The final Faculty Council Meeting

Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Time: 12:00 to 14:00 

Location: Space City Room #214, Student Center South

We kindly ask that all Councilors attend in person. 

Syllabus Requirements: What Faculty Need to Know

Faculty are reminded that course syllabi must comply with both state and university-level requirements. Under Texas HB 2504 (effective June 19, 2009), syllabi must include a description of major assignments and exams, required and recommended readings, a subject matter overview, and learning objectives with assessment methods. Starting with Summer 2025, all UH syllabi must be submitted and publicly posted through Simple Syllabus, the Canvas-integrated platform — this applies to undergraduate and graduate courses alike.

Faculty should also be aware of Texas SB 37 (effective September 1, 2025), which establishes curriculum standards for general education courses and creates a statewide Office of the Ombudsman authorized to investigate public complaints. While SB 37 requires no specific syllabus language, it does underscore the importance of ensuring that all syllabus content — including course descriptions, lecture topics, and assignment descriptions — is written with precision and grounded clearly in your academic discipline.

Questions about compliance should be directed to your dean's office.

Call for APEX speakers for 2026-2027

Nominations should include a proposed talk title and a brief abstract and can be submitted via the APeX Nomination Form. The deadline for submissions is April 24, 2026.

Additional details about the call are included here.

The Future of Higher Education Talk Series, April 24, 2026

Mr. Eric Kelderman, Senior Writer, The Chronicle of Higher Education

Talk: Has the U.S. Passed Peak Higher Education?

Location and Time: Room 210, Ballroom (East), Student Center South 1:00-2:00 p.m. 

Registration: Please register to confirm your in-person seat for this event. You may also join the session online if you are unable to attend in person. We request that everyone please register so we can plan accordingly.

FED Events (https://www.uh.edu/fed/events/)

Exploring the Faculty Development Fund Monday, April 20 | 2:00–3:00 PM 

Join Faculty Engagement and Development for a virtual session on the Global Faculty Development Fund (GFDF). Learn about eligibility, requirements, and how the fund has supported faculty global teaching, research, and partnerships. The session will also cover using Terra Dotta to identify UH international partnerships and working with the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) and the Department of Faculty Engagement and Development (FED). Past GFDF recipients will share their experiences.

B.O.S.S. Tools: VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, and Smarter Data Handling Tuesday, April 21, 2026. 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Organized by Faculty Engagement and Development

Join Je'Breyah Chevis, Program Director in Faculty Engagement and Development, for this B.O.S.S. postdoctoral fellow professional development workshop on VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP in Excel. Learn how to streamline common research tasks — from managing large datasets and lab inventories to analyzing survey responses and preparing PI reports — and work smarter with greater confidence.

Virtual Exchange: Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Wednesday, April 22, 2026. 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM Organized by Faculty Engagement and Development

Join FED and IGE to explore Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) — an approach that connects faculty and students across countries and cultures through online technology. Partner professors co-design learning experiences that give students meaningful international and intercultural engagement directly within their coursework.

The College Athlete Mental Health Conference, April 30-May |  University of Houston

Join the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) and the Office of Faculty Engagement and Development (FED) for this introductory session, which will explore the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, feature a panel of UH Fulbright alumni sharing insights, and guide participants in identifying opportunities that align with their interests. Attendees will also learn how to move from initial curiosity to a stronger application plan, with a live award search demonstration included. With 400+ awards available across 135+ countries, Fulbright offers more accessible pathways than many realize- making this a great first step for faculty and staff interested in global engagement.

We want to make faculty aware of an exciting conference coming to our campus at the end of this month. The College Athlete Mental Health Conference (collegeathletemhconference.com), organized by UH's own Dr. Emmett Gill, Director of Mental Health Services for UH Athletics, will be held April 30–May 1 at the University of Houston. Despite being organized just this spring, the conference has already attracted speakers and panelists from across the country — a real testament to Dr. Gill's expertise and national network in this important field.

College athlete mental health sits at the intersection of student wellness, equity, and institutional responsibility — topics that touch many of our disciplines. Faculty from across the university are welcome to attend. We hope you'll consider joining this timely and nationally significant conversation happening right here at UH.

For more information and to register, visit: www.collegeathletemhconference.com 

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