Administration and Finance

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE

Highlights

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  VISION 2027 Strategic Publication

  The Division of Administration and Finance has released its new divisional strategic plan, VISION 2027. The new strategic plan highlights and outlines how the nine departments within A&F will collectively work with university leadership to forge a path toward becoming a top 50 public university. VISION 2027 illustrates the division’s dedication and focus to an ongoing improvement to processes, programs, and service enhancements over the next five years. Learn more about A&F’s VISION 2027 and how each department will contribute.
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  A&F Departments Participate in Revenue Vision Training

  A&F departments, along with departments from the University of Houston-Downtown, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and University of Houston-Victoria, took part in a training on Revenue Vision, a centralized system to track, manage, and optimize the revenue and expenditure tracking for the UH Office of Administration and component partners. Training these departments in Revenue Vision aligns with A&F’s new strategic vision to implement modern and technologically innovative services and programs.
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  UH Dining Services Unveils Changes for the Fall Semester

  The University of Houston Dining Services upgraded several campus locations over the summer in preparation for the fall semester. Among the most significant upgrades UH Dining Services worked on was a facelift to Moody Towers Dining Commons. The facelift, which UH Dining Services is calling Moody 2.0, will lighten and brighten up the dining commons and involved re-training associates. To make Moody Dining Commons brighter, the vinyl on the large windows is being removed to let in more natural light.
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  Public Art UHS Featured in ‘The Engines of Our Ingenuity’

  The Cullen College of Engineering’s radio program and podcast, The Engines of Our Ingenuity, tells the story of human creativity as it forms our culture. Written and hosted by John Lienhard and other contributors, it airs nationally on Public Radio and is produced by Houston Public Media. Listen to the program’s latest episode 'Technology Engineering & Art,' highlighting three key artworks from the Public Art UHS collection.
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  Class Supply Vending Machine at M.D. Anderson Library

  There’s no shortage of vending machines at M.D. Anderson Library, but while the majority are filled with sodas and snacks to satisfy students’ cravings, there’s one that has neither. M.D. Anderson Library is home to a vending machine filled with supplies like pens, pencils, scantrons, and testing materials. The class materials vending machine allows students to have a place to purchase specific classroom supplies when they are on the go.
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  Live Agent Now Available Through Chatbot

  To better serve students, faculty, and staff at the University of Houston, Auxiliary Services, Cougar Card Services, and Cullen Performance Hall now have a ‘Live Agent’ feature available through the website Chatbot. Users can chat directly with customer service staff in real time by simply typing a question into the chatbot and requesting to speak to a live person.
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  2023 Spring Student Satisfaction Survey Highlights Stellar Improvement Across All A&F Departments

  The University of Houston's annual spring satisfaction survey yielded positive improvement marks for the Division of Administration and Finance. This survey was distributed to all enrolled students at the University of Houston, University of Houston at Sugar Land, and University of Houston at Katy, with 6,458 students responding for a 14.7 percent response rate, the highest ever for the annual satisfaction survey. Read more about the results of the survey.
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  Flat-Fee CTAP Program Being Implemented for Fall 2023

  Effective Fall 2023, the University of Houston Cougar Textbook Access Program (CTAP) will provide undergraduate students, regardless of major or number of hours taken, access to required course materials before the first day of class for one low flat fee. Read the article to learn more about how CTAP will make course materials more affordable for students.

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  UHS Facilities Forum 2023: Breaking Barriers with Dream Teams

  University of Houston System Facilities leaders and business partners gathered to collaborate, network, and gain knowledge at the 2023 UHS Facilities Forum. This year’s theme was “Breaking Barriers with Dream Teams.” Staff members across the University of Houston System attended the two-day event. Read more about Facilities 2023 forum.
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  Facilities/Construction Management Releases Strategic Plan

  Facilities/Construction Management’s Strategic Plan is now available. The F/CM Strategic Goals were developed by team members representing all areas of the department. These goals represent F/CM’S commitment to supporting a Tier 1 research University with aspirations of becoming a Top 50 public university. Read the full Facilities Strategic Plan to learn more about F/CM’s mission and vision.
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  UIT Launches Intranet for Internal Staff

