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

Diane Doser, doser@utep.edu

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