$10,000.00
72
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Private/Profit Agency
Private/Profit Agency Name
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
Semiconductor Research Corp
SeprOx Corporation
$250,000.00
$100,000.00
SET Laboratories, Inc
$106,202.00
Sharp Corporation Japan
$200,000.00
Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
$200,000.00
Shell International Exploration and Production
Inc.
$50,000.00
Shell Oil Company
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc
$144,725.00
$200,000.00
$270,000.00
$7,500.00
$100,000.00
$59,801.00
Southwestern Energy Company
$20,000.00
St. Jude Medical Cardiac Rhythm Management
$80,000.00
StatoilHydro ASA
$282,892.00
TEVA Neuroscience Inc
$47,920.00
$120,000.00
The Boring Company
$7,500.00
Tietronix Software Inc
$8,064.00
Tokyo Electron America
$90,000.00
TOLMAR, Inc
$44,557.00
Transportation Technology Center, Inc
$15,000.00
Trinity Rail
$6,000.00
Under Armour
$19,519.00
Unity Semiconductor Corp
$50,000.00
Vangold Resources Ltd
$20,000.00
Varian Semiconductor Equipment
$100,000.00
Various Private Profit Agencies
$2,396,300.00
73
$1,540,256.00
$1,841,112.00
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Private/Profit Agency
Private/Profit Agency Name
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
Velodyne Acoustics Inc
$9,500.00
Versatile Energy Power Systems Inc
Waste Management
$163,000.00
$10,000.00
Weatherford International Ltd
$147,000.00
Willbros Group USA
Woodco USA
$15,300.00
$30,000.00
Zone Labs Inc
Total Awards for Private/Profit
Agencies
$171,000.00
$25,760.00
$7,399,085.00
74
$7,478,098.00
$8,475,715.00
Appendix 4
UH
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By State Agency
State Agency Name
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas
$289,870.00
Joint Admission Medical Program Council
$15,000.00
Lamar Univ.
$25,000.00
Lamar University/Texas Air Research Center
$100,000.00
Office of Court Administration
$96,200.00
$87,000.00
$200,000.00
Office of the Attorney General
$45,717.00
Office of the Governor
$46,181.00
State of Texas
$5,595,000.00
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
$9,892,905.00
Texas Commission on the Arts
$4,007.00
$111,677.00
$7,698,215.00
$3,745,724.00
$971,627.00
$12,500.00
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
$200,000.00
Texas Department of State Health Services
$190,894.00
Texas Department of Transportation
$584,104.00
$641,111.00
$463,023.00
$4,609,766.00
$807,470.00
$828,973.00
Texas Education Agency
Texas Hazardous Waste Research Center
$71,250.00
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
$65,000.00
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board ARP
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board TYT
$100,000.00
$182,500.00
$1,797,165.00
$184.00
$30,000.00
Texas Pharmacy Association
$11,000.00
Texas Woman's University
$8,000.00
Texas Workforce Commission
$112,000.00
M.D. Anderson Hosp. & Tumor Inst.
$137,215.00
$617,826.00
$37,704.00
Univ. of Texas at Austin
$788,889.00
$923,373.00
$6,371.00
Univ. of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
$145,024.00
$35,974.00
$46,733.00
$22,459,702.00
$13,056,834.00
$6,861,636.00
Total Awards for State Agencies
75
Appendix 4
UHV
Division of Research
Annual Report of Sponsored Research Activity
Awards By Agency
Agency Name
2009
2010
2011
Award Total
Award Total
Award Total
FEDERAL AGENCIES
National Endowment for the Arts
10,000.00
Small Business Administration
96,438.00
90,036.00
100,036.00
Total Awards for Federal Agencies
106,438.00
90,036.00
100,036.00
440,040.00
516,256.00
66,780.00
65,045.00
165,021.00
165,671.00
506,679.00
681,277.00
232,451.00
STATE AGENCIES
Texas Commission on the Arts
1,594.00
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
University of Texas at San Antonio
Total Awards for State Agencies
LOCAL AGENCIES
Alcoa
15,000.00
American productivity & Quality Center
675,895.00
Citizen's Medical Center
150,000.00
7,575.00
Coastal Bend College
218,465.00
242,960.00
DeTar Healthcare System
259,847.00
11,328.00
Fred and Mabel Parks Foundation
7,500.00
Greater Texas Foundation
492,672.00
Javis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation
25,000.00
M.G. and Lillie Johnson Foundation
Texas AgriLife
205,000.00
218,231.00
0
10,000.00
20,000.00
17,000.00
The Foundation of the National Student Nurses'
Association, Inc.
24,982.00
The George Foundation
203,468.00
Victoria College
10,610.00
Vivian L. Smith Foundation
50,000.00
Wharton County Junior College
25,000.00
Total Awards for Local Agencies
1,635,142.00
909,659.00
345,732.00
GRAND TOTAL ALL AGENCIES
2,248,259.00
1,680,972.00
678,219.00
76
Appendix 5
University of Houston
Energy Research Park
The Cullen College of Engineering is the biggest inhabitant of the UH Energy Research
Park, the only industry research park in the city of Houston dedicated to energy.
Research in diesel emissions, biofuels, wind energy, superconductivity and petroleum
engineering are all currently housed or are in development at the park. The Cullen
College of Engineering is looking to partner with corporations and industries in efforts
that span from basic and applied research to product development and technology
transfer. Current programs active at the Park include the following.
SSPEED Center
The Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED)
Center organizes leading universities, researchers, emergency managers and private
and public entities to better address severe storm impacts in the Gulf Coast area, the
largest energy hub in the world. The center, a collaborative effort with Rice University,
focuses on severe storm and hurricane research and storm surge prediction; radarbased rainfall and flooding warning systems for urban and coastal areas; state-of-the-art
educational programs for workforce training and public awareness; infrastructure risks
assessment; and evacuation plans linked to the best warning and transportation systems
and societal needs.
National Wind Energy Center
With the federal government attempting to fuel 30 percent of the nation’s electricity
consumption through wind sources by 2030, researchers at the National Wind Energy
Center are working establish an offshore wind energy operation to lead the nation
toward this goal. They are working to develop advanced materials to be used in turbine
blades and towers that can withstand extreme offshore conditions. In addition, they hope
to streamline the manufacturing process for blades larger than 70 meters.
National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM)
Research at the NSF-funded National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) is
focused on mapping terrains with laser surveying instruments to provide critical data to
scientists and government agencies about the changing surface of the earth. Everything
from erosion and drainage patterns to the devastating effect that natural disasters have
on the environment can be topographically mapped and modeled for study. The NCALM
team is currently working to develop a next generation Light Detection and Ranging
(LiDAR) system to provide some of the most accurate, high-res observations available
via laser mapping. The system will also be able to penetrate shallow water depths, which
is currently not available with existing technology. Less expensive than current
commercial units, the technology has commercialization potential, making it more readily
available for widespread research.
77
Appendix 5
University of Houston
Energy Research Park (cont’d)
Petroleum Engineering
In January 2011, UH's new Petroleum Engineering Program opened in a newly
renovated building at the Energy Research Park. The new undergraduate program is
fully operational in this location, which is home to several classrooms, undergraduate
teaching laboratories, a computer lab, graduate research laboratories, offices and a
student lounge. In June 2011, the facility was formally named the ConocoPhillips
Petroleum Engineering Building.
Texas Diesel Testing and Research Center
The Texas Diesel Testing and Research Center was established in 2004 through a
partnership with the City of Houston to test emissions for the city’s fleet of diesel
vehicles. Since Houston is a non-attainment area, emissions in the industrial region of
Houston must meet state emissions regulations and the moving fleet of diesel vehicles is
a huge contributor to the problem. In addition to testing vehicle emissions, center
researchers have a variety of projects aimed at testing and implementing retrofit
technologies, which work by cleaning NOx toxins emitted from diesel vehicle engines.
The center is working to provide the EPA with data on the performance of these
technologies and is working with specific companies to test and retrofit their systems on
various diesel vehicles, including a fleet of local school buses. Diesel Center researchers
are also working to examine the potential of algae as a renewable source of fuel. Unlike
corn and soybeans, algae harvested as a biofuel will not compete with the production of
current food crop and would only use two percent of the nation’s cropland to generate
enough biofuel to meet half the country’s fuel demand. Currently, researchers are looking
for ways to tailor algae production that can be processed by today’s refineries.
Energy Device Fabrication Laboratory
The mission of the Energy Device Fabrication Laboratory is to develop transformational
technologies that are capable of producing inexpensive, high efficiency solid-state
energy devices using roll-to-roll thin film manufacturing. Its innovative approach
developed by Professor Venkat Selvamanickam, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
and the Director of the Applied Research Hub, is based upon creation of singlecrystalline-like semiconductor thin films on inexpensive, flexible substrates. This
approach is built on process method successfully demonstrated by Prof. Selvamanickam
in the superconductor industry to construct a power transmission cable which was
inserted into the electric power grid in 2008.
78
Appendix 6
UHS Community Service & Outreach
University of Houston
A.D. Bruce Religion Center
The A.D. Bruce Religion Center is the focal point for religious activities at UH. The
center hosts regular religion services and other activities that are open to the university
community. Several religious denominations are represented at the center, and their
respective campus ministers offer personal and religious counseling and problem
solving. Two chapels are available to the public for weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and
memorial services. For information about schedules or rental fees, visit
http://www.uh.edu/adbruce/
A.I. Lack Music Master Series
The Moores School of Music’s A.I. Lack Music Master Series presents renowned
master teachers and performers in a series of public master classes. Previous guests
include such recognized artists as Christoph Eschenbach, Pinchas Zukerman, Samuel
Ramey, Marilyn Horne, Frederica von Stade, and others. Tickets are available through
the Moores School of Music Box Office (713) 743-3313. For more information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/music/events-performances/lack/index.php
ASME/UH Cajun Crawfish Boil
The Cullen College of Engineering sponsors the annual Cajun Crawfish Boil, the kickoff
event for the Offshore Technology Conference--an international conference that covers
state-of-the art technology for offshore drilling, exploration, production, and
environmental. Held on the UH campus, thousands of industry professionals and their
families attend. Many companies provide support as either corporate, food, or door
prize sponsors. For information, visit http://www.egr.uh.edu/alumni/events/crawfish-boil
Abramson Family Center for the Future of Health
This center targets informing and empowering patients with information to give people
power over their own health and to bring medicine into the 21st Century. For
information, visit http://www.theabramsoncenter.org/
Academic Achiever’s Program - Austin High School (AAP-AHS)
Formerly known as the Students Aspiring to a Better Education Program (SABE), AAPAHS is sponsored by the Center for Mexican-American Studies in partnership with
Stephen F. Austin High School. It was established in 1985 as the “Hispanic Family
College Project” to encourage at-risk high school students to achieve good academic
standing, graduate, and enroll at an institution of higher education, preferably the
University of Houston. In order to accomplish its mission, SABE provides: mentoring
programs, tutoring services, skill workshops, leadership retreats as well as scholarships
upon enrollment at the UH. In order to remain in the program, however, members must
do all of the following: enroll in college preparatory courses, maintain a minimum of a
79
2.5 GPA, complete at least 2 hours of studying and/or tutoring per week, attend 2 skills
workshops per semester, participate in community service projects, and attend all
program sponsored meetings and events. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/cmas/recruitment/aap-uh/index.php
Academic Achiever’s Program - High School Partnerships (Formerly the Urban
Experience Program)
The UH Center for Mexican American Studies works with students at many high schools
in the metropolitan area to prepare them for and help them get admitted to college.
Students who attend UH in the Academic Achiever’s Program are eligible for
scholarships and various services, including individual academic tutoring, skills
workshops and leadership training, internship opportunities, and priority registration. For
more information, visit http://www.uh.edu/class/cmas/recruitment/aap-uh/index.php
African American Studies (AAS) Program
The African American Studies Program focuses upon the cultural and historical heritage
of African Americans and their contributions to U.S. and world civilizations. The purpose
of the program is to develop, promote, and enhance education through teaching,
research and community service projects. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/aas/index.php
Alliance for NanoHealth
The Alliance for NanoHealth is a collaborative enterprise aimed at bridging the gap
between biology, medicine, public health and physical science with the goal of saving
lives. By developing nanoscale engineering devices that can treat the human body at a
molecular level, it may be possible to prevent or even cure complex diseases. The five
member institutions are Rice University, The University of Texas Health Science Center,
Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and
University of Houston. For information, visit http://www.nanohealthalliance.org/ and
http://www.uh.edu/bionano/
Allied Geophysical Laboratories (AGL)
The AGL mission is to develop and calibrate new means of imaging hydrocarbon
accumulations. AGL uses state-of-the-art physical modeling and cluster computing as
tools to extract new information from currently underutilized types of seismic data.
Current efforts address issues in vector seismic analysis, extraction of more information
from the long-offset component of seismic data that is usually muted, and the integrated
analysis of multiple 3D seismic attribute cubes. For information, visit www.agl.uh.edu/ .
American Humanics Program
The American Humanics Nonprofit Certificate Program at the Graduate College of
Social Work prepares undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students in any field of
study for careers in nonprofit management. Required courses include human
development, nonprofit management, public relations/marketing, fiscal management
and fund development. An experiential learning component requires a supervised
internship. Organizations interested in offering volunteer or intern opportunities should
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visit http://www.sw.uh.edu/academics/nonprofit-leaders/.
Annual Social Work Awards Breakfast
Practitioners and scholars in the field of social work gather every March, National Social
Work Month, for the Social Work Awards Breakfast. The breakfast provides a platform
for both the discussion of topics of interest to social workers and public recognition of
professional contributions by individuals and organizations in the local human services
community. For information, http://www.uh.edu/socialwork/index.php
Arte Público Press
Arte Público Press is the oldest and largest publisher of U.S. Hispanic books and
anthologies of fiction, nonfiction, and history for children and adults. Its imprint for
children and young adults, Piñata Books, is dedicated to the realistic and authentic
portrayal of the themes, languages, characters, and customs of Hispanic culture in the
United States. Based at the University of Houston, Arte Público Press, Piñata Books
and the Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage project provide the most widely
recognized and extensive showcase for Hispanic literary arts, history, and politics. For
information, visit www.artepublicopress.com
Asian American Studies Center (AASC)
The AASC explores Asians’ and Asian Americans’ social, historical, educational,
economic, political, and linguistic characteristics and development through course work
and study abroad trips. The center’s China Study Abroad Program is one of the largest
such programs in the United States. Similar study abroad programs in Japan, Vietnam,
and South Korea are being developed. The center also offers a Leadership Training
Program for Asian government officials and business and educational leaders. For
information, call (713) 743-4982 or visit http://www.uh.edu/aasc/
Athletics Facilities
University of Houston’s athletics facilities including Robertson Stadium, Hofheinz
Pavilion, Cougar Field (baseball), Cougar Softball Complex, Tom Tellez Track at the
Carl Lewis International Complex (Track and Field Stadium) and the Yeoman Field
House in the Athletics/Alumni Center, are available for public rental. For information
about fees and availability, call (713) 743-9366 or visit http://www.uh.edu/athletics/
Athletics Ticket Office
The Athletics Ticket Office, located in the Athletics/Alumni Center, sells season and
individual tickets to all Cougar athletics events. UH competes in 15 NCAA Division 1-A
sports as a member of Conference USA. For information, visit the web site at
www.uhcougars.com or call the Ticket Office at (713) 743-9444 or (713) GO COOGS.
http://www.uhcougars.com/tickets/hou-tickets.html
Best Student Service Program
Residential Life and Housing annually honors the best student service program. In
2006-07 a program to collect canned goods for area food banks received the award.
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Bioengineering Research Center
The center promotes research and graduate education in bioengineering. It sponsors a
Bioengineering Seminar Series and fosters interaction of college faculty involved in
bioengineering research with colleagues at UH and in the greater Houston area,
including the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, and the UT Medical Branch at
Galveston. It also coordinates UH’s presence in the Annual Houston Conference on
Biomedical Engineering Research, organized by the Houston Society for Engineering in
Medicine and Biology. For information, call (713) 743-4502.
Blaffer Art Museum
Blaffer serves as the University of Houston’s laboratory for the visual arts and culture.
Innovative, challenging exhibitions, programs, and publications bring artists, the
university community, and the people of Houston into closer engagements with each
other and with the important cultural issues of our time. Museum hours are Tuesday
through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Sundays, Mondays and
university holidays. Blaffer Gallery is free and open to the public. For information, call
(713) 743-9530 or visit www.blaffergallery.org
Blaffer Internships
Blaffer Gallery offers internships to UH students as well as to people from other
institutions, including the Chicago Art Institute and Wellesley. Interns work in the areas
of curatorial, public relations, art handling, registration, development, and financial
management. For information, call (713) 743-9526.
Blakely Advocacy Institute
Continuing legal education in advocacy and lawyering technique and representation of
Houston’s underserved are just two of the methods the Blakely Advocacy Institute (BAI)
uses to improve the efficacy of the legal profession and justice system. BAI also
coordinates all of the UH Law Center’s practical skills courses and sponsors the many
interscholastic moot court and mock trial teams that compete throughout the nation. For
information, call (713) 743-2065or visit www.law.uh.edu/blakely/
Brown Bag Medical Review and Counseling
Senior citizens who need help on how to manage their medication can receive one-onone counseling through brown bag medication reviews at grocery stores, City of
Houston offices, community service centers, churches, and other public venues.
College of Pharmacy students teach seniors about their medications, how and when
they should be taken, possible side effects and drug interactions. For information, call
713-743-1298 or visit http://rx.pharmacy.uh.edu
Building Performance Laboratory Initiative (BPL)
Using digital instrumentation and computer simulation models, the BPL performs
comprehensive post-occupancy evaluation studies where environmental design
intentions are verified and validated against everyday experiences of the building
occupants. Also provides LEED-accredited project commissioning and continuous
commissioning services matching the ongoing operation and control of a building to its
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design intent as well as its changing use patterns.
Business Consulting Lab
The Business Consulting Lab is a unique program offered to students as part of the
MBA curriculum at the C.T. Bauer college of Business by the Department of Marketing
and Entrepreneurship. This six credit-hour course provides the strongest business
graduate students with an opportunity to work within an organization providing high
value management consulting (more than one third of business students complete
internships). For more information, visit http://bauer.uh.edu/degreesprograms/certificates/BCL/
CS Academy
An activity of the Advanced Distributed Simulation Research Consortium (ADSRC - a
unit of the U.S. Army Research Office), this program is designed to allow socially and
economically disadvantaged students to bypass remediation upon entering college in
areas of computer science, computational science, and mathematics. Topics include
pre-calculus, C++, Java, and HTML. Students in their senior year of high school are
encouraged to apply.
