ROAD TO EXCELLENCE
- A specialty bookstore opened in downtown Victoria in the UHV Center for Arts. The bookstore features works by the publishers, journals and presses connected to the university and copies of books written by the authors who come to Victoria as part of the UHV/American Book Review Reading Series.
- The move of Dalkey Archive Press to UHV allowed the university to begin offering a certificate in applied literary translation and internship opportunities for graduate students in its publishing and creative writing programs. The internationally recognized Dalkey Archive Press publishes about 50 books a year with an emphasis on translations from more than 40 countries.
- UHV partnered with Victoria College to offer three new concentrations in art, music and theater within the Bachelor of Arts in humanities. The partnership allows UHV to offer additional arts classes for its students.
- Numerous ranking organizations recognized UHV degrees for their affordability, convenience and innovation. This included Affordable Schools, which ranked UHV third nationally on the site’s list of Top 20 Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Communications and Public Relations; and OnlineColleges.net, which ranked the Master of Arts in school psychology 13th nationally. Other degree programs that achieved rankings included the Bachelor of Arts in history, B.A. in humanities with a concentration in English, B.A. in humanities with a concentration in creative writing, M.A. in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in English, Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and Master of Science in publishing.
- The popular Distinguished Speaker Series expanded into Victoria with Heber Lacerda, president and CEO of Regency Post-Acute Healthcare System Inc., providing the first lecture to students and community members outside of the Houston area. Other speakers during the year included Ben Keating, president and owner of Keating Auto Group and Viper Exchange Racing; Richard Davis, chief operating officer of Katalyst Data Management; Roger Pinkerton, president of R. Pinkerton Consulting LP; Roger Dartt, president of DeLorean Motor Co.; Jim Duncan, chief analyst and commodity marketing strategist for ConocoPhillips Gas and Power; and Larry Schubert, vice president of corporate business development at Westlake Chemical Corp.
- For the ninth year in a row, The Princeton Review included UHV in its list of the Best 295 Business Schools. In addition, GreatCollegeDeals.net ranked the online Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in finance second in the nation on its 2016 list of 15 Best Deals. The online BBA in general was ranked 19th by OnlineColleges.net, and UHV was the only public university in Texas ranked in the top 25 on that list. CollegeChoice.net recognized UHV in its Best Online Bachelor’s in Business 2016 list for having one of the 50 best programs in the nation.
- A record-high 32 alumni participated in the School of Business Administration Alumni Week during UHV Homecoming and inspired students with discussions about their education and careers.
- UHV announced it would add economics and international business concentrations to its Bachelor of Business Administration degree plans in fall 2016. This increased the number of BBA concentrations offered to students to 10.
- UHV received three large grants to increase the number of students from underrepresented populations who earn college degrees and to help elementary school students improve their math skills. A four-year, $2.5 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is providing full-ride scholarships for two years to full-time UHV students pursuing a Master of Education in clinical mental health counseling. A $300,601 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is being used to recruit additional community college students into UHV’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs that focus on physical and mental health. INVISTA provided a $25,000 grant to fund development of a math app and pilot study at Bloomington Elementary School to help second- through fifth-graders become better in math.
- A national accrediting body considered the gold standard for evaluating the training of future counselors accredited UHV’s M.Ed. in clinical mental health counseling. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs previously had accredited the university’s M.Ed. in school counseling.
- UHV achieved a 97 percent pass rate in 2015-2016 for students who took the Texas Examination of Educator Standards to become certified educators. During the prior two years, the pass rate for the university was 95 percent.
- Several national organizations recognized UHV programs for their quality and affordability. UHV’s Bachelor of Science in kinesiology was named to the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Education Recognition Program. The university is one of just five in Texas accredited for strength and conditioning. In addition, the M.Ed. in special education was ranked 11th in the 2016 Top 25 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Special Education Program Guide. Out of 146 U.S. universities offering master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction, UHV’s degree program was ranked 21st in the nation by Top Education Degrees.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Students have plenty of academic obligations, but UHV also offers extracurricular activities, programing, counseling, tutoring and advising so that students can have a well-rounded college experience. That’s where UHV Athletics and Enrollment Management & Student Affairs come into play as UHV finds success as a comprehensive, regional university.
