University of Houston–Clear Lake
Encyclopedia
The University of Houston–Clear Lake (UHCL) is a state university, and is a component institution of the University of Houston System
. Its campus spans 524-acre in Pasadena
, with a satellite campus in Pearland. Founded in 1971, UHCL has an enrollment of more than 8,000 students. The institution plans to offer freshman and sophomore classes by fall 2014.
The university serves students in four academic schools. UHCL offers nearly 90 degree programs: 40 bachelors, 44 masters, and one doctoral. Awarding more than 2,100 degrees annually, the university's alumni base exceeds 50,000.
announced that the Manned Spacecraft Center
would be located in Houston just off the shores of Clear Lake
. Early in the development of the Manned Spacecraft Center, a demand for graduate studies grew within NASA and the nearby space-related industries.
In 1964, the University of Houston
(UH) began offering courses in physics, math, and various engineering programs to NASA employees at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC). On September 10, 1965, MSC Director Robert R. Gilruth formally requested that the University of Houston give immediate consideration to the establishment of a permanent graduate and undergraduate educational facility in the Clear Lake area. UH President, Philip G. Hoffman
, replied that "…it would be difficult for us to be unresponsive to vital needs of the MSC and its staff," but indicated that "the acquisition of appropriate land in the Clear Lake City area would be of crucial importance to this project."
Humble Oil
responded by donating 50 acres (202,343 m²) of land in the Clear Lake City
development to the University of Houston for the establishment of a permanent undergraduate and graduate facility. A total of 487 acres (2 km²) would be donated from the Friendswood Development Corp.
to become the University of Houston at Clear Lake City.
In 1968, the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System authorized the University of Houston to build the Clear Lake Graduate Center (CLGC) on the original 50 acres (202,343 m²). In addition, THECB called for the creation of a stand-alone university in Clear Lake to offer upper-division and graduate-level programs adjacent to CLGC. Four years later in 1971, the 62nd Texas Legislature
passed House Bill 199 authorizing the creation of the University of Houston at Clear Lake City as a separate and distinct degree-granting institution.
The Clear Lake Graduate Center opened in January 1972. The first phase construction of the Bayou Building for the University of Houston at Clear Lake City (UH/CLC) began early in 1974. On June 1, 1974, the Clear Lake Graduate Center facility became part of UH/CLC and took on the name "Arbor Building." The Bayou Building opened in September 1974 and classes began at UH/CLC under the leadership of the institution's founding president, Alfred R. Neumann. The first-class day enrollment was 1,069 students with 60 professors comprised the charter faculty.
In 1977, the 65th Texas Legislature established the University of Houston System
that included UH/CLC as a component institution. The University of Houston at Clear Lake City was renamed University of Houston–Clear Lake on April 26, 1983. During the 73rd Texas Legislature in 1973, an unsuccessful attempt was made by the City of Pasadena to change the institution's name to the University of Houston at Pasadena.
In January 2011, Senate Bill 324 was filed in the 82nd Texas Legislature for the institution's downward expansion by adding freshman and sophomore course offerings. The bill was passed and signed into law by Governor Perry on June 17, 2011. UHCL plans to offer freshman and sophomore classes by fall 2014.
. The institution is separately accredited, offers its own academic programs and confers its own degrees, and has its own administration. UHCL is a stand-alone university; it is not a branch campus of the University of Houston
(UH). Although UHCL and UH are both component institutions of the University of Houston System, they are separate universities with different missions.
The organization and control of the University of Houston–Clear Lake is vested in the Board of Regents of the University of Houston System. The Board has all the rights, powers, and duties that it has with respect to the organization and control of other institutions in the System; however, UHCL is maintained as a separate and distinct institution.
. The UHCL administration is located in the Bayou Building.
The University of Houston–Clear Lake is located on a nature preserve adjacent to the master-planned community of Clear Lake City
. The campus consists of four classroom buildings: the Bayou, Arbor, Delta, and Student Services and Classroom buildings. Additionally, the campus includes a physical plant maintenance facility, the University Forest Apartments, and the headquarters building of the Environmental Institute of Houston.
