UHD / Student Success and Student Life / Student Success Initiatives / Mission Statement / Mission Statement
Mission Statement
The UHD Talent Search (TS) staff is committed to advancing the number of youths from
disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school, enroll in, persist, and attain
a postsecondary degree or certificate.
Impact Statement
➤ On Average, 7 out of 10 UHD TS participants enrolled in college after high school
graduation
➤ Over 50% of TS seniors enrolled in a college or university immediately following
graduation and attained a degree or workforce certificate within the standard number
of years (six years)
➤ More than 5 out of 10 UHD TS first-generation college students (neither parent has
earned a baccaluareate degree) earn a bacalaureate degree and demonstrate the educational
and economic value of the UHD TS project
➤ Over a lifetime, a person who has attained a baccaluareate degree will earn almost one
million dollars more than a person who has a high school diploma. Therefore, the educational
and economic value of postsecondary degree graduates has the potential to substantially impact
communities.
Return on Investment Chart: Lifetime Earning by Level of Education
Lifetime earnings for those with advanced degrees is $2,671,000. Bachelor degree
lifetime earning is $2,268,00. Assocate degree lifetime earning is $1,727,00. Some
college experience lifetime earings is $1,547,000. High school diploma lifetime earnings
is $1,304,000. (Source: Carnevale, Rose and Cheah "The College Payoff", Georgetown
University Center on Education and the Workforce)
Talent Search
University of Houston-Downtown
Houston, TX 77002
One Main Street N215
(713) 221-8992