UHD has launched a new search for its next Senior Vice President and Provost.  Don Bates, dean of the College of Business, chairs the search committee.

"We have already advertised the position and are also sending out letters to higher education leaders to encourage applications and nominations," Bates said.  R. William Funk & Associates, a higher-education executive search firm, is handling the search for the University.

Others appointed to the committee are:

Ed Apodaca, Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management; Elaine Pearson, Division Business Administrator III, Academic Affairs; David Ryden, Associate Professor, Social Sciences; Phil Lyons, Associate Professor, Natural Sciences; Ermelinda Delavina, Associate Professor, Computer and Mathematical Sciences; Barbara Belbot, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice; Lucille Pointer, Associate Professor, Management, Marketing, and Business Administration; and Ali Abedi, Student Government Association, President.

UHD's newest major, the BAAS in Applied Administration opened its doors this fall to 23 students.

Karen Kaser, who coordinates the program, said the new degree builds on associate degrees in applied administration. "Our market research shows many individuals who already have an associate degree will need a bachelor's degree as they move to supervisory and administrative roles," she said. "We will see a significant demand for this degree as Baby Boomers retire."

Students who choose UHD's program can build on their associate degrees instead of starting a new bachelor's degree at the beginning. UHD is working with Lone Star College System, Houston Community College, San Jacinto College and others to make transferring to UHD as seamless as possible.

Students who are interested in the new major can drop by the program's office in One Main Building, Suite 400-South, or call 713-223-7992. Email inquiries should be sent to advisor_baasaa@uhd.edu.

The Facilities Management Department is requesting all UHD faculty and staff members take a brief customer service survey.

The survey will give Facilities Management insight on how to improve its operation in servicing the university. Respondents' answers will be completely anonymous. The link directs you to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FMcustomerservicesurvey

UHD Veterans Services is starting a support group for veterans in partnership with the Employee Assistance Program conducted through the University of Texas Health Science Center (UT EAP).

Start-up sessions will meet from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 22 and 23, in Room N-420, the Library Special Event Room.

"Please attend one of the start-up sessions and hear what we have to offer," said Michael Records, UHD Veterans Services coordinator. "Sometimes all you need is someone to talk to and listen."

Veterans can have difficulty readjusting to civilian life and dealing with a variety of issues including the federal Veterans Affairs Department.

The support group will address such topics as marital and family problems, post traumatic stress disorder, transitioning to civilian life, addictions and traumatic brain injuries. The group can also serve as an information resource to help veterans and their families, Records said.

For more information, contact Records at 713-226-5581 or email him at recordsm@uhd.edu or contact Delphi Medina, LMSW, LCDC, at 713-500-3156, medinad@uh.edu.

IT Training for Faculty/Staff/Alumni

Register for IT training opportunities at the links below.  To schedule a one-on-one appointment or other assistance, please call 713-221-8200. 

Blackboard Vista

Wednesday, Sept. 15
1-3 p.m. - Open Lab: Shea Building

Thursday, Sept. 16

2-3 p.m. - Blackboard Vista: Assignments

Friday, Sept. 17
               10-11:30 a. m. -Softchalk Lesson Builder

Monday, Sept. 20
1-2 p.m. - Blackboard: Assessments

Tuesday, Sept. 21
               9-11 a.m. - Open Lab: Commerce Building

Wednesday, Sept. 22
               10-11:30 a.m. - Respondus Open Lab

Thursday, Sept. 23
11-12 p.m. - Blackboard: Mail, Calendar & Who's Online

Monday, Sept. 27
1-2 p.m. - Blackboard: Communication Tools

Wednesday, Sept.. 29
               10-11:30 a.m. - Respondus: StudyMate 

e-Portfolio

Tuesday, Sept. 28 
1-2:30 p.m. - TaskStream e-Portfolio

Microsoft Office

Wednesday, Sept. 15
                  1-3 p.m. - Open Lab: Shea Building

Tuesday, Sept. 21
                   9-11 a.m. - Open Lab: Commerce Building

Tuesday, Sept. 21 

10-11:30 a.m. - Access Basics

Friday, Sept. 24

10-11:30 a.m. - Excel Macros 

See all current IT training available

Faculty Senate holds first meeting of the 2010-2011 academic year.

Faculty Senate meeting

UHD's Faculty Senate held its first meeting of the fall semester Tuesday. Senate President Phil Lyons welcomed senators and said that his new role as Faculty Senate president has provided him with a greater understanding of how various projects across the university fit together.

The senate also heard a report on Freshman Convocation (see related story this issue) and agreed to organize a plan to contact about 600 freshmen who did not attend the convocation program as well as continuing students in their second, third and fourth semesters at UHD.  The effort is designed to assist students and increase retention and graduation rates. 

The meeting included a brief discussion of UHD's new BHAG and comments from UHD President William Flores.   Guest speakers included Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Michael Dressman, UHD Student Body President Ali Abedi, Vice President for Finance and Administration David Bradley, Vice President for Student Services Ed Apodaca and Vice President for University Advancement and External Relations Johanna Wolfe.

