You are here:  UHD 1999/2000 Catalog / University of Houston–Downtown / About UH–Downtown

• University of Houston–Downtown
• Purpose and Mission
• History
• Facilities
• Accreditation
• Governance

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The University of Houston–Downtown

For 25 years, the University of Houston–Downtown has made a difference in the lives of the thousands of students who come to the university each year to earn their baccalaureate degrees in 30 different major fields of study. The richness of its diverse student population and its exemplary teaching faculty have inspired students to embrace both the challenges of scholarship and the values of an interdependent world citizenry. The faculty, staff, and students invite you to become part of the excitement of building your future at the University of Houston-Downtown.

Purpose and Mission

The University of Houston–Downtown is an open-admission, public, urban university and is committed to serving the educational needs of the multi-cultural population of Houston and surrounding communities. The University strives to recruit and retain a highly qualified, diverse faculty and staff who are dedicated to the institution’s educational mission. Through instructional excellence, creative and scholarly activities, and community involvement, the University contributes to the technological, scientific, business, economic, social and cultural development of the greater Houston area.

The University of Houston–Downtown offers academic degree programs that enable students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their chosen fields. To help students meet the rigorous standards and requirements for successful completion of its programs, the University provides a wide range of support services to address the various needs of its diverse student body. Through flexible scheduling, varied programs, appropriately sized classes, distance learning technologies, and student support services, the University facilitates the progress of both traditional and nontraditional students.

In its public service and outreach activities, the University offers numerous pre-collegiate programs as well as continuing education programs that maintain and upgrade specialized skills of professionals employed in the Houston area. Through selected programs, research initiatives and collaborative efforts, the University also seeks to broaden its domestic and international programs and relationships.

History

The University of Houston first offered courses in the central business district in 1942 at its Downtown School on Fannin Street. That commitment to urban higher education crystallized in 1974 when the university received the assets of South Texas Junior College, located in the Merchants and Manufacturers Building at One Main Street. The resulting institution became a separate operational unit of the University of Houston in 1975. In 1979, the Texas Legislature approved the Downtown College as a free-standing general purpose academic institution within the University of Houston System. In 1983, the college’s name was changed to the University of Houston–Downtown.

Facilities

The campus reflects the urban character of the institution. The downtown skyline forms a dramatic backdrop to the university’s One Main Street Building. Situated above Buffalo Bayou at the northern edge of downtown, the building has been almost completely renovated since it became part of the university system. A state-of-the-art learning environment provides students with access to the latest technology and enhances their educational experience. The twin-tower, 10-story structure, which also houses administrative offices of the university, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and by the Texas Historical Commission. All areas of the building are accessible to disabled students.

In response to the university’s growing need for more space, two buildings have opened. The Academic/Student Services Building, a five-story structure located west of the One Main Building, comprises 40 classrooms, two lecture halls, a 460-seat auditorium, an interactive technology center, and a food service area. The building, funded by tuition revenue bonds authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1993, was completed in 1997. The Jesse H. Jones Student Life Center, located on the north side of the campus, was made possible by a gift from the Houston Endowment. The building contains two basketball courts, volleyball courts, dance studio and a fitness center.

Accreditation

The University of Houston–Downtown is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate degrees. Accreditation documentation is available in the Office of the President.

The bachelor of business administration programs of the College of Business are accredited by AACSB — the International Association for Management Education. Accreditation documentation is available in the Office of the Dean of Business (1009-North).

The Engineering Technology majors in Electrical/Electronics Design, Structural Analysis and Design, and Process and Piping Design are accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Accreditation documentation for these programs is available in the Office of the Dean of Sciences and Technology (723-North).

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Governance

The University of Houston–Downtown is governed by the Board of Regents of the University of Houston System. The university’s chief administrative officer is the president. The University of Houston–Downtown is a public institution supported by state appropriations.