Easing the Transfer of 2YC Students to 4YC’s – Examples from the University of Texas at El Paso Diane Doser,

University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)– El Paso Community College (EPCC) Educational closed loop – 80% K-12 teachers attended UTEP, (New Mexico State only other close choice, 40 miles away) EPCC has AS degree in Geological Sciences, 6 branch campuses, ~30,000 students At UTEP 80% Hispanic, 60% first time college, ~70% do not speak English as first language, ~25,000 students, BS, MS, PhD in Geological Sciences

Before Transfer: Visits to the 4 YC – Earth Science Day, Departmental Research Colloquium, Campus-wide Undergraduate Research Symposium Visits to the 2 YC (judging, guest lectures) Joint field trips Joint research project (especially semester before transfer) Visit with advisor at the 4YC

After Transfer: Meet other transfer students (current and previous semesters) Help find faculty and student mentors Help find financial support (faculty, campus scholarships, external scholarships) Visits back to 2YC as ambassador

Enlisting Support at Department Level: Encourage other faculty to support 2YC students on REU’s (especially in first summer or first semester) Write proposals that include outreach activities with 2YC’s as broader impacts Vertical mentoring programs (faculty, graduate students, 4 YC and 2YC students) Outreach/recruiting visits to 2YCs

Enlisting Support at College/University Level: Campus Office of Undergraduate Research Initiatives (zero credit research courses, workshops on research, leadership, etc.) Peer mentor training