Center for Applied Geosciences and Energy
Researchers in this center, with the support of industry and government partners, are
improving the methods of analyzing reservoir using new seismic data. For information,
visit http://www.cage.uh.edu/main.php
Center for Applied Polymer Research
This center provides the opportunity for undergraduate students to participate directly in
basic and applied polymer science research projects that have academic and industrial
significance. It includes an internationally recognized center for applied research in
ultraviolet (UV) polymerization chemistry and technology, which disseminates
information to the Texas-based chemical industry concerning the productivity,
environmental, and energy saving features of UV polymerization processes. Another
component, H.U.N.S.T.E.M. −Houston Urban Network for Educators in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics − helps connect educators, students, and
parents to resources needed to promote study in these areas.
Center for Computational Sciences and Advance Distributed Simulation (C2SDS)
This very successful program is for pre-college and college students whose interests lie
in computer science, mathematics, engineering, and the sciences. C2SDS is also highly
involved in the development of K-12 school teachers. Pre-college programs, directed at
middle and high school students, include Houston PREP, Computational Science
Academy, CS Academy, Scholars Academy, and High School Tours/Visits. Teacher
training is being undertaken in collaboration with NASA and other entities. These
training sessions involve hands-on exposure to and experience with new technologies
and educational materials.
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Center for Consumer Law
The Center for Consumer Law educates attorneys, professors, and lay people about
consumer law; seeks legal, practical, and legislative solutions to common consumer
problems; and encourages the development of consumer rights. It offers the community
easy-to-understand explanations of consumer law issues through “The People’s Law
School,” television programs, newspaper columns, and a video program designed to
educate high school students. Its bi-annual conference attracts professors from
throughout the world. For information visit www.peopleslawyer.net
Center for Drug and Social Policy Research
The mission of the Center for Drug and Social Policy Research (CDSPR) is to conduct
and promote innovative research on substance abuse under strict scientific and ethical
conditions. It seeks to identify the social, historical, political and cultural aspects that
contribute to substance abuse and related problems; and to propose and incorporate
social policies that may prevent substance abuse. The CDSPR’s innovative social
behavioral research efforts allow their researchers to collect data, examine problems,
and identify solutions. For more information, visit http://www.uh.edu/cdspr/
Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship
Through extensive support programs and educational resources, this award-winning
center enhances the competitiveness and profitability of young entrepreneurs. The
center prepares students for leadership roles in the business world by providing
education from an executive perspective, from idea to implementation. The center also
seeks to be a resource for the Houston entrepreneurial community by hosting and
sponsoring events within the community. For more information, visit
http://www.bauer.uh.edu/centers/wce/
Center for Executive Development
The Center for Executive Development in the C.T. Bauer College of Business provides
a range of high-quality public and custom executive education, management
development, and business professional training programs to the local, regional,
national, and international business communities. For information, visit
www.bauer.uh.edu/ced
Center for Gifted & Talented Education
The Center for Gifted & Talented Education provides help in finding information and
resources on gifted and talented education to anyone who requests assistance.
Requesters can be teachers, parents, or students themselves. For information, call
(713) 743-4963.
Center for Immigration Research
The Center for Immigration Research studies the consequences of current immigration
trends in order to inform decision making concerning international and national
immigration policies, as well as to disseminate information to local institutions,
organizations and policy-makers involved with the settlement and incorporation of new
immigrants into their communities. For information, visit
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http://www.uh.edu/class/sociology/ctr-immigration-research/
Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT)
CIGMAT is an industry/university consortium established to meet growing demand from
industry for better management of information on grouts and grout applications.
Ongoing research projects include rehabilitation of wastewater facilities, a new
generation of deep foundations, and new pipes and materials. The center’s goal is to
foster improved understanding of grouting materials and their applications. Also of
interest are other competing and complementing materials and technologies to grouting
used in construction and rehabilitation of civil infrastructure. For information, visit
http://gem1.cive.uh.edu/
Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS)
The Center for Mexican American Studies has developed a minor in Mexican American
Studies, a Visiting Scholar’s Program, a Faculty Research Fellowship and Graduate
Student Fellowship program, and a recruitment and retention component. The center
also publishes monographs and sponsors research, conferences and lectures. For
information, visit http://www.uh.edu/class/cmas/index.php
Center for Neuro-Engineering and Cognitive Science
This center is the successor of the Cognitive Science Initiative, and its primary mission
is to conduct basic and applied research in neuro-engineering and cognitive science.
Other important objectives include the education of students in a multi-disciplinary
approach to topics relevant to neuro-engineering and cognitive science and the
continuation and fostering of research alliances with Houston and Galveston
educational institutions and medical centers. For information, visit
http://cnecs.egr.uh.edu/
Center for Public History
Housed in the Department of History, this program serves the public through the
Tenneco Lecture Series, the Houston History Project, the History of Houston Archives,
the publication “Houston Review of History and Culture,” a variety of internships which
place master’s degree candidates in organizations and companies, and team research
projects for members of the community. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/ctr-public-history/index.php
Hobby Center for Public Policy
The Center for Public Policy identifies and evaluates major public policy issues affecting
the Houston metropolitan area, as well as the state of Texas. The Center is an active
source for impartial research regarding regional political, economic, and demographic
issues. For information, contact (713) 743-3972 or visit www.uh.edu/hcpp
Center for Public Policy/League of Women Voters Partnership
The Center for Public Policy partners with the League of Women Voters for policy
research – such as a recent health care study – and voter registration drives. For
information, call (713) 743-3972. http://www.uh.edu/class/hcpp/about/index.php
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Center for Public Policy’s Local Government Internship Program
The Center for Public Policy’s Local Government Internship Program offers students the
opportunity to experience the political office environment in the Houston area. The
interns work an average of eight hours per week over the semester in a Houston office
at either a municipal, county, state, or federal level. For information, call (713) 7433972 or visit www.uh.edu/cpp/GOVTinternships.htm
Center for Technology Literacy (CTL)
The Center for Technology Literacy in the College of Technology supports technology
education professionals throughout Texas by providing such resources as the Texas
Technology Web site (www.texastechnology.com), the annual Technology Education
Professional Development Conference, and the “Project Lead the Way” Summer
Training Institute. CTL also offers onsite/inservice training workshops, advisory panels,
and community collaborations. For information, visit http://sites.tech.uh.edu/ctl/
Center for the Americas
The Center for the Americas promotes understanding among American countries
through scholarly exchange, international symposiums, and consultation services to the
public and private sectors. The center supports research on a wide range of cultural,
political and social topics, including trade and economic reform, the environment,
pressing social issues, the status of indigenous peoples, drugs, civil-military relations,
freedom of the press, human rights and American cultures. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/ccs/ctr-americas/index.php
Center for the Reliability of Ceramics
The center provides a cooperative forum for university, national lab, and industrial
researchers to cooperate on research directed toward the improvement of ceramic
performance in engineering applications. Research topics include crack growth
resistance modeling in brittle materials, statistical prediction of failure of engineering
components, multi-scale determination of failure mechanisms in ceramics, and fatigue
degradation in ceramics and ceramic composites.
Child and Family Center for Innovative Research (CFCIR)
The Child and Family Center for Innovative Research (CFCIR) grows out of the
research and training program of the Office of Community Projects (OCP) in the
Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) at the University of Houston (UH). The
CFCIR aims at strengthening and expanding the research capacity of the program by
integrating an extensive behavioral health (e.g. substance abuse, mental disorders) and
social work clinical research component and a new and innovative Virtual Reality Core
Research Facility that will serve the University of Houston and its collaborators in the
Houston metropolitan area, the State of Texas, and beyond (i.e. national and
international partners). For more information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/socialwork/research/cfcir/index.php
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Child Welfare Education Project (CWEP)
The Child Welfare Education Project prepares master’s level social work students for
the challenging and rewarding work found in children’s protective services. The
program provides financial aid, internships, seminars, career advising, and job
placement. For more information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/socialwork/community/cwep/index.php
Children’s Christmas Party
The Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management hosts an annual
Christmas party for children in local orphanages. UH student organizations provide food
and beverages and the university community contributes toys. Organizations that would
like to participate should submit information about eligible children (under age 10) by
mid-November.
Civil Clinic
Under the supervision of licensed attorneys, students in the Civil Clinic at the UH Law
Center work directly with clients and handle all aspects of case management,
interviews, preparation of motions and petitions, and trials. The civil clinic handles legal
cases involving family law, guardianships, probate, and Chapter 7 consumer
bankruptcy. For more information, visit http://www.law.uh.edu/clinic/civil_new.asp
Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP)
Attorneys, judges, legal referral services, and social service agencies can refer cases to
the Clinical Legal Education Program. Under the supervision of licensed attorneys,
students work directly with clients, handling all aspects of case management, including
performing client interviews, preparing motions, and participating in court hearings and
trials. For information, visit www.law.uh.edu/blakely/
Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology Practicum
Doctoral students in the clinical psychology and clinical neuropsychology programs
work in a variety of community practicum settings under the supervision of a licensed
psychologist. Current practicum placements include the University of Texas - Harris
County Psychiatric Center and Health Science Center, Veterans Administration Medical
Center, Baylor College of Medicine, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Institute for
Research and Rehabilitation, Texas Children’s Hospital, Children’s Assessment Center,
Methodist Hospital, and Depelchin Children’s Center. For more information about
practicum placements, visit http://www.uh.edu/class/psychology/clinical-psych/index.php
College Career Days
The Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS) invites hundreds of Latino senior
high school students from surrounding school districts to visit the campus and provides
them with “UH survival” information. The purpose of College Career Days is to make
college a viable option for those who may not have considered it. During their visit, the
students break into small groups and attend a variety of workshops dealing with such
topics as admissions, financial aid, and career planning. They hear motivational
speeches and enjoy cultural entertainment. For information, visit
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http://www.uh.edu/class/cmas/recruitment/careerday/index.php
Color Vision Service
The Color Vision Service at the College of Optometry provides comprehensive testing to
diagnose inherited and acquired vision defects. It also serves various occupational
fields that have color vision requirements, such as the aviation, railroad, maritime, and
transportation sector. To schedule an appointment, visit
http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/services/color-vision.cfm
Common Ground Teachers Institute
In a two-week workshop held each summer, UH professors lead seminars for greater
Houston area teachers of grades 6 to12 in who want to learn more about modern
classics by African American, Asian American, and Hispanic authors. Newer works are
paired with traditional literary classics. Common Ground helps increase the diversity of
the middle school and high school English curriculum and gives teachers the chance to
discuss teaching strategies, a range of student needs, and state and district
expectations with their professional peers in an informal setting. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/honors/honors-and-the-schools/common-ground/index.php
Community Research and Collaboration
Social service agencies have the opportunity to collaborate on needs assessments and
program evaluations with faculty of the UH Graduate College of Social Work through the
Office of Community Projects. Information gathered in needs assessments supports
agency strategic planning decisions. Program evaluation often begins as assistance in
preparing grant proposals and continues through program implementation. For more
information, visit. http://www.uh.edu/socialwork/community/crc/index.php
Community Design Resource Center
The Community Design Resource Center is the outreach and extension program of the
Gerald D. Hines college of Architecture, and is one of the primary fundraising priorities
in the College and the development director works in collaboration with the Center’s
director to raise funds for CDRC programs and partnerships. The mission of the
Community Design Resource Center is to enhance the quality of life in low-to-moderate
income communities throughout the Houston region through design, research,
education, and practice. The Community Design Resource Center works to address
issues of community development, design, planning, affordable housing and civic
projects in partnership with communities. For more information, visit
http://arch.uh.edu/special/cdrc/index.php
Community Projects (Nonprofit Leadership Alliance)
Students in the C.T. Bauer College of Business undertake marketing projects for
community or nonprofit organizations. These projects equip students with specific
analytical concepts and skills and instill a broad perspective of society and sense of
values that foster pride and responsible participation in civic affairs. For information, visit
http://www.bauer.uh.edu/undergraduate/Nonprofit.asp
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Community Vision Screening and Early Detection Program
This service, offered by the University Eye Institute, provides free vision screening for
various community organizations, schools, health fairs, senior citizens groups,
churches, and more. For information, visit http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/
Community Wellness Program
Through program, faculty and students of the College of Pharmacy offer screenings for
various conditions, personalized drug interaction profiles, immunizations, hemoglobin
A1c monitoring, and diabetes education in schools, community centers, churches,
nursing homes, malls, and clinics. For information, visit http://rx.pharmacy.uh.edu
Composites Engineering and Applications Center (CEAC)
The Composites Engineering and Applications Center for Petroleum Exploration and
Production investigates the potential technical and life-cycle cost benefits of composite
materials in onshore and offshore operations. Of special interest are structural
components such as risers, tethers, moorings, and spoolable sub-sea flow lines for
deep-water applications where present materials may have performance and economic
limitations. The current CEAC consortium includes the University of Houston,
international petroleum E&P companies, supporting industries, and U.S.
government/certification agencies. For information, visit www.egr.uh.edu/CEAC
Computational Science Academy (aka Saturday PREP)
An academic year continuation of the PREP Program, this academy mentors and
nurtures students by providing necessary reinforcement and encouragement to pursue
mathematics, science, and engineering technology careers and teaching
conceptualization and problem solving. Students in 8th and 9th grade are encouraged
to apply.
Burdette Keeland, Jr. Design Exploration Center
The Burdette Keeland, Jr. Design Exploration Center in the Gerald D. Hines College
of Architecture investigates the use of the computer as a design tool, with an emphasis
on modeling, visualization, and animation. Partnerships have been established with
computer software manufacturers and Houston area nonprofit groups. For information,
http://arch.uh.edu/resources/keelandcent/index.php
Consistency Management & Cooperative Discipline (CMCD)
The Consistency Management & Cooperative Discipline program helps students
prepare for success, achieve self-discipline, and develop responsibility. The program
emphasizes prevention rather than intervention, shared responsibilities between teacher
and student, valued-based discipline, increased communication with parents, and
effective instruction. The main components of CMCD are prevention, caring,
cooperation, organization and community. For information, visit www.coe.uh.edu/cmcd/
Cooperative Education
Cooperative Education (Co-op) enables students in any major to receive career training
with pay as they work with professionals in their fields of study. Work experience in
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government, business, industry, and human services enhances a student’s academic
training. This valuable experience is documented on a student’s official transcript. For
information, visit www.egr.uh.edu/coop
Cornea & Contact Lens Service (CCLS)
The Cornea and Contact Lens Service provides comprehensive eye and vision services
along with both routine and highly complex contact lens fitting and follow-up care.
Custom designed lenses for conditions such as presbyopia (bifocal), keratoconus,
corneal transplants, and disfigured eyes (prosthetics) are some of the more complex
fittings performed in the CCLS. Orthokeratology services are also available. For
information visit http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/
Cougar Hall of Fame
University sports highlights and memorabilia are featured in the Cougar Hall of Fame
near the entrance of the Athletics/Alumni Center. Among the items on display are Andre
Ware’s Heisman Trophy, Wilson Whitley’s Lombardi Award and Carl Lewis’ Olympic
Gold Medals. The Cougar Hall of Fame is open to the public Monday through Friday,
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, visit www.uh.cougars.com
Cougar Preview
Each fall and spring, the Office of Student Outreach Services hosts Cougar Preview, a
campus open house for prospective students, family members and guests. UH faculty,
staff, and student leaders explain admissions requirements, degree plans, scholarships
and financial aid. In addition, prospective Cougars have the opportunity to become
acquainted with the campus and with student services. For information, visit
www.uh.edu/enroll/admis/undergraduate/CougarPreview.htm
Cougars for Kids Program
Organized by the College of Technology, the Cougars for Kids community service
volunteer program was created to establish an effective avenue to enable UH student to
learn the value of making community service contributions by becoming Student
Volunteers and helping to meet the needs of children of all ages who are patients in
Houston area hospitals and students in Houston schools. The Cougar for Kids Program
places volunteers at local children hospitals. For more information, e-mail
[email protected] or visit http://www.tech.uh.edu/cougarsforkids/
CreationStation
The CreationStation, located in the University Center Underground, offers computer
graphics, printed and vinyl banners, buttons, dry mounting, laminating, large format
printing, faxing services, T-shirts and passport photos. The CreationStation is open to
the public. For more information, visit http://www.uh.edu/uccs/about.html
Creative Writing Program
The UH Creative Writing Program sponsors readings and literary programs in
museums, arts organizations, schools, and bookstores. Many programs are presented
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in collaboration with other organizations, such as Brazos Bookstore, Inprint Inc.,
Nuestra Palabra, The Asia Society, and the UH M.D. Anderson Library. For information,
visit http://www.uh.edu/class/english/programs/graduate/creative-writing/index.php
Criminal Justice Institute (CJI)
The Criminal Justice Institute brings together nationally-recognized scholars, top
criminal law practitioners, judges, and students through a variety of programs designed
to enhance the study and practice of criminal law. The institute includes such
established programs as the Texas Innocence Network, the Criminal Prosecution and
Criminal Defense Clinics, the Southwest Juvenile Defender Center, and the Criminal
Trial Advocacy training program. The institute also offers opportunities for educational
and practice programs, a dual degree in law and criminology, and conferences and
symposia. For information, visit www.law.uh.edu/cji/
Corporate In-House Training
UH School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers onsite training services for
corporations and organizations. Programs available include leadership and
management skills, foreign languages taught through accelerated learning, marketing
communications, project management, English as a Second Language, and employee
benefit specialist certification. Customized and standard training programs are
available. For information, visit http://scps.uh.edu/cs/corporate/index.htm
Dawn Project
The College of Education collaborates with the Dawn Project to help revitalize the Third
Ward community. The project consists of several media art programs: The Dawn
Installation, the Third Ward Online Tour, The Emancipation Park StoryMapping
Imitative, and the Third Ward Time Travel for the METRO Southeast Corridor Transit
Line.
Design Exploration Center Initiative
An old-but still usable World War II era building adjacent to the Gerald D. Hines College
of Architecture is being refurbished to house expanded and new programs at the
college at considerably less cost than it would take to build a new structure. This is a
solution that will save money, recycle resources, and provide a clean, safe, and
functional new facility. Partners like Hines, CSI, AIA, NAIOP, AGC, USGBC, and IDSA
are supporting and helping to implement this project. For information, visit
www.arch.uh.edu/news/DesignExp.html
Development Clinic
The College of Optometry Development Clinic provides testing services and treatment
recommendations for children with learning problems that are related to the delayed
development of certain vision and/or speech-language processing skills. For
information, visit http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/
Dietetic Internship
The dietetic internship within the College of Education places interns in healthcare
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facilities and provides management and community experiences under the supervision
of registered dietitians. Current placements include M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,
Shriners Hospital for Children and Texas Children’s Hospital. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/hhp/graduate-programs/ms-humannutrition/Dietetic%20Internship/index.php
Digital History Project
Faculty members in the Department of History and the College of Education have
teamed up to create an interactive website to enhance teaching and research in U.S.
history. It includes an online textbook, many primary resources, and a multitude of
teaching aids. The project is a collaborative effort of the University of Houston, the
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Chicago Historical Society, the National Park
Service, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and Teachers as Historians.
