The UH System Board of Regents met this week for regular business and voted on several items concerning UHD.

In addition to getting the Welcome Center/Garage project (click here for a project update) re-approved, the Board approved UHD's two-year plan for tuition and fees, which included for the first time an optional fixed tuition program.

The program will give students the opportunity to lock in their tuition rates for 12 consecutive semesters, presuming they meet some performance metrics, like completing at least 30 hours per academic year and maintaining a yet-to-be-determined level of 'academic good progress.'

A recent University of Houston press release highlights their fixed tuition program, "UH in 4."

The Board also welcomed Beth Madison of Houston, who was recently appointed as a Board Regent by Governor Rick Perry for a term to expire Aug. 31, 2015.

Madison is a shareholder and managing director of Higginbotham and Associates, and co-founder of Madison Benefits Group. She is a member of the Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society, and a life member of the UH Alumni Association and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She is a board member of the UH C.T. Bauer College of Business Foundation and Foundation for Teen Health, board secretary of the Rice University Shepherd School of Music Society, a trustee of the Madison Charitable Foundation, and an underwriter of the UH Madison Merit Scholarship and University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Loella Elizabeth Madison Scholarship.

She is senior board chairman of the Houston Grand Opera, board secretary of the Alley Theatre, and a board member and past president of the World Affairs Council of Houston. She is an inductee of the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce 2013 Women's Hall of Fame and recipient of the 2010 UH President's Medallion for distinguished alumni. She is also a past board member of the Houston Symphony, UH Moores School of Music Society, Trees for Houston, and Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, and past president of the Houston Estate and Financial Forum.

Madison received a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston.