22
March
2019
|
09:30 AM
America/Chicago

UHD, Galveston College Sign Articulation Agreement

Summary

By Mike Emery

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) and Galveston College have pledged their support to students earning their associate’s degrees and ultimately Finishing UHD Strong.

Galveston College President, Dr. W. Myles Shelton and UHD President, Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz put their pens to paper on March 19 to sign an articulation agreement focused on student success. This pact commits both institutions to creating seamless pathways for Galveston College students seeking to transfer to UHD; providing resources such as degree maps and cooperative advising; offering joint admissions, and data sharing.

The signing was conducted at UHD. Arriving with Dr. Shelton was Dr. Cissy Mathews, vice president of Instruction at Galveston College. In addition to President Muñoz, UHD representatives included Dr. Eric Carl Link, senior vice president for Academic & Student Affairs and Provost; Daniel Villanueva, assistant vice president for Enrollment Services & Registrar; and Dr. Faiza Khoja, associate vice president for Academic Affairs.

“This signing is a first step. Both UHD and Galveston College will work together to support students and ensure they complete their degrees on time and without excess debt or credit hours,” Muñoz said.

“I look forward to working with UHD on this great partnership and helping our students succeed,” Shelton responded.

This agreement will support seamless transfers from Galveston College to UHD, as well as reverse transfers (transferring university credits back to a community college to earn associate’s degrees).

It also promotes data sharing between the institutions to provide students with information regarding transfer processes, financial aid, degree programs and degree completion.

And, to further ease the transition from associate’s program to bachelor’s track, both UHD and Galveston College will partner on joint admissions allowing students to co-enroll at both institutions. Likewise, students will benefit from cooperative advising in which students can receive specific guidance using degree maps to effectively direct them toward the right courses for selected degree programs.

The UHD-Galveston College partnership supports Houston Guided Pathways to Success (Houston GPS) initiative and fulfills the goals of the 60x30TX plan of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, whose overall goal is to have at least 60 percent of Texans ages 25 – 34 complete a technical certificate or degree by 2030. Led by the University of Houston, Houston GPS includes Houston and Gulf Coast area institutions working together to create an integrated system of cohesive, interdependent strategies designed to increase and accelerate student completion and a smooth two-year to four-year college transfer process while improving educational quality for Houston-area students, ultimately saving students time and money.

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.