Transmountain ECHS/EPCC strive to encourage and recruit students in the target populations of At-Risk, students with disabilities, low socio-economic, Emergent Bilinguals (EB), minorities and historically under-served communities. Indeed El Paso ISD's and EPCC's demographics are well-represented in these areas. Campus Leadership Teams meet regularly to brainstorm, plan and implement strategies focused on recruiting target-population students. Additionally, TMECHS staff works with all district middle schools to ensure dissemination of open communication and accurate information to all students. TMECHS wants students to know that they all can, and should, apply to TMECHS and have the opportunity to earn an Associates Degree during high school.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: TMECHS/EPCC Administration

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Barbara Brinkley-Lopez TMECHS Principal at bblopez@episd.org or 915-236-5000

The Entering Student Experience supports UTEP students in their first 45 credit hours to build a foundation for their academic excellence and professional success. ESE fosters an inclusive environment to ensure students from diverse backgrounds have a meaningful transition to UTEP.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: The impact of UNIV 1301 is greater on the first-term retentions of students. The impact is that students who take UNIV 1301 are 1.37 times more likely to be retained for high risk students.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of the Provost

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Denise Lujan, Ed.D. at cdlujan@utep.edu or (915) 747-6521

The First-Year Experience (FYE) program at El Paso Community College (EPCC) provides evidence based transformative holistic advising and wraparound services for First-Time in College students (FTICs). The FYE program integrates cohort instructional models, early alerts and retention collaboratives with high FTIC enrollment courses, peer academic and faculty coaching, ongoing workshops and seminars, case management holistic advising approach, and individualized educational plans. The FYE Program has reformed EPCC’s advising model from a one-size fits all approach to proactive case management. The primary goal is to increase students’ completion rates. The three main objectives are the following:
• To increase FTIC students’ retention rate (fall to fall enrollment),
• To increase the number of FTIC students in good academic standing, and
• To increase FTIC students’ three-year graduation rate.
The FYE Program, through its integrated advising model provides a safety net and a strong foundation for students transitioning to college.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: On average, the First-Year Experience (FYE) Program serves approximately 5,500 students every fall semester. Students advised by the FYE Program have demonstrated a 10% improvement in retention. From fall 2017 to fall 2022, FYE Program advisees had higher rates than non-participants on the following performance indicators:
• 14% higher persistence rate;
• 5% higher percentage of students on good academic standing;
• 4% higher three-year graduation rates; and
• 5% more credit hours earned.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Instruction & Student Success Office

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Sandra Lujan at slujan9@epcc.edu or 915-831-2279

The TRIO Student Support Services program (SSS) at Sul Ross State University is a student retention program funded by the U.S. Department of Education that serves 160 students per year.

The mission of the Student Support Services program is to provide supportive educational services that will assist students with an academic need that are low income, first generation, or have a documented disability to acquire a university college degree.

The program offers academic advising, career/major counseling, personal support, classroom instruction, academic workshops, tutoring, financial aid counseling, new student extended orientation, graduate admission assistance, social/cultural activities, and much more.

The TRIO program at Sul Ross State University actively motivates our students to come into the SSS office to meet with their SSS Retention Specialist, SSS tutors and mentors, and attend SSS workshops as well as participating in University-based activities.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Research and Sponsored Programs

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Erika Zwahr at ewon3902@sulross.edu or 4328378476

The TRUE grant is intended to accelerate the number of high-value credential opportunities offered to students that are urgently needed for economic recovery due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the future competitive workforce in Texas. Funding has been provided to El Paso Community College (EPCC) for the creation, expansion, or redesign of postsecondary workforce credential programs in a growing occupational field that is industry-aligned and
developed with the participation of postsecondary lower-division institutions and workforce actors such as workforce and economic development boards or associations, industry representatives or employers. The current project assisted in the following programs; Emergency Medical Technician Certification and Level 1 Certificate, Medical Assisting Level 1 Certificate, Patient Care Technician certification, Electrocardiography Technician certification,
Phlebotomist, and HIMA programs design and creation of Health IT Informatics certificate. The allowable grant categories as outlined in the budget include curriculum development and instructional design; software, equipment, and infrastructure that support instruction; student financial aid; student supports; faculty hiring and training capacity; cost of off-the-shelf credential and training materials; marketing and outreach cost; and costs associated with data administration and reporting by the grantee. The grant provided up to a $2,500/semester award for 65 out of the 84 students’ expenses (tuition and fees, books, and preclearance requirements for clinical rotations, including immunizations, background checks, drug screening, physical exam, etc.). Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: The development or redesign of postsecondary workforce credential programs in a growing occupational field that is industry-aligned and developed with the participation of postsecondary lower-division institutions and workforce actors such as workforce and economic development boards or associations, industry representatives or employers.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Dr. Souraya Hajjar, Dean CTE, Health Careers, Math and Science

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dr. Souraya Hajjar, Dean CTE, Health Careers, Math and Science at shajjar@epcc.edu or 9158314030