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 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

Operation College Bound is a partnership between El Paso Community College & The University of Texas at El Paso and school districts within the local region 19 service area. Both institutions conducted a region-wide tour of high schools (18 dates) from March 30 – to May 3, 2022. EPCC hosted the final date at their Administrative Services Center where students from ISDs not able to make previous events, charter schools, private schools, parochial schools, home-schooled students, as well as students who were unable to attend during an event at their school were invited. The intention of the OCB event is to take our services directly to the graduating seniors and to allow them to leave the event enrolled for the fall 2022 semester. All students attending the event would meet with Counselors and Advisors, Admissions and Registration, Financial Aid, and New Student Orientation. OCB is supported by an institutional budget.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

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

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 2700

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

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

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Division of Student and Enrollment Services

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dr. Carlos C. Amaya at camaya3@epcc.edu or 915-831-2229

The TX Reskilling Grant provides aid to Texas students who were within one year of completing a qualified post-secondary degree or certificate program, but were forced to drop out of their program prior to the Fall 2020 semester because of hardships caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. THECB funding for this program is from the federal CARES Act appropriation to the State of Texas under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund. Eligible students who have completed the FAFSA will be entitled to receive from $500 to $2,500 to cover tuition and fees, the aggregate cost of which is not covered by other available assistance programs such as Pell grants. Upon application, this assistance will be available to students for the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters within 2021. All funding under this program must be expended solely for grants to students.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

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

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 1,873

HOW TO ENROLL: online application is easily available for students to apply online

EVALUATION STATUS: No data related to outcomes have been collected from this program

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Financial Aid Office

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Ines Lopez and Elizabeth Estrada at ivelazco@epcc.edu or (915) 831-2659

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