President's One Main Message: Finals Week, Commencement Weekend
We are in the home stretch of the fall semester, Gators. By Friday, finals will be over and many of you will be preparing for Commencement Weekend. Fall 2018 has been a semester to remember at UHD, thanks to your efforts.
If you will return to UHD next semester and are seeking Financial Aid, please remember to complete the necessary FAFSA applications. Tuition assistance, grants, scholarships and student loans are available to those who apply. Also, spring registration has started, and it is recommended that you register now to ensure you are enrolled in the classes you need to graduate on time.
Those graduating this weekend are looking beyond UHD to new endeavors. Whether you’re continuing your studies or embarking on a new career path, I commend your hard work and encourage you to stay in touch with your alma mater through our Office of Alumni Relations.
Our institution is driven by a sense of community and teamwork. Through the combined efforts of faculty, staff and students, our institution had a remarkable fall semester and set the stage for a promising new year. Congratulations, 2018 graduates and Gator Community for working together to Finish UHD Strong.
Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz
UHD President
Finals Week
This week, students are completing final examinations, studying, and putting final touches on end-of-semester projects. It’s a busy week, but Gators have several campus resources available to them, including the W.I. Dykes Library, tutoring services, UHD’s Writing & Reading Center and computer labs. Our campus also provides many great spaces to study, including the Gator Den, Welcome Center and our Student Lounge. To help students unwind from finals, Sports & Fitness is hosting several activities at the Jesse H. Jones Student Life Center.
Commencement Weekend
On Dec. 15 and 16, UHD will confer more than 1,800 degrees on our graduating Gators during Commencement Weekend events. Our 66th Commencement Ceremony will kick off at 11 a.m. on Dec. 15 at Minute Maid Park, celebrating our bachelor’s and master’s graduates. Andres Alcantar, Executive Vice President of the Texas Association of Business, will address our graduates at this event. The next day, UHD’s Marilyn Davies College of Business Graduate Programs Commencement begins at 2 p.m. at George R. Brown Convention Center. At this event, Gilbert Garcia, managing partner with Garcia Hamilton & Associates, will serve as guest speaker. Both of these events reflect the hard work and determination of our students. Their commitment is beyond measure, and I am proud to share this moment with all of them.
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.
