History In the decade of the 60’s, it became obvious to the citizens of the Victoria area that greater opportunities were needed in higher education: no institution within a 100-mile radius offered baccalaureate and master’s degrees. There were many junior college students and graduates in the region who wanted to continue study beyond the associate degree, and a growing number of people who had bachelor’s degrees were anxious to pursue master’s degrees. Most of these potential university students had families and jobs in the area and would find leaving home difficult if not impossible. By April of 1969, an organized group began working to bring an upper level institution to Victoria. After many meetings between Texas legislators and community leaders, approval was granted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish an off-campus center of the University of Houston in Victoria. In 1973 about 100 students entered the newly opened University of Houston Victoria Center. Ten years later, in April 1983, Senate Bill 235 was passed by the Texas Legislature, and the center became the University of Houston-Victoria, with permanent status as a degree-granting university. The student population has now grown to more than 2,400 students, and nearly 7,000 bachelor’s and master’s degrees have been conferred. In addition to degree programs, the university honors 2+2 transfer agreements with Austin Community College, Blinn College, Coastal Bend College, Houston Community College, The Victoria College, and Wharton County Junior College. Similar agreements are being developed with North Harris Montgomery Community College District. Mission The University of Houston-Victoria shares with all institutions of higher education the universal mission of teaching, research, and service. It shares with the other institutions of the University of Houston System a special responsibility to serve educational needs, to promote economic well being, and to advance the quality of life in the region. The university’s most distinctive commitment is to make higher education accessible to able students who might otherwise lack the opportunity. Its most compelling commitment is to make the quality of education they receive nonetheless competitive. The university emphasizes student learning, related research, responsiveness to student needs, and collaboration in the development and delivery of academic programs. Outreach has characterized its mission and history. The university is an upper-level and graduate institution with selected bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, and Education and Human Development. In cooperation with community colleges, which offer the first two years of instruction, the university provides an opportunity for students to complete baccalaureate degrees. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, the university admits only students whose records demonstrate successful academic performance at the college level. The university serves students on campus in Victoria and delivers instruction to other communities in the area. In collaboration with other UH System universities, it offers degree programs at teaching centers in greater Houston. It provides extensive course offerings, selected degree programs, learning support, and many student services entirely online. In addition to degree programs, the university extends educational, informational, and cultural opportunities to the public through library services, outreach and professional development programs, and a variety of special events. In reaching out to students online and on site in multiple communities, the University of Houston-Victoria is evolving beyond location. But though its identity may have changed, its basic mission remains the same: to provide able students, often with job and family obligations, convenient access to higher education that is affordable, credible, and relevant to their lives, their communities, and their world. Key Facts UH-Victoria is governed by the Board of Regents and the Chancellor of the University of Houston System. Administrative responsibility is vested in the President. The System consists of four public universities: the University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, University of Houston-Downtown, and University of Houston-Victoria. UH-Victoria is an upper-level/graduate institution, serving students on campus, at off-campus centers, and online. It has three academic schools: Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, and Education and Human Development. Undergraduate students are eligible to transfer to UH-Victoria after completing a minimum of 54 semester credit hours of academic coursework (with at least a 2.0 GPA) at an accredited institution. They may concurrently enroll at UHV and their home institution after completion of 30 semester credit hours. Educational Standards – Accreditation University of Houston-Victoria is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: Telephone number 404-679-4500) to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The UH-Victoria School of Business Administration is accredited by AACSB International, 777 South Harbour Island Boulevard, Suite 750, Tampa, FL 33602-5730, Telephone 813-769-6500, www.aacsb.edu, to offer both bachelor's and master's degrees in Business. Location and Facilities Victoria, center of the South Texas Crossroads in the heart of the Golden Gulf Coast, is a still-expanding historic city on the banks of the Guadalupe River. More than 150 years old, it is one of the first three towns chartered by the new republic when Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836. Famous battles of the Texas revolution were fought at nearby sites. Pioneer charm and high-tech industry mingle in the city of 62,000 inhabitants, near the Gulf of Mexico on a popular coastal route between Houston and Mexico. It is a short distance by car to Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Corpus Christi. Victoria is the home of many petrochemical industries, such as DuPont, Alcoa, Dow, Formosa, INVISTA, BP Chemicals, and Equistar Chemicals. Victoria is surrounded by vast expanses of ranch lands, held by descendants of early Texas settlers, and offers economic as well as cultural diversity. The University of Houston-Victoria campus includes University Center, completed in Spring 2000, which contains classrooms, offices, a state-of-the art biology lab, and media and computer labs; and University West, which houses classrooms and faculty and administrative offices. Teaching Centers UH-Victoria is the managing partner of the UH System’s off-campus teaching centers at Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch. Additionally, UHV delivers courses to other sites within the service region. A number of UHV faculty and staff are located at these centers. Building and Office Hours Building hours are posted outside the main entrance of each facility. Individual office and departmental hours may vary, but are normally 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, unless posted otherwise. Campus Safety and Security The safety and health of the campus community is a primary concern of the University. However, a safe and healthful environment does not happen by chance. Campus safety is everyone’s responsibility. As a student and member of the University community, you can help through your support and participation in any of the following ways:   • If a crime or suspicious activity is noticed, call the police immediately. Do not assume someone else has contacted the police; • Attend campus safety related training sessions and/or short courses offered to students (Contact the campus Safety Office or see the Safety Bulletin Board in the University West building); • Attend quarterly Campus Safety Committee meetings to express any safety related concerns you may have or to just find out what’s happening. You do not have to be a member to attend these meetings. Students and the public are always invited to attend. (See Safety Bulletin Board on the first floor of the University West building for meeting times and location); • Use the suggestion box to express ideas or opinions you have on improving campus safety. Reporting Safety and Security Problems The police department (911) should be notified immediately to report crimes, suspicious behavior or other unlawful activities. 911 can be dialed without coins from any campus pay phone, or dial 9-911 from any campus office phone. The campus safety Land Risk Manager may be contacted by calling (361)570-4245 or by emailing campussafety@uhv.edu.