During 2015-2016, students took part in numerous activities on and off campus. Students learned leadership skills at the second annual ROAR Leadership Conference. They also gave back by participating in the second annual Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans and the Jags Join In – Day of Service. The Student Government Association began working on creating an official UHV class ring. Students also took part in the university’s first homecoming celebration in almost 20 years with numerous activities to welcome back alumni and celebrate community connections.
The year also was exciting for Athletics as UHV student-athletes competed in the Red River Athletic Conference for the first time. The Jaguars brought home several national awards and set numerous university and national records, including the longest-ever postseason playoff game.
Here are just a few highlights from the year:
•The softball team played in an 18-inning game against Doane College in the second round of the Oklahoma City Opening Round bracket of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championships. The Jaguars came away with a 1-0 victory in the longest game in school history and NAIA Opening Round history. The win advanced the Jaguars to the championship game, where they fell to No. 1-ranked Oklahoma City.
•Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams earned berths to the RRAC soccer championships.
•Sophomore Reece Hannigan was named the RRAC Defensive Player of the Year for men’s soccer, as well as earning first team all-conference. Junior Taylor Gordon also was named first team all-conference, while junior Brian Redmond and sophomore Jonathan Valdez were named to the second team.
•The men’s soccer team set a record for most wins in a season after finishing with a 12-4-1 record that included a school-record nine-game win streak. The Jaguars went 6-1-1 in conference play.
•Sophomore Emily Lupton was named to the RRAC women’s soccer all-conference first team, while senior Darby Price earned second-team honors.
•The women’s soccer team set a record for most wins in a season after going 12-5-1. The team also had a school-record six-game win streak. The Jaguars also set eight new single-season team records: goals scored (48), assists (31), points (127), shots (256), shots on goal (151), corner kicks (64), shutouts (8) and fewest goals allowed (19).
•Junior Samantha Wooster was named the NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week for Sept. 21 to 27.
•For the first time, UHV women’s soccer gained recognition in the NAIA Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The Jaguars were ranked No. 25 in the second week of voting and remained in the poll for four straight weeks, reaching as high as No. 20.
•Senior defender Darby Price and junior goalkeeper Samantha Wooster were recognized as Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes for women’s soccer.
•Four soccer players earned recognition on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America-NAIA All-Southwest Regional Team. The players were Emily Lupton (second team), along with Taylor Gordon, Brian Redmond and Reece Hannigan (honorable mention).
•Freshman Torey Dumont tossed back-to-back softball no-hitters, with the second game being a perfect game, in a pair of wins over Texas College.
•Senior Steven Ellis became the first baseball pitcher to throw a no-hitter since the 2008 season in a win over Texas College. Ellis would earn NAIA National Pitcher of the Week honors for the accomplishment for March 21 to 27.
•Andrew Gross set single-season UHV baseball records for home runs (22) and slugging percentage (.810) en route to being named to the NAIA All-American second team.
•Dylan Blaha rewrote the UHV baseball record book, becoming the all-time hits leader with 231 career hits. He also set career marks for games played (190), games started (189), at bats (713), runs (139), hit by pitch (24), multi-hit games (62) and assists (449).
•The softball team captured the RRAC regular season conference title with a 25-3 record in its first year of league competition.
•The golf teams swept top individual conference honors as Brooke Brasseaux was named the RRAC Women’s Golf Player of the Year, and Kaleb Pressley was the RRAC Men’s Golf Player of the Year. Reid Whaley and Adrian Saenz were named the RRAC Freshmen of the Year.
•Brooke Brasseaux captured the RRAC women’s individual golf title by winning a one-hole playoff.
•The UHV softball team finished the year ranked No. 17 in the nation after compiling a 38-15 record.
•UHV softball players Savannah Crittenden and Lauren Von Boeckmann were named to the NFCA Southwest All-Region first team, while Crittenden, Von Boeckmann, Haley Beam and Sevanah Campos-Reyes were named to the RRAC first team. Krissa Powell, Aubri Hockenbury and Michelle Revels were named to the RRAC second team.
•Dylan Blaha, Cole Coakley, Steven Ellis and Andrew Gross were named to the RRAC baseball first team, while Kyle Bludau was named to the second team.
•Emily Lupton and Andrew Gross were named the 2016 UHV Athletes of the Year.
•The Corporation for National & Community Service recognized UHV on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the second year in a row for the university’s community engagement.
