Coursera, a leading massive open online course (MOOC) platform, today announced that it will be working with the University of Houston System and nine other state university systems and public university flagships to explore the possibilities of using MOOC technology and content to improve completion, quality and access to higher education.

The 2013 UH Cullen College of Engineering Alumni Awards Gala will be held at the Petroleum Club of Houston on Thursday, June 13, 2013. The annual event, hosted by the Engineering Alumni Association, recognizes the professional achievements and contributions of college alumni and faculty. This year's honorees are:

The University of Houston will be live streaming this Saturday's commencement for the Cullen College of Engineering. The spring 2013 engineering commencement will take place this Saturday, May 11th, 9:00am to 11:00am at the Hofheinz Pavilion.

Click here to watch the commencement ceremonies live from your computer!

As the end of the spring semester approaches, members of the class of 2013 are preparing to transition into the full-time workforce. Engineering graduates will apply the technical skills learned in the lectures and labs of the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering at their new jobs.

It started as a conversation among friends, about a common issue of college life: the price of textbooks. Ade Adesanya (BSEE '11) recalls the discussion with Eric Imasogie (BSIE '10). "We decided there is no reason why anyone should sell a used book to the bookstore," he said. "You spend $200 on a book and the bookstore buys it back for a fraction of that. The ideal thing would be for students to sell or trade books to each other."

The Space Shuttle Atlantis successfully began the program’s final mission today, and Cullen College of Engineering alumnus Rex Walheim was onboard.

Walheim earned his master’s degree in industrial engineering from the college in 1989. He was selected as an astronaut in 1996 and went on his first space flight in 2002.

A lifetime separates two special University of Houston engineering students who are graduating this spring. David Levy is receiving two bachelor's degrees, one in mechanical engineering and the other in mathematics. George Hall, meanwhile, is getting his master's degree in industrial engineering. Levy is 16 and Hall is 86, a 70-year age difference.

A University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering professor last week was commissioned in the Naval active reserve as a Campus Liaison Officer (CLO).

Lawrence Schulze, associate professor of industrial engineering, became the first CLO for the university since 2001, a post held by John Matthews, a manager for the Cullen College’s PROMES program.

Researchers' tool to help Houston first responders avoid flood waters

A computer-based system being developed by researchers at the University of Houston is expected to help the city’s emergency responders better navigate roads during times of flooding.