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Switch of UHV to A&M System has some local opposition

Morgan O'Connor
  • Sonny Long •
  • Originally published March 8, 2011 at 6:09 p.m., updated March 8, 2011 at 10:15 p.m.

Not everyone in Victoria is thrilled with the proposed change from the University of Houston-Victoria to a possible affiliation with Texas A&M University.

Morgan Dunn O'Connor and Kay Kerr Walker are former members of the University of Houston System Board of Regents who oppose the move.

"It's unfortunate that this is how Victoria chooses to treat a long-time partner," said O'Connor, a Victoria native. "With all due respect to the A&M System, this is a terrible development for students at UHV."

O'Connor, a former chair of the UH Board of Regents, is also concerned that degree programs offered through the University of Houston System will suffer if the college enters the A&M System.

"Many degree programs that are popular here are offered only by the UH System and not by UHV," she said.

She added that it will take a long time for any other system to build up courses and programs that the UH System has offered here the last 37 years.

O'Connor served on the University of Houston System board of regents from 1999 until 2008.

Walker, who served on the UH System board from 1993 to 1999, also took a strong stance against the change.

"In my opinion, a change of system could interrupt and risk the destination university we so desperately need for our population and the Victoria community," she said. "I have not read the bill, but I do not want anything to jeopardize higher education in Victoria and the surrounding area. The filing of this bill certainly has that potential.

"A question that must be answered unequivocally is whether Texas A&M System is willing to take UHV without the Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch centers.

"The UH System has provided quality higher education in our region for 37 years and in my opinion remains committed to that end," continued Walker.

"UHV is growing as a destination university and anticipating a much larger class for the upcoming school year - providing the student support, housing, counseling, and education necessary for students to succeed academically," she said. "This university is ideally located and positioned to meet the needs of the human resources our state so desperately needs."