Mar 29, 2024  
2017-2018 Student Handbook 
    
2017-2018 Student Handbook [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Academic Enrichment Programs



The Academic Achievers Program (Center for Mexican American Studies)

323 Agnes Arnold Hall
713-743-3136

The Academic Achievers Program (AAP) targets low- income underrepresented students who are the first in their families to attend college. The program has proven to be highly effective in keeping students in good standing and on the path to graduation. The retention services and financial aid offered by the program are crucial to their ability to remain enrolled and graduate from the University of Houston.

To prevent major obstacles from affecting degree attainment, the program offers a variety of services, including scholarships, tutoring, time management sessions, skills workshops, job-site visits, leadership retreats, and internships. These services help improve grades and increase the students’ desire for challenges. Students are more confident and even enthusiastic about courses that traditionally induce anxiety. Overall, the Academic Achievers Program yields well-rounded individuals prepared with the academic, leadership, and work experience needed to enter the professional workforce.

Air Force ROTC

Air Force Leadership Program
Garrison Rm 109
713-743-3704
www.class.uh.edu/rotc/airforce/

The Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFROTC) produces commissioned officers for the United States Air Force. AFROTC offers scholarship opportunities and a potential future in the world’s best Air Force-a combination hard to beat. The curriculum centers on developing the leader­ship and management skills of tomorrow’s military leaders. Enrollment is open to all UH students. There is no program commitment or military obligation for taking the AFROTC classes. Students interested in AFROTC can call or visit the university’s AFROTC detachment office, visit www.afrotc.com or call toll-free 1-866-4AFROTC.

Army ROTC

Military Science Program
26 Hofheinz Pavilion
713-743-3875
www.uh.edu/rotc

The Army Reserve Officers’ Training Program (ROTC) produces commissioned officers for the Active Army, the Army Reserve and the National Guard. Becoming an Army Officer is an ambitious choice for today’s young leader, specifically those who are interested in pursuing or have already completed a college degree. The program teaches discipline, decision-making, and management skills through world class leadership development that will enhance the future success during and after Army service. Additionally, Army ROTC offers generous scholarships to qualified students based solely on merits, not financial needs.

The Challenger Program

319 Student Service Center
713-743-5420
http://www.uh.edu/ussc/challenger-program/

The mission of the Challenger Program is to provide support to first-generation college students through:

  • Academic support;
  • Structured courses and workshops;
  • Individual peer tutoring in a wide range of academic subjects;
  • Academic, career, and personal counseling;
  • Financial Aid advising and assistance; and
  • Social and cultural enrichment activities

Cooperative Education Program

302 Cullen College of Engineering Building 1
713-743-4230
www.egr.uh.edu/coop

The Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) is a documented internship that appears on a student’s university transcript. Co-op experience enables students to receive valuable career training/education with pay in the student’s major field of study either part-time or full-time. Most students participate in Co-op at the start of their junior year but all student levels are eligible to apply to Co-op after completing a minimum of two semesters within their major field of study, including graduate students in select colleges. Students are required to submit a work report at the end of each Co-op semester to document receiving work experience in their major field of study and to receive a letter grade on the transcript. Co-op positions are available in most college disciplines, especially engineering, business, natural science, music, and mathematics.

Faculty/Course Evaluations

Measurement and Evaluation Center
210 Student Services Bldg. #1
713-743-5434
www.accessuh.uh.edu

At the end of each semester, for each class, you will be asked to complete a faculty/course evaluation. Your input is very valuable and important to the faculty, academic department, college and the university. The course evaluations are simple to do. You will either be asked to do them in class or be directed to www.accessuh.uh.edu. Please take the few minutes needed to thoughtfully complete course evaluations on each of your classes. You can access and complete the evaluation using your cougar net or my uh to log in.

The Graduate School

102 E Cullen Building
713-743-5284
gradschool@uh.edu

The Graduate School works is the central office in the Office of the Provost which supports and oversees graduate and professional programs on campus. The Graduate School supports each of the university’s colleges with processing support for graduate admissions and academic concerns. Any student concerns which cannot be addressed at the department or college level are directed to the Graduate School office for final resolution. The Graduate School can provide assistance with questions of academic policy, academic petitions, withdrawals, graduate fellowships, and the Graduate Catalog.

The Honors College

212 M.D. Anderson Library
713-743-9010
www.uh.edu/honors/

Created to serve the intellectual needs of gifted under-graduates, The Honors College provides the careful guidance, flexibility and personal instruction that nurture a dedication to individual excellence. Members of the college are encouraged to sharpen special skills in pursuit of their personal academic goals. The Honors College at the University of Houston serves the intellectual needs of gifted undergraduates in more than 100 fields of study. We provide the careful guidance, flexibility, and personal instruction that nurture excellence. For the 350 students who join us each fall, we offer the best of both worlds-the advantages of a small college without sacrificing the resources and rich diversity of a large university. Our faculty and staff believe that a university education should offer more than the acquisition of skills for the workplace. The Honors College challenges the university’s finest students to develop the attributes of mind and character that enhance all facets of life. For the students who qualify for membership, The Honors College offers special privileges including priority registration, merit scholarships, additional faculty advising, opportunities for individual study and a chance to live in honors housing.

