Letter to Residents
From the Office of the City Manager
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Sugar Land Today | Winter 2011 issue
Each year, the City Council and staff spend time reflecting on the City’s accomplishments from the previous year and planning our next steps in accordance with the adopted goals and objectives.
This year, I was particularly struck when I considered the success of the University of Houston System at Sugar Land, which UH recently announced will soon be called UH Sugar Land (pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board). This announcement – along with plans to move the campus directly under the main university – may seem minor, but it is actually a major step for our community.
For over 10 years, the City and University have been working in partnership to achieve the development of a major higher education institution with a full range of undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate programs. As is true for most partnerships, the road has not always been a smooth one, but I have never been more proud of our efforts and successes – in large part dueto the ongoing hard work of Mayor James Thompson and UH President Renu Khator.
When the state of Texas first donated 248 acres to the university, we envisioned a campus that would provide outstanding educational opportunities and be a contributor to our strong
local economy. Today, we have just that.
In 2002, the university opened the Albert and Mamie George Building – for which the City contributed $3.5 million. Shortly after, UH committed to expand the campus and partner with Wharton County Junior College (WCJC) to offer a full undergraduate curriculum at one location. As part of these continued efforts, the City committed another $3.5 million, and UH in turn leased the City an adjacent 52-acre tract of land for the development of recreation amenities such as the festival site currently under design.
Today, the teaching center boasts three buildings – including Brazos Hall and the University Branch Library built in partnership with WCJC and Fort Bend County, and offers classes and programs at all levels of higher education. Additionally, the classes and programs offered here are expected to increase in the future – including the anticipated introduction of at least nine programs during the next three years.
And while having a university within our City limits may enhance residents’ quality of life, it is also increasingly important to our local economy as UH begins to adapt programs to meet the needs of Sugar Land companies.
Take for instance TimeGate Studios, a Sugar Land video game developer. The University has agreed to work with TimeGate, along with Houston Community College and WCJC, to establish a motion capture studio and mentoring opportunities for students. This innovative program will provide unique curriculum and local workforce development, strengthening our local economy by helping to retain both world-class students and businesses and to attract additional entertainment and technology companies.
With successes like these, our partnership with the University of Houston – which was recognized by the International City / County Management Association with a Community Partnership Award in 2010 – undoubtedly not only benefits Sugar Land and Fort Bend County today, but will continue to do so in the future.