Short Takes

December 11, 2018 | Jim Townsend

UHCL fall commencement Dec. 16 at NRG Arena

Two University of Houston-Clear Lake professors will deliver commencement addresses at graduation ceremonies on Sunday, Dec. 16 at NRG Arena, 1 NRG Park, Houston.

A total 1,056 fall and summer graduates plan to cross the stage at two ceremonies. At noon, the College of Science and Engineering will confer degrees to 210 candidates and the College of Education will honor 194. UH-Clear Lake’s Associate Professor of Biology and Biotechnology Larry H. Rohde will deliver the commencement address.  At 5 p.m., 277 candidates in the College of Human Sciences and Humanities will receive degrees, as will 375 candidates in the College of Business. The commencement speaker is UHCL’s Professor of Healthcare Administration Ashish Chandra.

Rohde currently teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in general biology, molecular genetics, developmental biology, tissue culture and stem cell biotechnology. He has played a leading role in developing UHCL’s STEM curriculum, and has spearheaded and chaired a master of science in biotechnology program, which emphasizes laboratory training for graduate students. 

Chandra teaches health care planning and marketing, foundations in health care administration leadership, and health care ethics to undergraduate and graduate students. He has served as the chair of the Healthcare Administration Department for four years, and is a prolific researcher in health care marketing, consumer behavior and healthcare ethics. He has served as the program chair for 12 major international conferences as well as on the planning committee for 20 conferences worldwide.

NRG Arena is located beside NRG Stadium and the Astrodome. Guests do not need tickets to attend. There is a cash-only fee for parking

Riders in the Sky to bring cowboy music, comedy to Bayou Theater

Grammy-winning Riders in the Sky will bring its blend of cowboy comedy and Western swing to University of Houston-Clear Lake’s Bayou Theater on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

The quartet, performing together for more than 41 years, won Grammys for music written for two box-office successes, “Toy Story 2” in 2001, and “Monsters, Inc.” in 2003. The group also provided the soundtrack for Disney Pixar’s animated short, "For the Birds” in 2001. The film won an Academy Award.

To purchase tickets or for more information about the 2018-19 Bayou Theater season, visit www.uhcl.edu/bayou-theater/events-tickets. 

UHCL to close Dec. 24 through Jan. 1 

University of Houston-Clear Lake will be closed Dec. 24, 2018 – Jan 1, 2019 for winter break. Normal hours will resume Wednesday, Jan. 2. For more information, visit www.uhcl.edu. In the case of an emergency over the break, call the UHCL Police Department at 281-283-2222.

UHCL Pearland Campus to host seminar on compassion fatigue

University of Houston-Clear Lake Pearland Campus will host a daylong seminar in January on compassion fatigue, specifically focused for health care professionals and first responders.

Compassion fatigue is characterized by exhaustion, anger and irritability, negative coping behaviors – including alcohol and drug abuse – reduced ability to feel sympathy and empathy, a diminished sense of enjoyment or satisfaction with work, increased absenteeism, an impaired ability to make decisions and care for patients and/or clients, the National Institutes of Health reports.

Those who deal with medical traumas have an increased risk of developing compassion fatigue and potentially more debilitating conditions, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, the NIH writes.

The seminar, co-hosted by UH-Clear Lake’s College of Human Sciences and Humanities and Innovative Alternatives Inc., is 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 at the UHCL Pearland Campus, 1200 Pearland Pkwy., Pearland, Texas.

Fees for the seminar are $101 for UHCL students and $126 for non-students. Eight continuing education units are available upon request. To register, call 713-222-2525.