University of Houston - Downtown
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

UHD is committed to maintaining and strengthening an educational and working environment where students, faculty, staff and visitors are free from discrimination and harassment. Discrimination and harassment is antithetical to the standards and ideals of the University. The University will take appropriate action in an effort to eliminate discrimination and harassment from happening, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects. Link in the notes below.

The Office of Title IX/Equity & Diversity acts on behalf of the University as a neutral fact finder that enforces the University's Equal Opportunity Policies. The Office provides the University with multiple services including the presentation of awareness and prevention trainings and the implementation of the University's discriminatory complaints policies.
The Office is additionally charged with the processing of all inquiries and complaints concerning sexual misconduct, and discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, genetic information and/or veteran status.

Black Student Association
The Black Student Association’s mission is to articulate the interests and opinions of African-American students on the campus the University of Houston-Downtown. BSA promotes projects and events beneficial to the student body, and to provide a voice for African-American students. BSA serves to establish an unshakeable bond between Black students, Black faculty, and the general Houston community to promote the development of educational opportunities and to increase awareness of Black culture. The group provides a central forum for the open dialogue of political, spiritual, cultural, economic, social, and academic conditions in the Black community.

Latinas Achieve
Latinas Achieve is a mentorship experience specially designed to empower Latina students at the University of Houston-Downtown. The Center for Latino Studies, in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Relations, launched the program in Fall 2018 to cultivate the talents of Houston’s next generation of Latina leaders. Towards that end, Latinas Achieve partnered with some of Houston’s most powerful Latina professionals, community leaders, and entrepreneurs to inspire our students to dream big, while equipping them with the tools they need to reach their goals. Latinas Achieve is the first and only program specifically dedicated to the academic and professional success of Latinas, the single largest student population at the University of Houston-Downtown.

UHD’s Gator Ally Program is to empower students, faculty, and staff to build a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming campus environment for all members of the UHD community, and particularly for LGBTQ members of the campus community.
UHD’s Gator Ally Program is to empower students, faculty, and staff to build a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming campus environment for all members of the UHD community, and particularly for LGBTQ members of the campus community.

UHD’s Gator Ally Program is to empower students, faculty, and staff to build a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming campus environment for all members of the UHD community, and particularly for LGBTQ members of the campus community.

Gator SUPPORT Groups are also available. From this description you will see that they tailor to unerrepresented groups by focusing on first generation, undecided student, college transitions and adjusments.

GatorSUPPORT Groups provide a safe and supportive environment for students to share thoughts and feelings, increase self-awareness, give and receive feedback, gain skills and resources and learn new ways to cope with personal challenges. Support group participants often find that they feel less alone in their struggles and often benefit from the mutual support and learning that occurs in the support group setting.

All groups are confidential and free for actively enrolled UHD students for the current semester.

HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION?
If you would like to learn more about participating in a GatorSUPPORT Group, please complete this Contact Form or call 713-221-8121​, indicating the name of the group that interests you.​

UPCOMING GROUPS

​​Tuesday 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
College Transitions and Adjustments
Entering adulthood and navigating college life is a big transition. This group is for students of any level that finds themselves having difficulty adjusting to college life academically, personally and socially. It is your opportunity to connect with others and discuss familiar stories while also learning the skills to navigate your world.

Tuesday 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
First Generation
Being the first in the family comes with a unique set of challenges. This new uncharted territory can be both exciting and intimidating for anyone. This group is for students at any level that are the first in their family to attend college and/or first generation American. It is your opportunity to connect with others and discuss familiar stories while also learning the skills to navigate your world.

Thursday 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Social Confidence
College years are great way to form relationships with people that will last a life time. For many reasons including a global pandemic students are having difficulties socializing with peers. This group is for students of any level who are who may be experiencing social anxieties and challenges. It is your opportunity to connect with others and discuss familiar stories while also learning the skills to navigate your world.

Thursday 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Mindfulness
If you have been feeling overwhelmed, busy, stress or anxious this may be the group for you. This group is for students of all levels to learn useful skills to help de-stress and manage academic and personal lives.

Thursday ​2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Undecided Student
​ Have you felt the weight of having to choose what you want to do with the rest of your life and you still don't have an answer? Good news! This is common. This group is for students of any level who are still deciding their major and what they want for their future, it is your opportunity to connect with others and discuss familiar stories while also learning the skills to navigate your world.

Link to site https://www.uhd.edu/student-life/counseling/Pages/gatorsupport-group.aspx

We also have a branch of the Trio funded Upward Bound Program. Upward bound is a college prep program that tailors to underrepresented local high school students who meet a certain criteria. Information on eligibility, target schools, and more can be found at https://www.uhd.edu/sssl/upward/Pages/upward-index.aspx

We also have the Center for Student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Information can be found here https://news.uhd.edu/uhd-names-new-director-of-the-center-for-student-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/#addsearch=center%20for%20student

Call Me MISTER® (CMM) Founded at Clemson University in 2000, UHD became the first university in Texas to join of the National Call Me MISTER Project. Dedicated to helping expand the pool of applicants within the teaching field, CCM’s primary goal is to support our primary school district, Houston Independent School District, with diverse and qualified men to teach within local K-12 schools. Additionally, CMM provides many resources for prospective and current program participants, including tuition assistance through Loan Forgiveness programs for admitted students pursuing approved programs of study in teacher education at participating colleges; an academic support system to help assure their success; cohort system for social and cultural support; and assistance with job placement.

UHD does have a program that brings in underrepresented students to gain experience as faculty members. Below is the link.
https://news.uhd.edu/dr-jobi-martinez-to-serve-as-presidents-postdoctoral-fellow/

Here is the link to the Non-discrimination statement
https://www.uhd.edu/administration/title-ix/Pages/Anti-Discrimination-Policy.aspx