"I want to welcome all of you back. I am looking forward to working with you this year," Flores said. He reported that he would travel to Austin on Thursday (Sept. 9) for UHD's Legislative Appropriations Request Hearing held jointly by the Legislative Budget Board and the Governor's Office of Budget, Planning and Policy.

UHD's submitted its request in August. It included a $41.4 million request for a new Science and Technology Building that would also have an attached parking facility. UHD asks for the authority to issue tuition revenue bonds to fund construction of the 120,000-square-foot classroom and laboratory building. It would provide a modern home forUHD's College of Sciences and Technology and would also have an attached parking facility that would be funded with auxiliary revenue bonds.  UHD also asks for $800,000 to extend the Scholars Academy concept across the university. The Scholars Academy in the College of Sciences and Technology has been nationally recognized for helping to prepare high school students for college and for mentoring undergraduates.

• Dressman asked senators to encourage faculty colleagues to consider applying for the open faculty ombuds position. Applicants must have been tenured ten years with UHD. Any tenured faculty member who is a member of the faculty assembly, any tenured faculty member on modified service or any formerly tenured and now retired member of the faculty may apply.  Applications should be made by Sept. 15 and can be directed to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.

• Bradley told senators that Metro construction related to the light rail expansion was running behind schedule, but updates would be made on the road construction website as needed to keep the campus community informed.  He also said that stairs would soon connect the eighth, ninth and tenth floors of One Main Building to the seventh floor of the Academic Building. Plans are also under way to update UHD's Campus Master Plan.

The Faculty Senate's next meeting will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in the Academic Building, Room A-300.

Smart Financial Credit Union will present a Lunch and Learn session, Recycle Your Dollars the Smart Way, from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, in the Buffalo Bayou Room, Special Events Center, third floor, Academic Building.

The session will cover such information as what is a credit union, what are the benefits of joining a credit union, how can I budget and save more and how do I save for retirement. Advance registration is highly recommended to assure enough materials and lunches are available. The course code is UHD 803, session 0001. A flyer is available here.

To register, click here.

UHD Undergraduate Student Government President Ali Abedi wants to see a student union on campus even if it means increasing student fees.

Abedi, a senior majoring in natural sciences, says he and other members of student government soon hope to have at least 4,000 responses to a survey that asks students if they would back the construction of a new student union. Abedi hopes to have the survey results before meeting with UHD administrators later this fall.

UHD, one of four separate universities in the University of Houston System, is located on the northern edge of Houston's business district. UHD is a non-residential institution and a student union is especially important because it would give students a place other than residence halls to gather and build community, Abedi said.

"We are also surveying students and asking them about campus issues," he said. We have asked students to prioritize five issues: food options on campus, parking, the need for childcare facilities on campus, campus security and the need for a more robust student -life experience.

He is also working with student leaders at other Houston colleges and universities. The group would like to form a student-based Mayor's Advisory Council, based on a similar organization in Austin.

UHD employees can purchase  tickets to the Texas Renaissance Festival at the 'Group Ticket" discounted rate of $15 for adults and $6 for children ages 5 to 12.

The festival will be from 9 a.m. to dusk Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 9 - Nov. 28, and the Friday after Thanksgiving.

To receive the 'Group Ticket' rate, you must use the discount code UHS-1488 and must purchase tickets in advance via credit card by phone or fax. The ticket handling fee of $1 per ticket will be waived. To place an order by phone, call 1-800-458-3435. To place an order by fax, use the attached form and fax to 1-936-894-2391. Orders are accepted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Visit www.texrenfest.com for festival information.

If you have any questions, please contact Bobbie Horack, Work/Life Coordinator, at horackb@uhd.edu or 713-222-5318.

The Scholars Academy office has made arrangements with Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions to have free practice tests for the GRE, LSAT, NCLEX, MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT* available on-campus Friday, Sept. 17. 

Students need to register online with Kaplan for the free practice tests. Kaplan will also provide a detailed score analysis and strategies to help students prepare for test day. The MCAT, GRE, and LSAT tests begin at 10 a.m. while the NCLEX, DAT/OAT, and PCAT tests begin at 10:30 a.m.

To sign up call 1-800-KAP-TEST or visit www.kaptest.com/practice. A flyer is available here.

*Test names are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

UHD employees can now safe with the new State of Texas Discount Purchase Program at www.discountprogramERS.com.

UHD employees, retirees and their families are eligible for discounts on a variety of products and services from cars to theme parks to sporting events. The Discount Purchase Program is provided at no cost. Just go to the website, click on the category or company that appeals to you, and start saving. Discounts will change and new products and services will be added, so check back often. Contact the customer service line at 1-800-683-2886 if you have questions.

UHD Sports and Fitness announces the American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid Fall 2010 Certification Class schedule.

Individuals who take the training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use are more likely to use the training on someone they know versus a complete stranger. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn what to do in case of an emergency situation.

CPR/AED Certification        

Today, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Oct. 14-15, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Nov. 11-12, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

First Aid Certification

Oct. 29, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Dec. 3, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.                                           

The class fee is $5 for UHD students, faculty and staff members and $10 for others. The sessions are limited to the first 15 people who prepay for the class. The certification is valid for one year.

To reserve a spot for this training, stop by the Student Life Center. For more information call 713-221-8225. A flyer is available here.