STEM Recruitment, Retention, and Graduation

(STEM-RRG)

This grant will help Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) establish an innovative recruitment and retention program that will increase the number of Hispanic and other minority students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields at TAMIU. STEM-RRG consists of several projects that implement a number of activities, including enrichment workshops, scholarships, internships, research experiences, mentoring and tutoring, advising and career counseling, experiential training, recruitment of high-potential students, and faculty professional development.  Through these activities, program is expected to accomplish the following goals:

Grant amount:  $2,251,193
Award period:  10/1/2008 - 9/30/2010
Granting agency: U.S. Department of Education
Recipient name: Texas A&M International University, Dept. of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics
Project Director: Dr. Rafic (Ray) Bachnak

  1. Recruit Hispanic and other minority students into STEM majors at TAMIU;

  2. Provide summer enrichment workshops to Hispanic and minority students;

  3. Provide internships and research assistantships to Hispanic and minority students;

  4. Provide professional development activities to STEM faculty who teach introductory science courses, including mathematics, engineering, physics, and biology;

  5. Provide tutoring and supplemental instruction opportunities to Hispanic and other minority students in College Algebra;

  6. Develop a model transfer system that builds on our current articulation agreement with LCC to increase the transfer of Hispanic and other minority students in STEM fields;

  7. Provide advising and counseling to Hispanic and other minotiy students;

  8. Establish a STEM endowment that provides Hispanic and other minority students a continuous source of scholarships;

  9.  Create STEM cohorts and learning communities and provide advising to Hispanic and other minority students in these cohorts.