The UT Dallas Office of the President and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion created the Diversity Scholars Program in 2010-2011 to increase the diversity of students enrolling at UT Dallas. The scholarship targets students who have a record of academic excellence in high school or community college and show significant financial need. This scholarship can be used to cover education related expenses including tuition, fees and housing. Each student will receive $5,000 per year for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Students receive more than just a financial award through this program. Diversity Scholars also receive academic support from program staff to assist them in successfully transitioning to UT Dallas. Students participate in regular academic check-ins with a scholarship advisor, attend monthly meetings, participate in diversity and inclusion programming, and participate in leadership and career development activities.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 73

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants must apply to enroll in this program

WEBSITE TO APPLY: https://community.utdallas.edu/diversity-scholars-program/

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

PRELIMINARY OUTCOMES DATA: In the 2020-21 academic year, the average cumulative GPA of Diversity Scholars was 3.5 and 81% of students reported that the program contributed to their success.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Multicultural Center at multicultural@utdallas.edu or 972-883-6390

The UT Dallas Office of the President and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion created the Diversity Scholars Program in 2010-2011 to increase the diversity of students enrolling at UT Dallas. The scholarship targets students who have a record of academic excellence in high school or community college and show significant financial need. This scholarship can be used to cover education related expenses including tuition, fees and housing. Each student will receive $5,000 per year for a maximum of eight semesters of undergraduate study. Students receive more than just a financial award through this program. Diversity Scholars also receive academic support from program staff to assist them in successfully transitioning to UT Dallas. Students participate in regular academic check-ins with a scholarship advisor, attend monthly meetings, participate in diversity and inclusion programming, and participate in leadership and career development activities.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 73

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants must apply to enroll in this program

WEBSITE TO APPLY: https://community.utdallas.edu/diversity-scholars-program/

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

PRELIMINARY OUTCOMES DATA: In the 2020-21 academic year, the average cumulative GPA of Diversity Scholars was 3.5 and 81% of students reported that the program contributed to their success.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Raul Hinojosa Jr. at raul.hinojosa@utdallas.edu or 972-883-4562

The families of first-generation college students play a key role in their students’ success. All incoming first-generation students and their families are invited to attend the UT Dallas First-Generation Family Orientation. To promote the orientation, UT Dallas mails postcard invitations and first-generation-specific new student guidebooks, that include access to an online Spanish language version, to invitees. The materials provide advice on how to interpret important dates on the academic calendar, descriptions of language found in course syllabi, and helpful tips for navigating resources, and a page of First-Generation Student Support Network member contacts in key campus departments. First-Generation Family Orientation content includes presentations by a variety of campus departments, a discussion regarding UT Dallas culture and insights about what their student can expect, greater explanations of some University policies and processes, more information about University resources with insights about why they matter and how to use them, and critical steps to ensure that students efficiently transition through each semester and maximize opportunities. Content is framed to reinforce the role of families in student academic and social success and their value in cultivating student belonging, wellbeing, and resilience. The First-Generation Family Orientation is hosted primarily via YouTube to ensure maximum accessibility with the multi-language closed captioning options. During the orientation, families can ask current first-generation students, parents of former UT Dallas students, and bilingual staff questions. The desired outcomes of First-Generation Family Orientation include attendees feeling better equipped to support their scholars, increased familiarity with campus resources, and increased comfort approaching the university for assistance.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

HOW TO ENROLL: We ask participants to express their intent to attend, but we distribute the link to join to all invitees.

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes have been internally collected in the past

PRELIMINARY OUTCOMES DATA: In August 2021, after viewing First-Generation Family Orientation, 100% of evaluation respondents reported that they agreed or strongly agreed that they felt better equipped to support their scholar and that they were more familiar with UT Dallas campus resources.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of Undergraduate Education

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Courtney Brecheen at courtneyb@utdallas.edu or 9728836788

The Undergraduate Success Scholars (USS) program mission is to serve underrepresented minority (URM) students at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) with engagement opportunities, academic support, mentorship, and guidance to meet both personal and professional goals. The Undergraduate Success Scholars program aims to increase URM student enrollment, success, and retention.

Through a formalized structure, USS guide students on their pathway to degree completion through its progressive four-year program. Each year provides unique experiences and builds on the next to set milestones for success at UT Dallas. The program pillars: Student success planning, mentorship, leadership development, enrichment workshops provide opportunity for students to receive personalized academic planning for program staff and engage in online goal-setting. The Family Mentorship Initiative provides incoming freshmen a mentor within a family group that receives additional support from an assigned UT Dallas staff, faculty, or community member. The USS program also provides a variety of enrichment opportunities, including monthly workshops, specialized cultural or community building events, and student leaders organize opportunities for participants to engage with other USS members in social, academic, and service activities.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 263

HOW TO ENROLL: Student are invited to participated and program enrollment is based on accepting the program invitation

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes have been internally collected in the past

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of Undergraduate Education

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Kimberly J Edwards at uss@utdallas.edu or 972-883-3871