President Blanchard Participating at Texas Higher Education Leadership Conference
UHD Leader Moderating Panel on 'Budgeting and Financial Management'
By Mike Emery
Higher education has long been a priority for Texans. With close to 150 colleges and universities in the state, Texas boasts a robust academic landscape serving approximately 1.6 million students.
This week, higher education leaders and stakeholders will assemble in Austin to address the issues facing students and institutions throughout the Lone Star State. The Texas Higher Education Leadership Conference is scheduled for Dec. 2 – 3 and will feature discussions on the impact of COVID-19 on colleges and universities; philanthropy at institutions of higher learning; and higher education’s role in the state’s economy among other topics.
University of Houston-Downtown President Loren J. Blanchard will be part of the conversations, as he will moderate the panel “College Budgeting and Financial Management” on Dec. 2.
Joining President Blanchard for this discussion will be Joseph Duron, Chief Administrative Officer for the Texas A&M System; Sarah Keyton, Associate Vice Chancellor for State Relations for the Texas Tech University System; and Chuck Fox, Vice President of Financial Planning for the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
Presented by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), the event returns to a face-to-face format for the first time in more than a year.
THECB is the state’s highest authority on matters related to public higher education and is comprised of nine members appointed by the by the Texas Governor. Its strategic plan, 60x30TX, is driven by the goal of ensuring 60 percent of young adults in Texas receiving a degree or postsecondary credential by 2030.
“It is an honor to be invited to serve as a moderator for the Texas Higher Education Leadership Conference,” President Blanchard said. “This particular panel on Budgeting and Financial Management holds relevance for so many institutions across our state … ours included. The conversation promises to be an insightful exchange between university system leaders from throughout the state, and I look forward to representing UHD on this very important topic impacting Texas’ colleges and universities.”
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.
