Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and Laredo Community College (LCC), the only institutions of higher education in a 150-mile radius from Laredo, Texas, serve the combined service area comprised of Webb, Jim Hogg, Maverick, Uvalde, LaSalle, and Zapata counties in South Texas. These two schools serve as the intellectual centers for a vibrant bilingual, bicultural community. Notwithstanding the significant growth in population that has taken place in the Texas border region over the past two decades, the region continues to lag behind the state and the nation. The region ranks high in the nation for its poverty rate, percentage of impoverished school children, unemployment rate, and share of adults lacking a high school diploma. Low-income and first-generation-to-college students, members of ethnic minorities or working-class families, recent immigrants, or adults going back to school face a daunting array of challenges in their pursuit of higher education.
Institution:
Texas A&M International University & Laredo Community College
Academic Level:
Baccalaureate
Issue Area:
Outreach
Issue Area:
Transfer
Year:
2008
Designation:
Examples of Excelencia
Designation:
Finalist
Key Personnel:
Vargas, Miroslava
Address:
Texas A&M International University
Address 2:
5201 University Blvd
City:
Laredo
State:
TX
Zip:
78041 Goal/Mission:
Special emphasis is placed on developing and implementing an effective advisement and retention system at TAMIU and LCC, since students beginning their college career often encounter challenges, such as an inability to perform academically at a requisite level, difficulty adjusting to college, financial problems, lack of involvement, and problem learning (Tinto, 1993). Hence the Title V-HSSI:PTTT program implements the Freshmen Interest Groups (FIGs). FIGs are clusters of courses that are bound together by a common thread, in this case, writing. Students also have access to the Learning Activity Center (LAC), which provides teacher-guided lessons to students in need of tutoring. The LAC has 10 tutors who are evaluated on a weekly basis.
Outcome:
"Increased educational standards from external certification agencies have begun to impede admission of incoming and transferring students, generated primarily from LCC, to TAMIU’s College of Education (COE). Both institutions have addressed this issue individually and together through the Title V Hispanic Student Success Initiative: Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers Today (Title V-HSSI:PTTT). The long-term goals of the project will be measured by September 2010, as follows. • The number of students accepted in the College of Education will increase by 25% from the native TAMIU students and LCC transfers. This increase will be primarily due to cohort activities.
• Course completion rates will increase by 10% from the baseline.
• One hundred percent of students at LCC will participate in the orientation process.
• The seamless transfer system from LCC to TAMIU’s College of Education will be completely implemented and be a model for other programs within the university.
• State revenues based on retention and completion rates will increase by 10%.
• Time for completion of the developmental sequence will be reduced from the baseline.
• The endowment scholarship and activity fund at TAMIU/LCC will have been matched for a total of $650,000.
Both institutions have entered into collaborative agreements with local school districts, community-based groups, other universities and colleges, and with one another. LCC and TAMIU entered into an agreement with United Independent School District (ISD) for the Tomorrow’s Teachers Project in 2003. The goal is the recruitment of Hispanic and minority students. LCC and TAMIU have signed articulation agreements, the latest of which establishes a Joint Admissions process. It is anticipated that LCC students in the Title V program will be the first to apply for joint admission. In addition, LCC administrators have participated as team members with TAMIU at the Texas A&M University Systems’ (TAMU) Executive Leadership Symposium, whose aim was to address P-16 collaborative issues. The Title V grant included endowment funds for scholarships. The community has contributed $235,000 for matching by the federal government, for a total of $470,000. Interest accrued will be used for scholarships for students majoring in teacher education. The scholarships will increase the likelihood of retention for those students who obtain the awards. The endowment funds are permanent for the College of Education and will continue indefinitely. " The number of students accepted into the College of Education has increased by 26% from the TAMIU and LCC Cohort I transfers. The transfers from LCC occur after the student has completed the core curriculum. The retention rate for the students from Cohorts I and II from TAMIU is 95.6%, and for LCC students, 87.5%. Students who drop do so because they change majors and/or are receiving failing grades. The Learning Activity Centers (LACs) at both sites have assisted students in various content areas as well as with effective instructional pedagogy. In addition, students have participated in a community outreach programs by volunteering their time for training and teaching mini-lessons in the public schools. The College of Education at TAMIU has presented annual awards to students for Excellence in Education. Eleven students were presented awards in spring 2008. The Title V-HSSI:PTTT grant is midway through the grant period, however, data seem to indicate that the students who are accepted into the College of Education will be better prepared to work with students in the public schools.
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