State Honors UHin4 with 2017 Star Award

UH Recognized for Exceptional Contribution to Texas Higher Ed Goals

The University of Houston UHin4 program has been honored with a 2017 Star Award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The THECB recognized four institutions for exceptional contributions toward meeting one or more goals of the Texas higher education plan, 60x30TX.

Implemented in fall 2014, UHin4 is a comprehensive, high-impact initiative to create an institutional culture consistent with four-year graduation expectations, deploying tools that enable students to graduate on time. To help keep students on track, UHin4 provides an extensive package of resources including four-year academic maps, degree progress tools and a fixed tuition option.

UHin4 supports the ‘completion’ goal of the 60x30TX plan. It calls for at least 60 percent of Texans ages 25-34 to have a certificate or degree by 2030. If achieved, at least 550,000 students will complete a certificate, associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree from an institution of higher education in Texas by then.

UH in 4 has made a positive impact on student success outcomes. Students participating in the program have been retained at higher rates, and have demonstrated superior academic performance and progress compared to those who did not join the program.

The University is projecting 42 percent of the 2014 cohort to graduate in four years (by 2018). This is a sizeable increase over the current four-year graduation rate of 30 percent. In addition, participation in the UHin4 program has grown steadily since its inception, with 71 percent of incoming freshman signing up in 2016 — an increase of 22 percent in two years.

The Star Award was established in 2001. Winners are selected by a review committee consisting of Coordinating Board members, out-of-state higher education experts and Texas community leaders. Representatives of institutions, organizations and groups from all over Texas have been recognized for their efforts to develop and implement the state's most successful programs, projects, activities and partnerships.