UHV chosen as the best college in Katy by newspaper poll
KATY – The University of Houston-Victoria got some welcome news two months before offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees at a new location in Katy.
UHV was voted by readers of the Katy Times as the Best College in Katy. The designation appeared June 23 in a magazine inserted into the Katy Times newspaper.
UHV currently offers a number of degree programs in Katy at two locations and at UH Sugar Land. Starting in August, UHV is consolidating its Greater Houston teaching sites to one Katy location at 2002 W. Grand Parkway N. The Grandway West Building 2 will serve as a temporary location for about three years until a permanent UH System teaching center is constructed nearby.
“The timing of this recognition could not be any better,” said Don Smith, UHV interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We are fully committed to serving the Katy area for years to come with plans now finalized for a temporary and permanent location. To hear we already are well regarded by readers of this publication is rewarding, especially considering we are bringing even more programs to Katy this fall.”
More than 37,000 total votes were cast in all Best of Katy categories. UHV will receive a banner and a plaque. It will be displayed on the third floor of the new building, where UHV will have classes and offices.
UHV has collaborated with Houston Community College for the past four years, offering classes at HCC Northwest, 1550 Foxlake Drive in Katy.
In fall 2012, UHV signed a reverse articulation agreement with HCC. This allows HCC students who transfer to UHV to complete their associate degree by taking UHV courses. The same classes also count toward earning a UHV bachelor’s degree. Program-to-program articulation agreements – also known as 2+2’s – across a range of degrees currently are in progress.
“We’ve had a successful partnership with Houston Community College and are now engaged in collaborative efforts to strengthen that partnership in the interest of better serving students and the Katy community,” Smith said. “These efforts should bear fruit as we move more programs and personnel into Katy. Students accustomed to going to class at HCC Northwest will not have to travel far to pursue their bachelor’s degree, and we hope that many of them will.”
The UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development has offered its undergraduate curriculum and instruction program at HCC Northwest the past few years and Master of Education degrees at UH Sugar Land. Several Katy-area students have earned the degree and gone on to become educators.
“The Katy area has grown so much in recent years, and there was a clear need for a bachelor’s-level teacher preparation program,” said Fred Litton, dean of the UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development. “Now, we’ll be able to offer teacher education programs and advanced educator certifications and degrees.”
The UHV School of Business Administration and UHV School of Arts & Sciences have offered courses at the UH System at Cinco Ranch in Katy and UH Sugar Land for a number of years. Both will offer more degree programs at the new Katy location.
Litton said the recognition from the Katy Times will further raise awareness about UHV.
“Being voted the top college in Katy will be good for our campus presence,” Litton said. “We have a convenient location and a lot of affordable degrees that will be enticing to students.”
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
