Studying Engineering, Mathematics and Science at UTEP

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Studying Engineering, Mathematics and Science at
UTEP
Dr. Benjamin Flores Associate Dean, - College of
Engineering Principal Investigator, - Model
Institutions of Excellence Dr. Helmut
Knaust Chair, - Department of Mathematical
Sciences
October 21, 2006 GEPCTM Conference
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• Overview
• Studying Science and Engineering at UTEP
• Math Requirements
• Student Profile
• The CircLES Program
• Math Placement Accuplacer
• College Readiness Initiative

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UTEP Undergraduate Science Engineering Programs

• SCIENCE
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Geology
• Geophysics
• Microbiology
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology

• ENGINEERING
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

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• Undergraduate Students
• Engineering 2,151
• Science 1,624
• Total 3,775
• At UTEP 17,060
• Fall 2006

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Undergraduate Enrollment Trends In Engineering,
Math and Science
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Math Requirements Three examples

• Physics (22 hours)
• Calculus I
• Calculus II
• Calculus III
• Differential Equations
• Applied Analysis I
• 2 more upper division math courses

• Electrical Engineering (16 hours)
• Calculus I
• Calculus II
• Calculus III
• Differential Equations
• Matrix Algebra

• Biology (11 hours)
• Calculus I
• Statistical Methods I
• Statistical Methods II

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UTEP Student Population Profile

• 24 years of age (undergraduate average)
• 69 Hispanic
• 55 female
• 81 from El Paso County and commute daily
• 84 employed
• 50 first generation university students
• 2001-2002 Facts, The University of Texas at El
  Paso

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65 of all math teachers in El Paso County get
their college education at UTEP
Close to 90 of all students come from El Paso
County
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Mathematics Placement of Students Entering UTEP -
All Majors (Fall 2004) -
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UTEPs Model for STEM Student Success
STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
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Circles of Learning for Entering Students
UTEPs entering student program for STEM
students CircLES provides summer
orientation placement exams peer mentoring expert
advising course clustering
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Timeline
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CircLES - One Week-Long Orientation
CONNECTIONS TO UNIVERSITY SERVICES
DEVELOPMENTAL MATH REVIEW AND PLACEMENT
RESEARCH MODULES (Science and Engineering)
STUDY SKILLS
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Mathematics Review

• Duration 3 days, 2 hours each day
• Students solve math problems in small groups of 4
  or 5 students
• Math review is led by peer facilitators
• The accompanying text focuses on short
  explanations and practice problems
• After the math review is complete, students
  retake UTEPs math placement exam

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Placement Before and After Math Review 2001-03 -
STEM Students -
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• New Developments
• Summer 2006 UTEP extends the Math Review to all
  students.
• Spring/Summer 2007 College Readiness
  Initiative. Students take the Math Placement
  Test in High School, followed by Math Review
  activities at the local high schools, UTEP and
  EPCC.

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All Questions Answered,All Answers Questioned
Borrowed from Donald Knuth
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Benjamin Flores flores_at_ece.utep.edu Helmut
Knaust hknaust_at_utep.edu