President’s Lecture Series: ‘A Conversation on Building a Holistic Approach to Student Success’
By Hayden Bergman
Student success is no accident—it depends upon the conditions in which students work, study, and carry out their daily lives, both on- and off-campus, and includes such factors as safe housing, food security, and a helpful and timely advising model. Without these, students have little chance of meeting their academic or professional goals. If the conditions are right, however, student success flows as naturally as the bayous that marks the UHD landscape.
This wraparound approach is the theme for the latest installment of the President’s Lecture Series, where President Loren J. Blanchard will be joined by Harrison Keller, Ph.D., Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to discuss “Building a Holistic Approach to Student Success.” They will discuss the importance of that kind of approach, the progress made at UHD, and the University’s plans to ensure continuous improvement on that front. Lunch will be served before the conversation.
Dr. Keller is a nationally recognized authority in improving student success for low-income and first-generation college students. He possesses more than 20 years of experience in education policy, administration, and fundraising.
Register for the event, and join Blanchard and Dr. Keller in the TDECU Tour Room on Friday, May 5, at 11:30 a.m. See you there!
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.
U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.