  The University Information Technology department has over 230 employees across the University of Houston System. To better connect with them, UIT is launching an intranet for staff called, Us In Technology. The Us In Technology intranet will engage staff with articles about current projects and accomplishments. Additionally, UIT employees will be recognized for their contributions to the department and university. Learn more about UIT’s intranet.
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  UIT’s Training and Development Pilot Project Expands Students Knowledge

  Beginning in June 2023, UIT students were asked to complete various training courses to determine whether the online training should be part of the Help Desk and Classroom Technology Training. Pam Garcia, Project Manager, and Cameron Raschke worked on both training others and developing ideas for future training. The staff advisors were Amy Ma, Maricela Rodriguez, Matthew Harvey, and Rafael Arroyo. After two months of training, ten students completed almost fifty total certifications.  UIT’s Training and Development project will continue expanding student knowledge and creating SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) in other areas.
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  UH/UHS Releases Updated 2023-2024 Calendar

  The University of Houston & University of Houston System has released an updated Fiscal Year 2023-2024 calendar that provides deadlines and submission instructions for administrative and financial activities for the end of fiscal year 2023 and the beginning of fiscal year 2024. See the new updated calendars and schedules.
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  Ongoing Construction and Road Closures

  A reminder to add extra time to your commute into the university as there is construction on and around Cullen Boulevard and alternating lane closures on Spur 5 that will cause higher than usual traffic volumes. The TxDOT Spur 5 project is targeted for completion in January 2024. To stay connected with campus road construction and outages, please visit the Facilities outage website.
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  Behind the Badge set for August 30

  Mark your calendars as Behind the Badge, the community engagement event that allows the campus community the opportunity to meet and talk with local law enforcement, returns on Wednesday, August 30th, from 2-5 p.m. at the MD Anderson Library, Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion. UHPD, Office of Emergency Management, EHS, and the Fire Marshall will be in attendance, while external safety partners, including the Houston Police Department and the Houston Fire Department, will also be on site.
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  CERT Training Registration for Fall Semester is Open

  Registration for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Training is open for the fall semester. The 8-week course, organized by the Office of Emergency Management and Fire & Life Safety, starts on September 15th and ends on November 3rd. Participants will learn how to prepare themselves, their families, and neighbors in the event of a disaster. The training will include disaster preparedness, fire suppression, disaster medical operations, search and rescue, incident command system, terrorism awareness, and disaster drill and simulation. Learn more about CERT and get signed up today to reserve your spot.

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  UHPD’s Four Campus Safety Tips for Fall Semester

  With the fall semester underway, the University of Houston Police Department has provided four campus safety tips for the community. The four safety tips are reporting suspicious activity, locking up your vehicle, the importance of bike locks, and reporting a lost or stolen Cougar Card. Read more about these safety tips from UHPD and how they can keep you safe.
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  Back-to-School Fire Safety Tips for the UH Community

  With the fall semester underway, Fire & Life Safety wants to ensure the campus community is informed regarding key fire safety practices. The department has provided seven fire safety tips for the University of Houston campus community. Read about the fire safety tips to stay safe this fall semester.
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  Grubhub Now Accepts ShastaBUCKS

  The University of Houston has partnered with Grubhub to allow faculty, staff, and students to place orders with off-campus restaurants using their ShastaBUCKS. Additionally, there are $0 delivery fees on orders of $18 or more from eligible off-campus restaurants. Read more about this delicious partnership.
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  Coca-Cola & Vitaminwater Activation Events Coming to UH Campus

  Through a partnership with UH’s exclusive beverage vending provider, Coca-Cola, Auxiliary Services is pleased to bring Coca-Cola and Vitaminwater activation events to campus during the first few weeks of the fall semester. On Friday, September 8th, from 9 am – 1 pm, visit Lynn Eusan Park for Vitaminwater product samples, photo opportunities, and games. The events are free and open to the entire UH campus community.

