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University of Texas at El Paso

Integrated Science, Teaching, and Retention (I STAR) Project

James Becvar, Benjamin Flores, Helmut Knaust, Jorge Lopez, Josefina Tinajero.

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UTEP STEP Program

Presentation and Overview

Dr. Benjamin FloresPrincipal Investigator

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Abstract

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is developing an integrative science success, teaching, and retention (I-STAR) program to improve the retention of STEM students in the early years of their undergraduate programs and insure that a greater number of them earn their degrees.

The imperative for this work is to fulfill the Institution’s mantra of Access and Excellence to a growing population of STEM students, the majority of whom are from the largest bi-national community along the US-Mexico border.

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An Issue of Equity

“Young Hispanic undergraduates are half as likely as their white peers to finish a bachelor’s degree, a disparity at least as large as the disparity in finishing High School.”

Pew Hispanic Center (2005)

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Student Profile

• 23 years of age (undergraduate)• 83% from El Paso County• 75% Hispanic (Citizen/Permanent Resident)• 98% commuter• 81% employed• 96% financial assistance• 54% first generation college student

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UTEP FALL ENROLLMENT

(2007= 20,154; 2008 =20,458)

01000200030004000500060007000

20072008

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BASELINE (2007)

0200400600800

10001200140016001800

UG STEM ENROLLMENT

LATINOTOTAL

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BASELINE (2007)

020406080

100120140160180200

BS STEM DEGREES AWARDED

LATINOTOTAL

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189211 205

241 234

302334

361

431

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08

BS STEM DEGREES AWARDED 99-08

LATINO

TOTAL

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Goal

• The overall goal of the STEP project is twofold:

1. To enhance the learning experience in STEM gateway courses, thus improving second year retention and degree production. 420 Annual BS Degrees Awarded to Latinos

by 20102. To develop a cadre of talented STEM students with

significant experience in leading peers.

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Building on the Experience of the “Circles of Learning for Entering Students” (Funded by MIE)

Forging Innovation in Gateway Sophomore Courses

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Previous Work (Funded by MIE)

• PLTL course delivery approach that employs upper division undergraduates to guide small-group active-learning sessions in lower division courses.

• In General Chemistry I the passing rate improved from the historic average of 50% to a rate of 75%:

• The improvements in this gateway course translated into an additional 160 students successfully progressing each year into their STEM majors.

• The rate of students who received undergraduate degrees within nine semesters subsequent to the first semester general chemistry course jumped from 33% to 45%.

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Workshop Model

Physics

2 hrs lecture

+2 hrs workshop

Pre Calculus

4 hrs lecture

+2 hrs workshop

Chemistry

2 hrs lecture

+2 hrs workshop

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PLTL Workshop Schedule

8 am

noon

6 pm

Monday

Lecture

Tuesday

Workshop

Wednesday

Lecture

Thursday

Workshop

Friday

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• Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) course delivery approach in gateway STEM courses. Pre-Calculus General Chemistry II Mechanics Fields and Waves Organic Chemistry I

• Web portal for gateway STEM courses. http://academics.utep.edu/istar

• Academy for peer leaders.• Sophomore professional orientation seminar for

STEM majors.

Strategies

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Leadership Academy

• Cohort of selected peer leaders:• Effective Teaching• Leadership• Education Research

• Credit toward minor in secondary education.

• Outreach activities.

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Peer Leader Involvement

Cumulative

Chemistry 36

ACES 13

Mathematics 27

Physics 22

TOTAL 98

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Sophomore Professional Orientation Seminar

• Development of: • Team skills• Communication skills• Lifelong learning skills

• Exploration of diverse STEM Career Options.

• Networking with Peers.

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Evaluation

• Conducted by Mary Besterfield-Sacre (Pittsburgh University):

Analysis of Peer Leaders and Faculty Perceptions.

Impact on Students.

Impact on Peer Leaders.

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External Advisory Board

• Mary Besterfield-Sacre (U. of Pittsburgh)• Ricardo Jacquez (NMSU)• Wayne Johnson (Formerly with HP)• Valerie K. Otero (U. of Colorado)• Carlos Rodriguez (American Institutes for Research)• Cristina Villalobos (UTPA)

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Internal Advisory Board

• Stephen Aley• Jorge Gardea Torresdey• Peter Golding• Vivian Incera• Harry Meeuwsen

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Time Line

2007 - 2008

Secured administrative approval for course changes (Fall 07) Developed peer leader selection process (Fall 07) Prepared PLTL course materials (Fall 07) Offered PL Training (Winter 07) Offered PLTL courses (Spring 08) Participated in NSF STEP PI conference (Spring 08) Wrote first year report (Summer 08)

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Time Line

2008 - 2009

Started development of web portal (Fall 08) Offered secondary education courses (Fall 08 and Spring 09) Hired coordinator and evaluator (Fall 08) Assessed first year (Winter 08) Participated in NSF STEP PIs conference (Spring 09) • Convene advisory board meetings (Spring 09)• Develop ATC and STEP UP academy materials (Summer 09) • Post workshop materials on the web (Summer 09)• Write second year report (Summer 09)

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Time Line

2010 - 2012

• Advisory Board Meeting (February 2010)• Reverse Site Visit (March 2010)• Advisory Board Meeting (February 2011)• Sustainability Plan (August 2011)• Advisory Board (February 2012)• Final Report (August 2012)

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Budget specifications: Main items

5 Year cumulative

Professional staff $ 144,771.00

Peer leaders $ 792,549.00

Stipends $ 150,000.00

Year 1

Professional staff $ 0.00

Peer leaders $ 149,280.00

Stipends $ 30,000.00

Year 2

Professional staff $ 34,604.00

Peer leaders $ 153,758.00

Stipends $ 30,000.00

Year 3

Professional staff $ 35,642.00

Peer leaders $ 158,372.00

Stipends $ 30,000.00

Year 4

Professional staff $ 36,712.00

Peer leaders $ 163,122.00

Stipends $ 30,000.00

Year 5

Professional staff $ 37,813.00

Peer leaders $ 168,017.00

Stipends $ 30,000.00

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Contact Information

• Chemistry: Jim Becvar jbecvar@utep.edu• Engineering: Benjamin Flores bflores@utep.edu• Education: Josefina Tinajero tinajero@utep.edu• Mathematics: Helmut Knaust hknaust@utep.edu• Physics: Jorge Lopez jorgelopez@utep.edu