The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) awarded researchers from Undergraduate Studies two grants worth $490,000 in total. The grants will make it possible for Undergraduate Studies to help students improve their abilities, with the ultimate goal of being academically competitive in college classrooms.
The two-year Developmental Education Demonstration Project Grant funds innovative approaches to developmental education. Dr. Cassandre Alvarado, Assistant Dean, hopes to use the opportunity to “go beyond college readiness,” typically defined as providing services to underprepared students. It will offer students required to take developmental education the opportunity to participate in an innovative learning community, a summer bridge program and non-course-based remediation options.
The grant, which is co-directed by Alvarado and Dr. Larry Abraham, Associate Dean, is worth $200,000 each year. Innovations developed with the grant funds will be administered through the Texas Success Initiative program in the School of Undergraduate Studies.
“By developing and testing innovative approaches to developmental education, we can positively impact the future success of not only UT Austin students, but students across the state,” said Alvarado.
Alvarado received an additional grant of $90,000 for her work examining the Texas College and Career Readiness Standards in the context of a research university. Research funded by both grants will enhance college readiness in the state.
More about the Developmental Education Demonstration Project Grant (pdf)
What is college readiness?