Transition Team Executive Summary Respectfully Submitted by Dana C. Rooks Executive Director Transition Planning November 12, 2014
Sugar Land Transition Team Executive Summary Background The System Board of Regents appointed a Sugarland Task Force chaired by former Regent Welcome Wilson, Sr. The recommendations of the Task Force, dated February 21, 2014 were unanimously approved by the Board of Regents on February 26, 2014. Chancellor Renu Khator formed the Sugar Land Transition Team to respond to the actions approved by the Board. A Steering Committee and four Work Groups were defined and given specific goals. (See Appendix A) The initial meeting of the Transition Team leadership was held April 15, 2014. Each of the Work Group chairs nominated influential and knowledgeable members from the University and the community to develop a report and recommendations for achieving the goals outlined in the charge to their work group. The Transition Team Steering Committee recommendations are based on the outstanding work of these dedicated individuals. UH Victoria Work Group Chair: Dr. Charles Alcorn The UH Victoria Work Group was given two charges. First, they were to create a document detailing a plan to make UHV a self-sustaining destination university. The Work Group identified programs, facilities and services that would be needed. Consultants from the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) assessed the feasibility, needs and opportunities for achieving the transition of UHV to a comprehensive 4-year regional destination university with 6,000 on-campus students by 2025. AGB Consultants developed a comparable peer group of Texas universities which experienced a similar pattern of growth and development. The analysis considered critical elements for academic expansion and cost estimates for facilities, academic and programmatic needs which will be required from State of Texas funding. The second charge to the Work Group was to determine how to separate UHV s destination operation from its extension operations. The transition out of Sugar Land will be staged over a period of 2-5 years in coordination with the introduction of UH academic programs in Sugar Land identified by the Board of Regents Sugar Land Task Force Report. Transfer of UHV extension programs to another extension site, while instituting aggressive plans to increase enrollments in Victoria and online, will assist in the goal of becoming economically self-reliant and independent of outreach programs. The Steering Committee recommends this approach with the development of a detailed plan outlining the transfer of UH academic programs, specific timelines and funding needs. Page 2
UH Sugar Land Work Group Chair: Dr. Robert McPherson The charge of the UH Sugar Land Work Group was to build a financially viable UH branch campus in Sugar Land. The Work Group developed plans to launch select undergraduate and graduate programs from the Colleges of Business, Education, and Technology over a five-year period beginning in the Fall of 2016. Each college prepared business plans for the introduction of undergraduate and graduate programs for the 2-5 year transition period. Requirements for classroom, laboratory and office space were identified as well as requirements for funding for additional facilities, faculty, and support functions. Opportunities and risks were assessed as well. The Steering Committee supports the Working Group recommendation for the identification and appointment of an Associate Dean for UHSL operations for each of the three colleges to oversee the complex academic issues necessary for the creation of a Tier 1 quality branch campus of the at Sugar Land. UH Work Group Chair: Dr. Earl Smith The UH Work Group charge was to develop an action plan for transferring the nursing program from UHV to UH and to identify and mitigate any potential negative impact this transition would have on UH. The Work Group identified numerous critical issues affecting faculty, staff, and students involved in the transition. Sub-committees addressed each of the essential actions. All critical deadlines have been met and the transfer is on schedule to be effective with the start of the Fall 2015 semester. Although work is on-going the Steering Committee recommends that financial and human resources be devoted to the expansion of the nursing program to meet current and growing workforce demands and to develop new doctoral level degree programs in the School of Nursing. UH System Work Group Chair: Dr. William Staples The UH System Work Group was charged to identify and mitigate any impact on UH-Clear Lake (UHCL) and UH-Downtown (UHD) related to the Board of Regents Report of the University of Houston Sugar Land Task Force. The -Clear Lake has implemented a plan to exit the Sugar Land campus at the end of Fall 2015 semester. UHCL programs will be strategically relocated through a combination of online offerings and face-to-face offerings at UHCL. It was determined that UH-Downtown would not be impacted by the Sugar Land transition. Page 3
The additional charge for the system Work Group was to explore an organizational arrangement to meet the UH System s need to serve its extended communities with speed, innovation and flexibility. A national consulting firm was hired to assess the University s readiness to develop, launch, and deliver a nationally branded online program with high quality standards. The Steering Committee recommends that the Findings and Recommendations from the Survey of the University Readiness conducted by the consulting firm, Inside Track, be evaluated by a UH System Task Force and recommendations for future actions be submitted to the Chancellor. Steering Committee Chair: Dr. Paula Myrick Short The Sugar Land Transition Team was guided by the Steering Committee. Coordination, information exchanges, and overall direction was provided by the Committee. In addition to the recommendations of the four Working Groups, the Steering Committee makes the following observations and recommendations: The complete text of the four Working Group reports, including appendices, be made available on the UH Sugar Land Transition Team website. A Vice Provost should be named to oversee and lead the implementation of the UH Sugar Land transition. The position should be housed at the Sugar Land branch campus. The Vice Provost should coordinate the transition of UHV extension operations out of Sugar Land and the introduction of UH academic programs at the branch campus, working closely with UH and UHV administration and deans, and other duties related to the development of the UH Sugar Land branch campus as assigned by the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. The availability of resources for facilities, faculty, services, staff and administrative support must be identified. Sources of funding and revenue expectations must be specified and targeted to coincide with transition implementation plans. A long-range visioning effort for the UHSL branch campus should be developed to reflect community, business, industry, and partnering educational institution needs and aspirations. The System Board of Regents endorse the final recommendations of the chancellor regarding the UH Sugar Land Transition and commit the UH System to achieving the goals set forth by the Board for the establishment of the UH branch campus in Sugar Land and the transformation of UH Victoria to a four-year selfsustaining destination university in Victoria. Page 4
