The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is a comprehensive four-year university offering bachelor’s and master’s degree programs aimed at career preparation. UHD educates more than 14,000 students annually and boasts more than 64,000 alumni. From the day the university opened in 1974, UHD has expanded to serve the educational needs of America’s fourth-largest city.​

A diverse campus committed to shared values

University of Houston-Downtown is located in the heart of Houston, TX, one of the nation’s most culturally diverse metropolitan areas. UHD is designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Minority-Serving Institution and Military-Friendly School—indicators of a diverse and vibrant student body, similar to its home city. UHD has a commitment to shared values:

  • Excellence: UHD nurtures excellence in teaching, learning, scholarly work and stewardship of the University for the benefit of students, the community and the academy.
  • Student Success: UHD facilitates and supports students in achieving their full potential for academic, personal and career growth through excellent programs.
  • Inclusiveness: UHD values diversity and promotes access to higher education through flexible and affordable programs.
  • Respect: UHD treats all individuals with respect and dignity and promotes collegiality, cooperation and open communication.
  • Integrity: UHD is committed to the highest ethical standards in its operations and holds itself accountable to its constituencies.

Engagement and outreach to the city and region

UHD is committed to engagement with and outreach to the city and region, and encourages students through experiential and applied learning to consider the implications of public service and collaborative problem-solving as they bend to work toward a just and sustainable future.

The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL) connects UHD to the community by cultivating local and regional relationships with non-profit organizations, government agencies, businesses, and individuals.

Through academic and co-curricular community engagement activities as well as a wide variety of service learning courses, CCESL also enriches the student learning experience. Key programs include:

  • Service Learning: A hallmark of CCESL. Faculty incorporate community engagement components into their course content to enhance student learning. Students complete 10 hours of service and receive the “SL” designation on their official transcript. ​
  • ​Community Engagement Grants: CCESL awards small project stipends to UHD students and staff each semester to carryout creative and innovative projects that create a positive impact in the Houston area.
  • ​Community Engagement Work Study: Students who have been awarded federal work study awards through the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid are eligible to use these funds to work at select off-campus non profit organizations in the Houston area.
  • ​​GatorServe: UHD students, staff, faculty and friends gather together on National Days of Service to perform service projects all over the Houston area. GatorServe events help the UHD community fulfill its duty to our neighbors and helps students gain lasting experiences.

Join us in welcoming University of Houston-Downtown to the CUMU membership.