The majority of the 524 acres (2.1 km²) UHCL campus lies within the corporate limits of Pasadena
, while only the part of campus south of Horsepen Bayou lies within the city of Houston
. The campus sits in a bottomland hardwood forest adjacent to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
and the Armand Bayou Nature Center
and is home to a wide range of wildlife including alligators, wild turkey
s, bobcat
s, and whitetail deer.
The vast majority of classroom space is located in the Bayou Building, which is the largest building on campus. It also houses the campus book store, several computer labs, and all of the university's science laboratories. The Delta Building houses the Computer Science and Engineering program as well as many computing labs and classrooms. The Arbor Building was constructed in 1971 and was the first building on campus. It is home to UHCL's acclaimed studio art programs. The Student Services and Classroom Building was completed in 2005 and houses business and education classrooms. A large part of the facility is dedicated to student service functions, including the Dean of Students' office, the registrar, cashier, and financial aid offices. The Fitness Zone workout facility on the second level of the SSB has cardio and weight training equipment for student use.
(UH). Although UHCL and UH are both component institutions of the University of Houston System, they are separate universities with different missions. Students who graduate from UHCL will have diplomas under the name University of .
UHCL is an upper-level university and does not offer lower-level division courses. Most of the students attend area community college
s to complete their basic curriculum requirements. Each students is admitted to a specific degree program after obtaining at least 54 semester hours of college credit with a 2.0 grade point average or has earned an associate's degree
. The institution has proposed downward expansion and is expected to add freshman and sophomore classes by fall 2014.
The university is organized into four academic schools: the School of Business, the School of Human Sciences and Humanities, the School of Science and Computer Engineering, and the School of Education. The School of Business has the largest undergraduate enrollment and awards the most bachelor's degrees annually.
UHCL awards the undergraduate degrees Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). At the graduate level it awards the degrees Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), and Doctor of Education (EdD). The EdD program in Educational Leadership, initiated in January 2007, is the first doctoral degree program offered by the university.
UHCL is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Many of the university's Schools and academic programs have individual accreditation through other governing bodies such as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the American Chemical Society
(ACS),the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
(AAMFT), and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
(AACSB).
University of Houston System
The University of Houston System is a state university system in Texas, encompassing four separate and distinct universities. It has two system centers, which operate as and distance learning course delivery sites for its universities...
. Its campus spans 524-acre in Pasadena
Pasadena, Texas
Pasadena is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. It is the second-largest city in Harris County, 17th-largest in Texas, and 162nd largest in the United States. The area was founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett of Galveston....
, with a satellite campus in Pearland. Founded in 1971, UHCL has an enrollment of more than 8,000 students. The institution plans to offer freshman and sophomore classes by fall 2014.
The university serves students in four academic schools. UHCL offers nearly 90 degree programs: 40 bachelors, 44 masters, and one doctoral. Awarding more than 2,100 degrees annually, the university's alumni base exceeds 50,000.
History
In 1961, NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
announced that the Manned Spacecraft Center
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's center for human spaceflight training, research and flight control. The center consists of a complex of 100 buildings constructed on 1,620 acres in Houston, Texas, USA...
would be located in Houston just off the shores of Clear Lake
Clear Lake (Galveston Bay)
Clear Lake is a brackish lake located near Houston, Texas, USA in Harris County. The lake feeds Galveston Bay. It is bordered by Houston , Pasadena, League City, Clear Lake Shores, Taylor Lake Village, and El Lago, Texas...
. Early in the development of the Manned Spacecraft Center, a demand for graduate studies grew within NASA and the nearby space-related industries.
In 1964, the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
(UH) began offering courses in physics, math, and various engineering programs to NASA employees at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC). On September 10, 1965, MSC Director Robert R. Gilruth formally requested that the University of Houston give immediate consideration to the establishment of a permanent graduate and undergraduate educational facility in the Clear Lake area. UH President, Philip G. Hoffman
Philip Guthrie Hoffman
Philip Guthrie Hoffman was the fifth president of the University of Houston, and the first chancellor of the University of Houston System. While at the university, he was instrumental in obtaining state affiliation, transitioning to a racially integrated status, and expanding enrollment in...