To access the database, go to http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/
Diplopia Service
The Diplopia Service provides specialized examinations of adults complaining of double
vision. Management of double-vision symptoms with prisms is provided when indicated.
Patients needing further evaluation are provided the appropriate referrals. For
information, visit http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/services/lowvision/vision-aids.cfm
Direct Business Assistance
Direct Business Assistance, a program of the UH Small Business Development Center,
provides referrals to professionals such as CPAs and attorneys who offer discounted
fees for the first 16 hours of consultation, with the first two hours free of charge. For
information, visit http://www.uh.edu/graduate-catalog/colleges/bauer/bcb-studentservices/index.php
Economic Development Program (EDP)
The Economic Development Program at the C. T. Bauer College of Business is a
coordinated effort between State Farm Insurance, the Bauer College of Business, and
the Local Initiatives Support Corporation to promote community development in
Houston. As part of State Farm’s efforts to comply with the Community Reinvestment
Act (CRA), State Farm Insurance has gifted $75,500 to the Bauer College to administer
the EDP. The EDP provides MBA and undergraduate business students real world
experience in community development and inspires them to future leadership in these
development organizations, while also building capacities of existing Community
Development Corporations (CDCs). For more information, visit
http://www.bauer.uh.edu/centers/bedp/
Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound
This program reaches out to students in Houston public schools with activities designed
to improve college-going rates among under-represented populations. These highly
successful efforts have significantly increased the number of students who go on to
college from the schools where these programs are present.
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Elizabeth D. Rockwell Career Services Center
The C.T. Bauer College of Business’ Elizabeth D. Rockwell Career Services Center
helps area businesses identify, recruit and hire qualified and skilled business
professionals. The center offers traditional recruiting services as well as cutting-edge
technology and online job listings to assist employers in filling structured internships and
both part-time and full-time positions. For information, visit
http://www.bauer.uh.edu/career-center/index.php
Emotions in Marriage Laboratory
The Marriage Laboratory conducts research on couples’ communication and
psychophysiology, focusing on couples experiencing conflict and/or violence in their
relationships. The goal of this research is to help develop better ways to intervene with
distressed and violent couples. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/psychology/clinics/index.php
Engineering Career Center
The Engineering Career Center is a comprehensive service center for both students
and industry dedicated to the development and implementation of programs and
services that provide a lifetime of career management for students as well as
professional and quality responsiveness to industry partners to assist them in meeting
their recruiting targets. For information, visit www.egr.uh.edu/career
Engineering Education Outreach
Engineering Education Outreach provides individual discipline review courses for
graduate engineers taking the upper-level of state exams (Professional EngineerPE/P&P and Fundamentals of Engineering-FE/EIT). Short courses are available to
provide professional development hours for those seeking to continue their registration
as professional engineers. A one-hour workshop on engineering ethics can be
presented at local companies. Other custom programs may be arranged. For
information visit www.egr.uh.edu/ContEd/
Engineering Golf Tournament
The Cullen College of Engineering sponsors an annual golfing event to bring together
alumni, friends and supporters of engineering academic programs. Participating teams
typically have at least one member affiliated with a college academic program (alumnus,
student, or faculty/staff member). Teams without a direct connection to a department
are free to choose which department they will represent. Opportunities for corporate
and individual sponsors are available For information, email [email protected]
Engineering Leadership Board
The Engineering Leadership Board of the UH Cullen College of Engineering provides
valuable assistance in the development of the College programs. It comprises more
than fifty representatives from education, industry, and the public. The Engineering
Leadership Board provides advice to the Dean, assists in establishing program priorities
and objectives, provides review and critique, and serves as liaison to industrial and
government communities. For more information, visit http://www.egr.uh.edu/our93
college/engineering-leadership-board
Engineering Leadership & Entrepreneurism Program (ELEP)
To meet the challenge of providing engineers for the 21st century, the Cullen College of
Engineering promotes the Engineering Leadership & Entrepreneurism Program. ELEP
serves the engineering profession by broadening student knowledge base and
experience in entrepreneurial and business practices through the sponsorship of guest
lectures, mentor programs, and retreats.
Engineering Outreach Dinner
High school teachers and counselors get an update on new Cullen College of
Engineering programs as a part of this information session. For information, email
[email protected]
Engineering Presentations
Cullen College of Engineering faculty members provide presentations to high schools,
middle schools and community organizations about the different fields of engineering,
pre-college preparation, aptitude and ability of prospective engineering students, degree
requirements and job opportunities. For information, email [email protected]
Engineers Without Borders (EWB)
Established in the Fall of 2006, the University of Houston chapter of Engineers Without
Borders’ main goal is to design and implement sustainable designs in sustainable
communities. Their projects are international, but they offer local training and local
community involvement for members. The partnerships established with other Houston
area EWB chapters and nonprofit organizations, like Rotary International, enabled the
University of Houston’s EWB to integrate technical and soft skills to develop leadership,
project management, and teamwork. For more information, visit http://ewb.egr.uh.edu/.
Engines of Our Ingenuity
The Engines of Our Ingenuity, a daily radio feature written and hosted by John Lienhard
and produced by KUHF-88.7 FM, tells the story of how human creativity forms our
culture. The program uses the record of history to reveal the way art, technology, and
ideas have shaped us. The Engines Web site www.uh.edu/engines/ is a rich resource,
providing classroom material and transcripts of more than 2,000 episodes accompanied
by graphics, source references and links to related sites. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/engines/
Environmental Institute of Houston (EIH)
Founded at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, the Environmental Institute of
Houston addresses real and potential issues of environmental concern, such as loss of
biodiversity, health risks from pollution, failure of food supplies, and depletion of natural
resources. With the University of Houston as its partner, EIH is a service and research
operation with a broad scope of environmental activity. The mission of EIH is to help
people in the Houston region participate more effectively in environmental improvement.
For information, visit www.eih.uh.edu/index.htm
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Erica Dean Cougar Peer Educator Service Learning Award
The Erica Dean Cougar Peer Educator Service Learning Award is presented to a
student annually for excellence in service learning and involvement.
Esther Farfel Award
The Esther Farfel Award is the highest honor accorded to a University faculty member.
Honorees demonstrate excellence in all areas of faculty responsibility, including the
significance and national/international impact of the candidate’s research or creative
activity; evidence of outstanding teaching ability; distinctive and exemplary service to
the University, the profession, and the community. For more information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/provost/shared-interest/awards/recipients-by-award/farfelhistory/index.php
Exhibitions and Lectures - Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture
The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture hosts lectures, exhibits and events in
cooperation with agencies of several nations, the Rice Design Alliance, the American
Institute of Architects, and other organizations. Events are open to the public. For
information, visit http://www.arch.uh.edu/news-events/lecexh/index.php
Export Working Capital Program (EWCP)
The Export Working Capital Program provides short-term financing guarantees of up to
$750,000 to small business exporters. The proceeds can be used to finance the
manufacture of goods or the purchase of goods and services for export, or it can be
used to support stand-by letters of credit. UH Small Business Development Center
prepares the loan application at no charge. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/infotech/services/facilities-equipment/video-conf/sites/sbdc/index.php
Eye and Vision Research
College of Optometry faculty members are engaged in research directly benefiting
vision needs in the community and throughout the world. Research is conducted in
diverse areas of basic and clinical science related to the eye, the brain, and vision in
health and disease. The specific research topics range as widely as the expertise and
interests of the individual faculty members. For more information, call (713) 743-1885.
http://www.opt.uh.edu/research/
Family CAN
Family CAN is a program that provides services to families, administers an annual
survey to measure the effectiveness of the program and to receive feedback on how to
improve it. For more information, visit http://www.las.uh.edu/pep/families-can.aspx
Family Practice Service
The Family Practice Service provides full scope, comprehensive eye and vision care to
patients six years of age and older. This includes a perceptual screening test for
children in Kindergarten through third grade and as needed for older ages. The Family
Practice Service is open five days a week by appointment but walk-ins are always
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welcome. For information, visit http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/services/family-practice.cfm
1st Order of Omega Greek Awards Ceremony
The 1st Order of Omega Greek Awards Ceremony honors fraternity or sorority chapters
with the Outstanding Community Service Award annually.
French Artists in Houston
Blaffer Gallery collaborates with the Texas French Alliance to present French artists in
Houston and Texas artists in Lyon, France.
FreshArts Coalition
Blaffer Gallery collaborates with the FreshArts Coalition to market 19-Houston based
visual and performing arts groups.
Friends of Women’s Studies
This program supports and provides community input, advice, and expertise to the
Women’s Archive and Research Center (WARC). Members enjoy discounts for the
lecture series, invitations to special Friends’ events, an annual subscription to the
Women’s Studies Newsletter, and more. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/ws/index.php
Funding Source (TFS)
The Funding Source assists organizations with locating funding to support ongoing
operations or program expansion and aids in the development of grant writing skills.
TFS’ primary service is the Funding Fax, a bi-weekly faxed newsletter of funding
opportunities from public and private sources. Also included in the Funding Fax are
schedules of classes and workshops designed to assist organizations in developing
grant writing and nonprofit management skills, information to help match organizations
with appropriate coalitions and collaborations in the local communities, and profiles of
corporate and private foundations. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/socialwork/academics/nonprofit-leaders/index.php
Gaming Education and Research Institute
This institute within the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management
provides public and private policy makers in Texas and other jurisdictions with a source
of current information that assists in determining the social, economic, and regulatory
impacts of gaming activity. In addition, it sponsors continuing education and executive
development programs. For information, visit http://www.hrm.uh.edu/THECOLLEGE/Centers-and-Institutes/Gaming-Education-and-Research-Inst/
GEARUP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs)
The GEARUP Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is a partnership
among Project GRAD, Houston Independent School District (Davis, Yates, and
Wheatley feeder patterns), and partner universities (UH-Downtown, University of
Houston, and Texas Southern University). GEARUP seeks to develop early college
awareness in middle school students by establishing ongoing relationships with the
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faculty, staff, and students of local colleges and universities. UH-Downtown is a
university partner to Marshall Middle School and provides reading and mathematics
tutoring, mentoring experiences, and an early college awareness curriculum to sixth and
seventh graders.
Glaucoma Screening
College of Optometry students and faculty provided glaucoma screening under the
auspices of the National Black Caucus. For information, visit http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/
Global CASA/LACASA
The Department of Modern and Classic Languages (MCL) of the College of Liberal Arts
and Sciences and its program in World Cultures and Literatures (WCL) has formalized a
new publishing division, Global CASA Press and its initial primary division, the Latin
American/Latino/a Cultural Activities and Studies Arena (LACASA) Book Series in Latin
American and Latino Transnational Cultural Studies. The primary goal is to develop and
promote publications that reflect major concerns and interests that are present in MCL
and WCL classes and that are indeed important in the new configurations affecting the
contemporary world. Frequently we shall seek international co-publishers of our work;
we shall also try to place works with other, larger publishers, when possible, provide
modest subventions for those publications. For more information, visit
http://www.class.uh.edu/mcl/lacasa/
Global Energy Management Institute (GEMI)
The C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston has created the
Global Energy Management Institute to prepare the energy industry workers of today
while exploring the issues important to its future. GEMI uses a multi-disciplinary
approach to address the comprehensive needs of the energy industry, from risk and
project management to accounting and systems development. Programs and resources
provided by GEMI include educational programs at the undergraduate, graduate and
executive levels; professional networking opportunities, including forums, seminars and
symposia; and an energy research center with emphasis on topics provided by member
companies. For information, visit www.bauer.uh.edu/UHGEMI/index.asp
GRADE Camp
GRADE Camp (Girls Reaching and Demonstrating Excellence) is for female high school
students interested in electrical engineering. The week-long day camp provides a
hands-on experience in electrical and computer engineering (ECE). GRADE Camp
participants who complete the program and subsequently major in ECE at the University
of Houston will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward tuition or books. The Cullen
College of Engineering hosts the camp through grants from the National Science
Foundation and the Texas Engineering and Technical Consortium. For information, visit
www.egr.uh.edu/grade
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Graduate College of Social Work Community Service Award
The Graduate College of Social Work Community Service Award is presented annually
to the program that best reflects the College’s mission. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/socialwork/community/index.php
Graduate College of Social Work Focus Groups
The Graduate College of Social Work’s focus groups assist in developing and
evaluating community and social agency-based programs. For more information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/socialwork/index.php
Graduate Design/Build Studio
The Graduate Design/Build Studio designs and constructs for regional non-profit
organizations site specific solutions to climate-influenced building problems. Master of
Architecture students at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture are offered the
opportunity to see their ideas evolve from initial conception to completed construction.
The studio demonstrates that full-scale implications of the students’ aspirations and
measures the quality of their design thinking against the rigorous standard of built
reality. For more information, visit http://www.uh.edu/gdbs/index.html
Graduate Internships - Educational Psychology
Educational Psychology students in master’s and doctoral programs serve internships in
health agencies, schools, and hospitals. To request an intern or information, visit .
http://www.coe.uh.edu/current-students/academic-programs/schoolpsychology/internships.php
Graduate Internships – Sports Administration
Under the supervision of the College of Education faculty, graduate students in sports
management serve internships with professional sports teams and facilities, and
exercise science students work with area businesses and recreation agencies. For
information or to request an intern, call (713) 743-9848.
http://www.uh.edu/class/hhp/graduate-programs/ma-sportsadmin/internships_sports_fitness/index.php
Graduate Research Conference
The Graduate Research Conference in the Cullen College of Engineering is a
partnership with local industries that annually showcase both graduate research and
undergraduate capstone design projects. http://www.egr.uh.edu/news/201106/ecehosts-graduate-research-conference
Handbook of Hispanic Cultures of the United States
Arte Público Press’ award-winning Handbook of Hispanic Cultures describes and
compares the culture of Hispanic groups in the United States. The four volumes of the
reference work focus on anthropology, history, sociology and literature and art. Topics
covered include “Latino Immigration Experience,” “Hispanic Blending and Diversity,”
“Cuban Women,” “Puerto Rican Participation in U.S. Politics,” and “Community
Newspapers.” For information, call (713) 743-2842.
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http://www.uh.edu/class/spanish/index.php
Hands-On Learning/Studio Work
The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture has a long history of “hands-on learning”
through community service. Recent community-based projects include a historic survey
of Richmond Avenue architecture as well as proposals for a new library and YMCA for
the Upper Kirby District; landscape designs for Levy Park; extreme sports facilities for
sites within Beltway 8; an urban village, with mixed-uses, around future Houston light
rail stations; Music World Headquarters for client Destiny’s Child; and a prototype
sustainable school building for the Houston Independent School District.
Health Law & Policy Institute
Recognized as one of the leading health law programs in the United States, the Health
Law & Policy Institute is an interdisciplinary center designed to stimulate teaching,
research, and service in all areas of health law and policy. The institute is actively
involved in helping shape health law at the local, state, national, and international levels.
For information, call (713) 743-2101.
Health Network For Evaluation and Training Systems
The Health Network for Evaluation and Training Systems provides research, evaluation,
training and technical assistance to assist schools, communities and healthcare settings
to meet their health goals. Stage-based models are used to help programs facilitate
change at the community, organization, work group, and individual levels. Emerging
computer-based technologies are used to support these efforts. For information, visit
www.uh.edu/hnets/
Heart and Kidney Institute
The Heart and Kidney Institute researches the pathophysiological mechanisms and
treatment of certain cardiovascular disorders while fostering collaborative research
efforts among scientists from UH and Texas Medical Center institutions. For
information, visit http://www.uh.edu/pharmacy/research.htm
High School Equivalency Program (HEP)
The UH High School Equivalency Program (H.E.P.) is a federally funded GED
instructional program for high school dropouts from migrant/seasonal farm worker
families. The program provides classes to prepare students for all areas of the GED
examination. The classes last 12 weeks and are free to students who qualify. For
information, call (713) 743-9861. http://www.uh.edu/graduatecatalog/archive/2003/edu/edu_about.html
Hilton University of Houston Hotel and Conference Center
The Hilton University of Houston Hotel and Conference Center, located within the
Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, offers 40,000 square
feet of meeting space, 22 meeting rooms, three ballrooms, fine dining in Eric’s
restaurant, specialty dinners in Barron’s restaurant (prepared by students of the
college), 85 guest rooms and 6 suites. To make reservations, contact the University
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Hilton Hotel Front Desk at (713) 741-2447, Eric’s Restaurant at (713) 743-2512,
Barron’s Restaurant at (713) 743-2555, or call (713) 743-2500 for catering and event
sales. http://www.hrm.uh.edu/
HOMES Clinic
Houston Outreach Medical Education and Social Services (HOMES) Clinic is part of the
larger Healthcare for the Homeless project, which promotes health, hope, and dignity
for Houston’s homeless through accessible and comprehensive care. This student-run,
free clinic is the joint collaboration of the UH College of Pharmacy, Baylor College of
Medicine and the University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center. For information,
call (713) 743-1298 or visit www.homeless-healthcare.org
Honors College Advisory Board
The Honors College Advisory Board is comprised of 25 community leaders who assist
in College in multiple ways including planning for and providing service-learning
opportunities in the community. For more information, call 713-743-3220.
http://www.uh.edu/honors/alumni-giving/honors-advisory-board/index.php
Honors College Community Service Scholarships
The Honors College seeks to incorporate community service into students’
undergraduate experience. Organizations seeking student volunteers or assistance in
coordinating community service projects should call (713) 743-9020.
http://www.uh.edu/honors/undergraduate-research/scholarships/index.php
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals Research Institute (HFTPRI)
The Internet can certainly be a useful resource in the hospitality industry, but it cannot
always find exactly what you are looking for. Now HFTPRI has established a research
institute to make it easier for you to find the answers to all of your hospitality-related
questions, simple or complex, without spending hours making phone calls and
searching the Internet. For information, visit http://www.hrm.uh.edu/THECOLLEGE/Centers-and-Institutes/Hospitality-Financial-and-Technology--ProfessionalsResearch-Institute/
Hospitality Industry Diversity Institute
Among the first of its kind and one of the top in the nation, the institute was established
to create a focus and forum for diversity-related issues and opportunities affecting the
hospitality industry, its employees, and the global market place. It offers seminars,
survey services, and publications. For information, call (713) 743-2680.
