@Writein I agree with you. I'm not suggesting they build or develop off site. I am encouraging growth at the current location. I ask some of the same questions you do.

Brady.

Can you please answer these questions.

1) How come the membership of the Crossroads Commission on education are from Victoria and not the entire crossroads area?

2) How come the "powers-to-be" want to build on UHV, when there's no tax base?

3) Have anyone on the commission consider the harm and ill effects from State Rep. Morrison's HB 3015 as part of the problem in higher eduation?

JackDuece.....pay attention. Build and develop right where you are. Yes build facilities that accomodate and prove measuarble growth right where you are. Read what I post, not what you think I'm posting.

Grow what you have, take advantage of the buildings and space that currently exist right where you are. Partner with VC and expand your facilities. Sorry folks, hate to be the bearer of bad news, but UHV has ample room to build and accomodate more than enough students for years to come. UHV has been in existence since 1973 and has about 300 students, ok maybe 500 students, that are mainly "online". Build right where you are, and quit crying. You do not have the numbers or the proof to support any of these bogus request.

Crossroads Commission on Education = Neo Feudalism !!!!!!!!!

Ms Morrison's statement said it all..
Morrison did not return a phone call Friday afternoon. Justin Unruh, Morrison's chief of staff, said she did not have enough time to review the results but she would "work with the community to do what needs to be done to have a vibrant destination university."

She did not have time to read ALL THOSE SURVEYS.SHE WAS TOO
BUSY WORKING ON IMPORTANT LEGISLATION LIKE MANDITORY SONOGRAMS. WHAT A LAZY REP!

The nursing program initiative had started even before Hudson was hired. He just happened to be at the right place at the right time to take credit. While Victoria seems to be talking as if they had grown, the growth is only in Sugar Land. Look at the face to face class sizes at UHV in Victoria. You can see for yourself. If the community wants the money generated elsewhere, students who pay tuition in Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch deserve much better facilities than the $71 million being spent in Victoria. Who are these people who are going to benefit out of this? The travel money and booze money that comes out this growth for the senior UHV administrators to go on a globe trot? Give me a break. It is good thing that Hudson was removed. So should all the administrators who were hired by him to get a clean governance here. Otherwise Ole' Miss will rule Ole' Victoria

VICAD, you should be embarrassed with that article title.

144 responses constitutes a 'community' ?

Seems like Victoria has lots of issues - mall, level of poverty has risen, etc. Cuero has a marathon open to State participants and Victoria does not, Cuero has the Turkey Trot and a huge Christmas celebration open to the public - what's wrong with this town - how does it promote itself? A survey with only a 17.3% return is pathetic - writers are correct - that repesents only approximately 144 people? Wow? Where were the other universities when UH decided to gamble with opening UH in Victoria? Victorians, don't let a few individuals make the really huge decisions for your town! Promote your town by first making sure your elected officials make better decisions which will affect your town for a very long time! And, by the way, how many people voted to elect your current officials?

As usual the negative commentators are out. The survey was available to the public to download and a mailing address was in the original article (link below). In the original article some people could not understand how to open and print a PDF so someone from the advocate posted in the comments how to open a pdf. The link works now and worked then too. I downloaded and mailed it the day it came out. Simple process

Do a little research instead of just complaining.

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/...

What survey? They kept that pretty quiet.

"More than half of people who answered talked about specific university systems. Three out of four people in that group looked to realign with another system. "

So that would be about 75% of about 50% of 173 respondents, or about 64 out of a total of 173 respondents.

And, if I may, I would imagine that a majority of the 64 people would like nothing better than that the "other system" would have maroon as a school color and a Corp of Cadets.

radiobabe, I'm sorry but I think the system has told the UHV administration exactly where they stand and what their plans are. I'm confused at your claim. They are prepared to help expand at the current location.
@radiobabe again: Please explain your statement?

