Student Success Update
NSM Fall 2022 Update
Enrollment Overview
The Fall 2022 semester is almost here, and students, faculty, and staff are preparing for the fully in-person teaching/learning experience. NSM undergraduate headcount is up by 0.6%, and undergraduate SCH is up by 1.4% compared to Fall 2021.
Although these numbers are not quite near those for 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic), we are on track to meet or exceed those numbers in Fall 2023. The Office of First Year Programs and the NSM Undergraduate Academic Advising Center will continue to reach out to students who have attended orientation but have not enrolled as well as to students who were enrolled in the Spring 2022 but have not yet enrolled for Fall 2022.
Fall 2022 Syllabus Language
Updated syllabus language can be found on the NSM syllabus template which includes all required and recommended optional information. The syllabus template can also be found in the Faculty Resources section of the NSM website.
NSM Block Party on August 21
Please join us as we welcome our new NSM majors at the NSM Block Party on Sunday, August 21, from 7-9 p.m. (in front of Science & Research 1). Block Party serves as a fall semester kick off for new students by offering opportunities to connect with faculty, staff, and their peers before classes start. The event will feature games, activities, student organizations, food, and fun! Thanks in advance for helping to make this event a success!
NSM Career Center Event - Coffee, Cookies, & a Career Convo - September 2
Faculty and staff are invited to attend “Coffee, Cookies, & a Career Convo” on Friday, September 2, from 1-2 p.m., in Room 102 of the Houston Science Center. The event is sponsored by the new NSM Career Center. Come meet Dawnelle Prince, Career Center assistant director, provide your input on promoting career success for NSM students, and discuss opportunities for faculty engagement with the Center. Learn about the Career Center’s plans to secure strategic industry partnerships to increase internship and research opportunities, and how you can gain access to HireNSM, NSM’s new online career services portal with 400+ job opportunities.
STEM RISE Program Hosts its First Annual Research Symposium
The STEM Research Inquiry Summer Experience program (STEM RISE) held its first annual research symposium on July 29 at the UH Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. The symposium celebrated the accomplishments of the STEM RISE participants which included 16 NSM undergraduates, six UH medical students, and six students from Jack Yates High School in Third Ward. STEM RISE high school scholars presented posters and informational content related to breast cancer, hypertension, and spleen research conducted in the labs of Dr. Romero-Ortega, Dr. Fatima Merchant, and Dr. Meghana Trivedi. The scholars also discussed their overall experience in the seven-week program and their projected pathway to a future career in STEM.
The symposium hosted nearly 100 people including leaders from the Third Ward community, Jack Yates High School teachers/administrators, teachers from elementary and middle schools in Third Ward, UH faculty/staff, and the dean of the Fertitta Family College of Medicine. The STEM RISE program was supported through funding from a National Science Foundation grant, the Dr. Patrice O. Yarbough Research Gateway Scholarship, and a donation from John and Peggy Prugh. STEM RISE is led by Drs. Mariam Manuel and Jacqueline Ekeoba (teachHOUSTON, NSM) and Dr. Thomas Thesen (College of Medicine), who serve as the principal investigators for the NSF grant. The STEM RISE program was featured on local news outlets through coverage from Fox 26 (view news video) and Channel 2 KPRC (view news video).
TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy Updates
TC Energy hosted a Lunch and Learn event on July 27 for the Summer Scholars Academy participants. Trevence Mitchell and Charles Hearne, with TC Energy’s Community Involvement Office, led the discussion on the importance of social media for career development. Topics included the do’s and don’ts of social media and how to use LinkedIn as a “live” resume. In addition to this event, TC Energy has led several career panels and seminars throughout the summer. These events engaged the students in meaningful conversations about career exploration, time management, and how to succeed in college. Along with impactful discussions, TC Energy’s support allowed students to attend several social activities including an Astros game and a movie in downtown Houston. The TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy wrapped up on August 12 with a banquet to celebrate the scholars’ accomplishments.