University of Houston Northwest Harris County Campus

[mrfootball]

Community leaders support UH campus

But state board must approve of satellite site

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metrop...an/4093622.html

By ANITRA D. BROWN

Chronicle Correspondent

A decision to hold off on University of Houston plans to open a satellite campus in northwest Harris County has frustrated some community leaders who said the area is growing fast, needs the UH campus and can handle it without adversely affecting enrollment at other schools in the area.

"Of course we're disappointed," said Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce President Darcy Mingoia. "We wanted classes to start as soon as possible to help our residents and business leaders with continuing education."

UH hoped to have the campus that would offer junior and senior year and graduate-level courses in more than 40 programs open by spring 2007. But it had to postpone plans for the satellite campus to be built on land owned by developer Don Hand at Texas 249 and Louetta when the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Committee tabled the measure.

Complaints to board

The board has heard complaints that a UH campus could hurt enrollment at Prairie View A&M and Sam Houston State universities.

The two universities also operate satellite campuses in the northwest area. Prairie View's Northwest campus is on Stuebner Airline off of Cypresswood Drive, and Sam Houston's campus is in The Woodlands.

The concerns, which came from state lawmakers as well as officials at the two schools, prompted the coordinating board to postpone a vote scheduled for late July. And the delay meant UH officials could not proceed with purchasing the 47-acre site.

"When we realized what was happening, we felt like a lot of people didn't understand," said Tom Davis, executive director of the Cypress Creek Cultural District. "There are legislators not even from our area arguing that we don't need the UH satellite campus. They need to listen to the people from our area."

To that end, the Cultural District

[MidtownCoog]

"There are legislators not even from our area arguing that we don't need the UH satellite campus. They need to listen to the people from our area."

I've said all along that Texas needs Houston more than Houston needs Texas.

I understand how these things work, but if 8,000 students already commute from this area then this new campus makes sense.

The main campus it already at 35K and growing.

[mrfootball]

I think the graduate programs will be quite popular.

[mark324]

I think the graduate programs will be quite popular.

Especially since there will be 10k + professionals from HP, Exxon, et al working essentially on the same campus.