GHP Backs UH’s Efforts to Achieve Top-Tier Status

The University of Houston has added the strength and backing of the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) to its case to become a top-tier research institution, as the GHP’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the effort.

As a result of the vote, the GHP will amend language in its 81st Session Texas Legislative Agenda to reflect the organization’s support for designating the University of Houston as Texas' next top-tier university, said Christina Garza, manager of media relations for the GHP. This adds to existing language in the GHP's agenda that states, "We support a competitive funding process to enable the seven universities grouped statewide, which includes the University of Houston, under the emerging designation, to achieve National Research University status."

“We are pleased to have the cooperation and support of an organization such as the Greater Houston Partnership, which represents leaders of the business community of the city of Houston and the surrounding region,” said UH President Renu Khator.

“We are focused every day on educating and developing the leaders of tomorrow. We fully recognize that we need the entire community behind us to achieve our goal of attaining top-tier status. This is an important step in that direction.”

GHP’s support for UH builds upon the momentum UH has established among local business leaders and politicians, including Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who declared UH as “a great selection for a tier-one university” at the recent investiture ceremony of Khator.

Texas has three tier-one universities: the University of Texas at Austin; Texas A&M University; and Rice University, a small private university with about 5,000 students.

UH, which has more than 36,000 students at its central campus, is one of seven Texas public universities seeking top-tiier designation, and money, from the state. A recent report underscores the need for additional top-tier universities in Texas. The report by the National Center on Public Policy and Higher Education cited the lack of an educated workforce as a significant threat to the Texas economy. Texas needs more top-tier universities to educate and train skilled workers and develop solutions to statewide problems through research.

“Providing an affordable education to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity for higher education has been this university’s mission from the very beginning,” Khator said. “We are well positioned and ready to serve this state as a top-tier university.”

Book by UH Prof Offers Insight Into Anxiety Issues

Whether it’s a fear of flying, worries over the economy, stage fright or nervousness in crowds, anxieties are a daily obstacle for millions of Americans.

As director of the University of Houston’s Anxiety Disorders Clinic, Peter Norton researches anxiety disorders and helps people overcome them. Now, his insight is presented in a new book focused on teaching people how to self-treat their anxieties and phobias.

Along with Martin Antony, psychology professor at Ryerson University in Toronto, Norton has co-authored The Anti-Anxiety Workbook (Guilford Press).

“This book was written as a ‘self-help’ book,” said Norton, UH associate professor of psychology. “It leads people through comprehensive self-assessments to determine their symptoms, diagnoses and the steps that will effectively help them.”

In providing readers with the know-how necessary to address their anxiety disorders, Norton and Antony focus on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which promotes self-support during moments of fear or distress. CBT also concentrates on the interaction between how people think, feel and act.

“This therapy also addresses and delicately challenges thoughts and assumptions that underline certain fears,” Norton said. “Ultimately, the treatment exposes people bit by bit to their areas of fear to ease them into a sense of comfort.”

CBT is the principal therapy employed at UH’s Anxiety Disorders Clinic. Norton said this workbook enables readers to apply the center’s same methods without the guidance of a therapist or can be used in conjunction with professional treatment. It also can be used as a practical guide for new clinicians or psychologists in training.

In addition to CBT, the workbook also takes the reader through relaxation methods and lifestyle factors that can impact one’s recovery from an anxiety disorder.

“The lifestyle chapter focuses on topics such as exercise, diet, and alcohol and drug use,” Norton said. “These are all factors that can either promote or prohibit recovery.”

Another chapter in the workbook details how friends and family can effectively support those suffering from anxiety disorders.