To be admitted to the College, students must complete our on-line application, provide SAT or ACT scores, transcripts and a sample of formal written work. For further information, refer to the Undergraduate Studies catalog.

LAUNCH (formerly Learning Support Services)

Room N109 Cougar Village #1

Mission

We are excited to announce the renaming and relaunching of Learning Support Services (LSS) as LAUNCH - Learning Advancements for UNdergraduate Cougars of Houston.

Successful students start strong, they find ways to stay strong, and they finish strong.

Successful students also run into obstacles, sometimes. And when they do, they seek out help.

Whether you are launching good habits or you’re facing challenges that impact your academic mission, call on LAUNCH.

Academic hurdles? Our expertise can help you clear them.

Academic goals? We can help you achieve them.

Our mission is to connect you to just the services YOU need to be successful. Our mission is to help you achieve liftoff and keep accelerating right through to graduation.
 

Our mission is your success.

Services

  • Individual peer tutoring
  • Academic counseling
  • Learning styles and strategies assessment
  • Success workshops on learning strategies
  • Graduate & professional student support including instruction and tutoring in scholarly writing, presentation skills, and learning styles and workshops on topics such as American Psychological Association writing style.
  • Faculty consultation & coordination of learning workshops delivered in academic departments

Certification

Tutors are certified by the International College Reading and Learning Association and the tutoring program is certified by the National Association of Developmental Educators.

Learning Abroad and Learning Abroad Scholarships

105 E. Cullen Building
713-743-9167
www.uh.edu/learningabroad

Learning Abroad advances the goals of the Global Strategies and Studies department by offering undergraduate and graduate students unique, life changing, educational experiences overseas.

Learning Abroad advisors and support staff are available to assist students in finding the right program to match their interest and academic goals, equate foreign coursework to UH courses, evaluate foreign transcripts, and assure students’ health and safety abroad.

Undergraduate and graduate students interested in learning abroad have a wide variety of programs to choose from. Students are able to enroll in any one of the following programs:

  • Faculty-Led Programs
    Designed by UH faculty and facilitated by Learning Abroad. UH faculty-led programs include such diverse locations as Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, India, Italy, France, Germany, Ghana, Mexico, Peru, and Spain, among others.
  • Reciprocal Educational Exchange Programs (REEP)
    Allows students to study at a UH partner university abroad while paying tuition to UH. The host institution’s tuition is waived.
  • Affiliated Programs
    Offered by UH through approved third-party providers such as University Study Abroad Consortium (USAC), Council of International Education Exchange (CIEE), American Institute of Foreign Study, Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA), and many others.

Assistance in organizing Research Collaboratives, Internships, Experiential Learning, and Volunteerism Programs is also available through Learning Abroad.

Learning Abroad maintains a U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility where students can obtain a U.S. passport required for all international travel.

Learning Abroad Scholarships
The International Education Fee Scholarship (IEFS), funded by student fees, is administered through Learning Abroad. Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed twice a year. Scholarship funds range from $500-$1,750, depending on length and type of program.

Nonprofit Leadership Alliance/Graduate College of Social Work

405 Social Work, 4th floor
713-743-8018

www.uh.edu/socialwork/nonprofitleaders

The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) Certificate & Credential Program is an initiative through the Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) that serves all undergraduate majors and post-baccalaureate students at the University of Houston. This program is an affiliated chapter of a national organization.

Coupled with completion of a bachelor’s degree, the program itself covers 10 learning competencies designed to educate students thoroughly about the nonprofit sector through the following steps:

  • Academic Coursework (total of 6, including a non-credit course)
  • Leadership & Service Learning (various activities throughout the Fall/Spring semesters)
  • Attendance to the Alliance Management Institute (in January)
  • An NLA Internship (480 hrs.) at a local nonprofit agency

Please note:

  • CLASS majors can petition to use NLA to substitute for their minor requirement
  • HDFS majors in College of Education can choose NLA as a certification track
  • Business majors cover 2/3s of the required coursework in their current degree plan

NLA also offers eight (8) scholarship opportunities exclusively to active students enrolled in the program.

Online & Special Programs

56B M.D. Anderson Library
713-743-3327
online.uh.edu

The University of Houston offers a variety of convenient options for students wishing to pursue an education at a distance. Through Online & Special Programs, UH delivers credit and non-credit courses.

UH Online & Special Programs offers hundreds of online, hybrid, and short session courses each semester allowing students to complete undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and certificates in several fields of study.

For more information, go to http://online.uh.edu.

PROMES-Engineering Program

E316 Engineering Bldg 2
713-743-4222
www.egr.uh.edu/promes

The Cullen College of Engineering has a program focused on the recruitment and retention of students - the Program for Mastery in Engineering Studies (PROMES), pronounced “promise.” PROMES provides academic advising, a Project-Based Learning introductory engineering course, peer mentoring, community-building and an emphasis on Academic Best Practices. PROMES is open for all engineering intents.

