Proposed Guidelines for Fall 2020
UHD successfully completed the spring semester and carried that momentum into the summer sessions. Now, the focus is on the fall and further ensuring the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff.
Interim President Dr. Antonio D. Tillis and UHD Leadership have accepted the framework of recommendations offered by the University’s COVID-19 Taskforce to safely conduct the fall semester. These proposed guidelines align with state, city and county directives, as well as recommendations from public health officials. They also are guided by Harris County’s color coded Threat Level Assessment that was initiated by Judge Lina Hidalgo.
A summarized outline of UHD’s corresponding Threat Level Assessment is currently is as follows.
- Level 1 RED: Classes will be online only. Essential personnel will continue to work on campus. Faculty and staff access to UHD buildings will require signing in at the UHD Police Department. (Please note that employees who are designated as essential personnel will be contacted directly by Employment Services and Operations.)
- Level 2 ORANGE: The University will determine whether in-person classes will be conducted on campus; online classes will continue as scheduled. Limited personnel (designated by UHD Leadership) will be allowed to work on campus.
- Level 3 YELLOW: Classes will continue in their scheduled formats (online, online interactive, hybrid, face-to-face). The number of on-campus personnel will be expanded to meet critical needs and to provide in-person services.
- Level 4 GREEN: The campus is open to students and employees with safety protocols in place; walk-in services will resume; classes will continue in scheduled formats.
UHD will continue to assess the county’s Threat Level and inform faculty, staff and students on plans to reopen campus for the fall semester.
More details about the fall semester will be communicated soon and your questions are welcome at coronavirus@uhd.edu.
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.