•Career Services assisted more than 240 students with job searches and career coaching through individual sessions. The office hosted 29 career-related programs, job fairs and workshops, including the introduction of the Mingle by Major series.
•UHV hosted its second annual Parents’ Day. Collaborating with Athletics and the City of Cuero, more than 95 students and their families enjoyed a day of activities at a UHV soccer game and Turkeyfest in Cuero.
•UHV hosted its first homecoming since 1998. The week featured a tailgate, carnival, alumni banquet, campus beautification service project and performances by comedians and a magician. The theme was Rise of the Red.
•Admissions processed more than 7,300 applications during the academic year. Completed applications were processed within a day, thanks to greater efficiency driven by technology in the student information system.
•Participation in intramural sports grew, with the creation of the Cross Campus Challenge: Battle for the Cup. Nearly 200 students from UHV and Victoria College competed on flag football, volleyball, basketball and soccer teams. UHV won a traveling trophy.
•Residence Life started the year at 92 percent occupancy in the university’s residence halls. This exceeded the previous year’s total by 5 percent.
•Student life activities continued to increase, from 73 events in 2013-2014 to more than 170 in 2015-2016.
•The Residence Hall Association increased membership by 275 percent from the previous year, leading to more input from on-campus students.
•The Student Success Coach team, which provides advising for students with less than 45 credit hours, started a group of Student Success Ambassadors to connect students with resources to increase retention.
•Six student organizations were chartered at the annual Student Organization & Leadership Banquet. UHV now has 29 officially chartered student organizations with more forming as interest groups.
•Financial Aid added a manager of student financial services to assist students and families with financial aid strategies, debt counseling and borrowing options.
•The Counseling Center saw a 39 percent increase in student appointments from 2014-2015 to 2015-2016.
•Student participation in Jaguar Journey, the university’s new student orientation, grew to an all-time high with 312 students attending.
•Face-to-face consultations with peer tutors in the Student Success Center increased by 66 percent from fall 2015 to fall 2016.
•After receiving a three-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Counseling Center and Student Life & Services were able to use the funding to put on more than 105 related programs in 2015-2016.
•The second annual ROAR Leadership Conference was held to teach students leadership skills. About 60 students from UHV, Victoria College and local high schools listened to and took part in presentations led by UHV faculty and staff, and community leaders.
•Students took part in various civic engagement projects. One was an Alternative Spring Break trip, where 10 students volunteered in New Orleans and UHV student Perry Geurin was awarded Volunteer of the Week. Students also participated in Jags Join In – Day of Service in Victoria, volunteering at Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity, Food Bank of the Golden Crescent and Adopt-A-Pet.
TARGETING TEAMWORK
Community members and businesses have played an instrumental part in the history of UHV by partnering with the university to be successful and create opportunities for students. The community support was unmistakable during Fiscal Year 2016.
UHV received more than $1 million in donations in 2015-2016. The support raised includes financial and in-kind contributions from foundations, businesses and individuals, including alumni, community supporters and university faculty, staff and students. This money is being used for academic programs, scholarships, professorships, athletics and related student support.
Here are some other highlights from the year:
•The M.G. and Lillie A. Johnson Foundation donated $500,000 for the purchase and installation of a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometer at UHV. This high tech piece of equipment will be used by faculty and students to determine the chemical structure of organic compounds.
•UHV received a $78,990 national grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that is allowing 16 high school science teachers in the region to take part in a water quality research and professional development project. In addition, the project was given $15,340 from the Victoria County Groundwater Conservation District.
•UHV students donated $6,906 to the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. The students donated meals from their UHV dining plans, and the meals were then converted into dollars by the university.
•The Provost’s Lecture Series brought Sandra Spencer, a professor and director of women’s and gender studies at the University of North Texas, to campus for a free community lecture about human trafficking in Texas.
•UHV sponsored Free Ticket Tuesday at the Victoria Generals, allowing community members to attend a baseball game at no cost. Fans also received giveaways and took part in contests between innings.
•Eight faculty members and the international program director from China University of Petroleum visited UHV to discuss how the two universities could work together on research and student exchanges. The two schools also signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier in the year.
•Joan Browning, a Freedom Rider during the Civil Rights movement, came to UHV to share her experiences with students and community members.
