UHV President Delivers Annual Community Address
At the event entitled “Stepping up to the Plate” in celebration of UHV’s inaugural athletics program, Hudson and guest speakers expressed how the concerted efforts of the community and UHV enabled another banner year for the university as it continues to reach record enrollments and to meet the needs of the region.
“The title of this year’s annual report is clearly an allusion to our excitement about the new athletics program,” Hudson said. “But it also refers to the many community and individual collaborations that support us as we evolve into a university of choice.”
The following individuals attended the event as guest speakers:
Rep. Geanie Morrison, (R-District 30) and Chair of the House Committee on Higher Education; David White, Director of ICU/Telemetry at Brazosport Regional Health System and BSN graduate candidate; Kristen Lindley, UHV student and Jaguar pitcher; Dorothy Alcorn, UHV supporter, alumna and former UH System Regent; and Adrian Cannady, Vice President of Marketing at the Victoria Economic Development Corporation and UHV student pursuing the Master of Science of Economic Development and Entrepreneurship.
“It was a pleasure to partner with UHV and to participate in the annual report,” Cannady said. “It’s clear that the University of Houston-Victoria’s commitment to enhance the quality of life is strong and getting stronger with the help of the community.”
Regent Morgan Dunn O'Connor brought greetings on behalf of the University of Houston System Board of Regents. UHV is one of four degree-granting institutions that comprise that system.
To recognize the power of partnerships and excellence in service, Hudson conferred a number of awards. Becca Garcia and Josie Rivera accepted the Community Partnership Award on behalf of the Latina Forum for that organization’s efforts to elevate college attendance among the Hispanic population. Delores White, the current Student Senate President at UHV, received the Student Leadership Award for her leadership role in numerous student organizations and for her outstanding academic performance.
In addition, Dr. Sandy Venneman, associate professor of biology and psychology, was recognized with the Enron Teaching Excellence Award for her teaching efforts. Dr. Harold Smith, professor in the school of arts and sciences, was honored with the Research and Scholarly Activity Award, and Dr. Hsin-Hui Lin, professor in the School of Education and Human Development, was recognized with the Faculty Service Award for making positive contributions to the community. Also, Mary Mahan, chosen from a pool of monthly winners, received the Employee of the Year Award.
UHV’s success in addressing the community’s needs and providing students with enhanced opportunities were highlighted in the annual report including:
- UHV conceived and inaugurated an athletics program, selected two talented head coaches; joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, chose a mascot; and recruited players from throughout Texas and the region for its men''s baseball and women''s softball teams all in less than a year.
- The legislature gave UHV $1.1 million special item funding to help launch its graduate nursing program.
- The Princeton Review and Fortune Small Business Magazine placed UHV’s School of Business Administration’s graduate programs among the tops in the US for e-schools for minorities and entrepreneurs.
- The American Book Review Reading Series, by hosting award-winning authors from around the world, brought a new cultural element to the area and fostered additional community involvement by including the public and local high school students in author events and readings.
- The School of Arts & Sciences kept pace with the “digital age” by introducing a digital gaming concentration to the BAAS Program, and, to address the need for more Spanish speakers, the School also developed a new Spanish program for the spring.
- The School of Business Administration signed partnership agreements with institutions in China, Mexico and Spain to offer students in these countries the opportunity to earn the Global MBA from UHV.
- UHV implemented the Master Mathematics Teacher Certification Program and the School Leadership Pilot Program to help produce high-quality educators and administrators in the region’s schools.
- UHV created more Web-based services for students, staff and faculty such as UHVconnect, a virtual online community for students and alumni, eSmart, which allows the university staff to access online learning resources; and the $300,000 bandwidth expansion increasing web speeds by a factor of 100.
"UHV is in the midst of a period of unprecedented growth and development," Hudson said. "We are grateful to all of our supporters who are stepping up to the plate to help make this university the very best it can be."
To view the 2006-2007 President’s Annual Report, please visit http://www.uhv.edu/car/06-07_annual_report.asp
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.