Hospitality Industry Hall of Honor
The Hall of Honor provides an appropriate tribute to the founders and leaders of the
hospitality industry, as well as a unique learning experience for those preparing to lead
the industry in the future. The Hall of Honor includes more than 32 separate exhibits of
memorabilia that illustrate the life stories and accomplishments of these hospitality
legends. The exhibits are open for public viewing and are adjacent to the Conrad N.
Hilton College Library and Archives in the south wing of the college. For information, call
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(713) 743-2432 or (713) 743-2470 or visit http://www.hrm.uh.edu/STUDENTLIFE/Student-Activities/Hospitality-Hall-of-Honor/
Houston 100
The Houston 100, a program of the UH Small Business Development Center, is an
awards program that ranks the fastest-growing, private businesses making the greatest
impact on the Houston area. For information, call (713) 752-8449.
Houston Alumni Organization (HAO) Distinguished Alumni Awards
Each year HAO presents two awards to alumni: the Distinguished Service Awards and
the Outstanding Volunteer Award. These awards recognize alumni who exemplify the
spirit of volunteerism and service.
Houston Area Calculus Teachers (H-ACT)
Houston Area Calculus Teachers is a free program open to all high school calculus
teachers in the greater Houston area. This group meets one Saturday each month
during the school year to hear presentations by mathematics faculty members or special
guests. Topics relate to enhancing effectiveness of teaching high school calculus in
preparation for standardized tests and advanced college mathematics. Helpful tools and
software are often made available. For information, call (713)743-3455.
Houston Area Teacher Center (HATC)
The Houston Area Teacher Center (HATC) sponsors the Student Teacher Workshop,
which attracts approximately 600 student teachers from eight area colleges and
universities to the University of Houston twice year. Workshops are taught by faculty
from UH and other participating universities. The event culminates in a job fair where
student teachers meet recruiters from the 32 area school districts that work with the
HATC. For information, call (713) 743-5059.
Houston Coastal Center
The Houston Coastal Center has become widely recognized for the 200+ acre prairie
segment within its borders. Scientists from several universities, state and federal
agencies, and environmental organizations are engaged in studies concerned with
restoration and maintenance of native Gulf Coast prairie lands at the center.
Presentations and publications document their work as it progresses. Among the
center’s work is the Prairie Restoration Project, being done in cooperation with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. For information, visit http://www.uhcc.uh.edu/ or call (713)
743-9101.
Houston History Archives
The Center for Public History’s Houston History Archives is a public repository for
books, documents, oral histories, and images. Students, faculty, and the public are
welcome to explore a growing collection of resources for research and writing about
Houston’s history. For more information, visit
http://www.history.uh.edu/public_history/houston_history_project/archives/
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Houston InfoComm Technology Center
The HIT Center is a consortium that provides support for collaborative research in first
response, traffic mobility, clean air mitigation and homeland security. For information,
visit http://www.thehitcenter.org/
Houston-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (H-LSAMP)
The Houston-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation is a multi-university
consortium designed to increase the numbers of under-represented minorities who
receive bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and
to prepare the students to enter the workforce or pursue graduate degrees. Alliance
staff members and scholars are available to speak with high school students, their
parents, and teachers. Local businesses in the chemical, biotech, actuarial, energy,
and information technology fields hire H-LSAMP students as summer interns. For
information, visit http://sep.uh.edu/hlsamp/about/index.php
Houston Pre-Freshman Enrichment Program (PREP)
A distinguished and intensive mathematics-based summer enrichment program, PREP
provides educational opportunities for high ability, socially and economically
disadvantaged students who are interested in careers in mathematics, science,
computer science, or engineering technology. Students in grades 7 to 9 are invited to
apply.
Houston Shakespeare Festival
Houston Shakespeare Festival annually presents two Shakespeare plays at the Miller
Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park. More than 34,000 people attend the free
performances each summer. The City of Houston co-produces the festival. For
information, visit
www.class.uh.edu/theatre/performances_houstonshakespearefestival.html
Houston Teachers Institute (HTI)
The Houston Teachers Institute offers rigorous, semester-long seminars lead by UH
faculty on subjects requested by public school teachers. Teachers who complete the
program receive an honorarium of $1,000. The curriculum units developed by Institute
fellows are published in printed volumes and are on the HTI Web site. Teachers play a
leading role in determining how the Institute and its seminars can be of assistance. For
information, visit www.uh.edu/hti
Houston Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Monthly Service Project
UH law students serve at legal clinics with Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program. The
Houston Volunteer Lawyers program is a service of the Houston Bar Association. The
program provides attorneys volunteering their time to provide legal services in civil
matters for Houston’s needy citizens. The program helps those who cannot get help
through other legal aid programs and is based on income eligibility. Special units within
the Houston Volunteer Lawyers handle family law, bankruptcy, HIV/AIDS, problems of
the elderly, and victims of domestic violence. For more information visit
http://www.hvlp.org/home/default.aspx
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Human Resources Development Advisory Board
The Human Resources Development Advisory Board is one of the many Community
Advisory Boards at UH that assists colleges, departments, and programs in developing
mutually beneficial programs and partnerships that meet community needs. Human
Resources Development has an active industrial advisory board that provides input on
curriculum and activities. For more information, visit
http://www.tech.uh.edu/people/boards-of-advisors/hdcs-boards/human-resourcedevelopment/
Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival
The Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival is a four-week summer
residency orchestral and chamber music performance program for outstanding
instrumentalists from Houston, the United States, and abroad. It offers performance
study with members of the UH faculty, the Houston Symphony, and distinguished guest
artists. TMF also offers specialized performance institutes for younger musicians in the
Houston area. Tickets for public concerts are available through the Moores School of
Music Box Office at (713) 743-3313. For information, email [email protected] or visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/music/tmf/
Immigration Clinic
The Immigration Clinic at the UH Law Center has formed relationships with a network of
legal aid and social services agencies in the Houston area to provide fair and humane
treatment for immigrants and refugees. For information, visit www.law.uh.edu/clinic
Industrial/Organizational Practicum
All industrial/organizational (IO) psychology graduate students are required to work one
year in an industrial setting under the supervision of an IO psychologist. Recent host
organizations include AON Consulting, Assessment & Development Inc., Compaq
Computer, Dell Computer, Jeanneret & Associates, M.D. Anderson Hospital, Personnel
Decisions International, and Vandaveer Group. For information about hosting an IO
graduate student, visit http://www.uh.edu/class/psychology/iopsych/admissions/funding-information/index.php
Industrial Scholar Interns Program
Industrial sponsors provide funding for scholarships as well as paid practical internships
for current engineering students. Benefits: industry sees better trained graduates and
has the opportunity to test and recruit top students before graduation; students gain
invaluable experience while earning significant funding to pay for their education. For
more information, visit http://www.egr.uh.edu/academics/scholarships
Information Systems Research Center (ISRC)
The Information Systems Research Center provides a forum for interaction between the
Houston business community and C.T. Bauer College of Business information systems
faculty and students. The ISRC hosts executive seminars and roundtables on leadingedge issues in information technology management throughout the academic year. The
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center also conducts directed research with member firms and presents briefings on
over-the-horizon information technologies.
Inprint Brown Reading Series
Presented by Inprint, Inc. in association with the UH Creative Writing Program and the
Alley Theatre, the Inprint Brown Reading Series is one of the most highly regarded
literary programs in the United States. It has brought in many famous authors and
poets, including Pulitzer Prize winners. Held at the Alley Theatre, the Reading Series
runs from September through April on Monday evenings and admission is $5 per
reading and free for students. For information, visit the Inprint website, www.inprintinc.org
Institute for Business, Ethics, and Public Issues (IBEPI)
The Institute for Business, Ethics, and Public Issues is the facilitating institution for the
Greater Houston Business Ethics Roundtable, which is dedicated to promoting ethical
business practices.
Institute for Diversity and Cross-Cultural Management
The Institute for Diversity and Cross-Cultural Management within the C.T. Bauer
College of Business helps organizations find ways of working more effectively and
cross-culturally through training and advisory services, applied research and access to
research databases. For information, visit http://www.bauer.uh.edu/centers/idccm/
Institute for Drug Education and Research
The Institute for Drug Education and Research serves as a focal point for health
professionals and public education programs on drug use and abuse. For information,
visit http://www.uh.edu/pharmacy/research/centers-and-institutes/ider/index.php
Institute for Fluid Dynamics and Turbulence
The objectives of the Institute for Fluid Dynamics and Turbulence’s experimental,
computational and theoretical research are to understand turbulence physics and to
apply this knowledge in technologically relevant flows to control entrainment, mixing,
drag, combustion, and aerodynamic noise, as well as transport phenomena in twophase flows. For information, visit http://www2.egr.uh.edu/~ifdt/index.html
Institute for Health Care Marketing (IHCM)
The C.T. Bauer College of Business’ Institute for Health Care Marketing conducts
research in health care marketing and health promotion. For information, visit
http://www.bauer.uh.edu/IHCM/
Institute for Higher Education Law & Governance (IHELG)
The University of Houston Institute for Higher Education Law and Governance provides
information and publications to colleges and universities related to the field of higher
education law, and also has a broader mission to be a focal point for discussion and
thoughtful analysis of higher education legal issues.
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Institute for Intellectual Property & Information Law
This institute within the UH Law Center sponsors conferences for lawyer-practitioners,
scholars, and judges, and is a leading research entity for improvements in the
administration of justice in the intellectual property (IP) and information law areas. IP
law embraces the subjects of patent, copyright, and trademark law and trade secret law.
Information law includes the laws applying to computer software, and also deals with
Internet-related issues. For information, visit http://www.law.uh.edu/ipil/
Institute for Molecular Design
The Institute for Molecular Design is an educational and research center that focuses on
bridging the theoretical and experimental approaches to biomolecular structure and
function. This is an area of rapidly increasing importance in medicine and industry, in
part because extraordinary advances in computing now make it possible to do accurate
theoretical and experimental studies of enzymes, nucleic acids, and biomolecular
assemblies. Graduate students and postdoctoral associates enjoy unique opportunities
for interdisciplinary research through collaborative research projects within the
University of Houston and with the Texas Medical Center. For information, visit
www.chem.uh.edu/imd/index.html
Institute for Multi-dimensional Air Quality Studies
The Institute for Multi-dimensional Air Quality Studies is a diverse group of researchers
from fields of geosciences, math, computer science, and chemistry committed to using
premier scientific tools to model the complex issues of air quality and climate change.
Modeling efforts address many critical components simultaneously, including emissions
inventories, meteorology, and atmospheric chemistry. Institute members are currently
developing atmospheric boundary layer measurement techniques. They work closely
with national, state, and local leaders to identify key scenarios to run on their modeling
systems so that public policy is guided with the best science. For information, visit
www.imaqs.uh.edu/
Institute for Regional Forecasting
The Center for Public Policy’s Institute for Regional Forecasting provides data on and
analyses of the Houston economy. The institute sponsors the bi-annual Houston
Economic Real Estate Symposiums, with each symposium drawing as many as 1,000
local business and government leaders. For information, visit
http://www.bauer.uh.edu/irf/index.php
Institute for Urban Education
The College of Education’s Institute for Urban Education works with guidance from a
community forum to improve education in urban areas through research, instruction and
collaborative educational projects. For information, visit
http://www.coe.uh.edu/about/institutes-centers/index.php
Institute of Space Systems Operations (ISSO)
The Institute of Space Systems Operations is the operational agency of the Houston
Partnership for Space Exploration, whose mission is to advance the development of the
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aerospace community in the Houston area and Texas. Particular emphasis is directed
to the academic, industrial, and government programs associated with NASA’s Johnson
Space Center. Since 1991, ISSO projects have established solid professional links
between NASA-JSC, the Houston aerospace community, and UH and UH-Clear Lake.
For information, visit www.isso.uh.edu/
Intensive English Program
The Language and Culture Center’s Intensive English Program trains international
students in verbal and written academic English and cross-cultural communication. The
language curriculum includes instruction in grammar, speaking, listening, reading,
vocabulary, and writing in preparation for undergraduate or graduate study at a U.S.
university. The cross-cultural communication component helps students learn about
U.S. and other cultures. Optional courses include TOEFL preparation and
pronunciation. For information, visit http://www.uh.edu/class/english/lcc/index.php
International Piano Festival
Three internationally recognized pianists present this annual series of recitals and
master classes during a weekend in late January. Concert tickets and a full list of
events are available through the Moores School of Music Box Office at 713-743-3313.
For information, visit http://www.uh.edu/class/music/events-performances/pianofestival/index.php
International Telecommunications Research Institute (ITRI)
The Institute has three primary objectives: to assist in the successful implementation
and utilization of communication technology, to address the social consequences of
communication technology in its historical context, and to study the underlying
processes involved in people’s interaction with communication technology. Areas of
research include the identification of factors that influence the success or failure of
communication systems and services, the potential of telecommunications for altering
historic, social and cultural patterns and applied research on communication and
technology. In addition to sponsoring forums and conferences, the institute partners
which scholars and other institutions around the world on specific projects. For
information, visit www.uh.edu/~itri/
International Trade Center
The International Trade Center at the UH Small Business Development Center offers
free one-on-one consulting, training seminars and trade missions and assistance to
prepare loan applications properly for the SBA’s Export Working Capital Program and
others. The objective is to help small to mid-sized business owners export their
products and services to other countries. For information, visit
http://www.law.uh.edu/homepage.asp
Internships - Consumer Sciences and Merchandising
Consumer Science and Merchandising students in the College of Technology
participate in internships with local businesses and retailers to gain real world
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experience in the merchandising industry. For information, visit
http://www.tech.uh.edu/programs/undergraduate/retailing-and-consumer-science/
Internships - Human Development and Family Studies
The Department of Human Development and Family Studies in the College of
Education offers services to families, children, and the aged through partnerships with
community agencies. Students participate in a variety of internships in many
community areas. For more information visit http://www.coe.uh.edu/academicprograms/human-development-family-studies/index.php
Internships - Sociology
The Department of Sociology offers services to families, the aged, and the homeless
through partnerships with 52 community agencies. Students participate in a variety of
internships in areas such as education, drug/alcohol abuse, employee assistance/job
training, health, housing/community development programs, and institutions and
government programs. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/sociology/undergraduate/internship/index.php
Interviewing Institute
The Interviewing Institute, housed within the Department of Psychology, conducts
research on interviewing and offers an annual employment interview-training seminar to
the public.
John P. McGovern Annual Lectureship
This lecture series, sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences,
brings to campus speakers with notable expertise in the areas of family, health, and/or
human values. For information, visit http://info.lib.uh.edu/p/john-p-mcgovern-endowedlecture-family-health-and-human-values
Juvenile Defense Clinic
The Juvenile Defense Clinic provides legal services to indigent juveniles from beginning
to end. UH law students participate in detention hearings, jury or bench trials, appeals,
and misdemeanor and felony cases. For information, visit
http://www.law.uh.edu/clinic/childadvocacy.asp
KUHF-FM
KUHF- 88.7 FM broadcasts classical music and National Public Radio (NPR) news to
the Gulf Coast region. In addition, KUHF-FM records concerts from a diverse crosssection of the Houston performing arts community and provides national exposure to
performers by making these recordings available on NPR’s Performance Today. For
information, go to www.uh.edu/kuhf
KUHT-TV
HoustonPBS (KUHT-TV/Channel 8 & KUHT-DT/Channel 9), the nation’s first public
television station, broadcasts local and national PBS productions, and other acquired
programs to viewers throughout the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast. The station also
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televises college courses and educational outreach services to improve school
readiness for young children. HoustonPBS also provides “beyond broadcast” resources
and educational workshops on numerous issues concerning area viewers. For
information, visit www.houstonpbs.org
Laboratory for Innovative Technology in Education
The Laboratory for Innovative Technology in Education (LITE) prepares educators to
embrace technology as a way to address real-world issues through projects that link
students to communities. Doctoral students in this program work with teachers in
training, practicing teachers, and educational teams to design, develop, and evaluate
new educational resources and instructional strategies that emphasize collaboration,
active learning, and critical thinking. For information, visit www.coe.uh.edu/lite/
La Nueva Casa de Amigos Optometry Clinic
The Optometry Clinic at the La Nueva Casa de Amigos Health Center is a joint project
between the City of Houston and the UH College of Optometry. The city has provided
space and renovations to house the clinic within an existing City of Houston health care
facility. The UH College of Optometry operates a full service clinic serving the
surrounding community. For information, visit http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/
Language and Culture Center (LCC)
Since 1975, the Language and Culture Center has provided intensive English
instruction for international students who want to study at U.S. universities or improve
their English language skills to meet personal and professional goals. For information,
visit http://lcc.uh.edu/enghome.htm
Lanier Public Policy Conferences
The Lanier Public Policy Conferences is a lecture series that brings together
academicians and journalists to examine major public policy issues that impact
Houston, as well as the nation. The day-long event is coordinated by Dr. Richard
Murray and the Center for Public Policy. Visit www.uh.edu/cpp/lanierconference.htm
for more information.
