Loren James Blanchard would say education is in his blood — in fact, he comes from a family of educators. Blanchard, who took over as president of the University of Downtown-Houston in March 2021, grew up around his cousins, many of whom would later become teachers and principals. That experience crystallized his desire to help and educate others.

Dr. Blanchard’s State of the University address highlighted UHD’s strategic goals: increasing the number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs by 2028; boosting the university’s graduation and alumni participation rates; developing more community partnerships; and securing additional research opportunities through federal and state grants.

The University of Houston-Downtown is making strides in areas such as graduation rates, programs offered, community engagement and more, President Loren Blanchard said during his Sept. 26 state of the university address. But there are still more goals he wants to see UHD reach.

Earlier this month, the University of Houston-Downtown hosted training for their social work students in collaboration with the Hackett Center for Mental Health. The training focused on grief and trauma specifically related to children affected by the pandemic.

President Blanchard explains how UHD and other area universities work with community colleges to transition students from two-year colleges to four-year universities via Guided Pathways to Success.

Dr. Morano is a professor of Biology and Microbiology and the director for the Center of Urban Agriculture and Sustainability, where she is dedicated to teaching students how to attain their own food and bring that knowledge to their communities and neighborhoods.

Race in the United States: Why expert says America was never intended to be equal. The topic of critical race theory has become a flashpoint for some politicians and people in the United States, who view it as something that is inappropriate curriculum for young students. The truth is that critical race theory is only a college level course and not taught in elementary, middle or high schools.

The University of Houston Downtown is expanding support service offerings under a new office, the Gator Success Institute (GSI), creating a one-stop shop for a variety of existing and new programs and services to boost retention and engagement. At present, UHD has a Gator Success Center on campus, which will expand into the GSI with the new programming, funded by $750,000 from the Los Angeles–based nonprofit ECMC Foundation.

The University of Houston-Downtown will use nearly $2.59 million in new federal funding to help future teachers graduate and get jobs in higher-need areas. The U.S. Department of Education Title V grant, which is to be allocated over five years, will be used to better assist students with wraparound services, continuing UHD’s Pathways to Teaching in Critical Areas of Need program.

Desiree Rahming is a $2,000 scholarship recipient and hopes to attend the University of Houston-Downtown to major in Fine Arts.

The Texas Legislature is in session, which means Houston-area universities are waiting to hear back on how much funding each will receive this year. The University of Houston-Downtown is one campus that hopes to receive millions. In an interview with the Houston Business Journal, UHD President Loren Blanchard said the university is asking the Legislature for a total of $67 million for transformative programs and constructions.

Student success can be measured in several ways, but for many students it’s about their grades, getting a college degree and making sure that they’re financially able to pay for college necessities like food, books and housing. Now, the University of Houston-Downtown has a Student Basic Needs Program to help offset some of those costs.

The University of Houston-Downtown held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Basic Needs Center on May 5. Located on the second floor of UHD's One Main Building, the center — which is the result of a nearly $944,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education that will be used over three years — will be used to help students who are experiencing food, housing, medical care, transportation or technology insecurities.

As plans for the multibillion-dollar Interstate 45 overhaul known as the North Houston Highway Improvement Project move forward, areas that will be impacted are finding ways to mitigate the impact of the future construction. If all goes to plan, the university could find itself with an opportunity to expand its campus.

The project, titled “Expanding the UHD Bilingual E-Library to Support Literacy Awareness and Connectivity among the Hispanic Community,” is being co-investigated by Irene Chen, Professor of Education in the Department of Urban Education in UHD’s College of Public Service, Maria Bhattacharjee, a former UHD Associate Professor of Education.

The University of Houston-Downtown received a $2.5 million grant to expand its growing e-library. The library currently consists of bilingual resources such as audio books, and print outs available for free to the public. The grant will be used over the course of two years to help over 200 families across the Houston area.

The long-awaited epicenter of student activity at UHD is the first in a series of anticipated expansions meant to give students and faculty an increased sense of belonging at the commuter campus that houses four colleges, offers 11 master's degrees and is particularly known for its criminal justice program in its College of Public Service.

Two universities within the University of Houston System are working toward improved retention and higher graduation rates thanks to a nearly $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The University of Houston-Downtown hopes to nearly double its graduation rate within three years, a huge lift that, if effective, could filter into the local economy and shape how institutions across Texas usher their students toward degrees.