Archived Suggestions :: November 2007

Suggestion — 1023

Subject — Student Life

Forwarded to — Provost

Suggestion / Comment

Please offer more face to face classes. Don't take me wrong - I'm sure there's a need for online classes for some but some of us want to meet people, socialize, and have some fun. I'm taking classes here and at VC. There is a huge difference in the two colleges and they're so close together. The halls and student center at VC are full of students. Here there are none. I get depressed coming here. I don't want to move out of town but I want the college life. UHV has a ball team. Now all we need is some students to get some excitement going. Then we can actually feel like we're in college. I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Response

Thank you for suggesting that UHV offer more face to face classes. I have consulted with the deans who responded and concurred that students effectively "vote" on course delivery mode each semester when they register. In Education approximately half the courses are offered face to face. In Nursing all the courses are face to face. In Arts and Sciences and Business, more online courses are offered to meet students needs. The Deans encourage you and other students to enroll in the face to face courses offered. Increasing enrollment in these classes creates a current that allows UHV to offer more face to face classes in the future.

To engage in more student-life on campus, you could become involved in the Student Senate, attend the ABR Reading Series, join student organizations, support UHV athletics and/or volunteer. Located on three campuses, UHV is a rather non-traditional university that encourages students to find their own niches and ways to grow outside their classes.

Suggestion — 1024

Subject — Course Offerings

Forwarded to — Provost

Suggestion / Comment

I HAVE GONE TO UHV FOR TWO SEMESTERS AND AM WORKING ON MY THIRD. THE LAST TWO SEMESTER I WENT PART TIME DUE TO THE BIRTH OF MY BABY. WHEN I STARTED TO RESEARCH FULL TIME STATUS, I CAME ACROSS MANY ROAD BLOCKS. FIRST YOU GUYS WILL NOT TAKE VCC HOURS INTO CONSIDERATION FOR FINANCIAL AID STATUS ANYMORE. SECOND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH CLASSES OFFERED AT UHV OR VCC FOR ME TO GET FULL TIME. I ONLY NEED THREE CLASSES FROM VCC TO BE DONE WITH VCC, BUT THE THREE CLASSES ARE NOT OFFERED IN ONE SEMESTER. ALSO THERE ARE ABOUT FIVE CLASSES THAT I NEED THROUGH UHV, BUT TWO OF THEM I NEED TO FINISH THE CLASSES AT VCC AND ONE OF THEM IS A NIGHT CLASS IN SUGAR LAND. I FEEL IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE ONE AND A HALF HOURS HOME AT 9:45PM BY MYSELF. THAT ONLY LEAVES TWO CLASSES. ALSO I CANNOT ATART TAKING MY SECONDARY TEACHER CERT CLASSES UNTIL I COMPLETE THE CLASSES AT VCC(WHICH I CANNOT DO IN ONE SEMESTER). I AM 30 YEARS OLD WITH THREE KIND AND AM TRYING TO GET A BETTER LIFE FOR US BY FINISHING SCHOOL!! BETWEEN THE TWO UNIVERSITIES I THOUGH I COULD DO THAT. THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH CHOICES FOR ME. I AM AT A POINT WHERE I AM CONSIDERING MOVING MY KIDS AWAY FROM THEIR DAD (MY EX HUSBAND) TO FINISH SCHOOL. THAT WILL DEVISTATE THEM. UH MAIN CAMPUS HAS A LOT MORE CHOICES FOR ME, AND THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN THE HOUSTON AREA THAT HAVE THE STUDENT BODY TO OFFER MANY MORE CHOICES. I WOULD THINK FOR THIS AREA THAT YOU COULD INCREASE YOUR ENROLLMENT BY OFFERING MORE CHOICES FOR STUDENTS WITH FAMILIES. AS I HAVE NOTICED, THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOLPLE WITH FAMILIES. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING!!!

Response

I suggest this student see her academic degree plan advisor who can discuss course options, scholarship possibilities, work study and in general, help her meet her short and long term goals. If she is still not satisfied, I would like her to make an appointment with me. Dr. Suzanne V. LaBrecque

Suggestion — 1025

Subject — Health Fair/Building Plans

Forwarded to — Manager of Student Services and Facilities Director

Suggestion / Comment

The Health Fair yesterday was one of the best events UHV has put on in a very long time. The Student Services staff out did themselves this time and deserve a big CONGRADULATIONS for the success of this event. It was obvious that a lot of planning went into organizating this but yet everything ran smoothly even though it was very crowded. My suggestion is that the next time a larger area be used for this event. Does the university have an very near plans for building a structure that will allow for more events of this type? It's long overdue.

Thanks again to Student Services for putting on such a great Health Fair!

Response

The university is discussing the possibility of having a multi-purpose area on the first floor of the new Regional Center for Economic Development building - the next building to be built in about 2 years. I am hopeful that the area will be at least a third larger then the current one and without pillars in the room.

Suggestion — 1026

Subject — Financial Aid

Forwarded to — Financial Aid Director

Suggestion / Comment

Dear Sirs,

I received a letter this past week regarding my financial aid status. Even though I had been awarded money for taking three classes, because one of those classes was to be through HCC I will lose that money. I spoke with Ruby in Financial Aid, who was very helpful and explained the situation, but I must say I am incredibly disappointed in the decision made by UHV. It is incredibly irresponsible to allow students to believe that they are able to receive aid through the whole year for classes through HCC, only to let them know, mid-year, that they are not able to rely on that money for the next semester. As the aid I will now be receiving will not cover the cost of 2 classes at UHV, not to mention the books, there is obviously no way that I can even pay for a class at HCC out of pocket because I will have to cover the other expenses that has been taken away from me. As a very important structure in a persons life, I would feel that UHV would make it a priority in helping the students out in any way possible. I do not believe that letting them know halfway through the year that you are pulling expected funds is a very responsible way to make the students aware. UHV awarded me, and I accepted, an amount of funds. What was the point of offering me these funds if, at any point, it can be taken away. I understand that I am venting, to a degree, but I just wanted to voice the fact that this has now put me in a financial hardship, not only affecting my personal funds, but also affecting the amount of time it will now take me to complete my degree, since I will no longer be able to afford taking the HCC classes. I definitely expected more from such a reputable school. Shame on me.

Cheryl McKitterick

Response

UHV has decided to continue processing consortium agreements.

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