, replied that "…it would be difficult for us to be unresponsive to vital needs of the MSC and its staff," but indicated that "the acquisition of appropriate land in the Clear Lake City area would be of crucial importance to this project."
Humble Oil
Humble Oil
Humble Oil and Refining Co. was founded in 1911. The company would later consolidate with Standard Oil of New Jersey to become Exxon.-Early history:...
responded by donating 50 acres (202,343 m²) of land in the Clear Lake City
Clear Lake City (Greater Houston)
Clear Lake City is a master-planned community located in southeast Harris County, Texas, within the Bay Area of Greater Houston. It is the second-largest master-planned community in Houston — behind Kingwood...
development to the University of Houston for the establishment of a permanent undergraduate and graduate facility. A total of 487 acres (2 km²) would be donated from the Friendswood Development Corp.
Friendswood Development Company
Friendswood Development Company is a major real estate developer in Greater Houston. It is headquartered at 550 Greens Parkway, a building in the Greenspoint area of Houston....
to become the University of Houston at Clear Lake City.
In 1968, the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System authorized the University of Houston to build the Clear Lake Graduate Center (CLGC) on the original 50 acres (202,343 m²). In addition, THECB called for the creation of a stand-alone university in Clear Lake to offer upper-division and graduate-level programs adjacent to CLGC. Four years later in 1971, the 62nd Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
passed House Bill 199 authorizing the creation of the University of Houston at Clear Lake City as a separate and distinct degree-granting institution.
The Clear Lake Graduate Center opened in January 1972. The first phase construction of the Bayou Building for the University of Houston at Clear Lake City (UH/CLC) began early in 1974. On June 1, 1974, the Clear Lake Graduate Center facility became part of UH/CLC and took on the name "Arbor Building." The Bayou Building opened in September 1974 and classes began at UH/CLC under the leadership of the institution's founding president, Alfred R. Neumann. The first-class day enrollment was 1,069 students with 60 professors comprised the charter faculty.
In 1977, the 65th Texas Legislature established the University of Houston System
University of Houston System
The University of Houston System is a state university system in Texas, encompassing four separate and distinct universities. It has two system centers, which operate as and distance learning course delivery sites for its universities...
that included UH/CLC as a component institution. The University of Houston at Clear Lake City was renamed University of Houston–Clear Lake on April 26, 1983. During the 73rd Texas Legislature in 1973, an unsuccessful attempt was made by the City of Pasadena to change the institution's name to the University of Houston at Pasadena.
In January 2011, Senate Bill 324 was filed in the 82nd Texas Legislature for the institution's downward expansion by adding freshman and sophomore course offerings. The bill was passed and signed into law by Governor Perry on June 17, 2011. UHCL plans to offer freshman and sophomore classes by fall 2014.
Institutional structure
The University of Houston–Clear Lake (UHCL) is one of four separate and distinct institutions in the University of Houston SystemUniversity of Houston System
The University of Houston System is a state university system in Texas, encompassing four separate and distinct universities. It has two system centers, which operate as and distance learning course delivery sites for its universities...
. The institution is separately accredited, offers its own academic programs and confers its own degrees, and has its own administration. UHCL is a stand-alone university; it is not a branch campus of the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
(UH). Although UHCL and UH are both component institutions of the University of Houston System, they are separate universities with different missions.
The organization and control of the University of Houston–Clear Lake is vested in the Board of Regents of the University of Houston System. The Board has all the rights, powers, and duties that it has with respect to the organization and control of other institutions in the System; however, UHCL is maintained as a separate and distinct institution.
Administration
The president is the chief executive officer of the University of Houston–Clear Lake, and the position reports to the chancellor of the University of Houston System. The president is appointed by the chancellor and confirmed by the Board of Regents of the University of Houston System. As of 1995, the president of the university is William A. StaplesWilliam A. Staples
William A. Staples is the fourth president of the University of Houston–Clear Lake. He earned a bachelor's degree from Drake University , a master's degree from the University of Iowa , and a doctorate in business administration from the University of Houston...
. The UHCL administration is located in the Bayou Building.