Law Center Externship Placement Program
In the externship placement program, students earn academic credit by working with
public interest organizations or government agencies. Field placements include the
Internal Revenue Service, American Civil Liberties Union, Aid to Victims of Domestic
Abuse, the Texas Attorney Generals’ Office, and the Southwest Juvenile Defender
Center. For information visit http://www.law.uh.edu/clinic/extern.asp
Law Center Health Law Externships
In conjunction with the Health Law and Policy Institute, the external placement program
offers credit for supervised fieldwork with nonprofit health institutions and government
organizations focused in health law and policy. For information, visit
http://www.law.uh.edu/clinic/extern.asp
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Law Center Judicial Internships
In a judicial internship, students can observe the legal process from the bench’s
perspective. Interns meet and interact with court personnel while honing research and
writing skills. Houston offers a broad range of opportunities for judicial interns, including
assignments in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of Texas; the First and Fourteenth Texas State Courts of Appeals;
Texas state district courts (civil and criminal); federal magistrates; and specialty courts
in family, bankruptcy, immigration, and probate. For information, visit
http://www.law.uh.edu/clinic/judicialclinic.asp
Learning and Assessment Services (LAS)
LAS fosters a supportive learning environment to promote the success of UH students,
the university, and the greater Houston community. LAS identifies needs, provides
assessment and evaluative services, promotes outreach activities, and facilitates
student learning. LAS provides annual reports to all community partners and publishes
a quarterly newsletter distributed to all program participants. For more information, visit
http://www.las.uh.edu/
Learning Support Services (LSS)
The mission of Learning Support Services (LSS) is to increase graduation rates by
improving student retention at the University of Houston. LSS offers learning support
programs and self-development activities designed to increase student academic
performance and improve student retention. Individualized diagnostic, prescriptive, and
instructive educational plans as well as group intervention programs are available. LSS
provides free support to currently enrolled students pursuing undergraduate, graduate,
and professional education. For more information, visit http://www.las.uh.edu/lss/
Litigation Skills Program
The Litigation Skills Program provides students with in-depth, practice-oriented training
on how attorneys litigate in the state and federal courts, and instruction on the methods
for effective negotiation, settlement and alternative dispute resolution techniques. For
more information, visit http://www.law.uh.edu/cji/homepage.asp
Loss Prevention Management Institute (LPMI)
Through seminars, special studies and printed reports and related materials, the LPMI
works to create a greater awareness among students, faculty, alumni, and industry
professionals of the role of loss prevention management in enhancing the “bottom line”
of a corporation or enterprise and to help the hospitality industry develop effective
programs for training employees in their roles on behalf of safety and security For
information, visit http://www.hrm.uh.edu/?PageID=273
Low Vision Rehabilitation
Patients with visual impairments are referred to the University Eye Institute to address
functional vision loss. Our goals are to ensure that patients increase their visual
independence and improve their quality of life. Our multidisciplinary team of
professionals offers a continuum of care including assessment of vision loss impact on
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quality of life, clinical low vision exam, prescription of low vision devices, training with
devices to achieve functional goals, and communication regarding progress with each
patient’s ophthalmologist. For information, visit
http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/services/lowvision/what-is-lowvision.cfm
Manufacturing Partnership
Faculty in the Mechanical Technology Department of the College of Technology meet
monthly with manufacturing industry representatives to discuss quality improvements in
Houston manufacturing. For information, visit http://www.tmacgc.org/
Master of Public Administration Internships
Agencies and organizations in both the private and public sector can request Master of
Public Administration students for internships or full-time positions that offer responsible
experience in public service.
Mediation Clinic
The Mediation Clinic at the UH Law Center provides trained mediators to the civil justice
courts in Harris County and provides mediation services to individuals who may
otherwise be unable to afford the mediation process. Students mediate consumer
issues, landlord/tenant disputes, breach of contract, and domestic relations cases. For
information, visit http://www.law.uh.edu/clinic/mediate.asp
Meds for Kids Program
UH College of Pharmacy students conduct two medical education programs in
elementary schools: Meds for Kids for grades 1 to 5 and Drug Awareness for grades 4
to 5. The elementary students learn about pharmacists, medications, and how to
protect their health through exercises involving discussion, games, and hands-on
activities. For information visit http://rx.pharmacy.uh.edu
Mentoring and Enrichment Seminar in Engineering Training (MESET)
The Cullen College of Engineering sponsors this three-week, expenses paid, residential
summer program for rising high school seniors. For more than 20 years, the seminar
has been familiarizing high school students with opportunities in the field of engineering
and allowing them to experience the university environment. The program provides
enrichment mini courses, guest lectures, field trips to industrial installations on the Gulf
Coast, tours through college facilities, and recreational activities.
Metropolitan Volunteer Program
This program seeks to match community agencies and organizations with UH student,
faculty, and staff volunteers for ongoing programs and special events. For information,
visit www.uh.edu/SVP
Mickey Leland Congressional Internship Program
Founded by the late U.S. Congressman George Thomas “Mickey” Leland, the Mickey
Leland Congressional Internship Program provides University of Houston and Texas
Southern University students the opportunity to serve as government interns in
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Washington, D.C. Each year, 6-10 students spend a semester directly involved in the
political process. Intern activities include providing assistance in legislative research and
attending committee hearings. For more information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/hcpp/interns/mickey-leland-internship/index.php
Moores School of Music
The Rebecca and John J. Moores School of Music serves the community with a wide
variety of public concerts and cultural opportunities. Among the school’s annual
offerings are performances by student ensembles, faculty, and guest recitalists, and
programs such as the A.I. Lack Music Master Series, International Piano Festival, the
Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival, and the Moores School of Music
Preparatory and Continuing Studies. For information about concert schedules, visit
www.uh.edu/music
Moores School of Music Preparatory and Continuing Studies
This non-credit, non-degree granting program brings music to all ages and all levels of
ability through private and group instruction. Lessons are available in most orchestral
instruments, piano, guitar, saxophone, Suzuki violin, voice, music theory, composition,
flute, and percussion. PCS is also the current home of the renowned Houston Boychoir.
For more information, visit www.music.uh.edu/
Movers & Shakers Career Forum
This forum, hosted by the Consumer Science and Merchandising program in the
College of Technology, brings leading retail industry experts and authorities together
with high school, community college, and university students in an interactive setting
designed to share experience and lessons learned, as well as answer questions about
future career opportunities.
Museum Website Development
Blaffer Gallery collaborates with the UH College of Education to develop educational
websites for museums.
Nanosystem Manufacturing Center (NMC)
The mission of the NMC is to develop a suite of enabling technologies for integrating the
new ultra-small, ultra-fast magnetic, electronic and molecular device families into
powerful nanosystems whose capabilities far exceed the state-of-the-art in data
processing, storage and communication. The NMC has received significant financial
support from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the National Security
Agency, International-Sematech, the Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH, and the
State of Texas Advanced Technology Program. Its industrial partners include EDTEK,
Inc., Infineon Technologies, Axcelis Technologies, and Seagate Technologies.
New Trainer Certificate Program
The College of Technology developed this program for those who are new to training
and need to get up to speed quickly on designing, delivering, and evaluating training.
The program consists of four two-day workshops over two months taught by a
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combination of UH faculty and leading business practitioners. For information, visit
www.tech.uh.edu/departments/hdcs/cert_hrd.htm
Non-Profit Research Partnerships
The Non-Profit Research Partnerships program helps UH faculty develop meaningful
undergraduate research opportunities for their students in non-profit organizations. By
creating projects that apply the scientific method to problem-solving in the community,
Non-Profit Research Partnerships helps transform the student experience from that of
participating in service learning in non-profit agencies to conducting research in the nonprofit sector. These quality research opportunities provide tangible support to Houstonarea non-profit entities, help students develop skill sets that can be applied in this
growing sector of the economy upon graduation, and encourage faculty scholarly
activity aimed at addressing societal problems and the operating needs of social service
and other non-profit agencies.
North American Consortium on Legal Education (NACLE)
The North American Consortium on Legal Education provides a quality legal education
by promoting an exchange program at nine member laws schools, chosen for not only
their complimentary qualities, but also for their location in cities such as Montreal,
Mexico City and Washington D.C. Cross-border issues and reasonable solutions are
more important today than ever. The University of Houston has always known the
importance of Mexico and Canada as neighbors. NAFTA reinforced it. Now NACLE
promotes the way to understand these dynamic countries. For information, visit
www.law.uh.edu/nacle/
NOVA Clinic
Part of the University Eye Institute, the NOVA Clinic meets the vision needs of multiple
challenged individuals. For information, visit
http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/services/pediatrics/index.cfm
Nutritional Awareness
Students in the Student Nutrition Association in the College of Education volunteer to
provide nutrition information to children, adults, elderly or other specialized groups.
Ocular Diagnostic and Medical Eye Service
Patients receive both general and specialty optometric and ophthalmologic care for a
wide range of ocular and medical conditions through use of state-of-the-art instruments.
Laser surgery is available for a variety of conditions. Care is provided for individuals
with ocular emergencies. For information, visit
http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/services/diagnostic-medical-eye.cfm
Office of Community Project (OCP)
The Office of Community Projects (OCP) is the administrative unit that houses and
manages a majority of the community service projects and activities that link expertise
within the Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) to the broader human service
community. The creation of this office resulted from the recognition that the school, as a
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part of an urban university, should take a more active role in linking the expertise within
the GCSW to the organizations and services responsible for meeting human service
needs in the community. For more information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/socialwork/about/admin/community-projects/index.php
Office of Development
The Office of Development is responsible for all the University of Houston’s fundraising
activities through a central office and through college- and program-based development
officers. The office is also responsible for the Annual Fund (the annual appeal to UH
alumni), the Annual Faculty and Staff Campaign, and an extensive infrastructure that
includes donor research, alumni and donor records, and information services support.
For more information, visit http://www.uh.edu/about/offices/universityadvancement/development/index.php
Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Outreach
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Outreach in the College of Education has
six administrative staff and two faculty who coordinate all community outreach efforts.
For information, visit http://www.coe.uh.edu/about/office-of-dean/index.php
Office of Planning and University Outreach
The Office of Planning and University Outreach coordinates the University’s strategic
planning process and develops implementation plans for projects, including community
engagement projects such as the Texas Learning and Computation Center. The office
has a staff of three. For more information, visit http://www.uh.edu/provost/academicaffairs/#PlanOutR
O’Quinn Law Library
The O’Quinn Law Library is open to the general public for use. For more information,
visit http://www.law.uh.edu/libraries/
.
Par Excellence
Par Excellence, an honors student service organization of the Conrad N. Hilton College
of Hotel and Restaurant Management, provides quality hospitality service to the
Houston community. Members are trained in many aspects of formal service including
synchronized service, bartending, flambé, carving, and buffet management. Proceeds
provide scholarship awards to Par Excellence members and other honors students in
the college. To book a function, visit http://www.hrm.uh.edu/STUDENT-LIFE/StudentActivities/ParExcellence/
Parent Education Program (PEP)
The mission of the UH Parent Education Project is to enhance the lives of at-risk
children and families in the Greater Houston area. The project’s approaches to this have
changed over the 30+ they have been in operation. PEP is a totally grant-funded Project
and a component of UH Learning & Assessment Services. For more information, visit
http://www.las.uh.edu/pep/family-based-alternatives.aspx
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Pediatric and Binocular Vision Service
This service of the University Eye Institute provides specialized examinations of infants
and preschool children. State-of-the-art technology allows for complete evaluation and
management of pediatric vision problems. Treatment including vision training, is
provided for anomalies of binocular vision (double vision, “crossed-eyes”) and
amblyopia (“lazy eye”) for patients of all ages. For information, visit
http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/services/pediatrics/
People’s Law School
This free biannual (April and October) event from the Center for Consumer Law helps
make the law “user-friendly” to the layperson. The People’s Law School offers classes
in subjects such as consumer law, wills, family law, bankruptcy, business law,
landlord/tenant law, credit and debt collection, social security law, and health insurance
law, and teaches how to work with attorneys and file claims in small claims court. In
addition, answers to frequently asked questions are posted at www.peopleslawyer.net
Personal Financial Planning
C.T. Bauer College of Business undergraduates first learned the principles of personal
financial planning. They then taught these principles to students in Austin High School.
The college plans to introduce this course permanently into its course offerings.
Poetry & Prose: Creative Writers at the University of Houston
This program is a reading series presented by the University of Houston Libraries and
features faculty, graduate students, and alumni of the UH Creative Writing Program. All
readings are free and open to the public and held at the M.D. Anderson Library.
Political Action Committee (UH PAC)
The University of Houston Political Action Committee is an organization with supporters
from UH System alumni, students (and their families and parents), faculty, Houston
businesses, and community leaders from all over Texas and the nation. Since 1982 UH
PAC has provided nonpartisan support to legislators, the Governor, Lt. Governor,
Attorney General, and Comptroller, who are committed to the importance of higher
education in general, and the UH System in particular. For more information, visit
http://uhpac.com/
Power Tools for Nonprofit Organizations (formerly Non Profit Day)
For 11 years, CenterPoint Energy (formerly Houston Lighting and Power) and the
University of Houston have partnered to produce an annual conference for local
nonprofit professionals and volunteers. This annual forum allows experts and
participants to share practical strategies for managing the political, social, economic,
and technological changes they face. For information, visit
www.uh.edu/academics/dce/prog/np.html
Practicum in Technology Leadership and Supervision
The Information and Logistics Technology Department in the College of Technology
requires its graduating students to complete a senior project. The project is directed
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toward the resolution of real and substantial problems presented by business, industry,
or community sponsors. For information visit
http://www.uh.edu/academics/catalog/colleges/tec/departments/ilt/index.php
Prep Summer Camp
The UH School-University Partnerships Program (UH-SUP) offers affordable SAT test
preparation for high school juniors and seniors taught by experienced instructors. UHSUP allows participants to pay on a payment plan. UH-SUP exposes participants not
only to SAT test preparation, but college preparation workshops as well. The college
workshops include, but are not limited to college admissions, scholarship search, career
assessment, financial management, and job readiness.
Professional Counselors Forum (PCF)
The Professional Counselors Forum (PCF) is an annual conference sponsored by
CAPS that provides high-quality, low-cost training to the Houston area mental health
professionals and campus professionals who are interested in expanding their
knowledge to enhance their work with students. Topics are presented by national
speakers on a variety of mental health issues. Past presentations have included: Legal
and Ethical Issues in Counseling; Counseling Muslims & Ethical Considerations;
Assessing & Managing High Risk Suicidal People; Spiritual, Mental & Emotional Health;
and Methods of Assessing Violence Risk. For more information, visit
http://www.caps.uh.edu/
Professional Student Organizations’ Outreach
The College of Pharmacy has 13 professional student organizations which provide
community service as part of their mission. Examples include outreach to ethnic
communities, screening for various diseases, poison prevention programs for children,
and helping to inform new mothers about childhood immunizations. For more
information, visit http://www.uh.edu/graduatecatalog/colleges/pharmacy/organizations/index.php
Program and Project Evaluations
When schools and community organizations implement programs using grant money,
they are often required to have an outsider evaluate the project − a so called third-party
evaluation. The UH College of Education’s Institute for Urban Education provides this
service. An example of current programs under evaluation by IUE faculty is Bright
Beginnings, a $3 million project supported by the United Way with funding from
ExxonMobil to provide professional development to staff in child care centers. Another
is an evaluation of recruitment and retention activities funded by Houston Endowment
Inc. at four community colleges. For more information, visit
http://www.coe.uh.edu/about/institutes-centers/index.php
Program for Mastery in Engineering Studies (PROMES)
PROMES, pronounced “promise”, is a year-long service program for engineering
students that provides recruitment, academic advising, workshops, scholarships and job
opportunities. PROMES provides a built-in bridge for both freshmen and transfer
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engineering students. PROMES math/engineering excellence workshops have
propelled PROMES students to the top of their math/engineering classes. For
information, visit www.egr.uh.edu/promes/
Project CanDo
The UH College of Education’s Institute for Urban Education matches mentors and
tutors to students in grades K-12. If your school would like this type of support, or if you
would like to volunteer as a mentor or tutor, call (713) 743-5023.
Project Management Certificate Program
This continuing education program is designed for project managers and leaders,
product development managers, engineers, marketing, operations, R&D and
construction managers, functional managers who deal with project managers, and team
members who manage tasks and subtasks. The certificate program is presented in two
parts: Part I, Tools and Techniques (3 days); Part II: The People Side (2 days). For
information, visit www.uh.edu/continuingeducation
Protective Services Training Institute
Protective Services Training Institute creates and delivers quality, state-of-the-art
training to protective services staff; develops and administers a staff certification
program that recognizes the special expertise of child protective services, adult
protective services, child care licensing and statewide intake practice; and researches,
develops and assesses new training concepts and technologies.
Psychology Research and Services Center (PRSC)
The Psychological Research and Services Center is an outpatient mental health training
facility offering proven psychological treatments for a variety of behavioral,
psychological, and adjustment problems. Individual, family, and group treatment formats
are available. In addition to psychotherapy, intellectual, developmental, and personality
assessment and evaluation are offered for both children and adults. Advanced doctoral
students under the supervision of licensed clinical psychology faculty conduct treatment
and assessment services. Fees, may be adjusted on a sliding scale, according to ability
to pay. The PRSC also provides information about mental health to the community
through continuing education professional training programs, workshops, and lectures
to agencies and organizations. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/psychology/clinics/
Public Education Policy Research (SERG)
The Sociology of Education Research Group works with school districts in the Houston
metropolitan area and the Texas Education Agency to evaluate educational programs
and assess factors that affect student academic achievement, student dropout rates,
and teacher morale and retention. SERG also conducts school climate studies for
school districts.
Public Interest Fellowship Program
Students apply for a competitive fellowship award to spend the summer with a public
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interest or governmental agency. Previous fellowship recipients have provided services
to a wide range of organizations and programs, such as legal aid, U.S. Attorney’s
Office, HIV projects, migrant farm workers projects. For more information, visit
http://www.law.uh.edu/pil/summer/homepage.asp
Quarknet
Quarknet is a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy that pairs high
school science teachers with active researchers in particle and nuclear physics. Rice
University and The University of Houston hosted a 3-week workshop in summer of 2005
for 24 area teachers. Teachers get involved in real research projects with physicists
from both Rice and UH. For information, visit http://outreach.phys.uh.edu
Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literacy Heritage Project
The Recovery Project, founded by Arte Público Press, is the first national, coordinated
effort to recover, preserve, study, and publish long overlooked or forgotten Latino
writings that date from the American colonial period through 1960. It is the largest
project of its kind undertaken in the history of scholarly efforts to study Hispanic culture
in the United States. The broad scope of the 12-year project includes such genres as
letters, diaries, oral lore and popular culture by Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Spanish
and other Hispanic Americans. To date, the project has found more than 18,000 books
and has indexed and digitized more than 30,000 periodical articles. For information,
visit http://www.latinoteca.com/arte-publico-press
Report to the Community
The Bauer College of Business publishes an annual report to keep the Houston
community up-to-date on the on-goings of the College of Business.
Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture (SICSA)
The Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture is a unique research, design,
and teaching entity within the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture. Its mission is to
plan and implement programs that will advance peaceful and beneficial uses of space
and space technology. SICSA also pursues planning and design for difficult and
extreme environments on Earth that can benefit from advanced approaches, systems,
and applications that are revealed through space investigation and concepts. SICSA’s
location in Houston affords convenient access to diverse information resources and
collaboration opportunities afforded by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, local aerospace
companies, major research institutions, and commercial technology enterprises. For
information, visit www.sicsa.uh.edu/
SBA Guaranteed Loan Program
The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides a key source of financing for small
businesses. The SBA guaranteed loans give small business owners access to longterm capital that is fairly priced. UH Small Business Development Center provides free
assistance to entrepreneurs and business owners in developing a viable loan
application that can be submitted to the SBA. For information, visit
http://www.sbdc.uh.edu/sbdc/Default.asp
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School of Theatre Costume Department
The School of Theatre’s Costume Department provides costume rental service to notfor-profit theaters, school districts, UIL competitions, private schools, churches, fraternal
organizations, and other university programs on a fee schedule that is standardized for
all participants. The department also provides advice in makeup and costume design,
craftsmanship and technology on an individual basis to Houston Independent School
District, private, professional, community and statewide theatrical productions. In
addition, the school’s Design Program will make recommendations for novice costume
and makeup designers in producing organizations. Student designers are available for
a fee to the venue as contracted. For information, visit http://www.uh.edu/class/theatreand-dance/index.php
School Partnership Program
Blaffer Gallery’s UHReach School Partnership Program provides elementary, middle,
and high schools with a multidisciplinary experience through guided tours of the gallery
as well as pre- and post-visit classroom instruction. The pre-visit interactive slide
presentation introduces students to the works of the exhibition. The gallery visit
reinforces the exhibition’s concepts and familiarizes the students with the physical
characteristics of an art gallery. The post-visit involves a hands-on art activity related to
the exhibition. Additionally, teachers from participating schools receive education kits.
