Comprised of Division features, accolades and achievements, as well as valuable "In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)" news you can use, each edition of the newsletter highlights key information and resources across the Division's departmental, operational and service unit areas. Subscribe to the A&F listserv.

Dear Colleagues,

During this month of giving thanks, I would like to express my gratitude to every Division of Administration & Finance employee for your tremendous effort and dedication in supporting our Cougar community. To provide an opportunity for all of us to connect this holiday season, divisional leadership has scheduled a fantastic winter holiday event, scheduled for Dec. 4 from 2 - 4 p.m. in the Student Center Houston Room and Ballroom. Please mark your calendar for this joyful event. I look forward to seeing all of you at the division holiday celebration.

I hope many of you were able to attend the Faculty & Staff Tailgate Homecoming Game celebration in late October. The event, a tradition dating back decades, allowed faculty and staff to enjoy UH Homecoming festivities and a Cougar football game. Please read the article to see how first-time employee attendees enjoyed the event.

Additional highlights in this month’s newsletter include:

• A feature story on the UH Campus Store Houston Blue merchandise launch.
• An article highlighting the successes of Office of Administration colleagues at this year’s National Association of College Auxiliary Services C3X Conference.
• An update on the University of Houston Police Department’s annual Walk in the Dark event.

These are just a few highlighted items in this month’s newsletter. Please take the opportunity to read and explore all the divisional updates and accolades.

I am grateful for each divisional employee and the tremendous support you provide daily to the UH community and our collective focus on supporting student success in all we do. I wish all of you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Faculty & Staff Tailgate Tradition Continues, Impresses First-Time Attendees

University of Houston faculty, staff, and their families celebrated Homecoming weekend with the traditional Faculty & Staff Tailgate event held before the Cougar’s football match against Utah. The event, a collaboration between the Division of Administration and Finance, Staff Council, Division of Academic Affairs, and the Faculty Senate, saw 380 attendees. The attendees feasted on chicken fajita tacos, nachos, jackfruit tacos, tres leches cake, and numerous other tailgate treats. Read more about this traditional festivity.

CTAP Delivers Savings for UH Students

Since the fall of 2023, the University of Houston’s Cougar Textbook Access Program has saved students $20 million compared to the cost of new books. The CTAP program, first launched as a pilot in Spring 2022, gives undergraduate students access to all required course materials on or before the first day of class for the flat fee of $299, plus a $24.67 sales tax, per semester.

The astounding savings and the success of the program in just three semesters were touted by UH President and system chancellor Renu Khator during here State of the University speech hailing as one of the ways faculty and staff have raised the bar on support services for students. Learn more about how CTAP has helped students.

Houston Blue Merch a Smashing Success at UH Campus Store

The long-awaited Houston Blue apparel delivered a smashing success for the UH Campus Store. The Houston Blue gear began selling on Friday, Nov. 1st and even before doors opened, a line of eager Coogs awaited their opportunity to nab some of the Houston Blue gear. Houston Blue options included polo shirts, jerseys, hats, mini football helmets, towels, and T-shirts. And while the store did not physically begin selling Houston Blue apparel until opening, online orders began at midnight. Read more about the success of the Houston Blue merchandise.

Graduation Celebration Takes Over the UH Campus Store

A graduation party took over the UH Campus Store on November 15. Graduating seniors had received an invitation through their e-mail to come by the first floor of the store to pick up or order their cap and gown, receive extra commencement tickets they had “won” through the lottery, and have some fun at the Graduation Celebration. Attendees immediately got in the groove due to the atmosphere created by the music played by the deejay — with the occasional Shasta growl mixed in. Read more about this celebration for graduating seniors.

UH Faculty and Staff Take Advantage of UH Onsite Mammography Screenings

HR Power UP Employee Wellness brings mobile mammograms to the University of Houston one to two times a year for eligible employees. This fall, HR POWER UP Employee Wellness partnered with The Rose to host 3D mobile mammography screenings in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Realizing the importance of yearly exams, 57 women registered for an on-campus preventive care screening conducted in The Rose’s state-of-the-art mobile mammography unit. HR POWER UP encourages employees who meet exam guidelines but have yet to receive an annual mammography screening to do so.

2025 Ushers New Seating Setup at Cullen Performance Hall

Cullen Performance Hall has raised the curtain on a new seating chart for 2025. This is in response to visitors who had become confused in finding their seats in the orchestra and balcony areas when they attended a performance or event. To alleviate this issue, the vertical section designations of left, left center, right center, and right will no longer be in use and the seating numbers will run across the whole width of the rows. Read more about the seating change coming to Cullen Performance Hall.

Stay Cougar S.A.F.E.

