Dear UH Faculty,

It’s been quite a week at the University of Houston! Of course, the big news is our rise in the U.S. News and World Report rankings.

While we have not cracked the Top 50 in U.S. News’ list of public universities, we have moved significantly closer. As mentioned in previous correspondence from President Renu Khator, UH rose 21 spots to reach No. 70 in the nation. Additionally, the University jumped to No. 133 among all public and private universities. This is a great testament to all your efforts to elevate our institution’s national profile. And, we are now No. 31 in student mobility!

I’d like to thank each of you for your commitment to supporting student success, academic excellence and, of course, research. You are truly making a difference.

U.S. News’ Top 50 remains our priority. Reaching Top 50 among public institutions will also bring us closer to eligibility for an invitation into the exclusive Association of American Universities. President Khator developed a very helpful presentation that dispels any myths about UH’s ability to achieve this status. Visit this link and click Path to Preeminence (login required) for a very enlightening look at how our university compared to newly admitted AAU schools. These slides explain that UH is indeed the very model of an academic powerhouse. We just need to continue to follow the goals on our path to Top 50. You will be hearing more about our aspirations and strategies from both the President and me in the coming weeks and months.

Again, thank you for your contributions to the University of Houston and to our students. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish next!

Diane Z. Chase
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, University of Houston