Key Takeaways
- The University of Houston System has partnered with the Houston Health Department to expand paid internships, practicums, and applied learning opportunities for students across UH, UHD and UHCL.
- Through hands-on field projects and research assistantships, students can earn academic credit while gaining critical experience in municipal government, public service and community health.
- Building on civic initiatives, this systemwide collaboration directly strengthens the Greater Houston workforce pipeline by aligning higher education talent with local public health and municipal needs.
The University of Houston System and the Houston Health Department (HHD) have formalized a systemwide partnership agreement to expand paid internships, practicums, research opportunities and applied learning experiences for students across the University of Houston (UH), University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) and University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL).
The affiliation agreement establishes a framework for collaboration among the three universities, the city of Houston and the Houston Health Department. Through the initiative, students can complete paid practicum placements, research assistantships and field projects while gaining hands-on experience in community health and public service. Academic credit options are available depending on individual degree programs.
“As Houston's university system, we have a responsibility to help develop the talent that will shape our region's future,” said Monica D. Thompson, executive director of University Career Services at UH. “This partnership creates meaningful opportunities for students while helping the city of Houston connect with the talent it needs to serve our community. It demonstrates the power of higher education and municipal government working together to strengthen communities, build workforce pipelines and create pathways to impactful careers.”
This partnership builds upon a long-standing relationship between the UH System and the city of Houston, including student placements across municipal initiatives such as Complete Communities and Mayoral Summer Internship Program, part of UH’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
“This systemwide agreement reflects the University of Houston System’s commitment to driving student success through hands-on, high-impact learning experiences,” said Paul R. Kittle, vice chancellor for student affairs for the UH System and vice president for student affairs at UH. “Partnering with the Houston Health Department allows our students across all campuses to bridge classroom knowledge with real-world application, directly serving our local communities while building strong career pipelines for the region.”
The partnership reflects the University of Houston System's commitment to serving as a talent pipeline for the Houston region by connecting students with real-world experiences while helping meet the workforce needs of one of the nation's largest cities.
“The students in the University of Houston System will benefit significantly from this partnership with the Houston Health Department, as it will offer vital career opportunities and exposure for students,” said Janina Arrington, assistant vice president for student success at UHD. “By fostering deeper community connections, this agreement bolsters employability within the Houston region, advances essential skills and competencies needed, and redefines workforce readiness in the Houston region.”