UHD, Lee College Establish Partnership to Support Seamless Pathways to Degrees
The University of Houston-Downtown and Lee College have pledged their support to enhancing the educational experience of students who attend Lee College and transfer to UHD with the intent of using their associate’s degree credits towards completion of a baccalaureate program of study.
Lee College President, Dr. Lynda Villanueva, and University of Houston-Downtown Interim President, Dr. Antonio Tillis entered into this agreement in December 2020. UHD’s new President, Dr. Loren Blanchard looks forward to working with Lee College in support of this effort.
“The University of Houston-Downtown and Lee College play integral roles in the region,” President Blanchard said. “Together, our efforts to educate ... and graduate ... community members are enhanced by a shared commitment to student success. Overall, this partnership signals a win-win for students and the state of Texas. Working together, our respective institutions will bolster the academic aspirations of our communities while supporting our state's goal of having 60 percent of Texans earning degrees by 2030.”
This pact commits both institutions to creating a seamless pathway for Lee College students seeking to transfer to UHD to complete a baccalaureate as well as a reverse pathway for UHD students to transfer to Lee College to complete their associate’s degree. This agreement focuses on student support and success by providing resources such as degree maps, transfer of credit, and access to academic advising services and honors programs.
It also promotes data sharing between the institutions to provide students with information regarding transfer processes, financial aid, degree programs and degree completion.
“Lee College is excited to partner with UHD to offer students a more streamlined and efficient pathway to reach their educational goals,” said Dr. Lynda Villanueva, President of Lee College. “Many of the students we serve are first-generation college students who may have felt that attending a university was out of reach. Working together, we can now provide a seamless transition for all students to reach their full educational potential and earn a four-year degree or higher.”
To further assist students through the transition from associate’s program to bachelor’s track, students admitted to UHD will have full access to advising services; and, Lee College Honors students admitted to UHD will be eligible for a minimum of 12 hours of honors credits to be transferred as well as being transferred into the UHD honors program.
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.
