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President's Periodic Messages 2007-2008
September 19, 2007
An Update from President Tim Hudson:
From time to time we invite individuals from outside the university to make brief presentations at cabinet on topics that may be of interest or importance to our UHV community. Such was the case last week when
Joni Brown, Victoria’s Clean Cities Coordinator visited with us regarding air quality in our area. Like so many things, clean air is everybody’s concern and responsibility. Ms. Brown explained our particular challenges and gave us a check list of ways we could all be part of the solution. I encourage you to visit the Air Victoria website (www.airvictoria.org) for more information on this topic. I also should say that she praised UHV for signing the Campus Climate Compact and complimented Michael and our staff on the things they do to make UHV a good environmental steward.
Each September brings with it a whirlwind of activity and excitement as the school year begins. From the elementary classroom to the graduate seminar, the advent of the fall semester brings with it a sense of optimism and the opportunity to dream anew.
Indeed, I know that all of you have been extremely busy – your professionalism, your ability to adapt to our new record system, and your commitment to our students have led once again to
a record enrollment this fall of approximately 2,800 students. It was only a few semesters ago that we were celebrating the 2500 mark! At one point this fall, we learned at cabinet, we had almost 400 students who were in danger of being dropped from classes because they had not paid and the payment deadline was nearing. Several of you worked to contact each of these students, reminding them of the deadline and finding out if they needed additional help or information. The result of this effort is that in the end only 13 students had to be dropped for nonpayment, a “batting average” Coach Lambeth would no doubt envy! Finally, I want to thank the provost, the deans and the faculty for embracing growth as an integral part of our drive for excellence, of UHV’s evolution as a university of choice. Growth brings to us the resources we must have to achieve the quality we all support for our students.
While our student growth is impressive, we are also making great strides in alumni support. As a relatively young university, we have focused on those things that are basic to a university, such as developing quality programs, attracting outstanding faculty and building our student body. The time has come to emphasize another important dimension of university life, that of keeping alumni connected with their alma mater. “UHV Connect” gives us an excellent tool to assist in this process. UHV Connect provides a way for current students and alumni to connect with one another. (Just a side note: In keeping with UH and many other universities, we are considering current and former students as alumni.) We have had an excellent response to this program. The goal for this semester was to have 200 alumni registered; as of Monday, September 17, there are over 900 registered on UHV Connect, divided fairly evenly between current students and former students.
Speaking of making connections, our first “Off-the-Clock” event will be held at Tejas Café and Bar on October 4, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. I hope you can attend and invite a friend who is not yet “connected” with the university. Off-the-Clock is a viable outreach event in the cultivation of UHV friendships, and a fun time for socializing with UHV co-workers and students.
Chari Norgard and student services personnel have been creating a Commencement Website
that graduate candidates, faculty, staff, and other interested persons can visit to learn details about our commencement ceremony. This will be up and running soon. A post card will be mailed to each graduate candidate to let them know about the web site.
Also in the student services area, Minnie Urbano and staff are collaborating with nursing faculty and students to offer health fairs in November and April at the Victoria and Sugar Land Campuses. This is a good example of the types of synergies that can develop among departments to benefit students.
I appreciate the work the Student Senate is doing to increase campus activities, beginning with keeping student senate office hours. The senate will also establish an online presence and line of communication for those students who cannot come to the Victoria campus. I just attended a “first-time” event that the student senate hosted called “Meet the Leaders,” which proved to be a great way for the administration to visit with campus organization leaders and to exchange ideas.
A great deal of innovative programming is afoot in our schools. The School of Business Administration is moving forward with a Business of Medicine Certificate for doctors. This is an eight week continuing education course being developed in response to expressed need in the professional community that will initially be delivered on the Sugar Land campus.
The School of Education and Human Development is working on Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) approval, which is another stamp of quality for their programs. Meanwhile, in the
School of Arts and Sciences, the ABR reading series got off to an outstanding start with Chitra Divakaruni as the first speaker.
I know you will want to hear Dagoberto Gilb, the second speaker in the fall series, scheduled from noon -1:30 p.m. in the Alcorn Auditorium this Thursday, September 20. Finally we have learned that the Board of Nursing Examiners will forego the usual end of first year site visit to UHV, an indication things are running as they should. In addition,
Dr. LaBrecque, along with Dr. Hartshorn and the nursing faculty, continue to move through the process required to offer the Master of Science in Nursing
with hopes of accepting students for that program in the spring.
Last week we welcomed to the President’s Regional Advisory Board three new members –
Arlene Marshall is the President of Calhoun County Economic Development in Port Lavaca,
Ron Hyde is an entrepreneur and businessman who resides in Kenedy, and Janet Leatherwood
is Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Methodist Hospital in Sugar Land. They join a board of other volunteers from our communities who give their time and talent to our deliberations and who, collectively, form an important group of advocates. The board meets quarterly to hear various reports from us and to offer insight and advice. At this past meeting we featured our budget, an overview of our history and testimonials (“pitches” you might say) from two of our newly arrived athletes – a presentation which left everyone excited about the year ahead and anxious to buy tickets!
I realize that all of you have worked very hard in the last few months in order for us to achieve so many “firsts” for UHV. And I know you will continue as we commit to new levels of excellence.
I appreciate your commitment and dedication to making UHV a university where people’s lives are transformed and their dreams are fulfilled.
Sincerely,
President Tim Hudson, Ph.D.
“Poco a poco, se anda lejos”
Spanish proverb
Full cabinet minutes are posted at
www.uhv.edu/president/cabinet.asp
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