Bianca Seward/Houston Public Media
Houston ISD Chief Academic Officer with UHD President Dr. Loren Blanchard sign the new partnership between HISD and UHD.
Some Houston ISD seniors will open acceptance letters to the University of Houston-Downtown this year, before they’ve even applied.
In a partnership announced today, UHD will now guarantee admission to Houston ISD graduates who maintain at least a C+ grade point average.
To qualify, students must maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher, complete any additional program-specific requirements, and submit an application by the deadline posted to UHD. Admission will also be subject to the availability of space in the desired program.
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“HISD and UHD share the belief that Houston’s future is in Houston,” Kristen Hole, HISD Chief Academic Officer, said at the signing ceremony Tuesday morning. “Only 8% of our kids leave the state when they graduate from Houston, and so we must invest in our city.”
Houston ISD serves approximately 168,000 students across the district, and the average HISD senior class is between 10 and 11 thousand students. Hole said that approximately 7,700 HISD seniors this year already qualify for guaranteed admissions.
The program, which was officially passed by the HISD state-appointed Board of Managers at the Feb. 12th board meeting, is now available to current eligible HISD seniors who want to enroll. Qualifying seniors will receive a letter from UHD, and if they choose to pursue the path to automatic admissions, they’ll need to complete the application process.
UHD application fees will be waived, but the partnership does not come with any other guaranteed financial accommodations. Hole said the university would help students navigate the available financial packages and scholarships that might be available to them.
“Beyond accessibility, we offer affordability and academic and basic needs support,” Dr. Loren Blanchard, President of UHD, said. “We have a multitude of scholarships available to our students. It is imperative that UHD provides the support for our students to be able to fuel Houston’s economy with the nurses, teachers, police officers, scientists and social workers needed by the city.”
In a press release, state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles said the partnership represents a “transformational opportunity” for HISD students.
“Together, HISD and UHD are building a bridge from high school to higher education that will change lives across Houston and strengthen the regional economy by keeping Houston’s talent, creativity and future leadership right here at home.”