Building our Future: The First 100 Days

2. Building our Future: The First 100 Days A presentation and summary of survey responses and emerging themes

3. Background & Purpose: Proactively engage UH constituents and capture direct feedback related to the future of the university. • Determine factors that will strengthen the reputation of UH as a nationally premier research institution. • Understand how UH could continue to excel with student success as its fundamental mission. • Guide dialogue and focus ideas for developing appropriate strategies, plans, and priorities.

4. The Questions: • What do you believe are the characteristics of a nationally premier research institution? • What must the University do to achieve that stature? • How can UH become a leading academic institution that will instil pride in its students and alumni? • How can UH help its students succeed? • What do you see as UH’s greatest strengths, and how do we improve upon and communicate these to our constituents?

5. Analyzing Feedback: Comments were distilled into over-arching themes and sub-themes, coded, and sorted to present a natural hierarchy of responses. “The University’s greatest opportunities rest in partnering with local industry and government, attracting top students and recognized faculty members, and delivering high ranking programs.”

6. Analyzing Feedback: Community partnerships (Location Advantages) Quality students (Academic Excellence) Recognized faculty (Premier Faculty) High ranked programs (Programs) Comments were distilled into over-arching themes and sub-themes, coded, and sorted to present a natural hierarchy of responses.

7. The Findings: What do you believe are the characteristics of a nationally premier research institution? • Premier faculty • Great facilities • Ground-breaking, innovative research • Quality students • National and international recognition

8. The Findings: What must the University of Houston do to achieve that stature? • Have a premier faculty • Have great facilities • Have good leadership and administrative support • Increase funding • Have high admission and academic standards

9. The Findings: How can the University become a leading academic institution that will instil pride in its students and alumni? • Increase focus on athletics programs • Have high academic and admission standards • Build a sense of community on campus, move toward traditional campus setting • Increase housing • Advertise and promote

10. The Findings: What do you see as the University’s greatest strengths, and what could we do to improve upon and communicate these to our constituents? • Location advantages • Diversity • A great faculty • Good instruction / curriculum • Advertising and promoting the above, and by partner with local industry and government

11. The Findings: Do you have any other thoughts you would like to share about UH? • Having good leadership and administrative support is critical. This includes creating a clear vision and implementing a master plan. • Ensure the university has great facilities and infrastructure by increasing housing, ensuring campus safety, and enhancing transportation systems and roads.

12. Concluding Comments: This survey is an important step in many respects: 1. Surveys communicate information as much as they collect. The University has communicated a proactive and engaged leadership position while cultivating a sense of community and common purpose. 2. The University will ensure greater degrees success by implementing strategies that consider and address its constituents expectations. 3. The frequency with which the many themes and sub-themes emerge across respondent groups and questions point to an obvious course to shape future strategies and priorities.