UHD Offers Life-Changing Summer Programs for High School Students

As Houston’s summers become hotter, so does the University of Houston-Downtown’s (UHD) commitment to its mission to “nurture talent, generate knowledge, and drive socioeconomic mobility for a just and sustainable future.” That’s why during Summer 2024, UHD is investing in the future of high schoolers through educational programs aimed at changing the trajectories of their lives: The UHD “Get Ready Gators” Summer Bridge Program 2024, the Texas Talent Connection Project, Houston PREP and the National Summer Transportation Institute Program 2024.  

“We understand how formidable higher education can seem for all high schoolers, but especially first-generation students,” said UHD President Loren J. Blanchard. “At the University of Houston-Downtown, faculty and staff come together in providing a safety net through both academic and basic needs support. Our Culture of Care is palpable, and these three summer programs aimed at high school students are further proof of our dedication to empowering those who dream of a college education to better themselves, their families, and their communities.”  

 

THE UHD “GET READY GATORS” SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM 2024 

Geared toward first-time college students, The UHD “Get Ready Gators” Summer Bridge Program is a five-week intensive academic college preparation program designed to aid first-year students in strengthening their academic skills and social integration. Importantly, Summer Bridge helps high school seniors transition from high school to university life by providing an engaging and rewarding collegiate experience.  

Summer Bridge is free to all graduating Houston-area high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 2.25-2.6, allowing them to earn college credits before the fall 2024 semester. From July 8 to August 8, Monday through Friday, participants will engage with faculty in small groups, and receive academic support and mentoring as well as specialized peer support for Math and English.  

 

HOUSTON PREP 

The goal of Houston PREP (Pre-Freshmen Enrichment Program) is to bolster socially and economically disadvantaged middle and high school students’ academic foundations in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), potentially over a four-year period. Program participants are high achieving seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students who agree to commit themselves to intellectually demanding classes from June 12 to July 12. The 2024 program takes place at UHD, is free and provides lunch. Free transportation is available for Aldine, Alief, and Galena Park ISD students.  

The four-year successive summer program consists of the following components: 

First Year 

• Engineering 
• Logic 
• Problem Solving 
• Enrichment 
• Computer Science 

Second Year 

• Engineering 
• Physics 
• Algebraic Structure 
• Problem Solving 
• Computer Science 

Third Year 

• Probability and Statistics 
• SAT Preparatory 
• Engineering 
• Computer Science 
• Technical Writing 

Fourth Year 

• SAT 
• Robotics

 

The curriculum of Houston PREP has been approved for high school elective credit (one to three units) by the Texas Education Agency. In addition, students graduating from Houston PREP are eligible for scholarships at UHD. 

Houston PREP is part of the successful TexPREP initiative of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Over the last 35 years, UHD’s Houston PREP has enrolled more than 6,000 students in the program. According to the most recent follow-up survey of college-age PREP participants, 99.9% of respondents graduated from high school. In this surveyed group, 94% are college students or college graduates with more than 68% enrolled in STEM fields or pursuing STEM careers. 

 

UHD NATIONAL SUMMER TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE PROGRAM 2024 

High school students interested in all things transportation will be in Nirvana for two weeks this summer, July 1-12 (no program on July 4). The UHD National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) will present an intensive, face-to-face focus on research/academic/transportation training and STEM research mentorship through laboratory-based experiences in National Transportation Institute STEM.  

This camp will provide the needed foundation for future entrance into university programs and into the workforce. Students will learn about bridge/overpass structural analyses, traffic light timing devices and other in control process engineering, drone/robotic technology, and safety across all types of outdoor/indoor situation associated with transportation. Two to three field trips will include TranStar, the ION, and Galveston—with a visit to the Train Museum and the Elissa. 

Throughout the two-week program, working lunches will include expert speakers from across the transportation sector in Texas, including Workforce Solutions and the TAMU Texas Transportation Institute. 

A total of 35 qualifying pre-college students (grades nine-12) will be selected to participate in this program to be held on the UHD campus. The online application is at https://uhd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_71UZsZXEb8A39lQ?Q_CHL=qr. Following the completion of the camp, all participants will be encouraged to apply for UHD Admissions and Scholars Academy scholarships, enabling participants to graduate from UHD and enter the workforce with minimal to zero college loan debt.