University of Houston–Victoria

University of Houston–Victoria

Former names	University of Houston Victoria Center (1973–1983)
Type	Public university
Established	1973
President	Don Noel Smith (interim)
Academic staff	117
Students	4,095
Location	Victoria , Texas , USA
Campus	Suburban, 20 acres (0.08 km²)
Colors	Red, and Black
Nickname	Jaguars
Affiliations	UHS, SACS, AACSB, CCNE, TEA
Website	www.uhv.edu

The University of Houston–Victoria (also referred to as UH–Victoria or UHV) is a state university located in Victoria, Texas. It was founded as an upper-level institution in 1973 as the University of Houston Victoria Center, and became a freestanding institution within University of Houston System in 1983. UHV is the smallest university by enrollment in the system.

The university shares facilities and some services with Victoria College, and also works with Coastal Bend College, Wharton County Junior College and Houston Community College System. The student population is over 3,100 student, and UHV has conferred 4,200 bachelor's and master's degrees.

History

The University of Houston-Victoria began as an effort in the late 1960s by the local community to bring a higher learning institution to Victoria. In 1973, after meetings with Texas legislators, community leaders succeeded in establishing an off-campus center of the University of Houston called the University of Houston Victoria Center. In its inaugural year, 100 students enrolled in at the center.

In April 1983, the Texas legislature passed Senate Bill 235, which granted the institution permanent degree-granting status in the state of Texas. The University of Houston Victoria Center was renamed the University of Houston-Victoria, and became the University of Houston System’s fourth university.

UHV started its athletics program during the 2007-08 school year with the Jaguars baseball and softball team. Since then, the teams have strongly competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Soccer and golf programs for both men and women began in fall 2010.

In October 2008, the UH System Board of Regents adopted a resolution authorizing UHV to seek enabling state legislation to add freshmen and sophomores. In the 81st Texas legislative session, Texas State Rep. Geanie Morrison introduced House Bill 1056, which would allow UHV to expand, and Texas State Sen. Glenn Hegar introduced an identical bill, Senate Bill 567. Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed HB 1056 into law on June 19, 2009. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools approved UHV to admit underclassmen and offer lower-division courses on Nov. 17, 2009, and UHV also received its first freshman application the same day. UHV’s first freshmen and sophomores started taking classes in fall 2010, and the university’s first residence hall, Jaguar Hall, opened on the Victoria campus.

Academics

UHV consists of four academic colleges: the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Education & Human Development, and the School of Nursing. Each school offers both undergraduate degrees and master’s degrees. More information about each school is listed below:

School of Arts & Sciences – UHV offers the course of study needed to enter popular industries, or students can design their own unique course of study with a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. The School of Arts & Sciences offers a diverse range of programs in the divisions of Humanities; Science, Technology and Mathematics; and Social & Behavioral Sciences. It is also home to literary institutions like the American Book Review, Fiction Collective Two, symplokē and Cuneiform Press. It also houses the International Society for Critical Exchange and Centro Victoria.

School of Business Administration – The UHV School of Business Administration will give you the tools needed to be a competitor in the global business environment. The school offers complete face-to-face and online programs and is accredited by the AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The school was named one of the 301 Best Business Schools and the Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students by The Princeton Review, a Top 25 Best Buy in distance learning by GetEducated.com, one of the top five e-learning programs for aspiring entrepreneurs by Fortune Small Business magazine, and has received many other awards and recognitions.

School of Education & Human Development – The School of Education & Human Development can help you with any goals relating to educating children or adults. The school offers programs that let students become a teacher, principal, school counselor or superintendent. It also offers specialization certification in mathematics, reading, special education and English as a Second Language. The school is accredited by the Texas Education Agency and is recognized by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council. It has accreditation for all of its counseling programs from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs. UHV School of Education & Human Development graduates work as teachers, counselors, principals and superintendents across the region.

School of Nursing – Taking your nursing career to the next level can be achieved at the UHV School of Nursing. Although there is currently no entry-level program, degrees are offered specifically for working nurses or other busy professionals who want to become nurses. If you are a nurse and want your BSN, you can register for the flexible and innovative RN to BSN program. If you have an existing bachelor’s degree in another field, you can jumpstart a nursing career in as little as 12 months. UHV’s youngest school, founded in 2006, is fully accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education. The school equips its graduates to lead other nurses, manage departments and facilities, and teach the next generation of nurses.

