UHV celebrates passage of historic milestone
Print- •
-
Share
- Share this item
-
Grab the link
Copy and paste the link:
- Blog about it
- Close
- •
-
3 Comments
- •
Favorite- •
-
Print
- •
-
Share
- Share this item
-
Grab the link
Copy and paste the link:
- Blog about it
- Close
- •
-
3 Comments
- •
- Favorite
- •
WHAT'S NEXT
Gov. Rick Perry has 10 days to sign House Bill 1056 by Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria. The bill will expand the University of Houston-Victoria into a four-year institution.
UHV President Tim Hudson and the Task Force Committee for ...
- SHOW ALL »
WHAT'S NEXT
Gov. Rick Perry has 10 days to sign House Bill 1056 by Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria. The bill will expand the University of Houston-Victoria into a four-year institution.
UHV President Tim Hudson and the Task Force Committee for Implementation of Downward Expansion will meet Wednesday morning to review plans of implementation.
Within 10 days, Perry has the option to sign or veto the bill, or to let it become law without his signature.
Gov. Rick Perry's signature is all that's left for the University of Houston-Victoria to become a four-year institution.
House Bill 1056 by Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria, took its final legislative leap forward Tuesday when the Senate approved the bill. Perry is expected to sign the bill, which met no opposition in its journey through the legislature.
If Perry signs it, UHV will begin recruiting and enrolling freshmen and sophomores for the fall of 2010, UHV President Tim Hudson said.
"We stand on the eve of the single biggest event in the history of UHV since its founding more than 35 years ago," Hudson said. "We're almost to our goal of creating a true destination university in this wonderful location, and we never could have come this far without such strong and consistent advocacy."
Hudson credits the hard work and determination of community members, UHV faculty, staff, students, state representatives and senators for passing the bill through legislation.
Identical bills by Morrison and Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, helped to move legislation quickly through the Senate and House of Representatives.
"Today marks a significant step forward in turning a vision, that so many have worked toward over the past several years, into a reality by making UHV a four-year university," Hegar said.
Hudson was named president in 2004 and shortly after began efforts to make UHV a four-year institution.
He appointed several in-house committees to examine benefits and challenges of such a move and how it would affect UHV's future.
"I look forward to the day that the governor signs the bill and UHV can achieve and become a destination university," Hudson said.
The expansion will offer more courses. Professors and instructors will be hired as needed, he said.
"We will continue to work with Victoria College through this transition and continue to expand the programs we have," Hudson said. "If we succeed, we will need more faculty and space."
Department chairs and deans are working to put together core courses for the first two years, he said.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has examples of core courses for the university to draw from, Hudson said.
"We will be a good viable option for students in the region, San Antonio, Austin and Houston," he said. "This will be a smaller city where they are welcomed and a university where they will be pioneers."
UHV was created at a time when upper-division universities were established to provide access to bachelor's and master's degrees by offering junior, senior and graduate-level courses, Morrison said.
"Along with the outstanding educational opportunities provided by Victoria College, the enactment of HB 1056 will greatly enhance our ability to attract the best and brightest students from around the state and hopefully encourage resident and non-resident students to join our local workforce," Morrison said.
She also credits the outpouring of community support for getting the bill through legislation.
"Our community and local leaders should be commended for their actions and support to afford the people of South Texas the educational opportunities that will allow them to better their future," Morrison said. "The downward expansion of the University of Houston-Victoria is a tremendous leap forward in our efforts to produce the educated workforce that will attract business and industry to our area, especially in critical shortage fields."
Related story: UHV staff, community members celebrate news together
Comments
I agree with Vox. The demand hasn't been here, at least that is the message from business owners who have not opened any such businesses.
A couple of things need to happen. Downtown Victoria can easily become the entertainment center of a "College Town Victoria" if city council and others encourage development and investment.
This will mean supporting bars and restaurants and helping establishments get their beer and liquor permits.
Downtown could also be a shopping mecca. Trendy clothing stores and boutiques, vintage clothing stores, stores that hit certain college demo niches can also establish themselves and do well. But they must be central to the city and close enough to the university.
Pushing them to the fringes of the city will not work.
If the student base increases we should also see more housing options and newer, better, and more energy efficient housing as well.
Currently, a 900 sq. foot apartment can cost as much to heat, cool and power as a 2,000 sq. foot house.
The influx of students will also fill the demand for service type jobs (waitstaff, retail help) and hopefully those that graduate from UHV will stick around for longer than their 4 years and become our next leaders and visionaries.
May 27, 2009 at 9:06 a.m.With the arrival of traditional college students comes more opportunity for businesses that focus on entertainment. There may not be much to do around here now, but I expect that will begin to change. FINALLY!
May 27, 2009 at 7:56 a.m."Hudson said. "We're almost to our goal of creating a true destination university in this wonderful location,"
Honestly, what is there here in Victoria that makes this a wonderful location for traditional aged university students? What are the students, who are theoretically going to move here from out of town, supposed to do when they are not in class or studying?
May 27, 2009 at 7:32 a.m.