2025 Legislative Agenda
Appropriations Request for the 89th Regular Session Texas State Legislature
Request:
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Restore $3 Million in INstitutional Enhancement Funds
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Establish the center for crime, urban research and education (C-CURE)
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Create a police and emergency operations center (PEOC)
Three million dollars in institutional Enhancement funds are needed to support core academic and student success initiatives at UHD. Restoring this funding is essential to our ability to fufill our mission and graduate students in a timely manner.
The Center for Crime, Urban Research and Education (C-CURE) will foster innovative and collaborative solutions to complex urban challenges. Through cutting-edge research that deepens understanding of the social, economic, and structural factors driving urban crime and social problems, the center will bridge the gap between academic research, policy development, community engagement, and practical solutions to promote safety, justice, and sustainable urban development.
The Police and Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) will house UHD’s first fully functioning police department, positioning the university for more proactive crime prevention, enhancing the department’s response to criminal activity, and serving as a unified command center for law enforcement agencies during emergencies.
Institutional funding restoration: $3.05 million
| FY2026 | $1,525,264 |
| FY2027 | $1,525,264 |
Exceptional Item Request (C-CURE): $2.52 million
| FY2026 | $1,304,725 |
| FY2027 | $1,214,275 |
CCAP Request (PEOC): $102 million
| Property Acquisition | $45,000,000 |
| New Construction | $57,000,000 |
Funding Request
Rationale
UHD seeks the state’s investment to rise as a leader in criminal justice and urban research, policy and education. This can be accomplished by leveraging UHD’s unique niche as a fully downtown, urban institution and as a provider of criminal justice education in the University of Houston System through its College of Public Service (CPS). This effort increases interdisciplinary and intra-disciplinary training in the field, and contributes to the safety and economic prosperity of Houston and the region.
About UHD
The University of Houston-Downtown is a comprehensive, four-year university with four distinct colleges. It is on the rise as an essential anchor institution for the greater Houston area, educating 14,000 students annually.
UHD is a diverse community of faculty, staff, students and regional partners dedicated to generating knowledge, nurturing talent and driving socioeconomic mobility for a just and sustainable future. UHD strives to be an inclusive university of choice for those seeking to contribute to the intellectual, social and cultural lives of their communities.
UHD celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. The university continues to establish partnerships in downtown Houston to address the complex needs of the city and region.
Endorsements
“I support the efforts from the University of Houston – Downtown to establish Center for Crime, Urban Research and Education (C-CURE) and a Police Emergency Operations Center (PEOC).
As a proud alum of this outstanding institution, I welcome UHD’s efforts to collect
and analyze regional data that can lead to significant research opportunities through
the Center for Crime, Urban Research and Education, which also will impact the operational
dimension of how we can better serve our community. I also recognize the importance
of being prepared for emergencies through such entities as the C-Cure. This center
will coordinate with surrounding agencies during periods when managing efforts and
resources in a timely manner is essential.
Public safety is a paramount concern across all jurisdictions, and I applaud UHD for
taking the necessary steps to become a leader in this field. UHD will be serving the
greater Houston area in real time, and it will prepare the future leaders of our profession.”
— Chief of Police J. Noe Diaz, Jr.
Houston Police Department
“As a proud alum of the University of Houston – Downtown, I recognize that investing
in our community’s protection is essential for the future of public safety in Harris
County.
I firmly believe in having the Center for Crime, Urban Resarch and Education (C-CURE),
a centralized hub where police, fire, EMS, and other critical services can coordinate
their efforts seamlessly.
I fully support creating the Center for Crime, Urban Resarch and Education. Access
to current data and research ensures that our decisions are evidence-based, fostering
progress within our industry and preparing future leaders to meet the challenges ahead.”
— Sheriff Ed Gonzalez
Harris County Sheriff’s Office
“I fully support the appropriations request from the University of Houston-Downtown
to create the Center for Crime, Urban Research and Education (C-CURE) and the Police
and Emergency Operations Center (PEOC).
As both a graduate of the University of Houston–Downtown and an elected law enforcement
leader entering my fourth term in office, I know what a strong ally this institution
has been to police through its training efforts.
I also know the Center for Crime, Urban Research and Education will be an invaluable
tool in analyzing critical data and pushing technical innovation. Good data and analysis
help us with everything from budgeting to spotting patterns and trends on the street.
Having this data will make our communities and officers safer. In the nation’s third
largest county, the Center for Crime, Urban Research and Education will give us a
unique opportunity to use data in new and innovative ways to improve the overall fight
against crime.
More hands-on training and a bridge to greater cooperation between law enforcements
agencies during times of crisis through the C-CURE also will be invaluable. With both
programs rooted in the long UHD tradition of being a valuable law enforcement ally,
it means these programs will have immense value and be in good hands.”
— Constable Alan Rosen
Harris County Precinct One
In Summary
The University of Houston-Downtown requests restoration of $3 milion in Institutional Enhancement funds for core academic and student success initiatives at UHD. Restoring this funding is essential to our ability to fulfill our mission and graduate students in a timely manner.
We also ask for $2.52 million to establish the Center for Crime, Urban Research and Education (C-CURE) and $102 million for the construction of a Police and Emergency Operations Center (PEOC).
These two centers serve distinct but related purposes: Advancing research and education in the field while also addressing the sustainability of the criminal justice workforce and improving community safety.