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Posted: 8/26/21

TAMIU TRiO Program Launches Successful Summer Bridge Program, Faculty-Student Mentorship Initiative

 

Dr. Gustavo Salazar
Dr. Gustavo Salazar, TRiO STEM program director  

Recently, Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) TRiO STEM program launched two new initiatives to engage students in the STEM fields and foster positive student-faculty interaction.    

This year, TAMIU’s TRiO STEM program hosted a summer program called STEM Pathways to increase student participation in research through a series of engaging, hands-on activities. In total, 37 TRiO-STEM students signed up to participate.  

The one-week program helped students understand the basics of conducting research. Students were also available to develop their research skills, hone their presentation abilities, learn more about the careers available to STEM students, and more. 

“Ideally, we want students to be exposed to research to demystify the process of the scientific method. We also want to use the program to get the students excited about their STEM careers. That would help ensure that students remain motivated to graduate in their chosen careers,” explained Dr. Gustavo Salazar, TRiO STEM program director. 

Salazar reiterates the importance of these early engagement efforts to facilitate interaction between students, faculty, and University staff members. 

“I think that the most exciting outcome of the program is exposing students to different careers and having them discover other areas of STEM. For instance, we had Biology majors attend a presentation on petroleum engineering. That introduced me to various facets of STEM. It was quite fascinating that petroleum engineering employs mechanical engineers and geologists, hydrologists, physicists, and other areas to extract petroleum. The students and I were awed by the complexity of the process of petroleum engineering,” said Salazar.

An additional initiative crafted by the University’s TRiO program is a faculty-student mentorship program. Currently, nine University faculty members have confirmed their participation. Faculty members are from the University’s STEM-related fields. 

Through the program, faculty members will assist current TRiO program students by helping guide, facilitate and support students as they complete their academic goals and learn more about their available career options, explained Salazar. 

“For the first-generation student, mentoring provides access for the student to be socialized academically and professionally by the faculty in the student’s field. Historically, first-generation students have often struggled academically and have been the least likely to receive mentoring. Having a faculty mentor can profoundly impact the student’s academic performance, cognitive development, motivation, and excitement in their chosen career,” noted Salazar. 

Salazar emphasized additional benefits to the program, including opportunities for faculty retention. 

“There is strong evidence that faculty who participate in mentoring are retained longer at the institution. I have already talked to several of our faculty that have remained disconnected with TAMIU because they began right at the beginning of COVID. Having faculty build a strong relationship with students improves their chances of staying at TAMIU,” said Salazar.

The University’s TRiO programs are federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education, providing academic assistance to eligible undergraduate students. The University currently offers two programs to support student needs: TRiO and TRiO STEM.

Through the programs, students receive additional tutoring, counseling, academic coaching, mentoring, and support services to low-income, first-generation, or students with disabilities. The TRiO programs work to increase retention and graduation rates while fostering an institutional climate supportive of the success of every program participant.

Students interested in being part of the University's TRiO program can learn more about eligibility requirements at https://www.tamiu.edu/precollege/trio/index.shtml.  

Students who meet program eligibility criteria can apply to TRiO or the TRiO STEM program at any point during their undergraduate tenure.  

For more information, contact the University's TRiO STEM program offices at 956.326.3340, email triostem@tamiu.edu, or visit offices at the Dr. Billy F. Cowart Hall, room 206.

TAMIU’s Fall semester 2021 started Monday, Aug. 23.  The TAMIU Fall plan is focused on a return to a full and vibrant on-campus experience for all students, faculty, and staff at its 300-acre northeast Laredo campus.  Late registration ends Friday, Aug. 27. For detailed registration information, visit go.tamiu.edu/registration21  

For more, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 956.326.2250, email registrar@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, suite 121.