Science and Engineering Fair of Houston
Over 1,500 young scientists from 145 Houston area middle and high schools take part
in the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston. The event has more than doubled in
size over the last 20 years The program is currently administered by the University of
Houston. The fair is the largest provider of scholarships for science and engineering
students in the greater Houston area, recognizing over 600 students and providing over
50 scholarships. http://www.sefhouston.org/
Science Carnival
The Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston (TCSUH) and the
Center for Materials Chemistry (CMC), in conjunction with departments from the College
of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, hold an annual Science Carnival for
approximately 250 fifth-grade students from the Houston area. The carnival includes
hands-on science activities, experiments, and demonstrations conducted by TCSUH,
CMC, and other personnel. For information, visit www.uh.edu/tcsuh/
Science Mathematics Applied Resources Teachers SMART Center
The Science Mathematics Applied Resources for Teachers (SMART) Center enhances
pre-college math and science teaching through in-service and staff development
programs in chemistry, physics, and physical science for K-12 teachers. Offered
through the College Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the SMART Center’s programs
are Enhancement of Chemical Science Concepts for elementary and intermediate
school teachers, the Teaching Science with TOYS (Teaching Our Youth Science), and
programs requested by schools for staff development. Programs designed for high
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school and elementary school students are also available. The Center also administers
the Welch Summer Scholar Program at UH. For information, visit smart.chem.uh.edu/ or
call (713) 743-2720. Information on the Welch Program is available at
www.utexas.edu/research/chemed/lagowski/WSSP/
SEG Wavelets
The SEG Wavelets is the University of Houston’s Society for Exploration Geophysicists
student chapter. They are devoted to promoting all things geophysics working with other
student organizations, industry professionals, and University of Houston faculty to bring
their members educational, research, social, and future, employment opportunities. For
more information, visit http://segwavelets.uh.edu/
Showcase of Stars
The College of Education Alumni Association recognizes excellence in service among
faculty, students, and alumni during an annual Showcase of Stars event. For more
information, visit http://www.coe.uh.edu/alumni/index.php
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The UH Small Business Development Center helps small and medium-size businesses
start, grow and succeed through free one-on-one business consulting, affordable
training seminars and specialty programs. Special programs and services include Direct
Business Assistance, International Trade Center, SBA Pre-qualification Loan Program,
Procurement Technical Assistance Center (also known as Texas Information
Procurement Service), the Houston 100 and Women Business Owners’ Roundtable,
Technology Program, and Comprehensive Business Research Library. For information,
visit http://www.sbdc.uh.edu/sbdc/Default.asp
Social Work Continuing Education
The Graduate College of Social Work’s Continuing Education program offers specific
courses in the areas of gerontology, grant writing, and nonprofit management. It also
offers the Social Work Supervision Certification for LMSWs and ACPs that is required
by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners. Courses are designed for social
workers, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and other human services
professionals in the community. All courses are approved for continuing education units
and are acceptable for licensed professional counselors. For information call visit
http://www.uh.edu/socialwork/community/ce/index.php
Southwest Juvenile Defender Center
The Southwest Juvenile Defender Center is an affiliate of the National Juvenile
Defender Center. SWJDC works to bring together juvenile defenders, mental health
professionals, educators, legislators, and other juvenile justice professionals. Through
this collaboration the Center strives to improve advocacy for children. Our mission is
ensuring excellence in juvenile defense and promoting justice for all children through
advocacy, education, and prevention. For more information, visit
http://www.law.uh.edu/juveniledefender/homepage.asp
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Southwest Public Safety Technology Center
The center develops public safety technology test beds; serves as a test site for a
national academic consortium to conduct public safety technology research and
development; commercializes new public safety technologies through the creation of
partnerships with industry; and provides technology assistance to law enforcement
community. The center addresses issues ranging from traffic congestion to emergency
evacuation, from environmental impacts to terrorist attacks, from flood control to
emergency medical response, and from collective governing across judiciary
boundaries to disaster relief. Center staff made important contributions to the FEMA
disaster relief centers after Hurricane Katrina and to joint relief efforts in East Texas
after Hurricane Rita. It is also providing the technology leadership at the Houston Port
Security Steering Council and planning the regional information technology
infrastructure. In partnership with others, SWTC has also launched a number of border
security projects ranging from communication interoperability to crime mapping along
the Texas-Mexico border. For more information, visit http://wwwold.tlc2.uh.edu/swtc
Speakers Bureau - College of Optometry
College of Optometry faculty and staff are available to address school classes, senior
citizens, service clubs, and others on eye and vision care topics. For information, visit
http://www.opt.uh.edu/community/need-a-speaker.cfm
Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic
The clinic provides evaluation and treatment for speech production (articulation),
language, stuttering, augmentative/alternative communication, aphasia, motor speech
disorders, and accent modifications, as well as speech/language difficulties associated
with hearing impairment or other medical problems. Fees are determined using a sliding
scale. Hearing evaluations are available with referrals made for medical evaluation
and/or hearing aid evaluation. Hearing aids are available for purchase. There is a
Hearing Aid Assistance Program to provide low-cost hearing aids to qualified clients.
For information, visit http://www.uh.edu/class/comd/slhc/about/index.php
Sports Camps
Each summer, the Athletics Department hosts a variety of sports camps for boys and
girls ages 6 to 18. Typically, the following sports are offered: baseball, boys basketball,
girls basketball, football, soccer, track and field and volleyball. The individual sport
departments set dates, times, fees, and age requirements. For information, search the
summer camp database at www.uh.edu/summercamp, or visit
http://uhcougars.collegesports.com/index-main.html
Strategic Selling and Customer Relationship Management Center
The Strategic Selling and Customer Relationship Management Center, which is part of
the Sales Excellence Institute, is an outreach program for current sales and sales
management professionals interested in enhancing their education. The professional
sales trainers teaching in this center are award-winning instructors and are capable of
customizing sales and sales management training to fit various industries and company
cultures. For information, visit www.bauer.uh.edu/SEI/sei.htm
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Student Organizations Community Service
Student organizations in the C.T. Bauer College of Business, such as Beta Alpha Psi
and the Accounting Society, perform various service activities throughout the year. In
some cases, students donate their time to non-profit institutions (churches, etc.) by
providing help with the organization’s accounting. They also visit high schools to discuss
career opportunities with graduating seniors.
Studio Saturday
This community is event held in conjunction with Blaffer Gallery exhibitions. Community
members, families, students, and art lovers can explore their creative sides and gain
inspiration from Blaffer exhibits. Events include guided tours and drawing contests. For
information, visit http://www.uh.edu/uh-arts/visual/index.php
Study Tours
The Hobby Center for Public Policy coordinates various professional training programs
annually for Global Unisource, Inc. focusing on U.S. government, education and
business practices for professionals in China. The sessions are conducted by faculty of
the University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and the University of St.
Thomas. In addition to classroom lectures, the programs include site visits to locations
such as Houston City Hall, the state capitol in Austin, and the office of the Harris County
Clerk. For information, visit http://www.uh.edu/class/hcpp/index.php
Summer Arts Workshop
Blaffer Gallery invites children ages 6 to 12 to create their own artworks at its popular
Summer Arts Workshop. Children learn artistic concepts while a using broad range of
media – everything from crayons to chalk, paint, fabric, glitter, sculpting clay, feathers,
cardboard, shells – to create collages, paintings, and ingenious 3D projects.
Summer Camps
Every summer, the University of Houston offers a variety of exciting programs for young
Houstonians. To learn more, search through the “UH in the Community” online
database of more than 180 recreational, athletic, arts, academic, and other youth
programs, visit http://www.uh.edu/about/community/summer-camps/
Summer Discovery Program
The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture’s Summer Discovery Program introduces
high school students to the profession of architecture. The five-week program consists
of classes in design, structure, and architecture history as well as field trips to job sites,
architects’ offices and buildings of special interest. For information, visit
http://www.arch.uh.edu/special/summerdiscovery/index.php
Survey Research Institute
The Center for Public Policy’s Survey Research Institute, under the guidance of Dr.
Richard Murray, conducts an ongoing program of political and public opinion polling for
Houston and the State of Texas. The center has provided extensive polling data for the
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Houston Chronicle and KPRC television, as well as for regional public and private
sector entities. In addition, Dr. Murray’s analyses are frequently carried by national
media sources such as The New York Times and the Washington Post. For
information, visit www.uh.edu/cpp/polling.htm
TcSUH Distinguished Lecture Series
The Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH hosts an annual Nobel Lecture Series
and periodic special seminars, workshops, and symposia as part of its educational
community outreach program. For calendar information, see www.uh.edu/tcsuh
teachHOUSTON
Coordinated by the College of Natural Science and Mathematics, the College of
Education, and the Office of Development, teachHOUSTON provides hands-on training
to science, computer science, and math majors interested in teaching by pairing them
with master teachers at UH and mentor public school teachers. For more information,
visit http://www.teachhouston.uh.edu/
Technology Presentations
College of Technology faculty members provide presentations for high school, middle
school, community college and community organizations about different facets of
technology, pre-college preparation, transferability of programs, degree requirements
and job opportunities. For information, visit http://www.tech.uh.edu/
Technology Research and Education Center (TREC)
The Technology Research and Education Center, through its commitment to advanced
technology research, partnerships with technology corporations, and relationships with
the academic community, will provide the most current and comprehensive technology
information services to benefit all stakeholders in the hospitality industry. TREC
stakeholders include technology hardware, software and service corporations; industry
associations (AH&LA, HFTP, NRA, HITA, CHRIE, et.al.); corporations in the hospitality
industry; university hospitality management programs; hospitality students and faculty;
and industry trade publications.
Telecom Center
The mission of this center is to build a bridge away the telecommunications industry/
industry, institutions in the Texas Medical Center, and UH through joint research
projects and educational/training programs. Its current research areas are smart
antenna systems, wireless devices and systems for telemedicine and homeland
security. In addition, the center leads the way in radio-frequency radiation and
interference standards and compliance, and provides educational/training programs,
including the Engineering Entrepreneurism program. For information, visit
http://www.egr.uh.edu/telecom/
Texas Department of Health Alcohol Education Course for Minors in Possession
The Alcohol Education Program for Minors (Minors in Possession – MIP) is a six-hour
course (two sessions of three hours). For more information, 713-743-5461 or visit
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http://www.uh.edu/wellness/minors_in_possession.html
Texas Eye Research and Technology Center (TERTC)
This research center in the College of Optometry performs independent testing of
ophthalmic products for corporations. It is a leader of research and technology in the
eye and vision care field. For information, visit http://tertc.opt.uh.edu/
Texas High Schools for Hospitality
This partnership between the Hilton University of Houston Hotel and Conference Center
and Jefferson Davis High School provides students with training and on-site work
experience in six primary areas of hotel operations: front office, food and beverage,
rooms division, communications, accounting, sales and marketing. For information, visit
http://www.hrm.uh.edu/
Texas Innocence Network (TIN)
The Texas Innocence Network (TIN) at the University of Houston Law Center is a
program that focuses exclusively on investigating claims of actual innocence raised by
inmates in Texas or elsewhere. TIN accepts cases involving DNA evidence as well as
cases that do not. For information, visit http://www.law.uh.edu/cji/
Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics
The mission of the Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics is to
advance knowledge about, and to improve the behavioral, psychological, educational
and developmental outcomes of children and adults through the application and
development of advanced measurement, evaluation, and statistical research methods,
the design and execution of high quality, cutting-edge research projects, and the
delivery of state-of-the art research and statistical support services. For information, visit
www.times.uh.edu/
Texas Learning and Computation Center (TLC2)
The Texas Learning and Computation Center fosters and supports interdisciplinary
research, education and training in computational sciences and engineering through
centers, laboratories and individual faculty initiatives. TLC2 has state-of-the-art
computation, visualization and educational facilities for environmental studies;
biological, biomedical and energy research; undergraduate and graduate education;
and teacher training. TLC2 sponsors conferences and workshops as well as
competitions. Outreach partners include the European Space Agency, the Fennessey
Ranch, the Houston Area Technology Advancement Center, and the World Space
Congress. For information, visit www.tlc2.uh.edu/
Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP)
The Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP), sponsored by the office of State
Senator Rodney Ellis and administered by the Mickey Leland Center on World Hunger
and Peace at Texas Southern University, provides undergraduate and graduate
students the opportunity to serve as interns in the Texas Legislature and various
political offices. University of Houston recruitment efforts are coordinated by the Center
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for Public Policy. For information, visit
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist13/tlip/about.htm
Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC)
TMAC’s specialists provide affordable training and technical assistance to upgrade
worker skills, implement best business practices, and connect the manufacturing
community to critical information and resources. Services include company
assessments, production planning and control (ERP/MRP), Lean Enterprise, product
manufacturability, quality management systems, e-Enterprise, workforce development,
and strategic management. TMAC also sponsors informational seminars and an annual
conference for manufacturers. For information, visit http://www.tmacgc.org/
Texas Obesity Research Center
The Texas Obesity Research Center conducts focus groups with community members
and organizations in the formative development of research projects. For more information,
visit http://www.hhp.uh.edu/obesity/
TexShare Library Service
TexShare is a statewide library resource sharing program for students, faculty, and the
general public. Students can apply for a TexShare card and can check-out items from
any participating TexShare library. For more information, visit
http://info.lib.uh.edu/policies/libraries-privileges/texshare-card
Tour Program
Free guided tours of Blaffer Gallery are offered to groups of 10 or more children or
adults. Teachers, professors, parents, and tour groups with their escorts are invited to
register for a tour. Knowledgeable docents are advanced undergraduate and graduate
students in art, art history, and education, as well as professional artists. Interactive
tours offer students and others insight into Blaffer’s changing exhibitions of
internationally known contemporary artworks, and tours can be customized to the
group. To schedule a tour, call (713)743-9526 at least one week in advance notice. For
more information, visit http://s158155.gridserver.com/tours/
Touring Authors of Houston
Arte Público Press is the oldest and largest publisher of U.S. Hispanic books and
anthologies of fiction, non-fiction, and history for children and adults. Arte Público Press
authors conduct creative writing workshops and readings at schools and community
centers throughout the United States. For more information about organizing an author
visit for your organization or school, visit http://www.latinoteca.com/arte-publico-press/
Transactional Clinic
Through the Transactional Clinic, students assist small businesses and nonprofit
corporations with legal matters encountered on a daily basis, including negotiating lease
agreements, selecting proper organizational formats, and developing employment
policies. For information, visit http://www.law.uh.edu/clinic/transactional.asp
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UH AAPG Wildcatters
The American Association of Petroleum Geologists is the world’s largest geological
group and strives for the advancement in geological technology and research while
providing a wide variety of professional opportunities such as conferences, publications,
and educational services. The University of Houston’s AAPG Student Chapter bridges
the gap between professionals and UH geoscience students interested in careers in oil
and gas exploration. UH AAPG hosts monthly meetings, guest lecturers from academia
and industry, field trips, and other social activities that are geared toward promoting
student involvement in petroleum geology. Meetings are held on campus and are open
to students, faculty, and industry professionals. For more information, visit
http://www.aapg.uh.edu/
UH GeoSociety
The UH GeoSociety is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote education,
opportunity, and fellowship among geosciences undergraduate and graduate students.
Community outreach is a goal of the GeoSociety, as they provide students with the
opportunity to volunteer and travel to many unique geological locations, such as
Southern California, Southern New Mexico, and Costa Rica. The GeoSociety also
provides students with several avenues for socializing and networking with other
geosciences students and professors. For more information, visit
http://geosociety.uh.edu/
UH Law Center
The UH Law Center regularly evaluates its continuing education courses to assess the
legal community’s needs. For more information, visit http://www.law.uh.edu/
UH OnCALL
Friendly customer service specialists are “on call” at (713) 743-CALL (2255) weekdays
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to answer questions about services, programs and events at UH.
UH School of Continuing and Professional Studies
Offers courses and programs for the continued, professional development of individuals
and organizations. Major programs include leadership and management, project
management, six sigma, paralegal studies, environmental risk management, and test
preparation. More information can be found at http://scps.uh.edu/cs
UH Writing Center
The Writing Center at the University of Houston provides writing instruction to support
academic, professional, and personal needs. For more information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/writecen/ .
