An Academic Model for SEM Student Success in an Urban Commuter Institution 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 February 19, 2002

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 UG in Science 2,91418% 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

ORIENTATION LEARNING COMMUNITIES ADVISING PEER LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

CONNECTIONSMATH REVIEW COLLEGE SUCCESS SKILLS LABORATORY/ DESIGN ORIENTATION

SCIENCE CHALLENGE SKILL SEMINARS CAMPUS TOURS MATH REVIEW

ASSESSMENT PERSONALIZED ADVISING SCHEDULE BUILDING EXPANDING CONNECTIONS INTRUSIVE ADVISING ADVISING

LEARNING COMMUNITIES

PEER LEADERSHIP 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 ( )

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 SERVICESSEM 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 ( )

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