"Proof can be found in the ridiculous growth proposal they submitted a few months ago to address the lack of facilities issues UHV will shortly be facing." What is "shortly"? How do you come to this conclusion? There are only a handful of students that attend face to face classes in Victoria so I guess I don't get where all these so-called "projections" are coming from? When UHV develops the programs they claim to be headed towards, and makes "real" progress towards filling their hallways and classrooms with students, I'll buy into a future growth plan, but until then it's completely unwarranted. The current buildings are almost like a ghost town. You hardly ever find their hallways bustling with students.

Also, why hasn't UHV partnered with VC to start building common facilities? Your athletic teams don't even have locker rooms, a gym, weight room and this list goes on and on and on. UHV has done nothing to address the lack of fine arts facilities, athletic facilities, additional science labs, and many other critical needs that is crucial when trying to attract a sizeable student base. I couldn't even begin to imagine what it's like for the coaches on staff to have to try and recruit first class athletes at this place. I have always wanted to ask the coaches what the current administration has done to meet the needs of the student athlete? I have heard stories that UHV has tried to pass off VC facilities as being their own when showing prospective recruits around campus. My suggestion is to take care and build where your at, and in 10 or 20 years when the real need arises, have a plan and then be ready to move forward with building a new campus.

BigDogDaddy shared some relevant information about the return rate of surveys: "[A] 15 percent return rate for surveys is considered to be normal. The fact that a little over 17 percent of the surveys were returned should be applauded."

I'd still like to know to whom the surveys were sent. If the surveys were sent to people who were expected to support cutting off the University of Houston, I'd say a 15% return is pretty bad.

An open and honest dialogue would be wonderful in this situation. Unfortunately, UH System isn't interested in openess, honesty or, for that matter, in even having a dialogue. Anyone who has followed the growth and development of UHV over the last few years can see that UH System has been unsupportive to growth efforts, put incredible roadblocks in front of the 4 year university project and, most importantly, has said one thing while they do another. Proof can be found in the ridiculous growth proposal they submitted a few months ago to address the lack of facilities issues UHV will shortly be facing. They proposed putting a parking structure in a location that will adversely affect the surrounding neighborhoods and proposed new buildings on land that is owned by Victoria College... oh, and they didn't even consult VC before making this proposal. To add insult to injury, they "reassigned" the person most responsible for UHV's current growth a few weeks before classes started. That was a slap in the face to Dr. Hudson and the many community leaders who worked so hard for UHV to become a 4-year institution.

I would love to see all sides sit down and discuss, but you can't have serious negotiations when one side is just going through the motions without having any intentions of following through.

It's time for a change Victoria!

As a former member of UHV president's advisory council, I am opposed to leaving the UH system. The commission should look for common ground with the system and work towards those ends.

First, the city needs to fix Red River and Ben Wilson streets and improve the crossings at Houston Hwy. where the new UHV dorms are located.

UHV has been a great partner in the educational opportunities offered to Victoria and surrounding region for over 25 years. In the last 10 years, we have seen dramatic expansions of athletic and degree programs. UHV has received many nationally recognized awards, lower division expansion, new buildings, and a steady but moderate growth of students and we should be proud of their accomplishments.

A few local folks are not satisfied with the UH system. I question these folks rationale and most of all the location of the new proposed campus. There are special interests at work here and we should be concern and skeptical.

More importantly, while I respect the Crossroads Commission's work on a long-term plan for UHV, the plan is premature in its timing, location and it is irresponsible to make threats, by some of its members, and suggest we find another system to take over UHV.

While there have been prominent voices speak in favor of this threat to seek a different system, I cannot support or condone this position or reasonably argue for this plan in light of the economy, the need or justification for expansion, or support the self-serving development interests involved.

Where were these voices 5, 10, 20, even 30 years ago when UHV was busy developing and growing into a first class university?

Again, work with the system in arriving at a long-term plan and please act like adults.

First and foremost everyone must understand that the state leg. has a mandate to cut somewhere in the neighborhood of $22-$30 billion dollars in this next state budget cycle. It is no seceret whatsoever that public education and higher education are among the first to be cut. It's been announced and plans have been put in place. There is NO WAY on earth that any legislator in their right mind would approve a switch to another system. At least not in this legislative session, so the 100 or so "community leaders" that are pushing this ridiculous notion can hang that thought up.

