University of Houston–Victoria

University of Houston–Victoria
Type State university
Established 1973
Endowment US$15.2 million[1]
President Raymond V. Morgan, Jr. (Interim)
Academic staff
117
Administrative staff
251
Students 4,335
Undergraduates 2,664
Postgraduates 1,671
Location Victoria, Texas, U.S.
Campus Suburban, 20 acres (0.08 km²)
Colors Red and black
         
Athletics NAIA Division IRed River
Sports UHV Jaguars
Nickname Jaguars
Affiliations UH System
AASCU
Website uhv.edu

The University of Houston–Victoria (UHV) is a four-year state university, and is one of four distinct institutions in the University of Houston System. Its campus spans 20 acres (8.1 ha) in Victoria, with satellite locations at UH System centers in Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch. Founded in 1971, UHV has an enrollment of over 4,300 students.

The university serves students in four academic schools. UHV offers 31 bachelors and 20 master's degree programs. Awarding more than 800 degrees annually, the university's alumni base exceeds 11,000.[2]

The school's athletics teams are known as the UHV Jaguars; the university has fielded baseball and softball teams, and men’s and women’s soccer and golf teams. The UHV Jaguars are members of the Red River Athletic Conference and compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I.

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 1971, the Coordinating Board of Texas College and University System created an off-campus center of the University of Houston known as the University of Houston Victoria Center.[3] One hundred students enrolled at the center in its inaugural semester of spring 1973.

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 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 Representative Geanie Morrison of Victoria introduced House Bill 1056, which would allow UHV to expand, and Texas State Senator Glenn Hegar introduced an identical bill, Senate Bill 567. Texas Governor 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 November 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.

Institutional structure

The University of Houston–Victoria (UHV) is one of four separate and distinct institutions in the University of Houston System. The institution is separately accredited, offers its own academic programs and confers its own degrees, and has its own administration. UHV is a stand-alone university; it is not a branch campus of the University of Houston (UH). Although UHV and UH are both component institutions of the University of Houston System, they are separate degree-granting universities.

The organization and control of the University of Houston–Victoria is vested in the Board of Regents of the University of Houston System. The Board has all the rights, powers, and duties that it has with respect to the organization and control of other institutions in the System; however, UHV is maintained as a separate and distinct institution.

Administration

The president is the chief executive officer of the University of Houston–Victoria, and the position reports to the chancellor of the University of Houston System. The president is appointed by the chancellor and confirmed by the Board of Regents of the University of Houston System. Since April 21, 2015, Dr. Vic Morgan has served as the interim president.[4]

  • Reginald Taylor, 1972–1978
  • Robert C. Maxson, 1978–1982
  • Martha K. Piper, 1982–1986
  • Glenn A. Goerke, 1986–1991
  • Don N. Smith (interim), 1991–1992
  • Lesta Van Der Wert Turchen, 1992–1995
  • Karen S. Haynes, 1995–2004
  • Don N. Smith (interim), 2004
  • Tim Hudson, 2004–2010
  • Don N. Smith (interim), 2010-2011
  • Philip D. Castile 2011–2014
  • Raymond V. Morgan, Jr. (interim), 2014–present

Academics

University West
University rankings
National
Global
Regional
U.S. News & World Report[5] Tier 2

The University of Houston–Victoria (UHV) is separately accredited, offers its own academic programs, and confers its own degrees. UHV is a stand-alone university; it is not a branch campus of the University of Houston (UH). Although UHV and UH are both component institutions of the University of Houston System, they are separate degree-granting universities. Students who graduate from UHV will have diplomas under the name University of Houston–Victoria.

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

Schools

School of Arts & Sciences

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

School of Business Administration

The school offers complete face-to-face and online programs and is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

School of Education & Human Development

The School of Education & Human Development can help 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

UHV School of Nursing will transition to the University of Houston Fall 2015, as approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), Texas Board of Nursing, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Nursing programs currently offered by University of Houston–Victoria will be acquired by University of Houston as of August 1. Beginning Fall 2015 students will graduate from the University of Houston.

