Building Strategic Pathways to the Baccalaureate Degree in Computer Science

Sponsor

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Web
Texas Workforce Development (TWD) Program
Period: 2002- 2004
Amount: $ 302,003

Overview

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is currently implementing its strategic plan to become a top-tier Research University and a National Center of Excellence in Hispanic education and research. This project assists the Department of Computer Science in aggressively recruiting and retaining computer science students by providing appropriate financial support, tutoring, and mentoring activities. The project is designed to increase the number of students graduating in Computer Science, to enhance their educational experiences, to increase the number who attend and complete graduate school, and pursue attractive careers in their chosen field.

People

Kleanthis Psarris (PI) Web Project director, recruiting, scholarships, mentorships
Kay A. Robbins (Co-PI) Web Project co-director, retention, curriculum development, laboratories, outreach
Robert Castaneda Web Recruiting, scholarships and mentorships
Cathy Key Web Retention, curriculum development, laboratories, outreach
Michael Maltrud Web Outreach

Strategies

We have implemented the following set of strategies to build a pathway to the baccalaureate degree in computer science and to expand the high-quality high-technology workforce in Texas.

Recruitment:
Recruit promising undergraduate students from local high schools and community colleges
This strategy focuses on building a strong incoming freshman computer science class and increasing the number of progressing computer science students by recruiting qualified transfer students. We have implemented an extensive program of visiting local high schools and community colleges.

Retention:
Expand and sustain a peer-tutoring-presenter program for lower-division computer science courses
This strategy is designed to reduce attrition in the beginning courses by providing assistance to students in the laboratories. Peer tutoring develops a collaborative environment and sense of community among entering students. We hope to engage the best students as ambassadors in support of the program and to improve the quality of instruction in the laboratories. The Department of Computer Science has run a peer tutoring program since Spring of 2000. This project supported the Peer Tutoring for 2002-2003.

Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement:
Develop a laboratory to support the sophomore level courses
The purpose of this strategy is to improve student understanding by providing a formal laboratory experience with extensive in-class help. The strategy is also designed to provide peer support at a key point in student development and will improve the quality of the graduates by expanding course materials.The project providing funding for the CS Linux Systems Laboratory which is opening in Fall 2003.

Scholarships and Mentoring:
Provide scholarships and mentoring situations for promising upper division students
The objective of this strategy is to increase the retention and the number of underrepresented students graduating in computer science. This strategy also aims to provide students with the intellectual tools to help them achieve academically.

Outreach:
Provide graduate training for high school computer science teachers
This strategy is designed to improve the quality of computer science instruction at the high school level and to make key teachers aware of the computer science programs and opportunities available at UTSA for their graduates. The strategy also provides professional development opportunities that encourage teachers to become active in computer science education. The Department of Computer Science offered the CS Summer Program for High School Teachers in the summer of 2003. Forty high school teachers participated. The project covered the tuition and fees for these teachers to participate in the program.