Archived Suggestions :: December 2007

Suggestion — 1027

Subject — Downward Expansion

Forwarded to — Executive Assistant to the President

Suggestion / Comment

I often hear of the growth of UHV, can you share some information on change in enrollment excluding the greater Houston area. I think this information would be useful for the public concerning the support of a local 4+ year University.

Also do we even know what local high school students would like to do after graduation? How does it compare with the job market and degree offerings?

Response

If we exclude greater Houston, our enrollment has increased slightly over the past 10 years. We have had most of our growth in the West Harris, Ft. Bend area. For example, in Fall 1993,(the fall before UHV began offering courses in Ft. Bend County) 535 UHV students (50%)were from Victoria County. In fall 2006, 576 (22%) UHV students were from Victoria County.

UHV has not surveyed our local high school students on what they want to do after graduation. If we secure the enabling legislation for a comprehensive (4+ year) university, our focus will be drawing students from outside the region, especially from the three large metropolitan areas that are an approximate two-hour drive from Victoria and that are expected to continue high rates of population growth at least through mid-century.

I agree that a survey of local high school students would be helpful to educational institutions, as well as businesses and our local workforce development center. The Victoria College or Texas Workforce Solutions of the Golden Crescent may want to initiate such a survey, if they have not recently done so. UHV would certainly be interested in the results.

I would like to discuss with you more of the data we have collected related to the four year comprehensive expansion. If you want to give me a call at 570-4145, we can set a time to visit. Or, visit our UHV website to view our 2006-2007 Fact Book at www.uhv.edu/pro/factbook_06-07/toc.asp, which provides enrollment data by county on p. 18. I hope to meet and visit with you. Thank you for your interest.

Margaret H. Rice

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