	UHPD, Students, Walk in the Dark to Improve UH Safety at Night The University of Houston Police Department hosted its annual Walk in the Dark community event in November. This event allowed students, faculty, and staff to walk the campus at night alongside UHPD officers to identify areas that could benefit from safety improvements, such as increased lighting. This year, students, faculty, and staff also walked the campus with members of Facility Services, FIXIT, Student Government Association leaders, and Justin Dart Jr. Student Accessibility Center staff. Read more about this community safety event.
	Holiday Fire Safety Tips Festive celebrations, twinkling lights, and sharing meals with family, friends, and colleagues are some of the defining features of the upcoming holidays. However, certain fire hazards that arise from the holiday season can swiftly transform this joyful time of year into a disastrous one. Read the Fire Safety tips to learn more.
	UH CERT Members Volunteer at Local National Night Out Event Irma Ferriz, a dedicated member of the University of Houston’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), demonstrated her commitment to community service by volunteering at a CERT table during Denver Harbor Civic Club’s National Night Out. The event bridges the gap between first responders, particularly police officers, and the communities that they serve. CERT members play a vital role in response and recovery phases by assisting first responders when disaster strikes. Ferriz’s involvement contributed to a successful event and highlighted her passion for emergency preparedness. She has exemplified what it means to be a CERT member by promoting community connections and providing support to her community. Ferriz is an Executive Secretary in the UH Scholarships and Financial Aid department and has been a UH CERT member for many years. Learn more about the CERT program at UH.
	Campus Safety Department Provides Preparedness Training to the UH Law Center Ginger Walker, Director of Emergency Management, and Chris McDonald, Director of Fire and Life Safety, recently took center stage during the Law Center's preparedness sessions, aiming to enhance the readiness for disasters in the Law building. Their series of presentations for faculty, staff, and students with disabilities, focused on practical strategies and resources to ensure safety and resilience in the face of emergencies. By sharing insights on effective communication, evacuation plans, and accessible resources, they emphasized the importance of collective preparedness and community support. Their engaging presentations sparked valuable conversations about the specific needs of diverse groups within the Law Center. "If something we said resonates with those in attendance and enhances their safety mindset, we have had a successful preparedness session,” said Walker.

Cougar Cudos

To nominate a fellow staff member, fill out the Cougar Cudos Nomination Form.

A&F Makes Presence Known at NACAS C3X Annual Conference

The Division of Administration and Finance was well represented at the 2024 NACAS C3X Annual Conference & Expo in Kissimmee, Florida. This year, two A&F members, Deborah Huebler, Executive Director of Auxiliary Services, and Dr. Esmeralda Valdez, Executive Director of University Services, were among the seven honored with the inaugural 2024 Cornerstone of the Profession Award which honors NACAS members who have demonstrated a profound investment in their institutions, a commitment to volunteer leadership with NACAS spanning at least a decade. Learn more about how A&F represented the division at the annual NACAS Conference.

UH Wins 2024 Top Participating Education Company Award

The University of Houston and HR POWER UP Employee Wellness program received a Top Participating Education Company Award for having the most participants from an education institution in the Hess Houston Corporate 5K in October. The run, named UH Day at the CORP 5K, brought more than 100 UH faculty and staff members to the 5K event coordinated by the HR POWER UP Employee Wellness program. The run is the biggest standalone 5K in Houston and the fourth largest corporate run in the country. A highly anticipated event each year, the Corp 5K is a great community team-building opportunity and supports employees' physical, mental and social well-being.

Sara Alexander Promoted to Deputy Fire Marshall

Fire Safety Technician Sara Alexander has been promoted to deputy fire marshal. Alexander was initially hired to manage the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program at the University of Houston-Main, Sugar Land, and Katy. During her time as a technician, Alexander expanded the AED program to several new buildings, replaced all out-of-warranty AEDs, and developed a risk matrix for buildings without an AED.

Alexander is a certified fire and life safety educator with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) and recently became a TCFP Fire Inspector. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Texas A&M University. The Fire and Life Safety Office looks forward to utilizing and enhancing Alexander’s newly acquired skills.

STARS Awards UH Silver Rating

Facilities/Construction Management is proud to have the University of Houston recognized in the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index (pages 67, 76) released by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The new LEED Silver-certified John M. O’Quinn Law Building was also recognized in the publication. The UH Office of Sustainability worked diligently to complete and submit a detailed report that measures its sustainability performance in five categories: Academics, Engagement, Operations, Planning & Administration and Innovation & Leadership.

A Silver rating was awarded to UH for its 97.7% data accuracy to the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). As of March 2024, STARS reports were submitted by more than 614 institutions in 24 countries. F/CM looks forward to building futures and maintaining excellence by continuing to support sustainability initiatives that will improve overall UH sustainability performance.

Cougar Red Friday Discounts

Fridays just got a bit sweeter thanks to discounts from UH Dining Services. Wear red on Fridays to get discounts at Asado Tacos & Bowl, Shake Smart, Melt Lab, and RAD Center eateries like, The Burger Joint, The Taco Stand, and The Nook. Additionally, you can eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Cougar Woods or Moody Dining Commons at a reduced price. Check out the full Cougar Red Friday Discounts to learn more.

Reminder: A&F Making Spirits Bright Holiday Party

The holiday season is upon us, and the Division of Administration & Finance is celebrating in style with the A&F Making Spirits Bright Holiday Party on Wednesday, Dec. 4th from 2 to 4 p.m., in the Student Center South Houston Room and Multipurpose Room. Join us to welcome the holiday season with an afternoon full of fun. We plan to have multiple ways to engage so be prepared to enjoy some treats, listen to some festive music and ultimately have a joy filled afternoon.

Save the Date for A&F Staff Appreciation Event set for April 2

Mark your calendars and save the date for Administration & Finance’s Staff Award Appreciation event set for Wednesday, April 2, 2025. The event, now in its third year, provides an opportunity for the division to gather, share a meal, and celebrate those that demonstrated exceptional service in 2024 via three individual awards in the V.I.S.I.O.N. Award, Silent Service Award, and the Star Performer Award, and two team awards, the Team Innovation Award and Team Impact Award.