FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2006

Contact: Eric Gerber
713.743.8189 (office)
281.627.2065 (cell)
egerber@uh.edu

HOUSTON, May 17, 2006 – A new study that details the substantial impact the University of Houston System has on the region’s economy and quality of life also raises serious concerns about a shortfall in the number of college graduates being produced locally.

The results of the 200-plus page study, produced by the Institute for Regional Forecasting (IRF) at the University of Houston, were presented to approximately 300 Houston business and community leaders at downtown meeting Wednesday, May 17. The report cited a $3.1 billion a year economic impact on the Houston area and itemized more than 600 programs and initiatives that directly benefit and support the community.

“This study was undertaken, in large part, to inform state legislators who are always asking us about such matters,” said Jay Gogue, chancellor of the UH System and president of the University of Houston. “I’m pleased that it suggests the taxpayers and our donors are getting a pretty good return on their investment.”

However, the study’s research also indicated that Houston hasn’t remained competitive with several other major cities in producing its own college-educated workforce. Barton Smith, a professor of economics and director of the IRF at UH, told the attendees that Houston ranked next to last among the country’s 60 largest cities in terms of college enrollment per capita. And the city is No. 57 in locally conferred degrees per capita.

“As an economist, I find that alarming,” Smith said. “Although Houston has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity in the past, we’re not going to be as competitive attracting the high-tech, high-end ‘clean’ industries in the future.”

During the past 15 years, Smith has conducted numerous studies in urban issues, housing, transportation and the environment, gaining recognition for his cogent analyses of local, state and national conditions. His twice-yearly conferences reporting on Houston’s economic status are sold-out events considered by many as the definitive statement on the subject.

City of Houston Mayor Bill White, who provided opening remarks at the event, praised the UH System’s economic and community contributions, but echoed economist Smith’s concerns about the city’s higher education shortfall.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that this only concerns this particular college or that university,” Mayor White said. “It concerns everyone in Houston and it’s a challenge we need to take on as an entire community. But, as this study shows, the UH System is setting a solid example. It’s something we can build on.”

Other findings from the study include:

• $1.08 billion—New funds attracted annually to the Houston area by the UH System
• $3.12 billion—Annual local "sales" generated by the UH System’s presence
• 24,000—Number of local jobs generated by the UH System
• 350, 000—Total degrees conferred by the UH System; UH has conferred nearly a quarter of a million (224,571)
• 250,000+—Total UH System alumni; more than 80 percent remain in Houston after graduation
• 8,000—Number of new UH System graduates who stay in the Houston area each year; UHS produces a total of 10,000 graduates per year
• $100 million—Annual research funding for the UH System (UH has $79 million in research. Fifteen percent of the total in 2005 came from the competitive National Institutes of Health grants)
• 370+ —Health research projects in 2005 (UH had 360 of those projects)
• 600+—Number of community service and outreach projects sponsored by the four UH System universities
• One million+ —Annual volunteer and internship service hours by students at UH System’s four universities

Looking ahead to meeting some of the educational shortfall the study identified, Gogue unveiled a new long-range master plan proposal for UH. It would allow the campus to double the square footage of its buildings, double the percentage of students living on campus, close Calhoun Road and Cullen Boulevard, expand the landscaped areas and increase the overall enrollment to 45,000 from the current 35,000.

“This study shows the considerable impact that we’re having,” Gogue said, “but it also says that we have a lot of work to do in the higher education business to keep our community competitive. We’ll be sharing this study in the hopes of getting everyone moving in that direction.”

The entire study, including a video about the master plan proposal, is available online at http://www.uh.edu/impact/ .

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
The University of Houston System is the state’s only metropolitan higher education system, encompassing four universities and two multi-institution teaching centers. The universities are the University of Houston, a nationally recognized doctoral degree-granting, comprehensive research university; the University of Houston-Downtown, a four-year undergraduate university beginning limited expansion into graduate programs; and the University of Houston-Clear Lake and the University of Houston-Victoria, both upper division and master’s-level institutions. The centers are the UH System at Sugar Land in Fort Bend and the UH System at Cinco Ranch. In addition, the UH System includes KUHF-FM, Houston’s National Public Radio and classical radio station, and KUHT-TV, the nation’s first educational television station.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.