Finalist

In Fall 2000, the retention rate for first year students at the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) was 60%. In Fall 2003, it had increased to 65%. The retention rate for the entire entering freshman cohort has steadily increased since Fall 2000 as follows: Fall 2000 = 60% • Fall 2001 = 65% • Fall 2002 = 65% • Fall 2003 = 65% • Fall 2004 = 68% (first year of implementation of UNIV 1301) • Fall 2005 = 73% • Fall 2006 = 68% • Fall 2007 = 72% • Fall 2008 = 74% • Fall 2009 = 73% • Fall 2010 = 74% • Fall 2011 = 75%. The retention rate for first-time, full-time entering freshmen at UTPA has increased by 13.6 percentage points since Fall 2000, the greatest increase of all institutions of higher education in Texas. While it would not be accurate to state that all of the increase has been as a result of implementation of UNIV 1301, the data indicates that success of students in this course has contributed significantly to the overall retention rate.

In the last ten years, 398 students, the majority of whom who are first-generation community college students have taken the "Introduction to University" TAB class (a course students take at no cost to prepare them for the academic requirements to obtain their associates degree and transfer to work on bachelors degree). More than 60% of these TAB students are Latino and African American. In comparison, in 2008, at CCSF and SF State the total number of Latino and African American students was only 23.1% and 26.6% respectively. The highest percentage of students participating in the TAB program is Latino students (36.2%). More than half of the TAB students who took the class (53%), successfully transferred to a SF State or another four-year university during that time. This is more than double the statewide transfer rates (23%) in California illustrating the success of TAB students in degree attainment is in sharp contrast to California's higher education system. One-third of these students have already graduated, and many are in the process of obtaining their Masters degrees!

The Scholars Academy maintains membership of 160 students per semester. In 2009 the SA membership was comprised of 79% minority and 55% female. Currently, over 76% of SA students are first generation entrants (first-time in college-FTIC). SA currently has a FTIC retention rate of 69% and an FTIC overall six-year graduation rate of 50.7%. Over 91% continue in STEM through continued graduate studies or the workforce following graduation. Over 57% maintain a grade point average between 3.5-4.0, while over 29% maintain grade point averages between 3.81-4.0 supporting the premise that while in the SA, members improve study skills and intellectual capacity as associated with rising grade point averages.

Since the initial course offerings in 2008, 42 students have completed the program. In the 2010-2011 academic year, 302 students enrolled in Medical Spanish courses. Grade point averages in life science courses increased by nearly 10% (.32 grade points) after students began taking courses in Medical Spanish. Because courses have been articulated with South Texas College, high-performing high school juniors and seniors have also been able to take the courses. Of the 42 students who have completed the minor in Medical Spanish, 24 initiated coursework while still in high school. Of these 24, 18 matriculated in a four-year university upon graduation and 16 declared a major in the health sciences. Of the 15 Medical Spanish minors who will complete the baccalaureate degree by May 2011, 8 have been accepted to the Medical School of their choice, 3 have gone to graduate school in behavioral and biomedical sciences, and 4 are employed as registered nurses.