UHD President Loren J. Blanchard

Dear Staff,

I am looking forward to our second annual Fall Staff Retreat on Friday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We have planned a day filled with impactful information and important dialogue as we chart the course of our 2022-23 academic year. Please note that in accordance with the Texas Government Code, all offices must remain open with at least one person on duty to accept calls, receive visitors, or transact business.

During this daylong session, we will address a number of topics, those affecting higher education in general as well as those specific to UHD, especially the implementation of our five-year Strategic Plan: A New Paradigm.

Enhancing Student Success is the bedrock of that plan; our recent reorganization to create the new Division of Student Success and Student Life (3SL) represents our first steps toward that goal. “Customer service” is central to the circle of care we aim to provide every student, and our newly empowered 3SL Division is an example of the level of service we intend to provide. Keynote Speaker Myra Golden will share ideas and tactics on customer service in how we can all better serve our stakeholders to ensure Student Success.

In addition, Staff Council President Tremaine Kwasikpui will address the group, and Mariana Guerra will speak on “Workplace Civility – The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Perspective.” We will also be apprised of the most current information on enrollment, budget, professional development opportunities, and campus safety. For more information on the day, please visit the 2022 Fall Staff Retreat page.

I appreciate your energy and dedication as we begin this new academic year and embark on the implementation of “A New Paradigm.” Please bring your ideas to this retreat and be prepared to share them with your colleagues. Together, we will ensure even greater student success and staff excellence as we work to implement strategic priorities for our entire Campus Community.

Sincerely,

Loren J. Blanchard, Ph.D.
President, University of Houston-Downtown