The University of Houston System Board of Regents approved sweeping governance changes, new degree programs, and the closure of several low-enrollment academic offerings during its quarterly meeting Thursday.
Regents approved the fiscal year 2027 financial plan and budget for the UH System, alongside updates to the Houston and UH-Clear Lake master plans.
In a governance shift, the board delegated expanded contracting authority to Chancellor Renu Khator, allowing her to negotiate and execute goods-and-services contracts exceeding $1 million (excluding construction contracts) and separate construction contracts exceeding $1 million without prior board approval. The change is intended to make the system more nimble in executing large projects while preserving overall board oversight.
The board also advanced policy updates incorporating verbatim statutory language from Senate Bill 37 into policy 21.14.2 (curriculum review policy), ensuring explicit compliance with state law around academic program review and certification.
Regents also approved several new degree programs, previously reviewed and approved by the Academic Research and Student Success Committee, including a Master of Science in Biological Sciences and Instrumentation at UH-Downtown designed to meet workforce demand in laboratory science.
The University of Houston will offer a new Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), an interdisciplinary degree spanning philosophy, political science, and economics.
Regents noted that the PPE program reflects a broader trend away from disciplinary “silos” and towards cross-disciplinary education.
Other approved programs include a Master of Design Studies replacing the Master of Arts in Architectural Studies, which builds on environmental design and incorporates media and fabrication, urban design, sustainable urban systems, historic preservation, architecture, and healthcare.
A PhD in Music will replace the practice-focused Doctor of Musical Arts to enhance graduates’ eligibility for university teaching and broader academic roles. All current DMA students will be taught out under existing degree requirements.
To balance new offerings with sustainable enrollment, the committee approved several program closures and consolidations across the UH System.
The UH College of Pharmacy will consolidate the Master’s in Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy and Master’s in Pharmaceutics into a single Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences. It will also consolidate the PhD in Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy and PhD in Pharmaceutics into a single PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Only four doctoral students remain in the legacy programs (two in each), each with an individualized plan to complete.
The UH Law Center will consolidate multiple Master of Laws (LLM) specializations (including health law, tax law, international law, energy and environmental law, and intellectual property) under a single LLM degree, though students can still pursue and document specific concentrations such as energy, environmental and natural resources law; tax law; and intellectual property, which will continue to appear on transcripts and support national program rankings.
The change responds to state “low-producing program” thresholds: while courses and concentrations are full, relatively few students complete separate standalone LLM degrees in each specialty.
The board approved closure of the Bachelor’s in Religious Studies at the University of Houston due to persistently low major enrollments despite efforts to increase and adjust faculty, revise course offerings, and recruit new students into the major.
The religious studies minor remains strong, and religion courses will continue to be offered within the core curriculum and as electives. No faculty layoffs are associated with this closure.
Chancellor Khator and Provost Dr. Diane Chase reported that declining enrollments in religion and biblical studies programs are a statewide and national trend, not unique to UH.
In response to new requirements under SB 37, the UH System conducted a review of minors and certificates.
The board approved closure of a set of minors and certificates across the three universities that have had zero enrollments for the past five years. No students are affected, as no one is currently pursuing these credentials.
