Better late than never..
That title actually has two meanings this context. You see, something happened back on the 30th that I meant to blog about and I never got around to it. And that something was proposed way back in 2005 and at the time it was dismissed as unworkable. Lone Star College has announced that it is buying the old Compaq facility out on SH249 and Louetta. Long time readers may recall that this facility was originally proposed as a satellite campus for UofH in conjunction with North Harris Montgomery County College District to offer 4 year degree plans. But the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board nixed the idea because Prairie View and Sam Houston State complained. It was suggested at the time that NHMCCD should buy the property, but they declined. Well in the interim a deal was struck with someone else, and then the financing fell through and the property went back on the market. Mind you, the facility was practically brand new. Well, LSCS (formerly NHMCCD) has agreed to buy the property and turn it into a University Center more or less what was planned to begin with.
From: Carpenter, Richard
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 2:53 PM
To: All Employees
Subject: Announcement
Importance: High
After many months of research, planning and negotiations, it is my great
pleasure to announce that the Lone Star College System has completed the
purchase of the core of the Hewlett Packard North Campus (formerly
Compaq Computer Corporation World Headquarters) at SH 249 and Louetta Rd
in Northwest Harris County. The purchase includes approximately 1.2
million square feet of buildings as well as parking garages and other
support infrastructure.
This facility will serve multiple purposes for our system as we continue
to grow and expand; however the center piece of the campus will be a new
University Center to serve north Harris County that is expected to
include at least eight university partners. In addition to the
University Center, the campus will also house an instructional satellite
center, Corporate College conference and training facilities, LSCS
office space, as well as room for new program development and expansion.
Further information will be available in the coming days, but I wanted
you to be the first to know of this exciting new chapter in the history
of this storied facility and of the Lone Star College System. We are
working on planning an event to allow interested employees to tour the
facility in the near future.
Richard Carpenter, Chancellor
Lone Star College System
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 2:53 PM
To: All Employees
Subject: Announcement
Importance: High
After many months of research, planning and negotiations, it is my great
pleasure to announce that the Lone Star College System has completed the
purchase of the core of the Hewlett Packard North Campus (formerly
Compaq Computer Corporation World Headquarters) at SH 249 and Louetta Rd
in Northwest Harris County. The purchase includes approximately 1.2
million square feet of buildings as well as parking garages and other
support infrastructure.
This facility will serve multiple purposes for our system as we continue
to grow and expand; however the center piece of the campus will be a new
University Center to serve north Harris County that is expected to
include at least eight university partners. In addition to the
University Center, the campus will also house an instructional satellite
center, Corporate College conference and training facilities, LSCS
office space, as well as room for new program development and expansion.
Further information will be available in the coming days, but I wanted
you to be the first to know of this exciting new chapter in the history
of this storied facility and of the Lone Star College System. We are
working on planning an event to allow interested employees to tour the
facility in the near future.
Richard Carpenter, Chancellor
Lone Star College System
posted by Rorschach at
5/09/2009 09:20:00 PM
4 Comments:
Ror*
It still will not serve those who want to pick up a 4 year degree out on the northwest side of Houston who don't want to drive 30 miles to classes because they can't afford to live on campus.
Of course, with the rising tuition costs, 4 year degrees may become a thing of the past anyways and our middle class kids will have to settle for a two year degree.
Don
I guess you can't please the naysayers, but if you look at the facts, LSCS got a gift here. When you add it all up the taxpayers just got a heck of a deal, and it will bring a 4 year degree to many that might not otherwise be able to afford it.
Anon, I was not aware that LSCS was introducing a 4 year degree. I read that was the original intent, but I didn't pick up on it being an option now. I would be interested if you had some information on a 4 year degree program (preferably with programs in business, computer science, and engineering)being offered at the new HP facility.
Don
More information: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/cyfair/news/6419422.html
One part of the article suggests that there will be 4 year programs:
--
Plans for the University Center, which will offer 2-year, 4-year and Masters degree programs – launch in early fall. So far, Prairie View A&M University, Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, University of Houston and University of Houston-Downtown have announced plans to offer programs at the northwest Harris County campus.
--
But then it looks like students will have to transfer out to a university's main campus:
--
“We have 8,000 students who live in this area and go to schools in the UH system,” said Welcome Wilson, chairman of the University of Houston System Board of Regents. “We need to make it a seamless transfer for them to (UH) Downtown or the main campus. We are glad to be here.”
--
I'm not clear how this will work exactly. I'm hoping that my kids would be able to pick up a 4 year degree in business or engineering out here in Cypress.
Don
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