The University of Houston has long been commended for its commitment to academic innovation, student success and community engagement. Such dedication has earned UH accolades from around the globe. Now, the University receives yet another honor—the 2024 Barefoot and Gardner Award.
Presented by the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, this award is presented annually to a two-year college and a four-year university for their support of historically underrepresented students.
The Gardner Institute recognized UH for its success in helping students overcome academic challenges within those undergraduate courses required by all majors—often referred to as gateway courses.
A collaborative initiative coordinated by UH’s Undergraduate Student Success Center was instrumental in helping faculty recognize those obstacles preventing students from succeeding in high enrollment courses such as College Algebra (Math 1314), Fundamentals of Chemistry (Chem 1311) and Principles of Macroeconomics (Econ 2301).
Tactics included professional development opportunities for UH faculty to support their instructional efforts. At UH, 14 faculty members participated in the Gardner Institute’s Teaching and Learning Academy, and an additional 97 faculty instructing gateway courses earned the Certificate of Effective College Instruction from the Association of College of University Educators.
UH also partnered with the Gardner Institute in its Gateways to Completion initiative, which provided faculty with the necessary insights to strategically redesign the previously mentioned gateway courses, all of which had high rates of drops, withdrawals, incompletes and failing grades (DWIF). DWIF rates were particularly high among underserved students.
From fall 2021 to fall 2023, UH saw improvement in DWIF rates among those student populations that traditionally faced challenges in Math 1314, Chem 2311 and Econ 2301. Black, Hispanic, first-generation and Pell Grant-eligible students demonstrated significant improvement within all these courses.
Teri Longacre, senior vice provost and dean for Undergraduate Student Success, accepted the Barefoot Gardner Award on behalf of UH during the Symposium on Transforming Postsecondary Excellence on October 10 in Pittsburgh.
“Earning this award has been a team effort,” Longacre said. “Our faculty and academic leadership have worked hard to ensure our students not only emerge successfully from these gateway courses but remain on a trajectory to graduation. When they succeed, we succeed. The Barefoot and Gardner Award is proof of that.”
The Barefoot and Gardner Award underscores UH’s role as a leader in higher education that is committed to preparing students from all backgrounds for the challenges of the future while contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the betterment of society.
In addition to accepting this award in October, Longacre delivered a presentation detailing the institution’s efforts in fostering successful academic outcomes for its students.
The Barefoot and Gardner Award complements other recent honors received by UH, including a recent induction into the FirstGen Forward Network, spotlighting the University’s work in helping first generation student achieve their academic and professional goals.
“We are deeply honored to receive the 2024 Barefoot and Gardner Award,” said Diane Z. Chase, UH senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, and students who continually strive to push the boundaries of higher education.”
This fall, the University will have many opportunities to enhance student success as it welcomed a record 6,200 freshmen to campus. With a number of initiatives, programs, centers and support services, these new Coogs are quickly discovering that UH is indeed ready to help them realize their dreams of earning degrees.
“UH fosters a learning environment where innovation thrives and every student has the opportunity to succeed,” Chase added. “Earning this award validates our hard work and a deep commitment to our Coogs.”