PROMES students are clustered into common sections of their math and science classes and have an opportunity to participate with peers in supplementary problem-solving sessions. PROMES students learn how to be successful academically, professionally, and personally. Being part of the PROMES community creates a small college atmosphere within the larger university.

PROMES works closely with student chapters of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Latinos in Engineering and Science (MAES), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), Engineers Without Borders (EWB) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). The PROMES Action Committee (PAC) is the student leadership arm of PROMES. The leaders of these groups together with PROMES staff make up the PROMES Steering Committee.

Scholar Enrichment Program

University Libraries, Room 56 (Bldg. 509)
713-743-2612
http://sep.uh.edu/contact/index.php
sep@uh.edu

The Scholar Enrichment Program (SEP) focuses on enhancement and retention of undergraduate students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Workshops are offered to supplement the lecture sections of high-risk courses such as Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics. Over the years, the program has expanded to include key upper division courses, such as Organic Chemistry and Genetics. The workshops provide a relaxed atmosphere in a supportive environment of peers and facilitators. Students in the workshops are encouraged to collaborate in small groups as they work on daily assignments. In addition to workshops, SEP offers a study center, academic support, enrichment and study skills seminars, and the opportunity for students to participate in the student organization, SEPSA. Students admitted to taking SEP workshops are primarily sciences, technology, computer science, engineering, and mathematics majors but the program is open to all majors.

Student-Athlete Services

Academic Center for Excellence
Athletics/Alumni Center
713-743-9394

Academic counselors in the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) work in conjunction with other university offices to provide academic, career, and personal counseling to UH student-athletes. A variety of programs are available which are geared to preparing student-athletes for the rigors of college academics and athletics. An extensive tutoring and structured study program, assistance with study skills development, and assistance in choosing a major are available to all student-athletes. Academic counseling is provided during pre-registration periods as well as throughout the semester. ACE counselors also monitor NCAA rules applicable to initial and continuing eligibility, as well as assist student-athletes in seeking postgraduate scholarships.

Student Recovery Program

College of Pharmacy
SRII and TMC
713-743-1264

The Student Recovery Program is designed to address alcohol, chemical addictions and mental health impairments for pharmacy majors. The program assists in confidential assessment and referral allowing the student to address needed issues and remain in school, if possible. The first-year professional students are required to attend a one-day educational seminar. There are student and faculty support mechanisms in place encouraging recovery throughout their academic years. The complete policy can be found in the College of Pharmacy Student Handbook.

TEXOCOP

College of Optometry
505 J. D. Armistead Building
713-743-2040 or 800-282-8426
https://www.opt.uh.edu/

The Texas Optometry Career Opportunities Program or TEXOCOP helps recruit and retain optometry students. It is designed to provide experience, information, and guidance for promising college students interested in careers in the field of optometry. The program includes a six-week summer session and year-long advising and counseling to increase academic skills for prospective students.

The TEXOCOP Summer Program immerses students in an intense, pre-health-profession curriculum and enriches the experience with practical and clinical activities. Workshops, field trips, panels, and seminars increase participants’ knowledge about the profession and strategies for achieving career goals. UHCO faculty members and students provide didactic instruction and informal mentoring for TEXOCOP students. To apply for participation in TEXOCOP, contact the College of Optometry Office of Student Affairs and Admissions.

Urban Experience Program (UEP)

Student Service Center 1
Building 524, Room 302
Houston TX, 77204-3017

713-743-6032
www.uh.edu/uep
uepuh@central.uh.edu

The Urban Experience Program (UEP) empowers students with academic, personal and professional development resources that propels student’s success. The multifaceted components of the program promotes scholarship, community service, and personal and professional development by offering a holistic approach to advising.

UEP helps students become well-rounded individuals prepared with the academic, leadership, and work experience needed to succeed in the professional workforce. UEP strives to create opportunities for participants in the program in concert with the community, corporate networking, and support. UEP prepares students for entry into the workforce by combining educational opportunities with valuable leadership and internship experiences. UEP offers services that:

  • Help students become well trained career professionals
  • Are individualized and student focused
  • Provide scholarship and financial aid help throughout college career
  • Engage and empower student on and off campus
  • Enhance student learning by offering academic development workshops

As part of the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment services, UEP provides programming that promotes student success by supporting each student’s chosen pursuits.

Weekend U

56B M.D. Anderson Library
713-743-3327
weekendu.uh.edu

Weekend U is the answer to UH students’ growing concern about core curriculum classes filling up quickly. Designed to provide students with an alternative when scheduling courses, Weekend U also offers smaller classes, free parking, and the opportunity to accelerate your degree.

Weekend U classes are held Saturdays on the UH campus during the Fall and Spring semesters. Classes are scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and are taught by the same qualified instructors that teach at UH during the week.

Most classes meet face-to-face like any other traditional classes. Some courses are hybrids, which combine traditional classroom instruction with a significant amount (over 50%) of instruction delivered through educational technology (usually online).

For more information, go to http://www.weekendu.uh.edu.