Academic Success/Student Services

Academic Services at the University of Houston aim to support Cougar athletes in their primary goal of earning a degree, while also assisting them to prepare for life after college through career resources and the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, and broadening their horizons by exposing them to community service opportunities.

Under the direction of the Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Services, Maria Peden, the Student-Athlete Academic Services unit runs a comprehensive program. In addition to Peden, the staff includes five full-time academic counselors, and a Tutoring coordinator and an Outreach/Community Service Coordinator who assist over 350 UH student-athletes in 16 sports. One of the greatest resources available to current Cougar student-athletes is the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE), which is located in the Athletics/Alumni Center.

Open from 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. weekdays and 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. on Sunday, ACE includes a 28-station computer lab with IBM computers. The computers are updated annually and all have internet access, CD-ROM capabilities and are connected on-line with the M.D. Anderson Library on campus. Each computer is connected to laser printers and includes a wide variety of word processing, spreadsheet, study skills tutorials and career education software packages. A staff of part-time lab monitors ensures that the lab is a productive, efficient resource for student-athletes.

ACE also offers a two 50-person classrooms, five six-person small group study rooms and 16 one-on-one individual tutoring areas. Career and LifeSkills presentations are held each semester in ACE and topics include Sports Nutrition, Drug and Alcohol Education, Time Management and Academic Survival Skills. The Academic Services Staff also conducts a separate Orientation Program for all incoming student-athletes that covers Compliance, Wellness, Campus Safety and Behavioral Expectations and Career Services. The Department of Athletics also implemented a Mentoring Program that pairs UH student-athletes with Faculty and Staff. The program began in 2004 and involves 20 student-athletes and 17 faculty/staff.

Study hall hours are designated for each team, and all freshmen student-athletes attend mandatory study halls, monitored by the academic counselors. A staff of twenty part-time tutors are available to assist all student-athletes in a variety of subjects and is required for athletes taking Math, English, Political Science and History

All student-athletes, coaches and academic services support staff, in conjunction with the UH faculty, share the same commitment for educating and graduating every UH student-athlete who puts on the Red and White Cougar uniform.

The University of Houston student-athletes continue to improve academically. After the spring semester, eight of our 12 programs had average grade point averages of 2.70 or above. Thirty-eight student-athletes were named to the Dean's List, and the average student-athlete passes over 13 credit hours per semester.

The University of Houston celebrated the graduation of almost 50 student-athletes at its annual All-Sports Banquet.

Academic Achievement
Cumulative GPA-currently 2.79 for all student-athletes.
• 2009 Fall 2.69
• 2010 Spring 2.74
• 2010 Fall 2.78
• 2011 Spring 2.79
 
Dean's List-3.50 GPA or better.
• 2009 Fall16% (56)
• 2010 Spring 12% (38)
• 2010 Fall 15% (51)
• 2011 Spring17% (58)
 
Hours Passed per Term
• 2009 Fall 13.1
• 2010 Spring13.5
• 2010 Fall13.5
• 2011 Spring 13.7
 
C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll
(3.00 GPA or better).
• 2009-10117
• 2010-11 140
 
Graduation Success Rate (GSR)
• 2008 68%
• 2009 71%
• 2010 69%
• Future Goal80%
 
Federal Graduation Rate-six-year cohort.
• 200952% (42% - UH; Div. I-64%)
• 2010 44% (41% - UH; Div. I-64%)
• 201152% (42% - UH; Div. I-TBD)
• Future Goal65%
2010-11 Undergraduate Major's of Study
Art1
Biology 5
Business 31
Chemistry4
Communications11
Construction Tech 2
Nutrition 5
Economics7
Kinesiology 81
Engineering 6
English 3
Environmental Studies 1
Consumer Science/Merch 24
Health 14
History 7
Hotel/Restaurant Management8
Interdisciplinary Studies 2
Math 2
Pre-Pharmacy 5
Psychology 27
Political Science 2
Speech/Language/Pathology 2
Sociology 30
Graduate Degrees 4
Technology (SCLT/Other) 17
UScholars (undeclared)78
 
Note:
• An average of 400 total student-athletes per year; 16 sports programs.
• Department of Intercollegiate Athletics provides 220 full scholarships

Academic Programming (recent changes):

Student-Athlete Development Program: Academic Support Services and The Cougar Pride Leadership Academy now share the Student-Athlete Development Program suite, which also houses the Tutorial Program, computer lab and study center.

Cougar Pride Leadership Academy: Implemented (Fall 2010) a comprehensive Leadership Program that integrates all student-athletes through programming (i.e.; Academic Success, Cougar History and Tradition; Health and Wellness; Financial Management; Athletic Success; Ethics and Leadership; Career Development; Community Outreach; Etiquette) from freshmen though senior year (i.e., freshman and sophomores - mandatory; juniors - emerging leaders; seniors - veteran leaders). Curriculum is based on NCAA and Jeff Janssen Sports Management programs. First in Conference USA.

Admission Review Policy: In the process of implementing an Admissions Review Policy/Process (internal standard - three tier system - no risk, moderate risk, "at-risk") including ACT/SAT and GPA evaluation (including policy for aberrant elevated test scores); National Letter of Intent Policy; Offer of Financial Aid; admissions time line; criminal background check; other.

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