Underwood Lecture
Hosted by the UH Graduate College of Social Work’s American Humanics Nonprofit
Certificate Program, the annual Underwood Lecture focuses on youth, community,
philanthropy, and other social issues. This lecture is free and open to the public. For
information, visit http://www.sw.uh.edu/academics/nonprofit-leaders/
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United Way Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic
Communication disorders evaluated and treated at the clinic include speech production,
voice, stuttering or language disorders and speech/language difficulties associated with
hearing impairment or various other medical problems. The clinic also does hearing
evaluations. In the event that the speech difficulty is dialectal rather than a speech
disorder, appropriate referrals for services are made. For information, visit
http://www.uh.edu/class/comd/slhc/speech-svcs/index.php
University Career Services (UCS)
University Career Services assists employers in all business and industrial sectors in
identifying and recruiting qualified UH students and alumni. UCS serves employers
seeking entry-level and experienced job candidates, interns, and part-time and
temporary employees. UCS services include on-campus interviews, web-based job
postings and resume searches, career fairs, and internships. Students and alumni in all
academic majors are eligible to participate. For information, visit www.career.uh.edu/
University Center (UC)
The University Center offers more than 30 rooms for rental to students, campus
departments, and off-campus groups sponsoring nonprofit events. UC facilities can
accommodate groups of 10 to 1,000 people. The UC reservations office also handles
reservations for auditoriums in Agnes Arnold Hall, the Science and Research Building
and the Social Work Building, as well as outdoor space on campus. Full-service
catering is available through Aramark at (713) 743-FOOD. For information about rental
fees and availability, visit www.uh.edu/ucaf/Reservations/reservations.html
University Eye Institute
The College of Optometry University Eye Institute offers general eye and vision care for
children, adults, and senior citizens; contact lens services; low vision rehabilitation;
ocular emergency and medical eye services; and color vision services. The Eye Institute
provides a complete line of frames, eyeglasses, and sports goggles. Medicare,
Medicaid and other insurance programs are accepted. In addition, the College of
Optometry provides vision and eye care at clinics throughout Houston. For more
information, visit www.opt.uh.edu
University of Houston Libraries
The six UH libraries contain more than 2 million volumes; 3.8 million microfilm units;
20,000 research journals and other serial subscriptions; and large quantities of
manuscripts, maps and other materials. Information regarding remote access is listed
on the libraries’ Web site at http://info.lib.uh.edu. The UH libraries are open to the
public. Borrowing privileges are available to faculty, staff and students from any of the
UH System institutions as well as UH alumni and HARLiC or TexShare cardholders. For
information, visit http://info.lib.uh.edu/
University Optical Service
The University Optical Service provides a wide selection of frames, prescription lenses,
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sunglasses, and sports and protective eyewear at competitive prices. For information,
visit http://www.opt.uh.edu/uei/services/index.cfm
University Research, Engineering and Technology Institute for Intelligent BioNano Materials and Structures for Aerospace Vehicles
The next revolution in air travel and space exploration is contingent upon our ability to
reduce mass, size, and power consumption while increasing reliability. The Institute will
advance nano-bio technologies for both aircraft and space systems. UH engineers are
concentrating on establishing distributed intelligence architectures to improve flight and
mechanical performance and safety of future aircraft and spacecraft, and fabricating
new nanomaterials that are stronger and lighter than conventional materials. The center
is based at Texas A&M University, and members include the University of Houston,
Prairie View A&M University, Rice University, Texas Southern University and the
University of Texas at Arlington. For information, visit http://www.egr.uh.edu/nasaureti/
University Testing Services (UTS)
University Testing Services is a proctor site for local, national, and global testing
services. The mission of UTS is to provide comprehensive testing and assessment
services. These services include administration of admission, placement, credit by
exam, psychological batteries, correspondence examinations from other universities,
and professional certification and licensing examinations. For more information, visit
http://www.las.uh.edu/uts/
Urban-Talent Research Institute
The mission of the University of Houston’s Urban Talent Research Institute is to
enhance the identification and development of individual gifts and talents of children and
youth in urban centers and their metropolitan areas through university-school
partnerships. The Institute’s priorities are to: 1) provide research, instruction, and
service for maximizing talent development in school-aged students; 2) create a national
research agenda focused on recognition and enhancement of talent in urban children
and youth; 3) develop a national center for research focusing on the development of
artistically talented individuals; 4) demonstrate, through model sites and programs,
techniques for improving education of urban school-aged students through talent
development. For information, visit http://www.coe.uh.edu/about/institutescenters/index.php
Video Calculus Series
The Video Calculus Series is a free online calculus training course available to
everyone. For more information, visit
http://online.math.uh.edu/HoustonACT/videocalculus/index.html
Video Production
The School of Communication produces videos for nonprofit organizations. Fees vary
according to the type of video produced. Recent productions include instructional
videotape about the dangers and treatment of HIV, a public information project
regarding sewer connections, and an Asian culture archival project. For information,
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visit http://www.uh.edu/class/communication/index.php
Well Logging Laboratory (WLL)
The Well Logging Laboratory investigates the electric properties of reservoir rocks over
a wide range of frequency. In addition, theoretical and experimental studies have
obtained a better understanding of electric tool response in complex borehole
environments, such as dipping formations, thin invaded beds and anisotropic
formations. Public services include nuclear logging calibration facilities and industrial
consortium on resistivity logging. For information, visit www.welllogginglab.com
Weston A. Petty Optometry Library
The Weston A. Petty Optometry Library is open to the general public for use. For more
information, visit http://guides.lib.uh.edu/optometry
Wine & Spirits Management Institute (W&SMI)
The Wine & Spirits Management Institute is the product of a collaborative effort by the
UH community and leaders in the alcohol beverage industry. UH’s Conrad N. Hilton
College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, DIAGEO, Glazer’s Family of Companies,
E.& J. Gallo Winery, Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods, Robert Mondavi, Beringer
Blass Wine Estates, Brown-Forman, Future Brands, and Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine
North America have developed a new standard of expertise embodied in the creation of
a commercial beverage manager certification program. For information, visit
http://www.wsmi.uh.edu/index.htm
Women Business Owners’ Initiative
The Women Business Owners’ Initiative of the UH Small Business Development Center
fosters business growth by bringing together experienced, successful women business
owners who share their knowledge with women in the process of growing their
businesses.
Women’s Archive and Research Center
An integral part of the University Archives is the Women’s Archives, established in
1996. The Women’s Archives focuses on the history of women’s organizations in the
Houston area. For information, visit http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-librariescollections/special-collections/university-archives
World Laboratory Center for Pan-American Collaboration in Science and
Technology
The World Laboratory Center for Pan-American Collaboration in Science and
Technology seeks to strengthen U.S. ties with Latin America by promoting science and
technology in developing countries.
Wortham Theatre Box Office
The Lyndall Finley Wortham Theatre Box Office handles individual and group ticket
sales and distribution for School of Theatre productions including student productions,
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Children’s Theatre Festival, Houston Shakespeare Festival and performances by the
school’s Dance Division. For information about performance schedules, visit the School
of Theatre Web site at http://www.class.uh.edu/theatre/
Young Artist Apprenticeship Program
Blaffer Gallery partners with local art teachers to provide an intensive workshop
experiences with professional artists to at-risk high school students. Participants visit
the gallery each day after school for hands-on studio experience with practicing artistmentors. Workshops are six weeks long and held in the fall and spring. After exploring
artistic and professional techniques, the young artists create their own works of art,
which are then presented publicly in a professionally installed exhibition. For
information, visit http://www.blaffergallery.org/
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University of Houston-Clear Lake
Alfred R. Neumann Library
The Alfred R. Neumann Library is a dynamic facility with resources and staff dedicated
to excellent service for both UHCL and the surrounding community. With a collection of
more than 524,000 volumes, more than 3,000 journals, numerous electronic databases,
and federal and state document depositories, the library provides a broad range of
informational resources for everyone. 281-283-3912.
Alpha Gifted Program
The Alpha Gifted Program, established in fall 1986, brings fourth- and fifth-grade
students in the Clear Creek Independent School District to UHCL every Wednesday
during September through May. Students actively participate in courses taught in
university classrooms by practitioners in the field. The Alpha Gifted Program strives to
foster a passion for lifelong learning by providing gifted students opportunities that
enrich and supplement their public school experiences. 281-283-3530.
Amazon Study Abroad
The Amazon Study Abroad opportunity is a 12- to 19-day riverboat trip along the
Amazon River. It is part of an ongoing research and instruction program that is available
for course credit for UHCL students. It is also available to other university students,
faculty, staff, alumni and community friends on a space-available basis. The tour is
typically conducted twice a year. 281-283-3745.
Art School for Children and Young Adults
The Art School for Children and Young Adults is a model program in art education for
children living in the Clear Lake and surrounding areas. Classes provide art instruction
for the community and serve as a laboratory for observation, teaching and research in
visual arts education. A special focus of the curriculum is the art of the world’s varied
cultures and the contributions of major artists. Children are encouraged to progress at
their own pace and acquire skills appropriate to their developmental level. Classes are
also offered for artistically gifted children from the Clear Creek Independent School
District. 281-283-3344.
Center for Advanced Management Programs (CAMP)
CAMP is the outreach arm of the School of Business serving as a link between the
university, business, government and the community. Since its conception, CAMP has
become a leader in university-level continuing professional education, offering a wide
range of programs. CAMP sponsors, develops and implements numerous seminars,
workshops, prep courses and certificate programs. The center also provides customized
training programs tailored to meet specific organizational needs. Administrative
assistants to chief executive officers benefit from CAMP’s commitment to keeping
business and government abreast of changing work force developments, updated
training methods and new knowledge essential to professional success. 281-283-3120.
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Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD)
The UHCL Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities is composed of faculty and
students in the Behavior Analysis, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Education
graduate programs. CADD includes resources for school services, clinic and home
services, autism assessment services, couples counseling and the Severe Behavior
Disorders Research Clinic and Verbal Behavior Clinic. 281-283-3437.
Center for Educational Programs (CEP)
The Center for Educational Programs offers an array of programs serving the citizens of
the Bay Area, such as seminars for teachers of gifted children, reading, mathematics
tutoring, Kids U, grant support for local school districts, and an independent testing
service for area families. Offerings include programs for children, educators and the
community. 281-283-3530.
Center for Professional Development of Teachers (CPDT)
The School of Education is a state-approved Center for Professional Development of
Teachers. The teacher preparation program provides extensive public school-based
experiences for prospective educators. These expanded experiences include a twosemester internship, public school-based university coursework and close cooperation
with a number of professional development school sites. The collaborative initiative
between UHCL and area independent school districts focuses on providing a rich and
supportive environment for the preparation of professional educators through a range of
field experiences. 281-283-6121.
Clear Lake Association of Senior Programs (CLASP)
CLASP is an outreach initiative developed to provide educational and intellectual
opportunities to the community. It offers an evening speaker series held at UHCL and a
daytime speaker series at off-campus locations. Friends of all ages are invited to enjoy
the challenge of learning about new and varied subjects. 281-283-2021.
Collaborative Bilingual Counselor Training
The Collaborative Bilingual Counselor Training program prepares bilingual educators to
become school counselors in schools with high populations of English language
learners in collaborating school districts. The project provides participants an array of
professional development, mentoring and support to ensure success. As part of the
training process, counseling interns in this project provide free counseling at afterschool clinics located in neighborhood schools. 281-283-3559.
Cultural Arts
Cultural Arts offers the community a variety of performances by the state and nation’s
best touring artists. 281-283-2555.
Cyber Security Institute
The UHCL Cyber Security Institute provides research and education services to the
region. The institute is mutually beneficial to UHCL and surrounding private industry and
government offices, providing research and resources to improve overall capacity in
cyber security and to promote cyber security related research and education activities in
the greater Houston area. 281-283-3703.
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Digital Media Lab
The Digital Media Lab is a training facility associated with the graduate program in
Digital Media Studies and the undergraduate program in Communication. The lab
provides training and services in web development and design, public relations, digital
graphics, gaming and simulations and social media. 281-283-3414.
Environmental Institute of Houston (EIH)
The Environmental Institute of Houston was established to be a leader in building
partnerships in research, education and outreach. EIH promotes sustainable and
resilient development and environmental quality in the Houston-Galveston and
southeast Gulf coast region of Texas, supporting environmental solutions that balance
environmental health and related social issues with economic wellbeing. EIH
strategically leverages its limited state resources to partner with and secure additional
external financial resources to conduct critical research and educational outreach on
regional environmental issues important to area residents and encourages collaborative
academic activities and public discussion on sustainable resilient development, natural
resource conservation, pollution prevention, environmental regulation and policy, and
societal issues related to critical environmental issues. It supports a wide variety of
environmental education activities including professional development for educators and
continuing technical education of professionals through workshops, hands-on training
activities and other community educational activities. EIH supports and conducts
research on a variety of environmental topics including sustainable resilient
development, conservation of critical environmental services, wetland restoration, air
quality improvement, fish and wildlife conservation, water quality improvement,
environmental freshwater flows, management of invasive species, reduction of risks
from pollutants, and environmental sociology and history. Many EIH research and
education projects are collaborative and bring together a diverse representative
assemblage of people from businesses, environmental agencies, conservation
organizations, and academic institutions to seek solutions for environmental issues.
281-283-3950.
High Technologies Laboratory
The High Technologies Laboratory identifies problems common to government
agencies, corporations and academic researchers which can benefit from the faculty,
student and equipment resources available at UHCL. The laboratory mobilizes UHCL
faculty expertise to perform research and development in computer science, computer
engineering, telecommunications, robotics, software engineering, information
technology, electro-optical systems, and control systems. 281-283-3809.
Human Performance Institute
The Human Performance Institute offers advanced programs in sports medicine and
human performance. It promotes community health with exercise sessions,
lecture/discussion series, testing services, and fitness instruction. 281-283-3032.
Johnson Space Center History Collection
UHCL entered an agreement with NASA and the National Archives to house and
provide access to the NASA Johnson Space Center History Collection, allowing the
records to be housed in the University Archives where researchers can access them.
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The JSC History Collection at UHCL consists of eight series: Apollo, Skylab, Apollo
Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), Shuttle, Station, Oral History, General Reference, and
Center. 281-283-3936.
Kids U
Kids U is a supplementary academic program for elementary and secondary students,
operated by the Center for Educational Programs, offered during the summer and on
Saturdays during the academic year. There are nine camps within Kids U: Brain Power
Camp, Early Childhood Camp, Language Camp, Science Camp, Technology Camp,
Math Camp, World Explorers Camp, Young Writers Camp and Gifted Academy. In
addition, summer opportunities are offered by UHD’s Applied Business and Technology
Center at UHCL with the CampuCamp and Summer Academy programs. The
Assistance League of the Bay Area provides significant scholarship assistance annually
to children who cannot otherwise afford to participate. 281-283-3530.
Learning Resources Review Center
Jointly sponsored by the Alfred R. Neumann Library and the School of Education, the
center houses current children’s books furnished through the generosity of publishers
and producers of books and materials. The primary function of the center is to
encourage review activities. 281-283-3912.
Math Center
The Math Center supports and encourages students preparing to become teachers of
K-8 mathematics. Center staff helps students delve beyond their textbooks into
underlying mathematical concepts. The center offers a broad range of resources for
future mathematics educators, including mathematics software, reference books and
magazines, geometrical models, instructional videotapes, and video recording and
playback equipment as well as problem review sessions and math anxiety workshops.
The Math Center is a collaborative program of the School of Education and School of
Science and Computer Engineering. 281-283-3723.
Mathematics Institute
A collaborative program of the School of Education and the School of Science and
Computer Engineering, the Mathematics Institute provides training in probability,
statistics and geometry for middle school teachers. 281-283-3536.
NASA Oral History Project
The NASA Oral History Project began in the mid-1990s with a mission to identify key
personnel involved with Johnson’s Space Center activities and to interview them as part
of the historical record. Materials housed at UHCL consist of transcripts, CDs, and/or
cassette recordings. 281-283-3936.
Professional Development Laboratory School (McWhirter Elementary)
The Professional Development Laboratory School at McWhirter Elementary School is a
collaborative initiative of UHCL and Clear Creek Independent School District. The
partnership emphasizes the professional development of teachers (CCISD teachers,
UHCL candidates and UHCL faculty) and research, both of which are focused on
improving the achievement levels of CCISD students. 281-283-3620.
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Psychological Services Clinic
The Psychological Services Clinic is a training facility for graduate programs in clinical
psychology, family therapy, and school psychology. The clinic provides family, individual
and couples counseling and psychological testing for children and adolescents. Fees
are assessed on a sliding scale. 281-283-3330.
Research Center for Language and Culture
The Research Center for Language and Culture develops national models that can be
used to improve education for English language learners (ELLs). Efforts include
improving training for teachers working with ELLs in bilingual, ESL and/or general
education settings. Ongoing research is addressing dual language education and
science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for ELLs. 281-283-3591
or 281-285-3584.
School Librarian: Early LINK to Literacy and Learning
The LINK grant prepares school librarians to work with the early childhood populations
in prekindergarten through second grades, focusing on the unique literacy needs of
young children. Collaborating with Houston area school districts, participants will receive
specialized training in working with young children. This project will provide professional
development in creating library collections for emergent readers in both English and
Spanish as well as how the school library can better serve the needs of young children
and their families, increasing community communications and collaborations. 281-2833577.
Student Conference for Research and Creative Arts
The Student Conference for Research and Creative Arts, an annual event, provides
students across all disciplines from many universities within the state regional
opportunities to present original research and creative arts projects in a professional
forum as well as participate in a broad spectrum of workshops and lectures. The
conference plays a significant role in students’ education by enhancing classroom
experiences through interaction within and across disciplines. 281-283-3375.
Student Leadership Involvement and Community Engagement (SLICE)
The Student Leadership Involvement and Community Engagement program develops
and prepares today’s students to lead and serve in tomorrow’s global communities.
SLICE programs are open to all UHCL students and staff, regardless of affiliation with
existing leadership programs, organizations and activities. The mission of SLICE is to
foster learning and personal development through exploring leadership trends and civic
engagement. SLICE provides all UHCL students opportunities to develop and enhance
a personal philosophy of leadership that includes comprehension of leadership theory
and application, and a holistic understanding of self, others, organizations and
community. It serves as a clearinghouse for university students to engage in community
service, volunteering and service-learning activities to enhance their academic
experience. 281-283-2611.
Success Through Education Programs (STEP)
Established in 1993, Success Through Education Programs is a recruitment-retention
collaborative project whose partners work together to identify first-generation,
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economically-disadvantaged students who have the potential to become highly qualified
teachers for Texas. This successful collaboration has expanded to four area school
districts, seven high schools, four community colleges, and UHCL. STEP initiatives
include Baytown Area Educator Recruitment & Retention, Galveston Area Education
Recruitment & Retention, Galena Park Home-Grown Teacher Project, and Pathway to
Teaching in HISD. STEP provides established, comprehensive support and advisement
in a seamless transition from high school, to community college, to UHCL, which
culminates in a college degree and teacher certification. STEP provides a structure for
sustained renewal, retention and success for future generations. 281-283-3501.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Program: Academics for Offenders
UHCL offers courses to TDCJ inmates through the School of Human Sciences and
Humanities leading to bachelor’s degrees in Behavioral Sciences and Humanities, and
master’s degrees in Humanities and Literature. UHCL is one of very few institutions that
offer graduate degrees to offenders. The university employs both full-time instructors
and adjuncts to teach classes at the TDCJ units and strives to ensure that the TDCJ
regimen matches that of on-campus classes. 281-283-3385.
UHCL Capstone Courses in Computing and Mathematics and in Engineering
Each year, UHCL invites proposals from area industry and government agencies for
capstone projects that would benefit the proposing organization. These computingrelated project proposals are evaluated by a team of UHCL faculty. Projects that are
believed to be of sufficient complexity to require teams of School of Computer Science
and Engineering students to exercise what they have learned during their work toward
their computing-related degree and that are also believed to be achievable by teams of
students over a one- to two-semester period are accepted. The proposing organization
provides a domain expert and SCE provides a faculty expert to help mentor the team
throughout the project. The resulting team projects are demonstrated and presented to
the public at the conclusion of the work. 281-283-3865.
