University of Houston–Victoria
Restoration of Ten Percent Reduction
(New Item)
Description and Justification
UH–Victoria has taken the mandated 10% reductions primarily from the university’s institutional enhancement funds, Small Business Development Center, and Center for Regional Outreach. The reductions cut into the heart of what the UHV is attempting to accomplish for this region of the state, that being to increase the educational attainment rate through awareness, additional programs, increased online delivery, and continued high quality programs. The reduction also will hinder UHV’s ability to meet the needs of those Texans who may wish to start a small business or may be struggling to continue their business.
Requested |
||||
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
||
| Worker’s Compensation Insurance | 8,769 |
8,769 |
1 |
|
| Excellence Funding | 25,530 |
25,530 |
1 |
|
| Center for Regional Outreach | 74,813 |
74,813 |
1 |
|
| Small Business Development Center | 39,100 |
102,439 |
1 |
|
| Institutional Enhancement | 104,211 |
102,439 |
1 |
|
| Total | $252,423 |
$250,651 |
||
Excellence Funding
(Existing Item)
Reflects mandated reduction in General Revenue.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $255,301 |
$255,301 |
$229,771 |
$229,771 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | $25,530 |
$25,530 |
1 |
||
| New Request | |||||
| Total | $255,301 |
$255,301 |
$255,301 |
$255,301 |
|
Center for Regional Outreach
(Existing Item)
Description and Justification
UHV seeks funding to continue the Regional Outreach efforts to raise the educational attainment level of underrepresented populations in seven of the fifteen counties UHV serves. UHV currently receives $249,375 per year in special item funding. The University also allocated $103,285 for FY 2004, $111,263 for FY2005, and $60,033 for FY2006. Validation of the effectiveness of these strategies is evidenced by the University’s receipt of two awards (the ATCU 2001 “Excellence in Higher Education Award” and the THECB “Star Award” finalist) in recognition of Regional Outreach’s Letting Education Achieve Dreams (LEAD).
With current funding, Regional Outreach has identified barriers underrepresented groups are facing in pursuit of education and implemented effective strategies to overcome these barriers. These strategies include presenting an awareness presentation on the importance of post-secondary education to approximately 50 groups; gaining the commitment of approximately 100 people to create a Human Capital Planning Team to address these barriers; sending college ambassadors to schools to talk with 10,000 P–12th grade students about the importance of and accessibility to college; hosting 2,000 students for college visits; beginning 11 mentoring programs which have linked approximately 90 at–risk students with trained mentors; initiated a parent/adult involvement program; and, creating partnerships with schools and community groups. Additionally, Regional Outreach has provided academic support courses, professional development courses, and certification programs.
Factors Impacting Strategy
State, university, local, and private funding have made the current efforts successful as evidenced above. Without continuation of this funding, efforts may need to be abandoned, leaving a void since no other comprehensive program exists in the region to address the severe shortfall in educational attainment, a primary goal of the State’s “Closing the Gaps” initiative.
UHV’s service region produces college graduates at half the rate of Texas, and Texas ranks in the lowest quartile of the nation. Without an educated work force, technology – based employers will not locate in the UHV service region. The tax base will erode and increased spending for prisons, welfare, and Medicaid will result. Human potential will be lost.
UHV has committed resources to identify the barriers underrepresented groups face in educational pursuits, has structured its Regional Outreach unit to mobilize efforts to address those barriers, and has gained commitment from faculty, staff, students, independent school districts (ISD’s), community groups, economic developers, businesses, and volunteer citizens to work collaboratively to address the barriers citizens face in pursuing higher education.
The mandated reduction will have a significant impact in lowering the number of staff by 33%, thus decreasing the impact UHV can have on the area in the State’s “Closing the Gaps.”
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $249,375 |
$249,375 |
$174,562 |
$174,562 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | $74,813 |
$74,813 |
1 |
||
| New Request | |||||
| Total | $249,375 |
$249,375 |
$249,375 |
$249,375 |
|
Small Business Development Center
(Existing Item)
Description and Justification
The UHV Small Business Development Center was established in 1985 through an agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This partnership between the university and the SBA requires a one–on–one match from the grantee institution. The SBDC’s central focus is providing quality assistance to the small business community by increasing growth and survivability. The UHV SBDC accomplishes its mission by providing service in areas that include: one–on–one business counseling, business – related workshops and seminars, contract procurement, international trade, technology development and commercialization, and business specialist referrals. The UHV SBDC also provides agribusiness/agricultural assistance to meet the needs of its 11 rural counties.
Since January of 2000, the UHV SBDC has created over 100 new businesses, creating over 500 jobs. During this same time frame, the center has met with 2,977 distinct clients, and has spent 27,415 project hours working to obtain over $45.3 million in new capital for 148 distinct clients. In addition, the UHV SBDC presented 345 training events with 5,413 attendees.
Factors Impacting Strategy
The mandated reduction will have a significant impact on lowering the current number of counselors which will decrease the number of potential new businesses and jobs recreated in this region. The State will not realize additional tax revenue because businesses were not created due to a shortage of counselors.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $195,500 |
$195,500 |
$156,400 |
$156,400 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | $39,100 |
$39,100 |
1 |
||
| New Request | |||||
| Total | $195,500 |
$195,500 |
$195,500 |
$195,500 |
|
Institutional Enhancement
(Existing Item)
Description and Justification
Reflects mandated reduction in General Revenue. This reduction inhibits UHV’s ability to meet “Closing the Gaps.”
