UHV launches UHV Day to connect with high school students
As Dmitri Sobolev stepped into the gymnasium at Austwell-Tivoli High School, he was met with a crowd of enthusiastic students.
As part of UHV Day, Sobolev, a University of Houston-Victoria professor of biology and interim dean of the College of Natural & Applied Science, spoke to the high school students about the areas of study they can choose from, such as natural science, computer science, biology or math.
“I hope that the students take away the message that they need to be at UHV,” Sobolev said. “If I managed to point a student to a science career that they weren’t contemplating before, I would be grateful.”
UHV Day, launched in April, is a series of events designed to showcase the possibilities for students’ futures through higher education by visiting high school students not only in the region, but across the state, said Oscar Torres, UHV associate director of enrollment management.
“Often times, students may not be able to come to campus physically, or they are not able to tour campus or whatever the hardships may be,” Torres said. “We bring UHV to them.”
On, Thursday, April 18, three faculty members: Sobolev; Dorothy Thomas, director of nursing in the UHV College of Education & Health Professions; and Tong Kang, assistant professor of management, came to Austwell-Tivoli High School for the inaugural event to give the students an overall view of educational opportunities available at UHV. Along with the faculty members, Torres, admissions counselor Eliamani Juma and Karla DeCuir, UHV interim vice president for enrollment management, were also present at the event.
The series of events were kicked off as part of the 50 Forward initiative and will bring information to students regarding degree programs, scholarship opportunities and the culture they can expect at UHV.
The 50 Forward initiative is a way to enhance faculty involvement through recruitment events, Torres said. With UHV faculty members spread all across the state, the university is strategically planning with those faculty members who live in various regions statewide to get them involved with high school students in their respective areas.
“This is just another way for them to stay connected to UHV and for prospective students to see our faculty,” Torres said. “We want students to know that college is possible, and if UHV can provide that, that’s an opportunity for them to change their trajectory in life, and we will be even more grateful to have them as part of the UHV community.”
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.