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  Sugar Land Podcast from Houston Public Media and NPR

  Sugar Land, Texas is a city with a sweet reputation...but it’s hiding a dark secret many knew was waiting to be found. In 2018, the suspected remains of 95 convict laborers were discovered in Sugar Land, Texas, during the construction of a new school. Hear the ‘Sugar Land’ podcast, a production of The Texas Newsroom, a public radio journalism collaboration that includes NPR, and Houston Public Media, to hear the stories of the 95 people. Who were they? What happened to them? Learn more about the 'Sugar Land' podcast and listen to all the episodes.
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  Houston Public Media Presents ‘Dead and Buried’ Series

  Death: a taboo topic or a natural part of life? ‘Dead and Buried’ is a series hosted by Curly Velasquez that explores our attitude towards end-of-life and breaks down taboos. Hear episodes of this thought-provoking collaborative series between Houston Public Media, Electric Pearl, and PBS Digital Studios.
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  Cougar Card Upgrades System to Help Campus Community

  The new Cougar Card system consolidates multiple icons into one in AccessUH. Previously, the campus community had to visit three icons, Meal Plans, Cougar Card Online, and Cougar Card Upload. But with the new system, all three functions are housed under one icon, Cougar Connect. Additional features of the new system include setting up automatic deposits and low fund alerts for ShastaBucks or Cougar Cash and the ability to request money from family and friends through the system. Learn more about this upgrade.
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  New Discount Program Available for Faculty and Staff

  This year, HR POWER UP Employee Wellness is excited to introduce a new faculty and staff discounts and deals provider, PerkSpot. Through PerkSpot, a variety of local and national discounts are available on products and services including theme parks, event tickets, travel, name brand items and more! Offered through a personalized online portal, discounts are available to employees based on their identified interests and can be easily accessed from home or on-the-go. Start saving right away. Visit PerkSpot online and “Create Your Account” today!

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  Campus Safety Hosts Tabletop Exercise to Prepare for Football Season

  In preparation for UH Football’s first home game in the Big IX Conference, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the UH Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Division of Athletics hosted a tabletop exercise to test preparedness and communication capabilities. Nine of the critical areas associated with football game day participated in the exercise, which featured an exercise called ‘discovery of a suspicious package.’ Exercises are developed to test participants’ knowledge of resources and response activities and to acknowledge and correct gaps before football season begins. Visit the OEM website for more information on OEM exercises, training, and outreach.
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  Campus Safety Engages Incoming Students at New Student Orientations

  The departments comprising Campus Safety, Office of Emergency Management, Fire and Life Safety, Occupational Health Services, and Environmental Health and Safety participated in the 2023 freshman and transfer student orientations. Incoming freshman and transfer students got to know the departments within Campus Safety and learned how to stay safe on campus. After hearing from Campus Safety, students could choose from sunglasses, playing cards, pens, magnets, drawstring bags, and more. Additionally, OEM educates students and their parents regarding UH Alert, the University’s emergency notification system. Learn more about UH Alerts.
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  Director of Emergency Management, Ginger Walker, recognized by the Division of Student Affairs

  The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) recently celebrated the achievements of Ginger Walker, the director of emergency management, as she was awarded the “Friend of the Division” award. This recognition is a testament to Walker’s unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions to ensuring the safety and success of students and the broader UH community. Read more about Ginger’s recent award and her dedication to the University community.
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  OEM Visits the National Weather Service

  The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) toured the local National Weather Service (NWS) office this summer in order to build a partnership between the two agencies. In addition, the visit is part of the requirement for the University of Houston’s OEM to recertify its designation as a StormReady university. OEM takes great pride in its StormReady recognition, a community preparedness program focusing on severe weather. There are 122 NWS offices in the country, and the Houston/Galveston office is how OEM receives reliable and credible information about the weather and how it may impact the University of Houston. Learn more about OEM’s StormReady.
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  OEM and UHPD Participate in Full-scale Emergency Exercise at Baylor University

  The Office of Emergency Management and the University of Houston Police Department participated in a full-scale emergency exercise at Baylor University earlier this month. The exercise was based on an active violence scenario within one of the buildings on the Baylor University campus. The exercise included a multi-agency law enforcement response, medical triage, and transport of patients to local hospitals. In addition, the exercise strengthened inter-operability and mutual cooperation among Big XII conference members and their respective safety and security teams.
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  Behind the Badge set for August 30

  Mark your calendars as Behind the Badge, the community engagement event that provides a forum for the campus community the opportunity to meet and talk with local law enforcement, returns on Wednesday, August 30th, from 2–5 pm at the MD Anderson Library, Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion. UHPD, Office of Emergency Management, EHS, and the Fire Marshall will be in attendance, while external safety partners, including the Houston Police Department and the Houston Fire Department, will also be on site.
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  CERT Training Registration for Fall Semester is Open

  Registration for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Training is open for the fall semester. The 8-week course, organized by the Office of Emergency Management and Fire & Life Safety, starts on September 15 and ends on November 3rd. Participants will learn how to prepare themselves, their family, and their neighbors, in the event of a disaster.   The training will include disaster preparedness, fire suppression, disaster medical operations, search and rescue, incident command system, terrorism awareness, and disaster drill and simulation. Learn more about CERT and get signed up today to reserve your spot.

