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University of Houston-Victoria

Handbook

Student Support and Services

Academic Support

Writing Center

The Center for Student Success provides free writing assistance and writing resources to University of Houston-Victoria students in Victoria and Katy. Face-to-face or online, the Center staff review class papers for students.

During sessions with writing consultants, individuals may discuss a paper or document in progress. Trained tutors review these documents, discuss techniques for analyzing and revising assignments, and assist students to devise solutions to writing problems. Writing consultants also provide a similar service online. UHV students may utilize Upswing, or the Virtual Lobby to make an appointment for face-to-face tutoring, email documents as attachments, or sign up for virtual tutoring. We will review the document and offer comments and suggestions. The Writing Center also offers a writing lab, where students can drop-in and work on papers, getting feedback as they write.

Peer Tutoring

The Center offers a free peer tutoring program for a wide variety of subjects. Though the exact list depends on tutor availability, generally the Center offers tutoring in math, history, science, and computer science. Please visit the Center for Student Success for a current schedule. Tutoring occurs in University West, Room 104. Walk-ins welcome, appointments preferred. The SSC also provides tutoring via UpSwing, online tutoring network. For students who cannot physically come to Victoria for assistance or for subjects without peer tutors, this product is ideal as it allows the tutor and the student to communicate via the internet. An appointment is necessary for this service. Please visit UpSwing for more information. Students are also able to enter the Virtual Lobby for attending an online tutoring session as well.

Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a program that offers weekly review sessions for certain core classes that freshmen often find challenging. SI is offered through the SSC in collaboration with key faculty members. In SI, a tutor “takes” a course he or she has already passed with an A and creates review sessions based on course content.

Workshops

The Center for Student Success offers various workshops in a presentation-style format every semester to enhance student note-taking, reading, studying, and exam-taking skills.

Examples include: Blackboard Basics, Understanding the Syllabus, Finding Balance, Readjusting to in-person learning, Goal Setting, Procrastination, Note-taking, Effective Communication, Exploring your goals, Learning Style, Final Exam Study Tips

Student Success Coaches and Success Advisors

Student Success Coaches/Advisors offer both academic and life coaching. They assist incoming freshmen students and returning students with less than 45 credit hours in selecting and enrolling in courses. They provide all students services such as success coaching and skill building. Student Success Advocates (SSAs), an extension of the coaches/advisors, represent the Student Success Center and promote overall student success on campus through their involvement. Please visit the Student Success Coaches for more information.

Testing Services

Students are provided testing services in Victoria and Katy. The Testing Center on the Victoria campus is located in Jaguar Hall, Suite 1129. For testing locations at Katy, see your testing ticket or contact the Katy instructional site at (281) 396-3700.

Victoria Campus Services:

  • Makeup Exam Proctoring
  • Testing for Students with Disabilities
  • Correspondence Exam Proctoring
  • Standardized Exams:
    • Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
    • Nelson-Denny Reading Assessment
    • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Licensing Exams (TCEQ)
    • Texas Educator Certification Testing (TExES/ExCETs)
    • Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA)
  • Comprehensive Exam Proctoring

Katy Instructional Site Services:

  • Makeup Exam Proctoring
  • Testing for Students with Disabilities
  • Nelson-Denny Reading Test
  • Comprehensive Exam Proctoring

Makeup Exam Appointments

Faculty can refer students to Testing Services for makeup exams, which require an appointment. Testing Services must receive a makeup request from the instructor before an appointment is scheduled.

To schedule a makeup exam, students must contact the Testing Center at least seven (7) business days before the exam. Space is not guaranteed after this deadline. Exception would be in cases where the instructor has not given sufficient advance notice of quiz/exam (See Testing Policies and Procedures below).

Students must inform their instructor about their appointment date and time. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the Testing Center receives the exam materials.

Students are expected to arrive on time for their appointment. Students who are more than fifteen (15) minutes late may forfeit their testing appointment and will have to reschedule at the instructor's discretion. Students must bring a valid photo Identification Card, Driver’s License, government-issued ID or UHV ID to establish positive identification prior to taking the test. Students will not be allowed to test without presenting a valid ID.

Testing for Students with Disabilities

Accommodations for students with disabilities are provided through Testing Services. Students with a documented disability must have testing accommodations approved through the Office of Disability Services. Once approved, the student should contact the Testing Services as soon as possible, preferably within the first two weeks of the semester, to schedule exams.

Appointments must be made at least seven (7) business days before the test date. Final exams need to be scheduled three (3) weeks prior to the start of finals. Space is not guaranteed after this deadline. Exception would be in cases where the instructor has not given sufficient advance notice of quiz/exam (See Testing Policies and Procedures below).

Students who are more than fifteen (15) minutes late may forfeit their testing appointment and have to reschedule at the instructor's discretion. Students must bring a valid photo Identification Card, Driver’s License, government-issued ID or UHV ID to establish positive identification prior to taking the test. Students are allowed to test without presenting a valid ID.

Students can schedule accommodations and makeup exams throughout the year by contacting Testing Services, 361-485-4500.

Correspondence Testing

Students taking correspondence courses through outside institutions can have tests proctored by Testing Services on the Victoria campus. To take advantage of this appointment-only service, students should complete the following steps:

  1. Contact Testing Services to schedule an appointment. Include information about your exam (preferred dates and times, length of exam, etc.).
  2. Register and pay the $20.50 administration fee at RegisterBlast
  3. Provide the institution issuing the correspondence test with the Testing Center address and proctor name:

Proctor: Julie Buchhorn Wardi

Title: Manager, Testing Services

Address:
University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson St.
Victoria, TX 77901

Location: 2705 Houston Hwy., Suite 1129, Jaguar Hall, Victoria, TX 77901

Phone: (361) 570-4285

Fax: (361) 580-5588

Email: Testing Center

Contact the Testing Center five days before the appointment to ensure the test has arrived.

The $20.50 testing fee is non-refundable. The Testing Center can expedite test material shipments for an additional fee.

For questions or more information about correspondence testing, please contact the Testing Center, or call 361-485-4500.

Standardized Exams

Testing Services administers standardized testing for students enrolling in college or completing certification requirements. See Testing Services for more information including testing dates, fees and registration information. Some exams may require registration or approval by a third party.     

Standardized Exams Offered:

  • Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
  • National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)
  • Nelson-Denny Reading Assessment
  • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Licensing Exams (TCEQ)
  • Texas Educator Certification Testing (TExES/ExCETs)
  • Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2)

Comprehensive Exam Proctoring

Testing Services administers the following comprehensive exams:

  • Master's Comprehensive Exam in Victoria and Katy on behalf of the College of Education and Health Professions.
  • Psychology Master’s Comprehensive Exam in Victoria on behalf of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
  • BBA Comprehensive Exam in Victoria and Katy on behalf of the College of Business.
  • National Counselor Exam (NCE) on behalf of the College of Education and Health Professions.

Students who need to take the comprehensive exam should contact their academic advisors for information about the date of the test, reporting time and location.

Testing Policies and Procedures For Students:

  1. Appointments are always mandatory. Appointments must be made at least seven (7) business days before the test date. Final exams need to be scheduled three (3) weeks prior to the start of finals. Space is not guaranteed after this deadline. Exception would be in cases where the instructor has not given sufficient advance notice of quiz/exam.
  2. Testing Services does not grant requests for makeup exams. It is the student’s responsibility to request a makeup exam from their instructor.
  3. Testing Services does not offer walk-in testing appointments.

More information about Testing Services is available at Testing. Appointments are required for every exam. To register for an exam, please go to RegisterBlast or contact the Testing Center or 361-485-4500.