Student Success Update
Metrics Update
Our Fall 2019 semester is now in full swing with an entering NSM freshman class of 1,006 students. The mean SAT score is 1302.65. Enrollment increased by 4% over Fall 2018 while the SAT average held steady. Our retention rate for the Fall 2018 class into their sophomore year was 88.3%, just shy of our target of 90%. Our NSM students enrolled in UHin4 are graduating at a higher rate in 4 years than students not enrolled in the program. The 4-year graduation rate for the Fall 2015 NSM UHin4 cohort was 53.4% compared to the 35.5% rate for non-participants in the program. University-wide, 44.9% of the Fall 2015 FTIC cohort participating in UHin4 graduated in 4 years.
Leading and Learning Activities
Comprehensive Student Success Program Recitations
Our Comprehensive Student Success Program recitations, which have contributed to significant improvement in our successful course completion rates in freshman-level classes, are in full swing for the semester. Sixty-six recitations are offered this semester: 36 for BIOL1361 Introduction to the Biological Sciences, 17 for PHYS1301 General Physics 1, and 13 for PHYS1302 General Physics 2. Recitations are open to all students enrolled in the course and are conducted as peer-led, team-based learning activities. Thirty-nine of our undergraduate students serve as peer facilitators to lead the sessions. Our peer facilitators attended a Saturday training in classroom management, academic policies, and pedagogy led by Dr. Rebecca Forrest and Dr. Ann Cheek prior to the start of recitations.
Scholar Enrichment Program Tutoring
Additional support is also being offered through the Scholar Enrichment Program (SEP) which is coordinating 39 workshops this fall with enrollment reaching 1,118 students, slightly up from past enrollments of about 1,000. These workshops, led by undergraduate peer facilitators, use a team-based learning format. The SEP Tutoring Center, located in room 56 in the basement of the M.D. Anderson Library, is open Monday-Friday from 9 am-5 pm. The Center is open to all students as a resource for tutoring in Calculus 1, 2, and 3, Organic Chemistry 1 and 2, General and University Physics 1 and 2, Introductory Biology 1 and 2, General Biochemistry, and Genetics. Fall 2019 Tutoring Schedule
Promoting Undergraduate Research
The NSM Student Leadership Team hosted a “Finding Research” event on Wednesday, September 11. Students learned about the various avenues they can pursue to get involved in a research lab. Faculty from over 20 labs across campus participated to discuss their research with interested students. Thanks to those of you who took time out of your evening to meet with the over 125 students who attended the event!