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  Cougar Red Fridays

  Reminder alert: If you wear a red shirt on Friday, you can get an all-you-can-eat lunch for $6 at Cougar Woods Dining Commons or the Moody Towers Dining Commons.

Accolades

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  UH Campus Store Employee Receives Follett Award

  Former University of Houston Campus Store manager, Samantha Eades, was recently awarded a Follett Higher Education CEO Excellence Award. Eades was honored due to her commitment to UH and determination to provide students with affordable course materials. Eades and many UH staff members worked tirelessly to grow the Cougar Textbook Access Program (CTAP) to provide students with affordable products to ensure their classroom and academic success.
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  Dr. Emily Messa Receives a 2023 Library Excellence Award

  University of Houston System Associate Vice Chancellor and Associate Vice President for Administration Dr. Emily Messa received the Dean's Advocate Award at the 2023 Library Excellence Awards. The award recognizes a UH employee who has collaborated with UH libraries during the past year.

  Messa received the award for being an advocate and partner in finding opportunities for improving the student experience, plus building a relationship with Dean Jackson in support of UH libraries. Read more about the 23rd Library Excellence Awards.

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  UH Law Center, College of Medicine, received LEED Certification

  The University of Houston’s John M. O’Quinn Law Building and the College of Medicine Building received national recognition this spring by being awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification. The certification comes via the U.S. Green Building Council. For a building to receive the certification, it earns points and adheres to prerequisites that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials used, health, and indoor environmental quality. Read more about this achievement.
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  Houston Public Media Wins Two Edward R. Murrow Awards

  Since 1971, the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has been honoring outstanding broadcast and digital journalism achievements with the Edward R. Murrow Awards. Among the most prestigious in news, the Murrow Awards recognize local and national news stories that demonstrate technical expertise and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community. 

  This year, Houston Public Media is honored to win two Regional Murrow Awards for the compelling work on Below the Waterlines, Houston after Hurricane Harvey, and the Latino Voter Engagement Project. Listen to the award-winning podcasts.

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  UH Dining Services Wins NASPA Excellence Silver Award

  The University of Houston Dining Services was honored this month by being recognized as 2022-23 Excellence Silver Award in the Contracted Services, Housing, Residence, Life, and Related category from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). This recognition marks the first time UH Dining Services has won a NASPA Excellence Award. Read more about what UH Dining Services did to win the Silver Award.
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  Congrats to A&F Cougar Cudos Honorees!

  April Cougar Cudos goes to, DaNesha Allen, Russell Allen, Jacqueline Chee, David Frankfort, Ron Gonyea, Amy Ma, Allyson McDonald, Sharon Pellas, Jennifer Rea, and Courtney Washington for their donation to Staff Council during UH's Giving Day. Additional April Cougar Cudos go to Rafael Arroyo, Ivey Davis, Rene Gonzales, Matthew Harvey, Amy Ma, Mark Norgan, and Kevin Vu of the Help Desk team for their outstanding team spirit and exemplary work performance as a group.
  

  To nominate a fellow Staff member and learn more about Cougar Cudos.

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  TAPPA Conference Recognizes James Norcom, III Facilities Principal Project Manager

  Facilities Principal Project Manager James Norcom, III was awarded the Facilities Management Distinguished Service Award for promoting education and professional activities while serving as a role model and mentor.

  “I was surprised and honored to be recognized by my own university and by colleagues across the state,” remarked Norcom. Read more from Norcom's win at TAPPA.

