The Signing of an MOU Strengthens the Connection
The wonderful thing about numbers is that they don't lie. Over the last five years, 23% of YES Prep students who attended a four-year college chose the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD). More than 1,000 YES Prep students have attended UHD—YES Prep's highest number of matriculants to a four-year college overall. Furthermore, UHD is the university with the second-highest number of YES Prep students graduating within six years.
With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Thursday, July 25, 2024,
at UHD's College of Sciences and
Technology, YES Prep Public Schools and UHD formalized their ongoing partnership
in ensuring that every student has the chance to reach their full potential through
higher education.
The ceremony was kicked off by Dr. Elizabeth Villegas, the Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Services within the division of Enrollment Management at UHD. "Today, we gather to formalize a significant collaboration between UHD and YES Prep schools," said Villegas. "This Memorandum of Understanding signifies our joint dedication to providing exceptional educational opportunities and unwavering support for our students, ensuring that we continue to create meaningful pathways to academic success and brighter futures for our students."
YES Prep Chief of Schools Officer Phil Wright shared how both YES Prep and UHD have similar missions, values, and beliefs for the betterment of all Houston students. "When you review the mission statements of both schools, we are both unapologetic in stating that a strong education is our North Star," said Wright. "We both believe in the potential of all students, and we are committed to nurturing these talents so students have endless opportunities."
YES Prep Deputy Chief Program Officer Amanda Rawlings spoke about the significance of this occasion. "A key factor in creating the opportunity for this partnership is the fact that we are both Houston-based and Houston-focused," said Rawlings. "We want our students to engage with Houston and make an impact in their communities."
The transformative partnership commits to:
- Increasing college awareness for YES Prep students through pre-college opportunities and professional development for YES Prep staff.
- Making UHD more accessible to YES Prep students by reducing barriers in the admission process.
- Supporting YES Prep students once their college journey begins through mentorships and student-specific programming, which will lead to increased persistence and graduation rates.
Perhaps Dr. Deborah Bordelon, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, said it best as she closed the ceremony: "The MOU partnership with YES Prep is representative of our shared commitments to excellence in education, student success, and socioeconomic mobility. Investing in the next generation of college students is one of the most promising means available to us for effecting positive change in our city, and UHD is committed to contributing to the continued growth and productivity of Houston."