Facilities

Programs are offered both face to face and online at the Victoria campus in addition to two Fort Bend County teaching centers: 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

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, Colombia, Cuba, 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.

Degree in Three

UHV was the first Texas public university to offer an accelerated program where students can earn a complete, 120-credit-hour bachelor's degree in just three years. Degree in Three, or Dn3, lets students earn a degree in Communication, Criminal Justice, English, History or Psychology. It also offers an option to freeze tuition and fees at the rates charged at the time of entry into the program.

Campus

University Center

The University of Houston–Victoria (UHV) is a stand-alone university; it is not a branch campus of the University of Houston (UH). Although UHV and UH are both component institutions of the University of Houston System, they are separate degree-granting universities.

The campus of UHV is located in Victoria, which is part of the Texas 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.

Student life

Jaguar Hall is one of two of UHV’s residence halls. Jaguar Hall also has an on-site dining room and is located a short, 10-minute walk to the UHV campus.

The university opened its second residential hall, Jaguar Court, soon after. Jaguar Suites open in fall 2013 and is the UHV's third residential hall.

Athletics

Main article: UHV Jaguars
UHV's athletic logo

Houston–Victoria (UHV) teams, nicknamed athletically as the Jaguars, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). UHV is one of two University of Houston System member schools with a varsity athletic program.

Formerly competing as an Independent within NAIA's Association of Independent Institutions (AII), the Jaguars joined the NAIA's Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) beginning with the 2015-16 season.

The Jaguars field teams in golf (men's and women's), soccer (men's and women's), baseball (men's), and softball (women's).

The athletics director is Ashley Walyuchow.

Baseball

The Jaguars baseball team has won back-to-back Association of Independent Institutions (AII) conference championships (2009, 2010). The team plays its home games at Riverside Stadium in Victoria, Texas. Head coach Terry Puhl is a former outfielder for the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals. Puhl also is a Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Texas Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, and served as head coach for the Canadian national baseball team in a win over Cuba at the Olympic qualifier in 2006 and at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Softball

The Jaguars softball team won the first Association of Independent Institutions conference championship, finished 11th in the nation in 2009 and was ranked 21st in 2010. The Jaguar softball team won its second A.I.I. conference title in May 2013. The Jaguars moved on to the opening round of the NAIA national championship where they were defeated by Lubbock Christian University, finishing the season ranked 18th. The team plays its home games at Victoria's Youth Sports Complex located in Victoria, Texas. The Jaguars are coached by Keri Lambeth, former catcher for the Houston Cougars softball team and former graduate assistant coach for the George Washington Colonials.

Soccer

The Jaguars men’s and women’s teams began in fall 2010. A soccer field, dubbed “The Cage” by players, was constructed on the UHV campus, and the men’s and women’s teams hosted the first on-campus home games ever during their fall campaign.

The men’s team, coached by Adrian Rigby, finished 3-11-1 in its inaugural season. Defender Lenox Evans was named to the 2010 Association of Independent Institutions all-conference team.

The women’s team finished 2-11 in its inaugural season, also under coach Adrian Rigby.

Golf

UHV men’s and women’s golf teams began in fall 2010. The teams entered the 2011 spring season ranked No. 4 (men) and No. 5 (women) in conference pre-season polls. The squads practice and host meets at Victoria Country Club.

Coach Brian Williamson leads both the men’s and women’s teams for UHV.

Notable alumni

References

  1. "University of Houston–Victoria Progress Card" (PDF). University of Houston System. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  2. "University of Houston System: Fall 2010 Statistical Profile" (PDF). University of Houston System. University of Houston System. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  3. http://www.uhv.edu/president/
  4. "Regional Universities Rankings". America's Best Colleges 2016. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 23, 2016.

External links

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