University of Houston Faculty Council Wraps Up the Academic Year

The University of Houston Faculty Council held its final meeting of the academic year on May 13, 2026, bringing together faculty, staff, and university leadership for a wide-ranging conversation about campus life, safety, finances, and the year ahead.

A Year Worth Celebrating

Chancellor Renu Khator opened with a note of pride: UH is graduating 7,819 students across 18 ceremonies this spring — a number that rivals the entire enrollment of some other Houston universities. She thanked Faculty Council members for their hard work and acknowledged that this was a challenging transition year.

Federal and State Landscape

The Chancellor gave faculty a frank heads-up about shifting winds in higher education policy. At the federal level, the Department of Education is prioritizing AI in grant funding; NSF leadership changes are causing delays in the agency’s grant processing; and new rules would tie student loan eligibility to graduate earnings outcomes. At the state level, a new Texas Senate committee chair has called a July hearing on higher education, and a performance-based funding model — potentially tying up to 25% of base funding to outcomes like retention and graduation rates — is under development. Faculty were urged to think proactively about student retention and degree efficiency.

Campus Safety: The Numbers Tell a Different Story

Vice Chancellor Raymond Bartlett presented data showing UH's violent crime rate is about one-fifteenth that of the city of Houston and more than 50% lower than comparable universities. With over 3,500 cameras, 260 call-for-assistance stations, and nearly 700 panic alarms across campus, UH has significant safety infrastructure in place. Major investments are also underway in LED lighting — especially around the campus perimeter — and a new satellite police station opened along MLK Boulevard in January. A task force is actively working on policies around scooters, bikes, and other personal mobility devices shared with pedestrians.

Campus Transformation

The Centennial Project — a 20-acre redesign of the heart of campus — is on track for completion by May 2027. The project will reduce vehicle traffic, add 500 trees, 250 new lights, and 100 benches, and transform University Drive into a pedestrian-first corridor. Wilhelmina's Grove is already complete and well-used. Five new monument markers are also going up at campus entrances.

Good News for Graduate Assistants and Faculty

The University of Houston will provide eligible graduate assistants with financial support, separate from their stipends, to help defray the cost of graduate student health insurance premiums. Merit raises for faculty are also expected in the upcoming budget.

Faculty Council Year in Review

It was a busy inaugural year for the reconstituted Faculty Council. Highlights included a new Curriculum Committee that reviewed four new degree programs and established a university-wide 4+1 accelerated degree pathway; a Faculty Affairs Committee that surveyed faculty on research services and updated guidance on the grievance process; and a Research and Scholarship Committee that reviewed applications for over $2.8 million in internal grant requests. A new Faculty Resource Guide is being developed for online access, and a Research Planning Subcommittee will launch next year to give faculty a direct voice with university administration on research infrastructure needs.

Looking Ahead

New Faculty Council members elected by their colleges will begin serving on August 1. Staff Council also joined the meeting to introduce themselves and signal interest in deeper collaboration with faculty going forward. UH Together — the council's weekly communication to all faculty — will continue through the summer, though not on a regular schedule, but as events warrant.

Update on Microsoft Authentication: Tips to Reduce Login Friction

Following faculty concerns about the transition from Duo to Microsoft-based authentication, UH IT has shared several ways to make the process less disruptive. (Note: "How can I add another method of authentication for Microsoft Authenticator?" is currently listed among UH IT's top issues — you're not alone.)

Why is this happening? Microsoft's authentication system is designed to periodically ask users to re-verify their identity for security purposes. During a transition like this one, session settings are still being tuned, which may result in more prompts than usual as the system stabilizes. Microsoft Learn

What you can do right now:

