30
March
2023
|
16:40 PM
America/Chicago

Seal Your Success: UHD in 2023 Campaign Continues

Summary

By Courtney Lundgren, Enrollment Management

President Blanchard Speaks to High School Students

On Tuesday, March 21, Enrollment Management welcomed more than 150 seniors and guests from 10 HISD schools to campus as a continuation of the Seal Your Success: UHD in 2023 campaign.

The campaign had launched off campus, as previously reported, with representatives from Enrollment Management, all four of UHD’s Colleges, current UHD students, alumni, and President Loren J. Blanchard visiting high schools throughout Houston to share the exciting opportunities that await them at UHD and tout the importance of a college education. Through an engaging presentation with photos of UHD faculty, staff, students, and campus, local high school students were introduced to UHD as an accessible, affordable, and achievable option.

The on-campus event was the first in the campaign in which UHD hosted students Downtown. “We are very active this year with our ISD partners, and HISD has been at the forefront, working in tandem with us to ensure the transition from high school to Downtown is seamless,” said Dr. Daniel Villanueva, Vice President of Enrollment Management. “UHD and HISD have a true partnership that goes beyond meetings and discussions. We both truly care about our students and how they migrate from the ISD to higher education.”

The Seal Your Success campaign serves two purposes: One, UHD’s direct outreach to high school juniors is designed to cultivate their interest in higher education. Two, the University seeks to increase enrollment yield by providing seniors with acceptance letters, scholarship opportunities, and financial aid awards. Additionally, one senior at each visit is selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship to UHD for the Fall 2023 semester. The visits also allow the Enrollment Management team to connect with school administrators and superintendents as well as with the students.

For the on-campus Seal Your Success event, students had the opportunity to explore the campus, visit with student support resources and organizations, learn about our degree programs, and hear directly from President Blanchard on how the University is committed to their transition and success. A student from Sharpstown International was selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship to UHD from the on-campus pool of attendees.

“Events like these allow the entire campus to come together and help support incoming students select UHD as their institution of choice,” said Kristina Raymond, Interim Director of Admissions.

HISD representatives provided great feedback and noted they look forward to future collaborations. Daniel Rodriguez, College & Career Readiness Manager at HISD, said, “Thank you to the University of Houston-Downtown and its staff for organizing this event and allowing HISD students to see themselves at UHD for the Fall of 2023!”

Still to come, UHD will visit more local schools, including YES Prep Southwest, Northside High School, and KIPP Northeast, among others. The division plans to continue to expand their partnership with HISD and others on future events both on and off campus.

The best measures of success come from the students themselves: 

Chavez High School Senior:

“I had the chance to tour the campus, I want to come. I learned new things during the tour, and it definitely encouraged me to come here.”

Sam Houston MSTC Senior:

“We got to see the majority of the campus, and I personally was available to interact with some students who gave me some advice on the gaming room.”

Westside High School Senior:

“I enjoyed exploring the campus to get an idea of where I would end up if I chose UHD next semester. It helps me create an idea of what my life would consist of while also comparing to other campuses and their amenities.”

Madison High School Senior:

“They talked about all the different opportunities they give to TAFSA [Texas Application for State Financial Aid] students, and it makes me feel sure about my future. I feel like if I attend UHD, I will receive all the necessary help I need to succeed such as financial help and academic help, especially since I’m a first-generation student with humble beginnings. I would be making my family proud.”

Sharpstown High School Senior:

“They made me feel like I was already a part of the Gator Family. I also went out of my comfort zone and spoke to people I didn’t know.”

Wisdom High School Senior:

“I got to see all the resources UHD provided for all the students while on campus.”

About the University of Houston-Downtown

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.