THE DAILY COUGAR
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
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Issue 81, Volume 79
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H O U S T O N
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM
HRM
Culinary arts creates international partnership Erika Forero Staff writer
A sigh of relief After more than an hour of presentations, cross-examinations and deliberations, REDvolution presidential candidate Charles Haston was acquitted of the charges for falsifying financial disclosure documents, allowing him and, effectively, his running mate Erica Tat to remain on the election ballot. The Daily Cougar editorial board reflected on the trial, see Page 4. For a photo spread of the SGA trials, see Page 8. — JUSTIN TIJERINA/THE DAILY COUGAR
The Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management has opened new doors in Peru, giving both local and Latin American students an opportunity for firstclass training in the hospitality industry. Thirteen students from Lima, Peru walked with their fellow classmates in the college’s fall commencement ceremony in December in Houston. They became the first graduating class of the Conrad N. Hilton College-Lima, a program that was the result of an international partnership with the Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Lima, the school where the Lima students take their first two years of classes before beginning the UH curriculum. “That was really exciting,” said Lydia Westbrook, the director of international and external programs for the college. “There were 13 graduates, and 10 of them came up here with their families. We had a one-week program where they were able to meet some local industry people. We also took them to the Hilton Americas and the Houston Visitors Center, so they saw some of the hospitality industry that’s here in Houston.” Westbrook said the graduates were able to meet some of the college’s professors and student ambassadors so they could get to know the campus and their school. They continued with a graduation brunch
planned just for them and ended with the commencement ceremony, where they walked with the Houston graduates. According to a press release, almost half of the Lima students had job offers upon graduation. Claudia Cavero, one of the 13 Lima graduates, works as an operations coordinator for U.S.-based travel agency Latin America for Less and said the two universities are a great pair. “USIL is the best hospitality college in Peru, and I think it’s a great fit, because they really emphasize the importance of opening up to global opportunities,” Cavero said. “UH is one of the most diverse places I’ve ever been, so it really is a perfect match. I found that both colleges were on the same page as far as the hospitality industry, which reflects the academic level that these universities share.” Westbrook said the Hilton College couldn’t be happier with the progress of the relatively young program, which will begin its fifth semester in the summer. The Lima program is not only for students across Latin America to get an American education. American Hilton students are also invited and encouraged to study in Lima. “We also have an exchange program with (USIL), so we aren’t just delivering the degree down there and that’s it,” Westbrook said. “Our students have the opportunity to CULINARY continues on page 8
UH SYSTEM
Board of Regents to determine student finances, futures Amanda Hilow News editor
The UH System Board of Regents will meet at 12:30 p.m. today in the Hilton UH to make financial and academic decisions with the potential to impact the entire student community. Fees and tuition Needing only final approval from the Board, the UH System is requesting to establish four-year fixed tuition rates for fiscal years 2015 and 2016 for first-time-in-college freshmen and undergraduate transfer students. According to the meeting’s agenda packet, the fixed-rate program is a requirement of House Bill 29 from the
83rd Texas Legislature, but the fixed rates are optional for students. Approval is also being requested to change to the FY2015 and FY2016 variable-rate undergraduate and graduate tuition and fee rates; to the mandatory student-recommended fees; and to the voluntary and optional fees and charges for FY2015. Asset sales If all items on the agenda are approved, President and Chancellor Renu Khator will also have the authority to bring in extra funds. The Facilities, Construction and Master Planning Committee and the Finance and Administration
Committee will request approval to delegate the authority to Khator to negotiate and execute the sale of about 2.89 acres of UH land, just south of the Energy Research Park and along Brays Bayou, to the Houston Parks Board in order to ease the cost of an Khator upcoming hiking and electric cart trail and a new tunnel system for utility infrastructure. UH would maintain the right to use the property for any purpose. According to the agenda item, the sale price would total $336,520.
The Finance and Administration Committee is also seeking to delegate authority for the sale of properties acquired as gifts since 1980. The total value of these properties is $157,267, according to information provided to the Board. Endowment funds, other assets Representatives from investment company Cambridge Associates are working with the Endowment Management Committee to modify the UH System Investment Policy for NonEndowed Funds. About $626 million in non-endowed funds are currently subject to this policy, according to the committee report.
“All non-endowed financial assets of the University of Houston System are to be invested in a manner that will provide the highest investment return with the maximum security while meeting the daily cash flow demands of the System,” according to the redlined policy. If the revised copy is approved, 50 percent of UH’s non-endowed assets will be allocated in cash pool and invested in money market funds with a 91-day benchmark, and 50 percent will be allocated to a liquidity pool with a horizon of one to five years. The Endowment Management REGENTS continues on page 3