• Use Microsoft Edge when possible. Microsoft Edge handles session activity differently than other browsers like Google Chrome, and is generally more reliable at holding your Microsoft login across tabs and sessions. Microsoft Learn
• Choose "Stay signed in" when prompted. When the "Stay signed in?" prompt appears, selecting it sets a persistent cookie in your browser that remembers your authentication — including your second factor — and helps avoid repeated prompts within the same session. Don't skip this step. https://gethelp.uh.edu/kb/3930
• Don't use private/incognito browsing for work. Private browsing windows don't save cookies, which means your session won't persist and you'll be prompted to log in every time.
• Use the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone. For mobile scenarios, the Microsoft Authenticator app helps reduce authentication prompts across your devices by acting as a broker for other Microsoft-connected applications.
• Configure Chrome if you prefer it. Chrome can hold your session more reliably if third-party cookies are enabled and you're not using any privacy extensions that clear cookies on exit.
• Consider a USB/hardware security key (check with IT first). For faculty who want a more seamless long-term solution, FIDO2 security keys offer a frictionless sign-in experience by eliminating passwords, reducing prompts, and enabling fast, secure authentication across devices. These are small physical devices (like a YubiKey) that plug into a USB port — you tap them once to authenticate, with no phone required. Common considerations include USB-C vs. USB-A compatibility and browser behavior. Before purchasing one, confirm with UH IT that this method is currently supported and enabled for your account type.

Frequent re-authentication prompts. IT is actively working with Microsoft to address this issue at the system level. If you're being prompted repeatedly — especially mid-session — IT would like to hear from you. Documenting specific patterns helps identify the root cause faster. Contact the IT Support Center (713-743-1411 | uitsupport@uh.edu) if you're willing to share your experience.

More information to follow as UH IT continues working with Microsoft on this transition.

Faculty Voices Are Driving Research Support Improvements

This spring, the Faculty Affairs Committee's DOR Subcommittee asked faculty to share their experiences with research services — and you responded. With over 400 survey responses, the message was clear: faculty have things to say, and the Faculty Council is listening.

The survey is now complete, and the real work begins. The DOR Subcommittee and the Research Committee are forming a joint working group to translate what you shared into concrete improvements. This kind of cross-committee collaboration is exactly how shared governance is supposed to work — your experiences on the ground shaping the systems and processes that support your scholarship.

As we head into the fall semester, this work gives us a clear focus: strengthening the infrastructure that supports faculty research at every level — from grant processes to communication pathways between faculty, departments, colleges, and the Division of Research. The goal isn't just to identify what isn't working; it's also to build something effective and efficient together.

Stay tuned for updates as the working group gets underway. And if you haven't already — thank you for taking the time to share your voice. It makes a difference.

Ongoing Professional Development

This summer, the Faculty Engagement and Development department invites faculty to engage in a dynamic series of professional development opportunities designed to advance scholarly productivity, global research engagement, and innovative teaching practices. Through collaborative faculty learning communities and hands-on experiences, faculty will have the opportunity to strengthen their writing, expand international research pathways, and explore emerging technologies that support student success and academic excellence.

Our summer 2026 FED programming will feature three (3) signature series: the FACT Summer Writing Retreat, the Fulbright Scholar Award Accelerator, and Teaching with AI. These programs offer meaningful opportunities for growth, collaboration, and creativity throughout the summer. 

Register to join one or more of the FED’s summer programs.

Summer 2026 FACT: Writing Retreat

The two-week writing retreat is back by popular demand. Embark on a transformative journey to enhance your scholarly writing at the FACT: Summer Writing Retreat! Over two enriching weeks, faculty members will participate in facilitated writing sessions. Writers will benefit from a supportive community dedicated to elevating their academic writing and scholarly productivity. The writing group meets daily, Monday–Friday, June 8–19, 2026, 9:00–11:00 am.

Fulbright Scholar Award Accelerator

The Faculty Engagement and Development Office and the Institute for Global Engagement invite faculty to participate in a summer training program to support applicants preparing for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Selected participants will join a four-week cohort that combines topic-specific guidance with structured writing and clinic consultations to help faculty strengthen their Fulbright application materials. Sessions are held on Tuesdays in June, 9:00 am – 10:30 am.

Teach with AI Sandbox

This faculty development session is flexible and informal. It is a time to meet with other faculty members to play and learn about different AI tools. Every week in June, we will work with a different AI tool or practice a new AI strategy together to build confidence, enhance Teaching and Learning, and have fun learning. This event will occur weekly in June on Wednesday AND Thursday.

Do you have ideas, feedback, or topics you would like to see featured in UH Together? We would love to hear from you! Share your thoughts here: https://forms.office.com/r/iDkuvcvbWB.