09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success1 The pathway to academic excellence and diversity is wide enough for transfers Mehdi Shadaram and Kristi Meyer Center for Excellence in Engineering Education University of Texas at San Antonio

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success2 Kristi Meyer, MA Senior Retention and Graduation Analyst Interim Director The Graduation Initiative Mehdi Shadaram, PhD, PE Briscoe Distinguished Professor Associate Dean of Engineering Center for Excellence in Engineering Education

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success3 Today’s objectives The University of Texas at San Antonio and the College of EngineeringThe University of Texas at San Antonio and the College of Engineering Current trends in university admissionsCurrent trends in university admissions COE admissions requirementsCOE admissions requirements Diversity in freshmenDiversity in freshmen Diversity in transfersDiversity in transfers Academic preparation – MATHAcademic preparation – MATH Benefits, challenges, and making it work for transfersBenefits, challenges, and making it work for transfers

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success4 UTSA

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success5 College of Engineering Division of Engineering established in Fall 1982Division of Engineering established in Fall 1982 BS degrees in CE, EE, ME Curriculum built on existing applied science courses Approximately 400 students First BS Degree Awards in 1984 (12 EE, 1 ME)First BS Degree Awards in 1984 (12 EE, 1 ME) First ABET Accreditation1987First ABET Accreditation1987 College of Engineering established in Fall 2000 (Before 2000: College of Science and Engineering)College of Engineering established in Fall 2000 (Before 2000: College of Science and Engineering)

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success6 College of Engineering Today 4 Departments4 Departments BME, CE, ECE, ME 4 Undergraduate Degrees4 Undergraduate Degrees CE, EE, Comp E, ME 6 Masters Degrees6 Masters Degrees BME, CE, Comp E, EE, ME, MFG 4 Ph.D. Degrees4 Ph.D. Degrees EE, BME (with UTHSCSA), Envir Sci and CE, and ME

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success7 University Admissions

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success8 University Admissions Freshman Admission Requirements High School Rank-in- Class Minimum Combined SAT Math & Critical Reading Minimum Total Composite ACT Score Top 25%Guaranteed Admission Second 25%92019 Third 25%97020 Fourth 25% GED, non-ranking or unaccredited high school, or home school Freshman Admission Requirements High School Rank-in- Class Minimum Combined SAT Math and Critical Reading Minimum Total Composite ACT Score Top 10%No minimum required Top 25% (not in top 10%)83017 Second 25%87018 Third 25%92019 Fourth 25%97020 GED, non-ranking or unaccredited high school Source: UTSA Office of the Registrar

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success9 University Admissions 2011 First-Time Freshman Admission Requirements High School Rank-in-Class Minimum Combined SAT Math & Critical Reading Minimum Total Composite ACT Score Top 25%Guaranteed Admission Second 25%96020 Third 25%Individual Review Fourth 25%Individual Review Unaccredited High School, Home Schooled, Non-Ranking High School Individual Review Source: UTSA Office of Admissions

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success10 Transfer Admissions Source: UTSA Office of Admissions

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success11 UTSA New Freshman Acceptance Rates Fall 2005 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall 2008 Fall %90.8%93.0%88.0%86.9% Source: UTSA Office of Institutional Research

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success12 UTSA Freshman Acceptance Rates by Ethnicity Fall 2005Fall 2006Fall 2007Fall 2008Fall 2009 White Non-Hispanic99.8%95.1%96.5%93.4%92.9% Black Non-Hispanic99.4%81.9%83.7%78.3%75.6% Hispanic99.7%88.3%91.5%85.3%84.1% Asian or Pacific Islander99.3%94.8%96.0%92.4%92.2% Am. Indian or Alaskan Native100.0%87.9%96.4%95.2%82.5% International85.6%86.6%88.5%81.9%91.8% Unknown71.4% Source: UTSA Office of Institutional Research

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success13 UTSA New Transfer Students by Ethnicity Fall 2005 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall 2008 Fall 2009 White Non-Hispanic40.2%40.7%39.7%39.0%36.6% Black Non-Hispanic7.6%6.8%5.9%7.4%8.7% Hispanic45.4%46.0%47.8%46.0%46.8% Asian or Pacific Islander3.8%4.5%3.8%5.3%4.7% Am. Indian or Alaskan Native0.5%0.6%0.5%0.4%0.7% International2.4%1.4%2.3%1.8%2.6% Source: UTSA Office of Institutional Research

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success14 College of Engineering New Freshman by Ethnicity Fall 2005Fall 2006Fall 2007Fall 2008Fall 2009 White Non-Hispanic44.2%43.4%41.9%39.4%37.3% Black Non-Hispanic7.1%9.8%7.5%8.5%9.7% Hispanic36.4%32.9%36.0%36.9%37.6% Asian or Pacific Islander9.9%10.0%8.4%11.3%10.3% Am. Indian or Alaskan Native0.8%0.7% International2.4%2.8%5.7%3.2%4.6% Unknown0.3%0.5% Source: UTSA Office of Institutional Research

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success15 COE Admissions Eligibility to declare a major in the COE is based on math placement

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success16 COE Admissions Fall 2008 and earlier No major specific requirements Fall 2009 and later Must be eligible to register for Algebra for Scientists and Engineers or Pre-Calculus to declare Pre-Engineering and stay in the COE Must be eligible to register for Calculus I to declare a specific Engineering major (CE, ME, EE, Comp E)

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success17 COE Admission Rates Fall 2008 and earlier All students admitted to UTSA who wanted to declare a major in COE were able to declare a COE major. Fall 2009 and later 10% - Direct entrance into COE major 80% - Pre-Engineering 10% - Not eligible for entrance into COE

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success18 How do we maintain the diversity we want while increasing standards?

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success19 One key component: Transfer Students!

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success20 Student profile for COE majors, Fall 2009 #% # transfers % transfer Avg SAT at entry Avg transfer GPA Avg UTSA GPA Avg cum GPA Cum Hours Earned Amer Indian or Alaskan Nat50%240% Asian or Pacific Islander1488%3423% Black Non-Hispanic1457%2920% Hispanic79941%27334% International1156%3934% Unknown20% White Non-Hispanic73738%26636% Total %64333% Female23312%7030% Male171888%57333% Source: UTSA Office of Institutional Research

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success21 Transfer students enhance diversity without compromising academic excellence

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success22 COE transfer students at UTSA consistently outpace new freshmen in math placement AND consistently maintain higher 3-point GPAs.

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success23 Benefits of transfer beyond diversity Maturity, real world experience Motivated students Determined students Focused students Better understanding of “college knowledge” Math and science preparation

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success24 Challenges with transfer students Conflicting priorities: work, family, school Scheduling and course sequencing can be difficult Need for more evening, weekend, summer, and online options Prerequisites Difficult to find full time schedule due to classes being taken out of the preferred order New level of academic rigor and larger classes

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success25 How has UTSA created such a strong transfer population? Strong ties with the community colleges, especially faculty : faculty Strong articulation agreements Clearly defined and easily understood requirements Widely published standards Strong academic advising Expanded course availability Enhanced tutoring for classes beyond the gateways Financial support for transfers, not just new freshman

09/20/2010NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success26 Rethink the “pipeline” to a diverse and academically excellent population Expand how you think about the pipeline from primary educationsecondary education university TO primary education secondary education community college university

09/20/ Contact Information Kristi Meyer NISTS Creating Pathways for STEM Transfer Student Success This research is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Engineering Education (CE 3 )