August 31, 2004

A record $717 million budget for the University of Houston will fund the hiring of new faculty members, student and staff scholarships, as well as raises.

“The budget reflects our efforts to accommodate a growing student body and provides support for the principles and initiatives outlined in our new strategic plan,” said UH President Jay Gogue. “Our priorities, as noted in the budget and the UH System’s strategic plan, focus on student success, administrative effectiveness and research and academic excellence.”

The fiscal year 2005 budget, which becomes effective Sept. 1, includes a rise in tuition and fees that was necessary because of the decline in state funding. The budget, however, also includes an increase in financial aid from $56.1 million to $67.7 million annually.

“The continued financial aid support by the university has been a godsend in these times of higher costs,” said Robert Sheridan, executive director of financial aid. “The university has long been committed to providing assistance to students to ensure that students not be denied an education due to financial constraints.”

Jon Quintanilla, Student Government Association president, agreed with Sheridan, saying that the additional scholarships would provide “a great opportunity for a lot of students who are having a difficult time finding means to continue their education at UH.”

Besides funding student scholarships, the university also provides support for new programs for faculty and staff, with an emphasis on salaries and new positions.

The budget allocates $9.2 million for the creation of 41 new tenure-track faculty positions, 42 clinical, visiting and adjunct faculty positions, 16 graduate assistant positions and two academic support personnel.

The budget also provides a 2.25 percent merit pool for faculty raises and matching funds for a new college endowed professorship program.

Through the program, up to four College Endowed Professorships are available per college and for the M.D. Anderson Library. Professorships already have been established at the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the Graduate School of Social Work and Bauer College of Business. These professorships will be endowed permanently with private donations of $125,000 each. The budget provides $6,250 per professorship to match earnings from these donor-funded endowments.

“One of President Gogue’s top priorities, which he announced shortly after arriving in Houston last September, is to enhance academic excellence by retaining our best faculty members,” said Spencer Yantis, interim vice president for university advancement. “The new professorship program is a joint effort with our friends and benefactors in the community to do just that. The new program also provides a significant leverage for donor gifts.”

UH’s budget also allocates for staff $300,000 for scholarships and a 2.25 percent across-the-board raise.

“We are very pleased to have the Staff Tuition Scholarship Program approved by the Board of Regents, as this is an important step in the recruitment and retention of quality staff,” said Angie Shortt, Staff Council president and Cullen College of Engineering’s director of communications.

“What better way to build affinity with the university where you work than by obtaining a degree? I think this will continue to build a more educated workforce here at UH,” Shortt continued.

Other budget priorities include $48.1 million for major repair and renovation of labs and classrooms in Science and Research I, Science and Research II, the Fine Arts Building, the Wortham Theatre, Melcher Hall and other facilities.

The UH System Board of Regents approved the budget recently as part of the nearly $933 million UHS budget, which also provides funds for UH-Clear Lake, UH-Downtown, UH-Victoria and the UH System Administration.

Francine Parker
fparker@central.uh.edu