•The Victoria College/UHV Library held a grant-writing workshop for nonprofit employees and volunteers.
•The UHV Small Business Development Center and School of Business Administration hosted a Victoria simulcast of Leadercast, a worldwide leadership conference. During lunch, David Summers, a UHV associate professor of entrepreneurship, spoke about becoming a leader.
•As part of Black History Month, UHV brought in two speakers for the A.D. Sheffield Symposium on African American History. Ed Byerly, a Victoria College history professor, gave a presentation about Sheffield. Jennifer Ritterhouse, an associate history professor at George Mason University, discussed how children learned about race during the Jim Crow era.
•The Texas Zoo in Victoria acquired Sophia, a female jaguar from a zoo in Maryland. Sophia joined jaX, UHV’s real-life jaguar mascot, in his enclosure in the hope the pair will have cubs.
•The VC/UHV Library digitized Henry’s Journal Online, a collection of more than 6,700 of Henry Wolff’s columns published in the Victoria Advocate from 1979 to 2009.
•Keep Victoria Beautiful presented UHV with its September beautification award for the university’s landscaping and beautification efforts.
•The Community of Readers Series continued with events and faculty lectures about the book “Fahrenheit 451.”
•The UHV School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development held several events for educators and community members, including a lecture about dyslexia by Dee Dee Cain, a clinical instructor at the University of Central Arkansas, and a lecture about the explosive athlete by Ed Cosner, a former San Antonio Spurs assistant strength and condition coach. Other events were a literacy and technology conference, and a co-teaching workshop.
•The Student Government Association organized the 13th annual Giving Tree, a holiday charity drive that provided donations to four organizations: Adopt-A-Pet, Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, Mid-Coast Family Services and the Old Landmark Committee of Victoria.
•The UHV Downtown Arts Series partnered with the Victoria Bach Festival to bring jazz pianist Marilyn Crispell to Victoria for a concert.
•UHV hosted the 29th annual De León Symposium, focused on the theme “The Latina/Latino Experience in World War II.”
•The Victoria Crossroads Council of Mathematics Educators Conference was held at UHV in the fall and spring. Education students, teachers and parents attended to learn about math and science teaching techniques and concepts.
•A UHV graduate marketing research class conducted a marketing survey for the Fort Bend County Libraries to evaluate what services and resources were being used by patrons.
•The UHV Small Business Development Center opened a satellite office in the Cuero Development Corp. office.
•UHV honored the Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of Texas Chapter 3077 with a proclamation. The chapter presented the university with a plaque as a token of gratitude.
•UHV and Victoria County signed a five-year agreement that authorizes county departments to hire UHV students for internships.
•The VC/UHV Library held Banned Books Week to bring awareness about censorship. Events included skits, readings of banned books and film screenings.
•Seven students who enrolled in UHV’s new Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program received M.G. & Lillie A. Johnson Foundation scholarships.
•Korean author Jung Young-moon gave a reading for the Dalkey Archive Press’s first author event in Victoria.
•Brian Andreas, the internationally recognized writer and artist behind StoryPeople, gave a free public presentation at UHV.
•UHV partnered with VC, Victoria Independent School District and many other area businesses and nonprofit organizations to put on GenTX activities throughout the year to encourage students to pursue education or training beyond high school. GenTX Way to Pay Day took place at UHV and allowed more than 80 area students to get one-on-one assistance with applying for college, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, writing college scholarship essays and learning about different ways to pay for a college education.
•UHV also hosted several events designed to get area students engaged in higher education and give them opportunities to win scholarships:
- The top three winners in the Black History Month Poster Contest for fifth-graders won UHV scholarships. The theme for the contest was Honoring African American Women in Public Service and Government. All of the winners were honored at a poster contest reception, and participants’ posters were on display at UHV during February.
- Hispanic Heritage Month events included a lecture about illegal immigration reform by Jesus Nebot and a reception recognizing the middle school winners of an art contest. The students received UHV scholarships. Entries were on display at UHV for the month.
- More than 210 high school students from 10 schools took part in the 21st annual Math & Robotics Awareness Day. The event was made possible by a $20,000 Alcoa Foundation grant. The grant money also funded a UHV after-school robotics class for high school students, a Summer Robotics Camp, a Summer Math Camp and a C++ programing course.