April 23, 1971: Initial Legislative Authorization The Coordinating Board approves establishment of an upper-level institution in Victoria, Texas, as an off-campus center of an existing state-supported university. Sept. 4, 1973: First Classes The University of Houston Victoria Center opens with 356 students and a faculty of 24. By spring of 1974, enrollment had grown to 450 students, the faculty to about 50 and course offerings to 80. 1974: Victoria Symphony The Victoria Symphony Orchestra starts as a university-community organization sponsored by the Music Department of the University of Houston Victoria Center. 1975: Victoria Bach Festival UHVC music professor David Urness helps found and is the first director of the Victoria Bach Festival. UHV in the 1970s April 1983: Legislative Change from Center to University Texas Gov. Mark White signs Senate Bill 235, giving permanent status as a degree-granting university to UHVC, which is renamed the University of Houston-Victoria. Nov. 1, 1985: Small Business Development Center A grand opening is held for the Small Business Institute, which is later renamed the Small Business Development Center. 1991: New Facility UHV moves into a newly constructed two-story leased facility. 1997: New Buildings and Online Classes UHV receives approval from the Board of Regents in June to purchase University West and approximately 17 acres of land from Victoria College, and to build a three-story facility to be named the University Center. UHV breaks ground on the University Center in August. Business professor Jim Weber teaches the first online class in the fall. UHV University Center 2000: University Center The University Center building opens. 2001: Online MBA The School of Business Administration begins offering a Master of Business Administration degree entirely online. October 2006: NAIA UHV is approved for membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. December 2007: School of Nursing The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approves a proposal to establish a UHV School of Nursing. Spring 2008: Athletics The Jaguars baseball and softball teams play their first games. June 19, 2009: Expansion Texas Gov. Rick Perry signs House Bill 1056 to allow UHV to add underclassmen in fall 2010. UHV campus-view Aug. 6, 2009: Ceremonial Signing Texas Gov. Rick Perry comes to UHV for a ceremonial signing of HB 1056. Sept. 7, 2010: First Underclassmen and Additional Sports UHV welcomes more than 300 freshmen and sophomores to its Victoria campus for the start of fall classes and adds men’s and women’s golf and soccer teams to its athletics program. Sept. 18, 2010: First Residence Hall Jaguar Hall, UHV’s first residence hall, opens at 2705 Houston Highway. August 2012: Jaguar Court UHV opens Jaguar Court, its second residence hall for students, at 2605 Houston Highway. Aug. 30, 2012: Jaguar Suites A ground-breaking ceremony takes place for Jaguar Suites, an apartment-style residence hall for sophomores scheduled to open in fall 2013 at 2703 Houston Highway. Fall 2013: Jaguar Suites, UHV’s new suite-style residence hall, is opened for occupancy. November 20, 2013: Groundbreaking takes place for the new Academic and Regional Economic Development Building, north of the Center Building, 3007 N. Ben Wilson. August 2015: University North opens.