Furthermore, as someone who still is involved with the University here is what needs to happen, before an expansion ever occurs:

1.) There must be a noticeable growth of student enrolmment this year. Estimates suggest somewhere between 6-10%. I'm only talking about students walking the hallways, and signing dorm leases in Victoria, not Sugarland or Cinco Ranch. Those two locations will show this growth, so we only need to look at Victoria.

2.) The housing situation must be improved (greatly) and expanded before anyone will ever consider expansion.

3.) UHV must expand their programs and develop their university at the curent site. That's a no brainer. Cant build, expand off-site, or change systems without proving first that the need is there. News flash folks : There is not a system one in this state that would absorb this university without proven necessity. Not one single institution will invest on a hope and a prayer, and certainly not because a handful of business owners who stand to get rich on the deal "say so". Just not going to happen.

4.) UHV must open the their search for property to every land owner in this county. Have a competitive bid process for property. There are plenty of land owners that I have visited with that would love a shot at giving portions of property to the system. Why are we lining the pockets of this one particular land owner? And yes, although it's being called a "donation" we are lining the pockets of many, in more ways than anyone could ever imagine.

Lastly, I would love to hear from the University of Houston's current administration. What is being done on their end? What avenues are they aggressively seeking? What does their future's plan look like? It's just strange that Chamber of Commerce leaders, city government officials, and local business owners have assummed the role as official spokes person for the University administration.

Another fine example of bias in reporting by the Advocate. A valid survey would have used a sampling technique rather than a mailing to its supporters. Secondly if anonymous responses had been possilbe the return rate might have been better (who wants to single themselves out for harrassment?)

At this time, or for that matter at any time, the first assessment should be of need. Given the enrollment figures for UHV at the Victoria Campus one must truly question the fundamental need for a four year institution regardless of whether it is under UH or any other system.

Thank goodness that calmer, more rational thinkingat UH System has prevailed a bit over the empire building of a former President of UH and his fellow travelers.

I will commend the reporter for including Kay Walker's enlightened views.

"The message is clear". Yes, Mr. Mayor, it is.

If you don't go along with the city "leaders" plans to develop their "friends" property at taxpayer expense, we will become attempt to run you out of town and find a willing accomplice to our scheme.

Just to share a little about surveys and statistics in general, a 15 percent return rate for surveys is considered to be normal. The fact that a little over 17 percent of the surveys were returned should be applauded. It probably represents more than the total voter turnout for the last general election and a heck of a lot better reponse than is received on bond elections in general.

Let's see if I can sort this out in my limited mind... Victoria's officials pounce on the glorious findings of a survey that has a 17.3% response rate (1,000 surveys send, 173 responders) and herald it as a call to change to another university system.

It's seems to me that the virtuous committee and city-county government is generalizing the results to the totality of the county resident population. Such generalizations perhaps would not stand up to rigorous empirical analysis.

Furthermore, it would be beneficial and enlightening for residents to view and address questions related to the survey design, survey items, and its construct validity.

Unfortunately, this ill-advised and narrow way of thinking is one of the reasons I left Victoria over 33 years ago to pursue three advanced degrees at out-of-state institutions.

I respect those who have attended and received degrees from the UHV and strongly suggest that its current students and alumni have a voice.

Victoria residents, please for your community's vitality hold your leaders accountable. I have family who still reside in the city/county and hope that its residents recognize questionable leadership practices.

Dr. C

The headline reads, "Survey shows community wants university system other than UH". Actually, it should read "Survey shows only 144 people want university system other than UH".

"Mayor Will Armstrong, who sits on the commission and supports realigning the school, said the next step is clear. "The only thing that we can do is to try to align ourselves with another university system," he said."

144 yes votes is not a mandate, Mayor Armstrong! This was the same thinking that allowed our schools to be consolidated. Ten years later, a small handful voted to finance the bonds for the new schools.

And for the record, I did participate in the survey. Did the rest of you?

I wish I had received one of those surveys. As a graduate of the University of Houston in Houston, and the recipient of a Master's degree at UH - Victoria, I think my input might be worth at least as much as VEDC members' input.