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $1,728,386 |
$1,726,614 |
$1,624,175 |
$1,624,175 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | $104,211 |
$102,439 |
1 |
||
| New Request | |||||
| Total | $1,728,386 |
$1,726,614 |
$1,728,386 |
$1,726,614 |
|
Worker’s Compensation Insurance
(Existing Item)
Description and Justification
Reflects mandated reduction in General Revenue.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $87,696 |
$87,696 |
$77,627 |
$77,627 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | $8,769 |
$8,769 |
1 |
||
| New Request | |||||
| Total | $87,696 |
$87,696 |
$86,396 |
$86,396 |
|
Tuition Revenue Bond Retirement
(Existing Item)
Description and Justification
To fund the debt service of $2,852,280 per year on $31,419,400 of tuition revenue bond projects previously approved by House Bill 153 during the 79th legislature 3rd called session.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | $1,695,787 |
$1,697,558 |
$1,688,130 |
$1,681,744 |
|
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | |||||
| New Request | $2,852,280 |
$2,852,280 |
2 |
||
| Total | $1,695,787 |
$1,697,558 |
$4,540,410 |
$4,534,024 |
|
Master’s Degree in Nursing
(New Item)
Description and Justification
UHV has created an RN – BSN program which was initiated in Fall 2006, following approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Board of Nurse Examiners. While this program will provide more BSN nurses in our community, it does not directly affect the existing and growing nursing shortage. UHV now plans on creating a generic master’s program which will recruit individuals with a baccalaureate degree in any discipline, who wish to become registered nurses. This accelerated program will provide the basic education needed by students to pass the NCLEX licensure exam. They will then have the opportunity to remain in the program to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). A provision will also be made for students to exit the program at this point with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This innovative program will quickly produce more nurses to help meet the demand for nurses and will provide potential faculty as they complete the MSN program. The program will be developed during the 2006 – 2007 academic year with the goal of accepting students in the Fall of 2007. To staff this program, UHV will need additional staff, faculty and materials.
Factors Impacting Strategy
The nursing shortage is critical. One market which has not been developed is the group of individuals who have baccalaureate degrees, but are interested in becoming registered nurses. The community college programs are unlikely to attract these students, since they already have a baccalaureate degree. However, an accelerated program of this type is likely to be very attractive and will provide an influx of individuals into the nursing workforce.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | |||||
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | |||||
| New Request | $600,000 |
$500,000 |
3 |
||
| Total | $600,000 |
$500,000 |
|||
UHS Off – Campus Initiative Support
(New Item)
Providing comprehensive service to the Houston metropolitan area requires the UH System universities expand their operations in high demand communities in our region. This cannot be done, however, without an investment of significant resources for program and infrastructure development, operations (e.g., facilities, information technology) and administration. In 1995, the UHS universities began the UH System at Sugar Land, a multi – institution teaching center (MITC) that has proven to be both cost – efficient and effective in serving the higher education needs of the region. In 2001 the UHS universities opened the UH System at Cinco Ranch where over 30 baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in business, education, information systems and the humanities are now being offered. In FY08 and FY09 the UH System universities will continue development of their off – campus programs through a new building in Sugar Land and the development of new teaching centers in regions of the Houston metropolitan area with significant demand for higher education services based on growth in population, community college enrollments, and jobs. In addition, a teaching center is open at the Texas Medical Center, where there are over 60,000 employees and member organizations that have indicated a strong desire to provide higher education opportunities to their employees on the Medical Center campus. Exceptional item funding would provide the resources needed to develop and operate these new enterprises, which will expand access to higher education in the Houston metropolitan area.
Factors Impacting Strategy
By 2015, the UH System estimates enrollment system – wide to be 70,000 to 75,000 students. This is in line with forecast population growth in our region (1.4 million persons over the next decade), as well as goals articulated by the state (in “Closing the Gaps”) and our own board of regents. The UH System will not be able to accommodate this level of enrollment growth solely on its existing campuses. We have neither the facilities/infrastructure to do so, nor will constraints of geography, time, traffic, and work and family responsibilities allow all students in need of our services to attend college at one of our principal campuses. In addition, the funding needed to build new universities (e.g., faculty, administration, facilities, etc.) in areas of high enrollment demand will not be available.
Therefore, if the University of Houston System is to meet its ambitious enrollment goals in the most cost effective ways possible, we must develop new teaching centers in high demand parts of our metropolitan area. In doing so, we eliminate the need to create entire faculties and administrations separate from our existing universities, and we bring our academic programs to the areas where they are needed most.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | |||||
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | |||||
| New Request | $2,000,000 |
$2,000,000 |
4 |
||
| Total | $2,000,000 |
$2,000,000 |
|||
Research Center for On – line Learning
(New Item)
Description and Justification
Realizing that our economy and quality of life depend on raising the educational attainment level of its citizenry, Texas has set ambitious goals for increasing its college going rates. Technology will play an increasing role in achieving these goals at an affordable cost, particularly in online delivery of courses. As we increase the usage of this instructional delivery method, there is a need for accompanying research to assess its effectiveness and identify best practices. UHV requests funding for a Research Center for Online Learning that will produce this research, along with disseminating its findings to the universities and community colleges in Texas informing those in higher education of the most effective online methods to achieve student learning.
Factors Impacting Strategy
The need for sound research to assess online teaching is increasing as this form of instruction becomes the preferred method in many settings. Many are using online instruction, but without benefit of guidance as to what techniques are the most effective. Additionally, there are many who would use online instruction if they had training in the best pedagogy related to this teaching style. UHV has been a leader in online delivery of courses and, with funding, can be a leader in our region and state in the research needed to assess and improve the online learning experience.
Appropriated |
Requested |
||||
FY06 |
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
Priority |
|
| Base Dollar Funding | |||||
| Exceptional Funding | |||||
| 10% Recapture | |||||
| New Request | $350,000 |
$350,000 |
5 |
||
| Total | $350,000 |
$350,000 |
|||
