The University of Houston System at Cinco Ranch facility contains 20 classrooms and a virtual library.[/caption]

The University of Houston System at Cinco Ranch has served the Katy community for more than 35 years, offering students a college education without having to leave the area.

UH System at Cinco Ranch was founded in 1980 as the West Houston Institute, allowing the university to offer night classes at Memorial and Westchester high schools, said Richard Phillips, UH System associate vice chancellor for system initiatives.

“It started as an outreach effort,” Phillips said. “It was just for select course work. At that time, you took some classes here but still had to go to the university to earn your degree.”

As enrollment grew, the UH System rented space at Park 10 from 1982 until 1988. A land and building donation from Cinco Ranch Ventures, a coalition of companies that purchased the master-planned development, made it possible for the UH System to establish a permanent learning center at 4242 S. Mason Road in 1988, Phillips said.

The facility was subsequently named the UH System at Cinco Ranch.

In 2001, UHSCR was reorganized as a teaching center, which meant students from all UH system universities were able to attend classes there. It offered other benefits to students too, Phillips said.

“When [administration officials] realized the need out here, they changed it to a teaching center,” Phillips said. “We went from just a few classes to offering degrees.”

Approximately 1,500 students enroll at the Cinco Ranch facility each semester because of its convenience, said UHSCR Program Director Owen Campbell.

“Some students only have a small window of opportunity to go to school, and for some students it’s during rush hour,” Campbell said. “We give the opportunity to take a 15-minute drive that’s not in traffic, and they get all the benefits and are able to earn their degree.”

With increasing enrollment, the Texas legislature has approved a bill that enables the UH System to buy land to develop a new campus in Katy.

Phillips said because it is still early in the process, university officials are still discussing how UHSCR will tie into the new development. Campbell said the staff’s mission will not change.

“We’re still here for the students,” Campbell said. “We’re here to help them get an education.”

Timeline

1980 University of Houston system founds West Houston Institute, offering night classes in Memorial and Westchester high schools.

1982 The institute moves to its location in the Park 10 business district.

1988 WHI moves to Cinco Ranch and becomes University of Houston System at Cinco Ranch.

2001 UHS-Cinco Ranch reorganizes to offer higher education classes to UH system students.

2013 UHSCR becomes a smoke-free campus as part of a system-wide initiative.