Prepared Remarks
Tim Hudson
President, University of Houston-Victoria

Legislative Appropriations Request Hearing
Before Governor’s Office of the Budget and Legislative Budget Board
University of Houston-Victoria Presentation

Hilton University of Houston Hotel
September 14, 2004

  1. Profile – Who we are:

    UHV is one of 2 remaining upper-level/graduate institutions in the state

    • Serves mainly working adults, pursuing their degrees part time
      • Part-time - 70%
        Avg. student load – 7.3 sch
      • Graduate - 52%
        Undergrad – 44%
        PB – 4%
      • Black - 14%
        Hispanic - 15%
        Asian – 9%
      • Female - 68%
      • Average age - 32.7
      • High retention – 85+%
      • Enrollment (Fall 2003) – 2,411

    • Works in partnership with community colleges to provide convenient and affordable access to these place-bound students
      • Victoria College
      • Wharton County Junior College
      • Coastal Bend Community College
      • Houston Community College

    It is one of the most regionally dispersed institutions in the state

    • Offers courses and services on campus, at off-campus teaching centers, and online to students throughout the Houston-Victoria region

    • Responds to the following approximate distribution of students:
      • 25% from Victoria County
      • 25% from Fort Bend County
      • 25 % from Harris County
      • 25% from other counties in the region and beyond
        [Another way to say this is 50% from Victoria and surrounding region and 50% from suburban Houston]

    It is one of the most technology-intensive institutions in the state, in terms of using technology to deliver instruction and student services.

    • About 40% of our enrollments are now in online courses.
    • Our catalog, schedule, registration, financial aid, bill payment, and library access, and other services and activities are all online.

    In short: We have become more nearly a delivery system than a location, taking higher education to where the students are in ways that meet their needs and at prices they can afford.

  2. State goals -- What we contribute:

    UHV is helping to close the gaps

    • By offering a menu of quality, accredited academic programs, such as those that prepare teachers, appropriate to the needs of the Coastal Bend region
      • Successfully completed the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation for another 10-year period
      • Supply most of the teachers in the region as well as those in professional fields

    • By expanding access though off-campus and online offering of courses and services

    • By attempting to raise educational attainment and college-going rates through programs such as Letting Education Achieve Dreams (LEAD)

    • By keeping costs to students as low as possible
      • Through holding down tuition and fee increases (we did not raise our designated tuition for fall and made only very modest increases in other fees)
      • Through partnerships with community colleges, where students do their first two years, we can provide a bargain in a 4-year degree.
      • Through the use of Multi-Institutional Teaching Centers (MITC)
        • Savings to students in the form of travel time, gas savings, convenience, and flexible course schedules

    UHV is sparing state funds, realizing efficiencies through collaboration and partnerships with other institutions and community entities.

    • We share a library and other facilities and services with the Victoria College.

    • We collaborate with other community colleges and other UHS institutions at the off-campus teaching centers—where we share staff, equipment, classrooms, and maintenance and where we cooperate in the delivery of courses and programs.

    • The UH System raised more than two-thirds of the cost of constructing the current center in Sugar Land
      • Local and private foundation funding - $8 million
      • State funds - $3.5 million

    • The center at Cinco Ranch came as a gift.

    • We expect to raise at least half of the funding for an additional center building in Sugar Land and will be requesting the other half in TRB’s.

  3. The Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) – What we need:

    We believe these requests are in direct support of our mission of providing convenient and affordable access and of the state’s goals of increasing enrollments, realizing efficiencies, and enabling economic development.

    • Fully fund the formula.

    • Fully fund Institutional Enhancement and Excellence, recapturing the mandated 5% reduction.

    • Restore 100% coverage of the debt service on Tuition Revenue Bonds.

    • Fund our distinctive special items:

      • Regional Outreach – which includes our LEAD program directed at increasing participation rates especially among underserved populations and professional and community development
        • Currently    $262,500 yearly
        • Requesting    $450,000 FY2006    $450,000 FY2007

      • Nursing – Funding is needed if this program is approved. No need to dwell on the enormous need for nurses. This program is intended to respond to that need.
        • New program request    $400,000 FY2006    $450,000 FY2007

      • Center for Mexican-American Studies – This Center would offer concentrations in Mexican-American studies in its bachelor’s degree in humanities and master’s degree. It would also sponsor research in Mexican-American culture and quality of life issues.
        • New program request    $200,000 FY 2006    $200,000 FY 2007

    • Fund our Tuition Revenue Bond (TRB) requests:

      • For a new UH System at Sugar Land building at one-half the projected cost. We will raise the rest. This is a great deal for the people of Texas.
        • $15,000,000 (50%) from other funds
        • $15,000,000 (50%) TRB bonding authority request

      • For an economic development building in Victoria to house our SBDC and Professional Development entities, Chamber of Commerce, Regional Planning Commission, and others promoting economic development. This regional center will act as a catalyst to promote dialogue, coordination of current and future development efforts, and a collaborative approach to regional economic development. All partners will contribute to the cost and maintenance of the building. Again we will raise a portion of the cost and so another great deal for the people of Texas.
        • $1,420,000 (26%) from other funds
        • $4,020,000 (74%) TRB bonding authority request

      • Student and Administrative Support building , which will allow for the expansion of student services, administrative support, instructional and academic support areas.
        • $5,336,000 TRB bond authority request

Conclusion:

Overall, UHV is asking to be able to continue its tradition of creatively leveraging state resources to enhance access to higher education opportunities for all of the citizens of the greater Houston-Victoria region.