Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D.

Good Day, Gators!

Fall 2020 is progressing rather quickly. We are approaching the midway point of the semester, and our students are likely preparing for midterms. Their success at this point can be attributed to many factors, including your ongoing support and commitment. For that, I thank you ... UHD's faculty and staff ... for your dedication to our Gators.

As you're aware, the University is currently at Step 2-Orange according to its COVID-19 Response Matrix. UHD will remain at Step 2 for the rest of the fall semester.

However, when spring registration begins in November, student-facing offices will need to increase on-campus staffing—with distancing and safety protocols in place. These on-campus staff members will be needed to provide in-person assistance to current and prospective students as they prepare for the next steps of their academic journeys.

UHD is expected to advance to Step 3-Yellow following the Winter Break. While that is the plan at this time, the COVID-19 Response Team and University leadership are continuing to monitor pandemic conditions in the region to ensure that UHD can safely move to this next step. Upcoming messages will share more details on what to expect in January.

This year has indeed been an unpredictable and unprecedented time for all of us. If you're like me, I expect many of you are ready to close out 2020 and move on to 2021. Let's stay focused on the tasks at hand, however, and finish the year on a high note.

With that in mind, continue to support our students. Help them cross the finish line this fall, whether with finals or graduation. On campus or from our respective home offices, we can make 2020 a year of achievement for our students. And let's continue that can-do spirit that has gotten us through these past six months into the spring, to ensure another successful semester for our Gators. We all play a valuable role in the student experience, whether recruiting, enrolling, advising, instructing, or championing their academic success.

Your dedication to the University and your ongoing professionalism during this pandemic are most appreciated. I know it is not the year that was planned, but together, we can ensure UHD and our Gators continue on an upward trajectory.

Sincerely,

Antonio D. Tillis, Ph.D.
Interim President, University of Houston-Downtown