The University of Houston System (UHS) Board of Regents approved a $1.6 billion budget for fiscal year (FY) 2014 that reflects its continuing commitment to student success and national competitiveness initiatives.
The budget, which goes into effect Sept. 1, was approved during the board’s quarterly meeting Wednesday.
The FY2014 budget, which increased 5 percent from a year ago, includes $1.3 billion in operating expenditures – approximately two-thirds of which will be dedicated to supporting student success initiatives such as expanding resources and academic offerings for its students. These expenditures also will include $149 million for national competitiveness initiatives (a 24 percent increase over the past five years).
During the past year, UHS introduced 13 new degree programs, and 11 major construction projects are in progress. These projects include residence halls, garages, research facilities and a state-of-the-art football stadium.
The UH System consists of four universities: the University of Houston (UH), UH-Clear Lake (UHCL), UH-Downtown (UHD) and UH-Victoria (UHV). It also includes three branch campuses: UHCL Pearland, UHS-Northwest and UH Sugar Land. Additionally, the system has one multi-institutional teaching center, UHS Cinco Ranch.
Below is a breakdown of the FY2014 budget:
- UH – $1.2 billion: The University’s FY2014 budget provides an additional $22 million to support student success initiatives aimed at enrollment and graduation rates. These include expanded residence halls, additional scholarships, new course offerings, added support staff (recruiters, advisers) and enhanced curriculum. As part of its commitment to student success, UH is dedicating $3 million in graduate tuition fellowships and stipends, and $2 million for need-based financial aid. The University also will contribute an additional $21 million toward national competitiveness efforts. These include hiring and retaining faculty, developing new academic programs, supporting research infrastructure projects (labs, equipment) and library enhancements. UH’s budget also includes $17 million for its infrastructure and administration. Among these initiatives are retaining staff, expanding and improving campus parking, and hiring additional security personnel.
- UHCL - $112 million: UHCL transitions into a four-year university this fall. Its budget includes an additional $6 million for student success initiatives as it welcomes its first freshmen to campus. These include enhanced academic and instructional support, additional scholarships and financial aid, and faculty recruitment and retention. UHCL also will devote $1.5 million toward its research excellence and national competitive objectives, which include strengthening its teaching and research resources. UHCL also will apply $4 million to administration and infrastructure projects including staff recruitment and retention, construction, maintenance projects and campus computing.
- UHD - $176 million: UHD’s budget includes an additional $9 million for its student success initiatives. These include the recruitment and retention of faculty members, additional scholarships, bolstered recruiting efforts and enhanced enrollment services. UHD also will dedicate $2.5 million toward its national competitiveness efforts, which include recruiting and retaining faculty and staff.
- UHV - $69 million: UHV’s budget includes an additional $3.4 million for student success initiatives that will accommodate its growing enrollment. These include hiring new faculty members, recruiting and retaining students, and improving graduation rates. Other student success initiatives include the development of new academic programs and expanding distance education and online curriculum. UHV also will contribute $250,000 toward national competitiveness efforts including faculty salaries, support staff for faculty research, and resources that will support accreditation initiatives.
To view a summary of the FY2014 budget, visit this online report.
For more details on the UH System and the UH System Board of Regents, visit http://www.uhsa.uh.edu/.
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ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
The University of Houston System is a comprehensive system of higher education institutions serving to further the intellectual capital and economic strength of the Gulf Coast region. The UH System includes the University of Houston, a nationally recognized Tier One public research university; the University of Houston-Downtown, a four-year undergraduate university expanding into graduate programs; the University of Houston-Victoria, a four-year university with undergraduate and master’s level degree programs; and the University of Houston- Clear Lake, an upper-division and master’s level institution. The system also includes three branch campuses, UH-Clear Lake Pearland, UH System - Northwest and UH Sugar Land, as well as a multi-institution teaching center, UH System Cinco Ranch. In addition, the System owns and operates Houston Public Media (HPM). HPM comprises KUHF-FM, Houston’s National Public Radio station; KUHA-FM, Houston’s 24-hour classical music station; and KUHT-TV, the nation’s first educational television station. To learn more about the UH System, visit http://www.uhsa.uh.edu/.