Facilities

While previously an upper-division and graduate school only, UHV expanded in fall 2010 to admit freshmen and sophomores.

Programs are offered both face to face and online at the Victoria campus in addition to two Fort Bend County teaching centers in collaboration with other UH System universities: the UH System at Cinco Ranch and the UH System at Sugar Land. The faculty in Victoria use lecture-capture software to archive class sessions. UHV has 10 classrooms equipped with audio-visual equipment and plans to add more.

Faculty

UHV strives to keep a low student-to-faculty ratio to allow faculty to give more personal attention. Currently, the university has a 17-to-1 ratio and an average class size of 20 students. Faculty members are as global as the perspectives they bring to the classroom. Instructors come from Canada, China, Columbia, Belarus, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Taiwan and Thailand.

Honor societies with UHV chapters include Phi Kappa Phi, Gamma Beta Phi, Chi Sigma Iota, Psi Chi and Kappa Delta Pi.

Affordability/Acceptance

Affordability/Acceptance Taking classes at UHV can save a student and their family up to $7,376 a year on their bachelor’s degree compared with other public universities and up to $18,956 a year compared with private universities in Texas. UHV is the fourth-most affordable public university in Texas, according to fall 2009 data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. UHV also offers numerous financial aid opportunities including scholarships, grants and loans. Incoming freshmen are entitled to the Jaguar Pledge, a program that provides students from outside the Victoria area a package of guaranteed aid to cover at least 33 percent of their first and second years’ tuition and fees. In addition, UHV helps guide students through the various loan options to help manage any remaining costs associated with obtaining your degree.

Campus

The University of Houston-Victoria is located in Victoria, Texas, which is part of the Coastal Bend region. It is approximately 30 miles (48 km) from the Gulf of Mexico. The university is nearly equidistant by about 125 miles (201 km) from the cities of Houston, San Antonio and Austin. The Victoria campus consists of about 20 acres (81,000 m2) of land.

In December 2009, UHV purchased a hotel and began renovating it into Jaguar Hall, the university’s first residence hall. Jaguar Hall opened on Sept. 18, 2010.

The Victoria campus shares some of its facilities with Victoria College. This includes a bookstore/student center, a four-story library with more than 200,000 volumes and a fitness center that includes a gym and weight room.

Residence Hall

Jaguar Hall is UHV’s residence hall where students can make lifelong friends, form cherished memories and enjoy the benefits of a supportive college environment. Double-occupancy, fully furnished rooms feature a private bathroom, and Internet and cable TV access. Jaguar Hall also has an on-site dining room and is located a short, 10-minute walk to the UHV campus. Other amenities include: computer and tutoring centers, study lounge, social recreation lounge, on-site laundry facility, and meal options featuring hot entrées, a salad bar, self-serve deli and exhibition station, homemade soups and desserts.

The Victoria campus is expecting to open its second residence hall in fall 2012.

Athletics

Main article: UHV Jaguars

UHV's athletic logo

The University of Houston–Victoria's athletics teams are known as the UHV Jaguars. UHV fields varsity baseball and softball teams that compete in the NAIA. Independent from any athletic conference, the Jaguars are part of the NAIA's Region VI. UHV's athletics history began in 2007, when the two programs were set-up, and the first official season began for the Jaguars in 2008. UHV is the only institution in the University of Houston System (outside of the flagship campus) that has a varsity athletic program. The athletic director is Ashley Walyuchow.

Baseball

The Jaguars baseball team finished their first season nationally ranked as #31 by the NAIA. The Jaguars baseball team plays their home games at Riverside Stadium in Victoria, Texas. The Jaguars baseball head coach Terry Puhl is a former outfielder for the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals. Puhl is also a Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Texas Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, and head coach for the Canada national baseball team.

Softball

The Jaguars softball team finished their first regular season nationally ranked as #15 by the NAIA, and received the No. 4 seed to the Region VI tournament. The Jaguars' regular season record was 30-16. The Jaguars softball team plays their home games in the O'Connor Athletic Complex located in Victoria, Texas. The Jaguars are coached by Keri Lambeth who was a catcher for the Houston Cougars softball team, and former assistant coach for the George Washington Colonials.

Notable alumni and faculty

Alumni

• Alan Weddell, American football coach

Faculty

• Dagoberto Gilb, author

External links

• University of Houston–Victoria
  • UHV Jaguars