Student Success & Undergraduate Affairs Update
Fall 2025 Course Demand and Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Check-In
- As registration continues for Fall 2025, NSM leadership is monitoring new student enrollment trends and course demand.
- FTIC Enrollment: Applications are up, but orientation yields are lower than expected. Growth is projected to remain flat or reach up to 3% over last year. Adjustments to the scholarship profile aim to boost enrollment. Waitlists now total 400 students across majors—decisions are forthcoming to accommodate these students ahead of orientation.
- Transfer Students: Enrollment is anticipated to be flat or slightly down. Strategic adjustments to the Transfer Excellence Scholarships are being made to help meet targets.
- High-Demand Courses: Biology and Computer Science are expected to require expanded seat capacity.
- Additional Enrollment Factors: Economic conditions, UT/TAMU admission caps, Pell Grant changes, and tuition rates for undocumented students are all influencing enrollment outcomes.
Academic and Programmatic Updates
- Honors Thesis Updates: Changes include updates to the reader list and committee requirements, and the process is no longer managed by Sharonda Glass. Website updates are in progress.
- Academic Honesty Tracking: NSM-IT is modeling a tracking system based on scholarship and other existing systems.
- Embedded Programs:
- Math: Embedded tutor program launched in Calculus I labs with hiring supported by SEP.
- CAPS: Embedded CAPS counselor space tour occurred this week.
- Advising and Admissions Collaboration: OFYP is coordinating with Admissions on processes for large-scale recruitment and admissions events.
- Scholarship Processing: A decision on scholarship distribution is expected next week.
Grants and Proposals
- Postponed Submission: Beckman Scholarship Program submission delayed due to data availability; planning underway to collect necessary data for future submission.
- Internship Data Collection: 721 students completed the Spring 2025 graduation survey. HireNSM survey function may be leveraged moving forward.
- ALL RISE RET: Launched on Monday.
- NSF IUSE Proposals: Two in preparation for Physics course improvements and engineering summer bridge expansion (deadline July 15).
- MRSEC Proposal: Education section in development; preproposal deadline is June 23.
- Bauer Lab: Open to collaboration opportunities for MRSEC.
Accessibility and Instructional Support
- Zone B ADA Parking Closure: Concerns shared with Kyle regarding ADA space reductions; alternatives being evaluated.
- Instructional Resources: Dart Center released new videos (e.g., Simple Syllabus setup).
- Strategic Planning: Units are asked to submit 2025–2026 plans for improving accessibility.
- EOS Road Show: Offers digital accessibility training for faculty/staff—available for departments and new faculty.
- Accessibility Agreements: New understanding forms now available for students, faculty, and coordinators.
- Simple Syllabus Workshops: Held in May.
- Catalog: 2025–2026 undergraduate catalog published; two weeks remain to finalize changes.
Scholar Enrichment Program (SEP)
- Fall Workshop Enrollment: Currently 730 students.
- Hiring: Reviewing applications for facilitators, mentors, and tutors; embedded tutor hiring in progress for Math and “Succeeding in STEM” course.
Special Programs and Assessment
- TC Energy Summer Scholars Academy: Launched Monday with 54 students (6 students withdrawn due to TSI issues/family emergencies).
- Recent Activity: Bowling event held with TC Energy interns and staff.
Career Center
- Fall Career Fair (Sept. 16): Registration now open with a goal of 100 employers; 9 confirmed. A sponsor has joined. Cost: $675.
- Employer outreach supported by Advisory Board and student directors.
- Flyer to be distributed for email signatures.
- Corporate Engagement:
- ENGIE proposal: $50K ask across Bauer, Engineering, and NSM (NSM’s share: $25K).
- Developing a 1-pager on Career Center engagement for employers.
- Conference Presentation: Presenting on career center development at the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) conference.
Office of First Year Programs
- SLATE Transition: Welcome and Next Steps emails will transition to SLATE and become automated.
- Orientation Presentations: Ongoing college sessions.
- Admissions Collaboration: Planning discussions around event logistics, session timing, and recruiting strategies.
Student Leadership Team (SLT)
- Retreat Planning: Current efforts include onboarding and policy review for 2025–2026 cohort.
teachHOUSTON Updates
- Grants and Proposals: teachHOUSTON received a $600K NSF RET Site grant with Engineering/Technology.
- Research Participation: STEM RISExRESET terminations affected research participation. Four students remain in need of placements; appreciation expressed to PIs and donors for continued support.
- Additional Activity:
- Applied for Spencer Foundation emergency funds.
- New Teacher Academy scheduled for June 22.
- ACP recruiting emails sent to Spring graduates.
- National UTech Conference (Reno):
- Faculty and students presented research.
- Jacqueline Ekeoba honored for service.
- Student presentations included both oral and poster formats; one student won best poster.
- Summer Camps: Officially launched on Monday.
UH STEM Center - Heather Domjan & Lionnel Ronduen
- Summer Programming: Camps successfully kicked off.
Undergraduate Advising Center
- Orientation: FTIC, online, and transfer sessions held this week. All went smoothly.
- Policy Updates: Discussions initiated on new graduation policy and upper administration meeting with advising teams.
- Hiring: AA2 position in final stages of the hiring process.
- Transfer Credit Concerns:
- Met with Registrar’s Office regarding AP and transfer credit posting delays. Stokes will connect with Dr. Longacre to explore solutions.
Undergraduate Affairs
- Audits: Completed.
- Web Updates: Ongoing updates across departmental and program pages.