UHV Staff Council exceeds volunteering goal for 2023-2024 year
The University of Houston-Victoria Staff Council has exceeded its volunteering hours goal for the 2023-2024 fiscal year by more than 200 percent. As of July 11, UHV staff has logged a total of 454 hours volunteering in the local community.
“I think it’s amazing,” said Kendra Matthews, UHV Staff Council President. “And I am very proud of the UHV staff members who have stepped up to be a part of this.”
The UHV Staff Council is dedicated to creating a collaborative and supportive environment among its staff members. One of the primary functions of the council is to provide a platform where staff members can openly discuss issues or concerns related to the university. Additionally, the Staff Council serves as a collective voice for staff in university affairs, particularly those that influence staff activities and welfare.
“This is fantastic news,” said Robert Hernandez, a staff representative and chair of the Community Involvement & Volunteer Committee. “We set a modest goal for ourselves, aiming for 150 service hours this fiscal year, considering we completed 135.7 hours last year. To surpass this goal so significantly showed the dedication and hard work of our staff members.”
The UHV Staff Council initiated the tracking of community service hours last year, setting a baseline that allowed them to measure and build on their efforts, Hernandez said. The initial target for the recent fiscal year was a 10% increase over the previous year’s total. However, staff participation and enthusiasm exceeded all expectations and led to more than 450 hours of service.
“Ultimately, the community is who we are here to help and serve,” Hernandez said. “By getting involved, we not only give back, but we also strengthen the connection between UHV and the local area.”
During the 2022-2023 academic year, several committees were established to encourage more staff involvement at UHV. These committees aim to engage staff members in various aspects of university and community life. Some notable committees include:
- Community Involvement & Volunteer Committee: A committee focused on identifying and evaluating opportunities for staff involvement in the community and at UHV. It is responsible for planning and organizing activities while recruiting volunteers to support these initiatives.
- Fundraising Committee: Is tasked with creating, planning and conducting fundraising activities each semester for staff events and scholarship opportunities.
- Jaguar Health & Wellness Committee: Dedicated to promoting healthy behaviors and motivating staff to adopt healthier lifestyles. One notable initiative is the “Walk With Us Wednesdays,” where employees are encouraged to participate in one to three walks every 20 minutes during a designated time period.
“This milestone is an exemplification of the strength of our university community,” said UHV President Bob Glenn. “I am tremendously proud of the dedication and spirit of service demonstrated by our Staff Council. Their commitment to volunteerism reflects the core values of our university and our mission to contribute to the greater good of our community.”
Some of the community efforts that saw strong support from UHV staff included Family Weekend and Homecoming events on campus, as well as presentations given to senior residents at Morada Victoria East, a retirement community, to guide the residents on how to use technology like smartphones and laptops, Matthews said. Although the goal has been exceeded this year, the UHV Staff Council will continue to promote volunteerism among staff in the upcoming year, she said.
“It feels good to put our name out there and to let everybody see how we can show our positive influence on the community,” Matthews said. “Community involvement is so important to the mission of UHV, and I am grateful to our staff for representing the university so positively through their hard work and dedication.”
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.