Short Takes

April 10, 2019 | Jim Townsend

Friday Morning lectures: religious trends, biodiverse Colombia

University of Houston-Clear Lake’s Friday Morning Continuing Education spring lecture series continues April 26 with two presentations.

At 9 a.m., Michael McMullen, professor of sociology, discusses various trends in religious organizations in the U.S. over the past 20 years: Islamic immigration, interfaith cooperation, the decline of the Protestant “mainline” and the spirituality of millennial young adults.

At 11 a.m., Maria Arevalo-Sanchez, program coordinator College of Human Sciences and Humanities, discusses Colombia’s biodiversity.  Colombia, home to about 10 percent of the world’s flora and fauna, is the most biodiverse country on Earth with over 300 different ecosystems.

The Friday Morning spring lecture series runs through May 10. The cost for each class is $18 after a $26 membership fee. To register or for more information, visit www.uhcl.edu/academics/extended/friday-morning-ce or call 281-283-3033.  

Physics Lecture Series: using data for curricular decisions

Milijana Suskavcevic, physics instructor at University of Houston, and Steve Alexander, physics professor and department chair at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, will discuss how to use data to make curricular decisions as UH-Clear Lake wraps up its spring Physics Lecture Series on April 29. 

The 7 p.m. lecture is in room 1203 of the STEM and Classroom Building, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston. The lectures are free. If pursuing continuing-education credits, each lecture is $15; any three lectures is $40; the entire series is $99. To register or for more information, go to http://bit.ly/uhcl-physics-lectures. 

UHCL Pearland Open House April 27

Prospective students are welcome to University of Houston-Clear Lake at Pearland’s Open House on April 27, from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

With degree options that include business, behavioral science, education and nursing, UHCL Pearland offers educational opportunities for those living in Pearland and adjoining communities, including students at other campuses. Since 2017, UHCL Pearland has hosted Alvin Community College core classes, which are transferrable to UHCL. Beginning in fall 2018, students in UHCL’s Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program can take classes at UHCL Pearland.

Bring your friends and family to learn about the various departments and programs from enrollment management counselors. Qualifying students can apply for on-the-spot admission.

Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is preferred. To register, visit www.uhcl.edu/admissions/events/pearland-open-house. 

Scholarship fund assists UHCL students still impacted by Harvey

University of Houston System applied for and has received a $500,000 grant, called the Rebuild Texas Fund, to assist students still struggling financially with the aftereffects of the 2017’s Hurricane Harvey. UH-Clear Lake has been designated to receive $200,000 of these funds, which can be applied to students’ financial aid package starting in the fall 2019 academic year.

The UHCL scholarship is named the Qatar Harvey Fund Scholarship, in honor of the funds that Qatar has committed for this purpose.

 “These funds can be used for tuition, books, room and board, and anything related to completion of a student’s degree program,” said UHCL Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships Dwayne Busby.

In order to be eligible for funds, students must be currently enrolled or returning students who withdrew from a UH System campus in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. They must demonstrate an unmet financial need and material or financial hardship due to the hurricane. Undergraduate students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, and graduate and doctoral students must have a 3.0. They must be able to demonstrate via data or anecdotally, the impact of the hurricane on their financial circumstances.

Priority will be given to students who have exhausted all other forms of aid and who are nearing graduation based on credit hours remaining toward their degree.

For more information, or to apply for the Qatar Harvey Fund Scholarship, visit www.uhcl.edu/scholarships.