Dear UH Faculty,

I hope your first week of the semester is going well! You’re likely seeing more activity on campus as new and returning students are ready to continue—or in other cases, conclude—their academic journeys.

A new academic year brings promise for our students, particularly those Coogs who are arriving to campus for the first time. It also brings new projects, programs, events, research initiatives, partnerships and opportunities for discovery.

Speaking of new students, UH welcomed a record 6,200 freshmen this semester, a great way to kick off fall.

We’re not only greeting first-time Cougars this fall. More than 150 new faculty have joined our ranks, and I had the opportunity to welcome them during the recent New Faculty Orientation.

While it’s an exciting time to be at the University of Houston, I certainly recognize it may be a bit overwhelming for some of our students. Please take a moment to remind them of the many campus resources aimed at ensuring their physical and mental wellness. These are all outlined here and should be included in your respective syllabi.

Beyond these services, be sure to direct students to one of the best resources they can count on— you!

If you spy a lost Coog, direct them to the proper building or classroom. Likewise, provide guidance if they need to know about academic support services on campus or are needing assistance with Canvas or other essential course materials.

Just as our students depend on your expertise in the classroom, they also need your guidance on campus.

Let’s be there for each other as well! As a reminder, UH hosts the Faculty Café, where professors can exchange ideas on teaching, research or scholarly activities over a cup of coffee. The café, hosted by Faculty Engagement and Development, also hosts workshops and other events that help our faculty grow and thrive.

We have a busy semester ahead of us, but I am confident that working together, we can make a difference for our students and the University of Houston.

Welcome back to campus!

Diane Z. Chase
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, UH