President's Message: Reflecting on 2019, Ready for 2020
Dear UHD Community,
As you’re aware, the University of Houston-Downtown campus will close Dec. 23, 2019 – Jan. 1, 2020 for the Winter Break. The University reopens on Jan. 2, 2020.
Whether you remain in Houston or travel to visit family and friends, I wish you a safe holiday season.
I also encourage you to reflect on UHD’s many outstanding accomplishments that took place in 2019.
Among those were last weekend’s 67th Commencement ceremonies at Minute Maid Park. I’m always honored to congratulate our graduates as they cross the stage, but it is also gratifying to see the many volunteers who make these events possible. Last weekend, our faculty, staff and students worked tirelessly to ensure a memorable program. I would like to thank those volunteers for making each ceremony an extraordinary experience for our graduates and their families.
Fall Commencement was just one of the highlights of 2019, and 2020 already is shaping up to be another banner year. We will formally celebrate the addition of the new College of Sciences & Technology Building on Jan. 9. Later in the month, members of the Gator Community will commit their time and energies to helping Houstonians during GatorServe on Jan 18 (in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.).
Both events will help kick off a new year and a new decade at UHD … and more highlights are yet to come. Such achievements are made possible by your passion and dedication, and I am honored by your commitment to our University.
Enjoy your time off. I look forward to seeing you in 2020.
Sincerely,
Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz
UHD President
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.
