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Session 2793

The Academic Center for Engineers and Scientists – Focused Resources and Activities for Student Retention Daniela Castaneda, Rosa Gomez, Connie Della-Piana, Stephen W. Stafford University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

The Academic Center for Engineers and Scientists or ACES, at the University of Texas at El Paso, is fundamentally a student center. A student center conceptualized, designed, and now managed by undergraduate engineering and science students as part of the National Science Foundation’s Model Institutions of Excellence (MIE) Program. The comfortable and modern facility provides space for study, organizational meetings, and contact with a myriad of student development resources. Students in the freshman orientation are introduced to the Center and have the opportunity to use the facility’s resources to complete assigned projects that are integral to their orientation experience. The compulsory freshman seminar course, promoting the Center among the entering freshmen, serves to establish the early connections to ACES. ACES was designed to serve as a hub for student connections to study and learning resources, pre-professional employment opportunities, tutors, student organizations, and a host of other specially targeted student development activities. ACES is a part of our retention solution for a campus serving a commuter student population. The ACES Team or student management structure ensures a student-oriented agenda for the Center while facilitating the use of modern computer technology in the form of laptops, current software, peripherals, multi- media presentation equipment, and wireless Internet access. In addition to providing equipment and space, the Center offers workshops to enhance students’ personal, professional and academic growth in many topic areas. Visiting graduate schools and corporate representatives utilize ACES for information programs since ACES assures access to the students. Future plans for ACES include the opening of satellite facilities across campus, online posting of class notes and homework solutions, and continuing evaluation of the ACES Model.

Introduction

The National Science Foundation’s Model Institutions for Excellence (MIE) Initiative is a groundbreaking project that will produce universities that will serve as models for

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright  2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Stafford, S., & Gomez, R., & Castaneda, D., & Della-Piana, C. (2001, June), The Academic Center For Engineers And Scientists Focused Resources And Activities For Student Retention Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--8878