By Farrar                                             H.R. No. 1000

         75R15266 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The University of Houston's Urban Experience Program

 1-2     (UEP) is committed to providing assistance to underrepresented

 1-3     college students as they prepare to move into an ever-changing

 1-4     workforce; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, This unique and progressive program works to expand

 1-6     the opportunities for students seeking higher education by

 1-7     providing a base of support networks that will allow them to grow

 1-8     both emotionally and intellectually; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Among the many forms of assistance provided by UEP

1-10     are mentoring, mandatory tutorials, and life skills workshops, and

1-11     these programs provide students with the tools to maintain good

1-12     work as well as study habits; and

1-13           WHEREAS, During its three years of existence, UEP has

1-14     experienced great success, boasting an 86 percent retention rate

1-15     that far exceeds the national average of 34 percent; students

1-16     participating in this program also have posted consistently higher

1-17     grade point averages than those of their academic counterparts; and

1-18           WHEREAS, In addition, many of these students have earned

1-19     prestigious internships to nationally recognized companies and

1-20     organizations, and the program itself has established important

1-21     partnerships and alliances with a number of noteworthy corporations

1-22     and nonprofit groups; now, therefore, be it

1-23           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

1-24     Legislature hereby recognize the University of Houston's Urban

 2-1     Experience Program and its efforts to promote diversity in

 2-2     college-level education and to encourage the success of

 2-3     underrepresented students.