Campus
Clear Lake City, Houston, Texas
Clear Lake City is a master-planned community located in southeast Harris County, Texas, within the Bay Area of Greater Houston. It is the second-largest master-planned community in Houston — behind Kingwood...
. The campus consists of four classroom buildings: the Bayou, Arbor, Delta, and Student Services and Classroom buildings. Additionally, the campus includes a physical plant maintenance facility, the University Forest Apartments, and the headquarters building of the Environmental Institute of Houston.
The majority of the 524 acres (2.1 km²) UHCL campus lies within the corporate limits of Pasadena
Pasadena, Texas
Pasadena is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. It is the second-largest city in Harris County, 17th-largest in Texas, and 162nd largest in the United States. The area was founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett of Galveston....
, while only the part of campus south of Horsepen Bayou lies within the city of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. The campus sits in a bottomland hardwood forest adjacent to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's center for human spaceflight training, research and flight control. The center consists of a complex of 100 buildings constructed on 1,620 acres in Houston, Texas, USA...
and the Armand Bayou Nature Center
Armand Bayou Nature Center
Armand Bayou Nature Center is an urban preserve located in Pasadena and southeast Houston between the Johnson Space Center and the Bayport Industrial District...
and is home to a wide range of wildlife including alligators, wild turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
s, bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
s, and whitetail deer.
The vast majority of classroom space is located in the Bayou Building, which is the largest building on campus. It also houses the campus book store, several computer labs, and all of the university's science laboratories. The Delta Building houses the Computer Science and Engineering program as well as many computing labs and classrooms. The Arbor Building was constructed in 1971 and was the first building on campus. It is home to UHCL's acclaimed studio art programs. The Student Services and Classroom Building was completed in 2005 and houses business and education classrooms. A large part of the facility is dedicated to student service functions, including the Dean of Students' office, the registrar, cashier, and financial aid offices. The Fitness Zone workout facility on the second level of the SSB has cardio and weight training equipment for student use.
Alfred R. Neumann Library
The Bayou Building is also home to the Alfred R. Neumann Library. UHCL’s library, the 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) Neumann Library contains over 480,000 volumes, 1.8 million microform items, and over 1000 journal and periodical subscriptions. The library has online access to over 100 subscription-only research databases and the Texshare interlibrary loan service which allows students to check out items from any academic or public library in Texas. Additionally, the library houses the university archives, which includes the NASA Johnson Space Center History Collection.Academics
The University of Houston–Clear Lake (UHCL) is separately accredited, offers its own academic programs, and confers its own degrees. UHCL is a stand-alone university; it is not a branch campus of the University of HoustonUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
(UH). Although UHCL and UH are both component institutions of the University of Houston System, they are separate universities with different missions. Students who graduate from UHCL will have diplomas under the name University of .
UHCL is an upper-level university and does not offer lower-level division courses. Most of the students attend area community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
s to complete their basic curriculum requirements. Each students is admitted to a specific degree program after obtaining at least 54 semester hours of college credit with a 2.0 grade point average or has earned an associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
. The institution has proposed downward expansion and is expected to add freshman and sophomore classes by fall 2014.
The university is organized into four academic schools: the School of Business, the School of Human Sciences and Humanities, the School of Science and Computer Engineering, and the School of Education. The School of Business has the largest undergraduate enrollment and awards the most bachelor's degrees annually.
UHCL awards the undergraduate degrees Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). At the graduate level it awards the degrees Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), and Doctor of Education (EdD). The EdD program in Educational Leadership, initiated in January 2007, is the first doctoral degree program offered by the university.
UHCL is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Many of the university's Schools and academic programs have individual accreditation through other governing bodies such as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
(ACS),the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy is the professional association for the field of marriage and family therapy representing more than 25,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad....
(AAMFT), and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business was founded in 1916 to accredit schools of business worldwide. The first accreditations took place in 1919. The stated mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation and thought leadership. It is regarded...
(AACSB).
Notable alumni
- Guion BlufordGuion BlufordGuion Stewart “Guy” Bluford, Jr. , is an engineer, retired Colonel from the United States Air Force and a former NASA Astronaut. He participated in four Space Shuttle flights between 1983 and 1992...