UHCL Human Space Flight Collection
The UHCL Human Space Flight Collection chronicles and commemorates the
individuals involved in the space industry. The program, created by UHCL Archives,
seeks materials (personal papers, correspondence, drawings, designs, etc.) that offer
personal insights into the history and operation of human space flights which will
complement and enhance the official NASA/JSC records. 281-283-3936.
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University of Houston – Downtown
Applied Business and Technology Center
The Applied Business and Technology Center is a self-sustaining, non-credit granting
center whose mission is to provide quality continuing education to the public; quality
research and consulting services to industry; services leading to the improvement of the
community; and personal and professional opportunities for UHD faculty and staff. The
Center offers courses in applied business and technology at various levels, from entry
level through advanced. Courses are taught on-campus as well as off-site. In addition,
the Center develops and delivers customized courses for business and industry. 713221-8032 [email protected]
Center for Applied Polymer Science Research
Undergraduate students have opportunities to participate in basic and applied polymer
science research projects with academic and industrial significance through the Center
for Applied Polymer Science Research. The focus of the Center includes applied
research in ultraviolet (UV) polymerization chemistry and technology. Research is
disseminated to the Texas-based chemical industry concerning the productivity,
environmental, and energy saving features of UV polymerization processes. 713-2218169. www.uhd.edu/academic/colleges/sciences/ns/CAPSR/index.html
Center for Public Deliberation
This collaborative, non-partisan Center encourages citizens to actively participate in the
deliberative democracy process through public discussions about issues that affect their
lives. The CPD is an affiliate of the National Issues Forums (NIF) network and partner to
the Texas Forums project at the Lyndon B. Johnson Library in Austin, Texas. 713-2218132. www.uhd.edu/academic/colleges/humanities/uhd_cpd/
Center for Public Service and Family Strengths
The Center enhances the educational experiences of UHD students and the quality of
life of residents of the Houston community through collaborations, research studies,
publication of an academic journal, and programs that reinforce academic learning and
civic values among students, foster ethnic and racial harmony, strengthen families,
advocate for underrepresented individuals and families, and facilitate the dissemination
of best family-centered practices. 713-221-2737.
www.uhd.edu/academic/colleges/publicservice/cfs/index.php
Community Involvement Center
The Community Involvement Center (CIC) serves as the clearinghouse for community
involvement and service learning opportunities through outreach to students,
faculty/staff and community agencies. The CIC strives to establish and maintain
partnerships by providing volunteer support to community service agencies and by
providing service learning opportunities to the UHD community. UHD and the UHD CIC
share a commitment to offer students opportunities to engage in high impact
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experiences through community involvement and civic engagement. 713-221-8592.
www.uhd.edu/sae/community_involvement_center/
Criminal Justice Training Center
UHD has one of the largest criminal justice training centers in Texas. The mission of
the training center is to provide quality adult education to individuals desiring to enter
public and private sector criminal justice professions and continuing education to
criminal justice practitioners. In addition, students, faculty, and staff of the division
donate thousands of hours annually to activities leading to the improvement of the
criminal justice professions and the community at large. The division has conducted
more than 100 police academy classes, trained more than 15,000 students for the
criminal justice professions, and won regional and national awards for excellence. 713221-8690. www.uhd.edu/academic/colleges/publicservice/cj/trainingdivision/cjce.htm
The Cultural Enrichment Center
The Cultural Enrichment Center enriches the academic life of the community while
celebrating the cultural and ethnic diversity of students, staff, faculty, and the Houston
community at large. The Center sponsors, organizes, and supports events such as
lectures, readings, performances, concerts, and exhibitions by national and international
artists, writers, and public intellectuals, often partnering with academic departments and
with community arts organizations such as Fotofest, Houston Poetry Fest, Inprint, Inc.,
and Writers in the Schools. Through diverse programming, the Center recognizes the
importance of music, art, and the written and spoken word. 713-221-8295.
www.uhd.edu/academic/colleges/humanities/cultural_enrichment_center/index.htm
English Language Institute (ELI)
Over 350 students study in each of the ELI’s six sessions per year. Students come
from all over the world with varying levels of English skills to improve their language
skills and to learn about U.S. culture, business practices, and daily living. Interests of
participants range from computer science, medicine, and business to the liberal arts.
Most come with specific academic or career enhancement goals. 713-221-8047.
www.uhd.edu/prospective/continuinged/eli/
Houston Pre-Freshman Enrichment Program (PREP)
Houston Pre-Freshman Enrichment Program (PREP) is a summer program for middle
and high school students hosted by the UHD College of Sciences and Technology. The
program produces a pipeline of highly qualified students prepared to enter college in the
areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students from
economically and socially disadvantaged populations are encouraged to pursue careers
in STEM fields. Since its inception, Houston PREP has provided enrichment
opportunities to more than 3,500 young Houstonians. Houston PREP offers
participating students six weeks of study annually over a four-year period, providing
practical experience and hands on learning opportunities in intellectually demanding
STEM classes and laboratories. By exposing students to topics not typically taught in
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the middle and high school curriculum, Houston PREP offers an insight into STEM
careers, increasing students’ interest in pursuing their studies in high demand
disciplines. 713- 221-8432. www.uhd.edu/academic/colleges/sciences/ccsds/hou_prep/
Houston Urban Network for Educators in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (HUNSTEM)
HUNSTEM is a network of professional and educators working together to promote
STEM study in the Houston educational arena. By creating a network that includes
schools, informal science institutions, professional societies, and institutes of higher
learning in the Houston area, HUNSTEM helps students, teachers, and families to
manage and share the STEM resources. http://hunstem.uhd.edu/
Institute for Financial Literacy and Academic Excellence
The Institute for Financial Literacy and Academic Excellence is a summer enrichment
program that assists high school students academically and helps prepare them to
transition to the more rigorous university experience. Students are offered an
opportunity to participate in a three-week academic enrichment program that supports
and enhances their high school curriculum, helps prepare them for college, and
acculturates them to a university environment. The university experience, in turn, helps
to reduce apprehension about college attendance by familiarizing students with campus
life through interactions with university faculty and state-of-the-art technology. The
goals of the institute include encouraging academic excellence and increasing the high
school graduation and college enrollment rates.
Professional Land Management Certification
The Professional Land Management Program is developed for persons desiring to
pursue a career in Petroleum Land related activities. The program is designed for
landmen, lease and title analysts, attorneys, and others involved in supporting oil and
gas exploration and development activities. The curriculum consists of six courses that
will provide graduates with the skills necessary to augment their career in land
management. 713-221-8179.
www.uhd.edu/academic/colleges/business/mmba/land_cert_index.htm
The National Society of Leadership and Success – UHD Chapter
The UHD Chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success challenges
students to develop their strengths and skills as collaborative leaders. The society
engages students with required seminars and interactive components, provides
experience working in and facilitating groups and team meetings, improves personal
interaction and communication skills, and improves self-confidence and leadership skills
with a profound effect. The society also offer students national benefits and lifetime
opportunities to network and engage with companies and other leaders
nationwide. 713-221-8573. www.uhd.edu/sae
Project Grad Summer Institutes
Project GRAD Houston is designed to support a quality public education for all children
in economically disadvantaged communities so that high school and college graduation
rates increase. UHD and Project Grad partner together each summer to host several
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summer institutes for rising high school juniors and seniors. The focus of the summer
institutes revolves around career explorations, college admissions preparation, and
financial aid awareness.
Right of Way Certification
The first of its kind, university sponsored Right of Way Certificate Program focuses on
the Private Sector of the Right of Way industry. The curriculum was developed by
working professionals in the field and is taught by highly experienced Private Sector
Right of Way professionals. It provides skill enhancement and professional training for
those interested in entering the Right of Way profession. 713-221-8179.
www.uhd.edu/academic/colleges/business/row/
Talent Search
The Educational Talent Search Program assists middle school and high school
students interested in pursuing a post-secondary education. UHD's Talent Search
program works specifically with students in the Aldine Independent School District and
provides academic advising, counseling, college campus tours, cultural field trips and a
summer enrichment program. 713-221-8992. www.uhd.edu/talent/
Texas Consortium of Geriatrics Education Centers
By invitation, UHD participates with eight other Texas schools to facilitate education and
awareness of gerontology and gerontologically relevant careers. A key feature of this
outreach is an annual Symposium on Gerontology-Geriatrics Awareness and Education
in partnership with San Jacinto College-North. 713-221-8014.
Upward Bound
Upward Bound operates on Saturdays during the academic year and for six weeks in
summer to provide instruction in core curriculum (reading, writing, and mathematics),
coaching on state-mandated assessment tests and tutoring in subjects necessary for
success in college studies. 713-221-8515. www.uhd.edu/upward/
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University of Houston-Victoria
American Book Review & the UHV/ABR Reading Series
ABR is a nonprofit, internationally distributed publication that specializes in reviews of
frequently neglected published works of fiction, poetry, and literary and cultural criticism
from small, regional, university, ethnic, avant-garde and women’s presses. UHV has
housed the publication since 2007. ABR and the School of Arts & Sciences have
collaborated to create the UHV/ABR Reading Series. The series features nationally
recognized writers on extended visits to the Victoria campus. Each semester, five
authors are invited to present in the Reading Series. Scheduled events include a free
public reading and discussion of their recent work; sale of signed editions of the author’s
works; author roundtable discussions with UHV faculty and students; and community
receptions. More than 50 authors have participated in the UHV/ABR Reading Series
since 2007. For more information, go to americanbookreview.org
Black History Month Celebration
Each February, UHV, Victoria College and the Black History Steering Committee cosponsor a Black History Month Parade, Black History Heritage Festival and Fifth-Grade
Poster Contest. All posters submitted to the contest are displayed in the UHV University
Center throughout the month for the public to view. Winners of the poster contest are
recognized at the Black History Month Reception at UHV and receive scholarships to
the university. For more information, go to
www.uhv.edu/president/special_events/black_history_month.aspx
Career Services
The Office of Career Services is committed to serving UHV students, alumni and
members of the community. Online and in-person resources are available for career
development and job searches. Students and alumni may consult with a career
counselor by appointment. The office houses a resource collection that includes annual
periodicals; employment guides from government agencies, local school districts and
area employers; and a file of applications for local employers. Online resources include
the Careerlink online resume and job search database, a series of online workshops to
support candidates in interviewing and networking, links to job databases and
recommended readings. Career Services supports both the UHV community and the
community at large through outreach with sponsored career workshops, job fairs and
networking receptions with participating employers from across the Coastal Bend. For
more information, go to www.uhv.edu/careerServices
Centro Victoria/Huizache
Centro Victoria represents a coming together of artists and educators who value the
contributions that Mexican Americans have made and are continuing to make in this
country. This organization has the goal of introducing Americans to the cultural and
artistic contributions of the Mexican American community in the U.S. Founded in 2010,
the group sponsors workshops across the state for high school English teachers and
has produced “Made in Texas,” a guide to help teachers incorporate more Mexican
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American authors into their lessons. Centro Victoria also publishes Huizache, a literary
magazine featuring the leading voices in Hispanic literature. For more information, go to
centrovictoria.net
Champions of Character
UHV is committed to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Champions of
Character initiative and ensures that student athletes are engaged in the local
community, particularly in efforts that have a positive influence on young people. It is
mandated that each UHV team take part in at least one servant leadership activity a
year. Through the years, the university’s student athletes have been mentors for at-risk
Victoria Independent School District students by serving as tutors in various subjects,
and helping with homework and school assignments. Student athletes have conducted
clinics for organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and the Challenger League,
which helps special needs youth. UHV athletes also participate in Relay for Life and
Movember to help raise money and awareness to fight cancer, and volunteer at the
annual fundraiser for the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch, a home for children from troubled
homes. For more information, call the Athletics Office at 361-485-4423.
Claud Jacobs Collegiate Invitational Golf Tournament
UHV Athletics hosts the Claud Jacobs Collegiate Invitational Golf Tournament, which
draws a strong field of men’s and women’s college teams from across the nation. More
than 150 students, coaches and fans traveled to Victoria from states as far away as
California and New York to attend the 2013 event. For more information, call the
Athletics Office at 361-485-4423.
Education Symposium
The School of Education & Human Development hosts a free Education Symposium
each semester that invites experts in different fields of education to come to the
university to share their research with the public. Past speakers have included experts
in the fields of emotional intelligence and autism. For more information, call the School
of Education & Human Development at 361-570-4262.
Educational Technology Conference
The School of Education & Human Development works in co-sponsorship with the Area
III Director of the Texas Computer Education Association and the Region III Education
Service Center to offer an Educational Technology Conference each fall. This
conference serves to meet the educational technology training needs of teachers in 26
school districts in the Region III Education Service Center’s service area.
Technology specialists from the Texas Computer Education Association, vendors,
breakout sessions and keynote speakers are available at the conferences to present
educational technology information to school teachers, paraprofessionals and school
administrators. For more information, call the School of Education & Human
Development at 361-570-4262.
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Giving Tree
The Student Government Association sponsors the Giving Tree each December to
encourage faculty, staff, students and community members to donate nonperishable
food, toys, clothing and other items to nonprofit organizations in Victoria. For
information, go to www.uhv.edu/president/special_events/tree.aspx
Hispanic Heritage Month Poster Contest
UHV sponsors an annual Hispanic Heritage Month Poster Contest in September with
Victoria College and the Victoria Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Council. The
contest’s first-place winner has his or her artwork featured on posters advertising
Victoria’s Hispanic Heritage Month events. The middle school winners are recognized at
the Hispanic Heritage Month Poster Contest Reception at UHV and receive college
scholarships. All contest entries are displayed in the UHV University Center during the
month. For more information, call 361-570-4865.
Letting Education Achieve Dreams (LEAD)
LEAD staff members connect primary and secondary school students to university
resources, information, activities and organizations. LEAD also supports student life and
welfare by hosting educational, cultural, and fundraising programs and events designed
to engage the community, increase UHV enrollment and provide scholarships for
students. LEAD staff members arrange campus tours and college presentations to allow
students to gain exposure to a college environment and learn the value of a college
education. LEAD staff also provides personalized application assistance to prospective
students, and information about ways to finance an education and available career
paths. For more information, visit www.uhv.edu/lead/ or call 361-570-4865.
Math & Computer Science Awareness Day
For the past sixteen years, Math and Computer Science Awareness Day, a
collaborative effort between UHV and Victoria College, has encouraged more than
2,000 students to explore careers in math and computer science. The program
continues to evolve each year in order to challenge students as technology becomes
more advanced. With robotics demonstrations and a chance to win their own robotics
kit, students are motivated to pursue careers in math and computer science. For more
information, go to mathcs.aiatuhv.com
Martin de León Symposium on the Humanities
The School of Arts & Sciences and the de León Club of Victoria present this morninglong symposium every year on Mexican American contributions to the humanities. It is
free and open to the public, and usually is held in April. For information, contact Beverly
Tomek at [email protected]
Nursing Forums
These forums are a way to invite the professional nursing community to UHV’s School
of Nursing. The forums offer up-to-date, evidenced-based information on nursing
practice to faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, alumni and the professional
nursing community for free (or a nominal fee). Participants learn about nursing research
topics of current interest in the settings where nurses work and care for patients.
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Graduate students are also able to present their evidence-based capstone projects to
participants. The Nursing Forums began with 11 participants and now have up to 75 in
attendance. The Fall Forum is held in Sugar Land, and the Spring Forum is held in
Victoria. The School of Nursing partners with the Sigma Theta Tau honor society, local
hospitals and professional nursing organizations (Texas Nurses Association, American
Nurses Association) to provide continuing education credits. For more information, call
the School of Nursing at 361-570-4370.
President’s Annual Report & Excellence Awards
Every fall, the UHV president invites area civic and business leaders to campus to
attend the President’s Annual Report & Excellence Awards. The event highlights the
university’s milestones and achievements the previous year and recognizes alumni,
community members and students who have made significant contributions to the
university. Faculty, staff, students and the wider community also can view the annual
report on a special website created each year at www.UHVAnnualReport.com
Provost’s Lecture Series
As part of UHV’s 40th anniversary celebration, the Provost’s Lecture Series was started
in January 2013 to bring more opportunities for scholarly discussion to the university.
The talks are free and open to the public. The first speaker was Wesley Hogan, an
author and professor at Virginia State University who is working on a book about Casey
Hayden, a Victoria resident who was one of the few white female leaders in the 1960s
civil rights movement. The series also has featured Douglas Foster, an associate
professor in the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism and author of
“After Mandela.” For more information, call the Provost’s Office at 361-570-4321.
Saturday Morning Book Break
English professor Dr. Cindy Schnebly hosts the Saturday Morning Book Break. This
group, which meets one Saturday morning each month during the academic year, was
organized in 1995 as a way to engage community members in conversations about
books. Though moderated by a faculty member, the book break’s goal is not about
teaching but rather about sharing a love of books through informal discussions.
Community members active in the group choose each year’s reading list. Selections
discussed range from current fiction and nonfiction to literary classics. For more
information, email [email protected].
Small Business Development Center
The SBDC provides an example of nontraditional opportunities for continuing education
that contribute significantly to the economic development of the community. It provides
quality comprehensive assistance to small businesses through one-on-one counseling
in all disciplines of business with a principle focus on management, marketing and
finance. As businesses face tough decisions such as starting or expanding, franchising,
leasing or buying, debt verses investment and more, they can look to the SBDC for
practical, up-to-date guidance. Financial analysis, market analysis, business planning
and loan packaging are a small part of the programs offered. Most services are free. For
more information, call 361-485-4485.
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Study Abroad
UHV has study abroad programs to China, Mexico, London, Spain and Taiwan. For
more information, go to www.uhv.edu/studyabroad/
Victoria Business & Education Coalition
Victoria Business and Education Coalition is an educational initiative created by the
University of Houston-Victoria, Victoria College, Victoria Independent School District,
Victoria Chamber Foundation and many area businesses and individuals. The goal of
the program is to assist with increasing the educational attainment level of the region
through mentoring and tutoring programs, business success seminars, career
exploration and more. Nearly 40 UHV faculty, staff and students recently volunteered by
mentoring students and giving presentations. For more information, go to
www.surebetvictoria.com
The Willis Group Lecture Series
The School of Business Administration hosts The Willis Group Distinguished Speaker
Series with lectures throughout the year given by business executives. The free lectures
are open to business students and the public. Past speakers include John Ragan, vice
president of NRG Energy; Michael T. Willis, chairman of The Willis Group; Jim Duncan,
chief analyst and commodity market strategist for ConocoPhillips; and Farouk Shami,
founder and chairman of Farouk Systems hair care company. For more information, call
the School of Business Administration at 800-687-4293.
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