The wisdom and guidance of the many University, community, business, and educational partners who have given generously of their time and offered their thoughts and ideas to the transition planning process were invaluable and greatly appreciated. The Steering Committee wishes to acknowledge their significant contributions. APPENDIX A: UH Sugar Land Transition Team Organization Chart Page 5
Appendix B: Work Group Membership for each Group Page 6
UH Sugarland Work Group CHAIR: Robert McPherson Dean, College of Education Sehba Ali Cedric Bandoh Superintendent, KIPP Houston Public Schools Past President, Student Government Association Houston TX Jeff Cass Provost Leigh Ann Collins Vice President of Instruction Wharton County Junior College Charles Dupre Superintendent, Fort Bend ISD Fort Bend William Fitzgibbon, III Dean, College of Technology Dr. Fena Garza President Houston Community College Southwest Campus Sabrina Hassumani Interim Associate Provost, Finance & Administration The Honorable Harish Jajoo Council Member City of Sugar Land Bruce Jones Vice Provost Academic Programs Dee Koch George Foundation Houston Elsa Leggett President, Faculty Senate Dan Maxwell Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, UHS; Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, UH The Honorable Rick Miller Texas State Representative Sugar Land Betty McCrohan President, Wharton County Junior College Wharton County Junior College Pam Muscarello Marilyn Myers Craig Ness President, Staff Council and Department Business Administrator Associate Dean of Public Services, UH Libraries Associate Provost, Finance & Administration Farhang Niroomand Dean, College of Business Page 7
Latha Ramchand Dean, Bauer College of Business Thomas Randle Susan Reynolds Superintendent, Lamar Consolidated ISD, and Fort Bend P-16 Council Director of Operations, University of Houston Sugar Land Lamar Consolidated ISD UH System Maria Elena Soliño President, Faculty Senate Jeff Wiley Fort Bend Economic Development Council Fort Bend UH System Work Group CHAIR: William Staples President UH-Clear Lake Ron Beebe Associate Professor of Urban Education UH-Downtown David Bradley Vice President for Administration and Finance UH-Downtown Ted Cummings Dean of the School of Business UH-Clear Lake Jeffrey Di Leo Dean of Arts and Sciences Michelle Dotter Vice President for Administration and Finance UH-Clear Lake Neil Eldin Professor of Construction Management and Department Chair Michael Fields Dean of the College of Business UH-Downtown Bill Flores President UH-Downtown Glen Houston Ed Hugetz Associate Vice President for Information Resources Senior Vice President and Provost, Academic and Student Affairs UH-Clear Lake UH-Downtown Page 8
Jeff Morgan Associate Provost, Education Innovation & Technology Jagannatha Rao Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Ron Salazar Associate Professor Carl Stockton Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost UH-Clear Lake UH Victoria Work Group CHAIR: Charles Alcorn Keith Akins Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Office of University Advancement Professor of Criminal Justice and Director of UHV First Year Academic Experience Emett Alvarez Victoria City Council; Managing Editor-Revista de Victoria Harry Bashaw Staff Council Chair; School of Education & Human Development Wayne Beran Chief Financial Officer Bill Blanchard Robby Burdge Laurel Cahill Victoria Economic Development Corp; CEO DeTar Hospital System Victoria College Board; Port of Victoria Board; President, Klean Corp Inc. Director of Community Relations - Alcoa Point Comfort Operations Victoria Victoria College Victoria College Jeffrey Cass Provost Parikh Dakshesh-Kumar Internist/Cardiologist (M.D.) Victoria Jeffrey De Leo Dean of Arts & Sciences Nina Di Leo Executive Director, Victoria Bach Society Victoria Dan Easton Publisher, Victoria Advocate Victoria Robert Halepeska Exec VP M.G. & Lillie Johnson Foundation Victoria Claud Jacobs President, Lodestone Financial Group Victoria Robert Jaklich Superintendent, Victoria Independent School District Victoria ISD Crystal King Site Director; DOW UCC Seadrift Victoria Jay Lambert Director of Student Services Elsa Leggett Faculty Senate President Page 9
Fred Litton Dean of Education & Human Development Robert Loeb President, Robert Loeb and Company Victoria Vic Morgan Interim President The Honorable Geanie Morrison Texas State Representative Victoria Farhang Niroomand Dean, School of Business Moses Olukoya Student/SGA President Dennis Patillo President, Stewart Title/Owner, Pumphouse and Sendera Restaurants Victoria Catherine Perz Associate Professor of Psychology The Honorable Paul Polasek Mayor of Victoria Victoria The Honorable Don Pozzi Victoria County Judge Victoria Bland Proctor VC Board - UH Law; Attorney- O'Connor-Braman Victoria College Josie Rivera VC Board Victoria College Steve Roth President, Roth Construction Victoria UH Sugar Land Transition Team CHAIR: Earl Smith, III Interim Chief Health Officer Lisette Barton Assistant Professor of Nursing Debra Bayliss Family Nurse Practitioner Student UH -Victoria Wayne Beran Vice President, Finance & Administration Jeffrey Cass Provost Terry Kirk John McKee Sandra McNeely Marilyn Myers Associate Clinical Professor of Nursing Technical Services Manager, UH Sugar Land Assistant Clinical Professor of Nursing Associate Dean of Public Services, UH Libraries UH System Page 10
Joan Nelson Craig Ness Dick Phillips Executive Director, Human Resources Associate Provost, Finance & Administration Associate Vice Chancellor for System Initiatives Kathleen Reeve Associate Dean of Nursing Scott Sawyer Director of Enrollment Services Patricia Schrader Assistant Clinical Professor of Nursing Kathryn Tart Dean, School of Nursing Tammy Whatley Student Recruitment & Marketing Page 11