t h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f h o u s to n s i n c e 1 9 3 4
THE DAILY COUGAR
®
GET SOME DAILY
thedailycougar.com
89 LO 67 Wednesday HI
Statistics open for interpretation with Cougars’ defensive unit
October 5, 2011
Stay healthy by avoiding cantaloupe
Issue 26, Volume 77
ADMINISTRATION
Khator praises University at fall address Jennifer Postel
THE DAILY COUGAR
Renu Khator is the 13th president of UH and has served since 2008. She is the first foreign born chancellor of the UH System. | Yulia Kutsenkova/The Daily Cougar
UH President Renu Khator explained why 2011 has been a banner year for the University in her third annual fall address Tuesday. Khator addressed hundreds of faculty, staff and board members – including Welcome Wilson, Jr. and newly-appointed Chairwoman Nelda Luce Blair – at Moore’s Opera House and expressed her sincere joy over UH’s recent national recognition. “Congratulations,” Khator said excitedly. “We did it!” During the last 10 months the University has made it’s mark on the national stage. Beginning in January with a Tier One designation from the Carnegie Foundation, the accolades continued to roll in for Texas’ third largest university – including being named one of the 376 best colleges in the nation by the Princeton Review. “In 2027 the University of Houston will celebrate it’s 100th birthday,” Khator said. “A history of the University will be written that day, there will be a chapter dedicated to one particular year, 2011.”
President Khator emphasized that “student success and Tier One status is a non-negotiable” and cannot be achieved without the support of a talented faculty and staff. In July the Chronicle for Higher Education named UH to its list of great colleges to work for, and to build on this achievement and the achievements of the students Khator has dedicated herself and the University to the enhancement of the school’s faculty and staff. “At this time, when we have great momentum, we cannot allow our talent to leave for greener pastures,” Khator said. “Therefore, this year, I am committed to faculty and staff raises. However, they will be based on a strict evaluation.” Keeping in line with the focus of continued student success, one area of concern is the University’s graduation rate – which lags behind the current national average of 53 percent. Currently, UH has a graduation rate of 46 percent. The seven percent gap is enough to keep the school from being recognized as a Tier One institution by the U.S. News and World Report. Beginning next year, admission standards will change to align with that of other Tier One universities.
President Khator assured the audience that the graduation gap should be of no serious concern and instead turned attention towards hard work and dedication as the characteristics of future success. “Research indicates that higher expectations inspire people to work harder and to achieve greater,” Khator said. “As long as they have the necessary tools to do so. “The focus has to be on offering the necessary tools and not on lowering the expectations, because as we all know, these students, after graduating, will face a world that is increasingly competitive.” A number of initiatives have been set in motion to ensure this success including the placement of UH advisers throughout the local community college systems, as well as offering a free education to students from low-income families. Khator told the audience that despite the challenges placed upon the University during the last year, it has still found a way to succeed. “You are our greatest asset,” Khator said. “Today, I ask for your leadership and I ask for your energies.” news@thedailycougar.com
ADMINISTRATION
VP for student affairs addresses campus issues at discussion Talk focuses on expanding university services, programs Ryan Rockett
THE DAILY COUGAR The newly-appointed UH vice chancellor and vice president of student affairs tackled issues concerning residency, parking and security posed by students in an afternoon roundtable discussion Tuesday in the UC Bluebonnet Room. About 15 student leaders attended the meeting after receiving personal invitations from J. Richard Walker, who is now three weeks into his term. Directly following UH President Renu Khator’s Fall Address, Walker opened the session by expounding on the administration’s University Center renovation and expansion plan as well as plans to expand student housing. The housing plan involves the construction of Cougar Village 2, beginning next May following the demolition and renovation of Cougar
Place. The new buildings will increase student rooms from the current 6,000-8,000. The vice president said plans are also in place to improve security in the area, and interviews for a second Police Chief position are currently underway. When asked if funding will be reflected in higher student fees and tuition, Walker said there’s no easy answer. “Our goal is to try and make sure we spend with efficiency,” Walker said, citing the recent cut in state appropriations. “It will be difficult. We have to be cognizant of the ceiling of what students can pay. “Housing rate and student fee increases are things that we will be looking at to try to do the best we can to keep education affordable for everybody.” Walker also said the administration is considering the construction of a new Health Center on campus, and the board is open to exploring green energy initiatives to cut costs further. Concerning the school’s constrained parking and expensive student garage parking passes, Walker said he plans to meet with the
director of parking and transportation soon to address student problems. “Anytime you’re expanding your infrastructure there’s always a parking issue,” Walker said. “There are going to be parking growing pains, but in this planning process we need to figure out that if parking is going to be displaced because of construction, then where are these students supposed to park?” Student Program Board member Amber Mulligan informed Walker of communication issues between student organizations and residents, and Walker took on a personal responsibility to fix the problem. “I think you will see much more collaboration and partnerships,” Walker said. “My expectation is that we do not need to be working in silence, we need to be working for the general good of the overall student experience.” Walker replaced interim Vice President Michael Lawrence on Aug. 17. He plans to have at least two more roundtable discussions this semester and encouraged a free flowing format in which students can openly discuss issues and ideas.
Student Government Association Education Senator Denise McDougall said the event was a great opportunity. “I feel it was very positive,” the education junior said. “We were able to ask any question, and he was very responsive.” “I think he is very student oriented, and I feel confident that he will effect change.” The event was organized by Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs Juanita Jackson, who also provided lunch and beverages to the attendees. Walker was appreciative of the feedback and participation of the students during the event. “One of the most exciting components of my job is working with student leaders to create a stronger and more robust campus life and student experience,” Walker said in the invitation extended to student organizations. “The Division of Student Affairs staff and student leaders must be partners in this process.” news@thedailycougar,com