– astronaut - Gregory ChamitoffGregory ChamitoffGregory Errol Chamitoff is an engineer and NASA astronaut. He was assigned to Expedition 17 and flew to the International Space Station on STS-124, launching 31 May 2008. He was in space 198 days, joining Expedition 18 after Expedition 17 left the station, and returned to Earth 30 November 2008 on...
– astronaut - Kevin EschenfelderKevin EschenfelderKevin Eschenfelder is an American sportscaster who currently serves as the anchor of Southwest Sports Tonight on FSN Southwest, one of several regional sports networks that make up Fox Sports Net...
– sportscaster - Michael Fincke – astronaut
- Michael E. FossumMichael E. FossumMichael Edward Fossum is an American astronaut. He flew into space on board the NASA Space Shuttle missions STS-121 and STS-124 as a mission specialist and is currently aboard the international space station as commander of Expedition 29.-Education:Michael Fossum spent his early life in McAllen,...
– astronaut - Stephanie GuerreroStephanie GuerreroStephanie Guerrero is a beauty queen from Houston, Texas who has competed in the Miss USA pageant.Guerrero won the Miss Texas USA 2004 title in a state pageant held in Lubbock, Texas on July 28, 2003. Competing against 99 other contestants as Miss Houston, Guerrero also won the swimsuit award...
– model and former Miss Texas USA 2004 - Gregory J. HarbaughGregory J. HarbaughGregory Jordan Harbaugh is a former NASA Astronaut.- Background & education:Harbaugh was born April 15, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in Willoughby, Ohio...
– astronaut - Dean A. HrbacekDean A. HrbacekDean A. Hrbacek, CPA is an American attorney and Republican politician who served as the mayor of Sugar Land, Texas from 1996 to 2002. Before serving in that capacity, he served as a city council member...
– attorney, politician, and former mayor of Sugar Land, TexasSugar Land, TexasSugar Land is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area and Fort Bend County. Sugar Land is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in Texas, having grown more than 158 percent in the last decade. In the time period of 2000–2007, Sugar Land also enjoyed a... - Lauren LanningLauren LanningLauren Chandler Lanning is a beauty queen from Houston, Texas who has competed in the Miss USA 2006 pageant.-Miss Texas USA 2006:...
– Miss Texas USA 2006 - Bruce McCandless IIBruce McCandless IIBruce McCandless II is a former naval aviator with the United States Navy and former NASA astronaut. During the first of his two Space Shuttle missions he made the first ever untethered free flight, using the Manned Maneuvering Unit.-Education:McCandless is the son of Bruce McCandless, a decorated...
– astronaut - Charles McClellandCharles McClellandCharles A. McClelland, Jr. is the current police chief of the Houston Police Department . Joining the department in May 1977, McClelland worked his way up through the ranks, from rookie to assistant chief in 1998, before being asked to step in as acting chief...
– Houston Police Chief - Richard MastracchioRichard MastracchioRichard Alan "Rick" Mastracchio is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. He has flown on three NASA Space Shuttle missions as a mission specialist...
– astronaut and engineer - John MuratoreJohn MuratoreJohn F. Muratore is an American engineer and professor of Aviation Systems at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma, TN. He is a former NASA engineer and Program Manager, well known in the aerospace circles for his gregarious and unconventional style.- Biography :He earned his...
– professor of Aviation Systems at the University of Tennessee Space Institute and former NASA engineer - Story MusgraveStory MusgraveFranklin Story Musgrave is an American physician and a retired NASA astronaut. He is currently a public speaker and consultant to both Disney's Imagineering group and Applied Minds in California.-Personal life:...
– physician and a retired astronaut - Brian Rishikof – chief executive officer of Odyssey Space ResearchOdyssey Space ResearchOdyssey Space Research, LLC is a small business based in Houston, Texas near NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center providing engineering research and analysis services...
- Bruce WebsterBruce WebsterBruce Webster is an internationally recognized expert on information technology, as well as a software engineer, an entrepreneur and a former game programmer....
– software engineer, an entrepreneur, and a former game programmer - Richard H. Anderson – chief executive officer of Delta Air Lines