An Academic Model for SEM Student Success in an Urban Commuter Institution

February 19, 2002 Connie Kubo Della-Piana, Evaluation Director Benjamin Flores, MIE Project Director Rosa Gomez, ACES Assistant Director Helmut Knaust, Associate Dean Support for this program was provided by the National Science Foundation

UTEP Student Population Profile (Fall 2001)

24 years of age (undergraduate average) 69% Hispanic ( Mexican American ) 82% from El Paso County 98% commuter 81% employed 54% first generation university students

El Paso County Demographic Data: Census 2000

Fall 2001 Enrollment

16,220 students + 2,010 UG in Engineering 904 UG in Science

2,914

18% total enrollment

UTEP SEM Students from 1994 to 2001

UTEP Undergraduate Science & Engineering Programs SCIENCE

• Biology • Chemistry • Environmental Science • Geology • Geophysics • Microbiology • Mathematics • Physics • Psychology

ENGINEERING

• Civil Engineering • Computer Science • Electrical and Computer Engineering • Industrial Engineering • Materials and Metallurgical Engineering • Mechanical Engineering

UTEP’s Academic Model for SEM Student Success

CircLES SEM Entering Student Program

Goal of the CircLES Program: to increase the retention of SEM entering students via the implementation of learning communities in the freshman year • Week long summer orientation • Placement exams in Math and English • Course clustering (Math, University Seminar, English Composition) • Proactive advising and scheduling

STRUCTURE

LEARNING COMMUNITIES ORIENTATION PEER LEADERSHIP ADVISING

ORIENTATION

CONNECTIONS COLLEGE SUCCESS SKILLS MATH REVIEW LABORATORY/ DESIGN

SCIENCE CHALLENGE SKILL SEMINARS CAMPUS TOURS MATH REVIEW

ADVISING

ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE BUILDING INTRUSIVE ADVISING EXPANDING CONNECTIONS PERSONALIZED ADVISING

LEARNING COMMUNITIES

Pre-College Math I Pre-College Math II Pre-Calculus Calculus Seminar in Critical Inquiry Seminar in Critical Inquiry Pre-College or College English Pre-College or College English Pre-College or College English Pre-College or College English Introductory Eng / Sci Course Seminar in Critical Inquiry Engineering / Science Discipline Course Seminar in Critical Inquiry Engineering / Science Discipline Course

FALL 2001 TEAM

Fall 2001 Status of CircLES Peer Facilitators (n=97)

CircLES First Semester Student Performance (Fall 2000)

CircLES SEM Student Retention

Anticipated Degrees Conferred (2001-2015)

UTEP SEM Degrees Conferred to Minority Students from 1993 to 2000

Academic Center for Engineers and Scientists (ACES)

Goal: To promote and support good study habits in a state-of-the art environment for all SEM commuter students • Classroom Complex • Physical Sciences • Biology and Environmental Science • Mathematics

ACES SERVICES

SEM Tutoring Seminars and Workshops Career Opportunities Graduate School Recruiting

ACES Average Student Usage: Fall 2000/ Fall 2001

Academic Center for Engineers and Scientists

Center for Effective Teaching and Learning

Goals: • To provide leadership in teaching excellence at UTEP and in the region • To mentor new faculty and encourage senior faculty to stay focused on their teaching • To support scholarship of teaching

Faculty CETaL Workshop Attendance (1998-2001)

LESSONS LEARNED

• Know that change = hard work • Review of organizational history • Identify new roles and people for new challenges • Identify innovators, champions, chairs and key senior faculty • Communicate, coordinate & make joint decisions • Support and recognize • Disseminate internally and market • Assess, adapt and modify

Support for this program was provided by the National Science Foundation