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  UH Wins National Business Award for Occupational Health Initiatives

  The University of Houston made history in April as it became the first higher education institution to be named a recipient of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) Business Recognition Award from the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. The 2023 AAOHN Business Recognition Award recognizes a business that supports the health and safety of their workers through a strong Occupational Health and Safety Program. Learn more about why UH was selected for this special honor.
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  Cougar Woods Dining Commons Earns 4-Star GRA Certification

  UH’s Cougar Woods Dining Commons earned a 4-star GRA (Green Restaurant Association) Certification, making them the only dining establishment in Texas with that designation. Cougar Woods Dining Commons is also the only Texas university with this rating.

  The Green Restaurant Association awarded Cougar Woods Dining Commons the certification due to its green points in categories like water efficiency, waste reduction, sustainable food, and chemical and pollution reduction. Read more about how Cougar Woods Dining Commons earned the certification.

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  UH Dining Chef Chad McDonald Wins Regional Cooking Competition

  Congrats to UH Food Services Senior Executive Chef Chad McDonald for winning the gold at the NACUFS Culinary Competition. Chef McDonald wowed the judges with a Char Siu Wonton Noodle Soup. Judges were impressed with Chef McDonald’s cooking skills, culinary technique and taste. Chef McDonald now moves on to the national level competition at the NACUFS National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Read more about Chef McDonald’s victory.
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  Dr. Emily Messa appointed to NACAS Foundation Board

  Dr. Emily Messa, Senior Associate Vice President for Administration, was appointed Vice President for the NACAS Foundation Board. The Foundation's Board of Directors work hand in hand with the NACAS Board of Directors to establish the foundation's goals and objectives.
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  Esmeralda Valdez named NACAS Volunteer of the Year, joins Board of Directors

  Esmeralda Valdez, Executive Director of University Services, was named National Association of College Auxiliary Services Volunteer of the Year. Valdez received the award at the NACAS C3X 2022 Annual Conference & Expo, held in Las Vegas.

Departments

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  Campus Safety

  University of Houston is committed to ensuring a safe environment for students, faculty, staff and all visitors to our campus.
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  Equal Opportunity Services

  The Office of Equal Opportunity Services acts on behalf of the University as a neutral fact finder that enforces the University’s Equal Opportunity Policies.
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  Facilities/Construction Management

  Facilities Planning and Construction delivers exceptional and enduring projects that maximize value and support the University's Tier One strategic initiatives through superior facilities planning and project management services.
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  Office of Finance

  The Office of Finance is the source for all financial information, training, reports and policies at the University of Houston. All finance-related forms, calendars and references can be found here.
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  Houston Public Media

  Houston Public Media is a service of the University of Houston and supported with financial gifts from the community. Houston Public Media combines broadcast and digital assets to serve residents of Southeast Texas with quality local news and entertainment, as well as national programming from NPR and PBS. With a combined weekly audience of more than 1.5 million, Houston Public Media is committed to delivering content that expands minds and possibilities with trusted information.

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  Human Resources

  To attract, develop, motivate, and retain a diverse and engaged workforce committed to supporting and enhancing the mission of the University.  We accomplish this through providing Tier One customer service and partnering with the UHS community to maximize the potential of our greatest asset- Our Employees.
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  Police Operations

  The University of Houston Police Department (UHPD) strives to enable students, faculty, staff and visitors to be safe while pursuing their on-campus endeavors. 
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  PAUHS

  With nearly 700 pieces, the UH System has one of the largest and most significant public art collections in the entire country. This new publication will be a platform for announcing the latest news involving the collection, highlighting various pieces, programs and events, and providing links to relevant news about the public art field.
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  Office of Administration

  An exemplary portfolio of on-campus services ranging across third-party dining, parking, shuttle and bookstore operations among the program areas of Auxiliary and University Services, as well as system master planning through the UH System-wide Public Art Committee, an advisory committee to the UH System Board of Regents, and fundamental initiatives of best practices in sustainability, assessment and evaluation.
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  Stay Cougar S.A.F.E.

  The University of Houston is an open campus filled with people who care about each other. Because of its open accessibility, all students, faculty and staff are encouraged to exercise a sense of personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, and the safety and well-being of others. While crime can happen anywhere, when we act as a community that knows and cares about the safety of others, ourselves and our property, we lessen the likelihood of being victimized, and we showcase our Cougar Pride.
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  UIT

  University Information Technology - Infotech - offers support across the board for all student, faculty, and staff IT requirements.