1 / 12

Study abroad for the 99%: how do we create equal access?

Study abroad for the 99%: how do we create equal access?. Heather Barclay Hamir, Ph.D. The University of Texas at Austin. Changing US Demographics. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, Tables P1 and P2. Higher Education in Texas.

adem
Télécharger la présentation

Study abroad for the 99%: how do we create equal access?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Study abroad for the 99%: how do we create equal access? Heather Barclay Hamir, Ph.D. The University of Texas at Austin

  2. Changing US Demographics Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, Tables P1 and P2.

  3. Higher Education in Texas • Hispanic students are projected to be the largest college-going population in Texas by 2040 (50.9%) • H.B. 588 (“The Top 10% Law”) shapes university admissions • Current political debates: • Affordability of higher education • Faculty productivity (research v. teaching) • Four-year graduation rates

  4. The University of Texas at Austin • 51,000 students; 39,000 undergraduates • Admitted first majority-minority entering cohort in 2010 • Demand for admission to UT led to restructuring of Top 10% Law in 2010 • Four-year graduation rate: 51% (80% in six years)

  5. Study Abroad at UT Austin • 5th largest study abroad program in the US (2,284 abroad in 2009-2010) • Goal: equal access to study abroad for UT students

  6. First-Gen Student Characteristics • “First-gen” refers to students whose parents have not graduated from college (federal definition) • First-gen student characteristics at UT: • Racially/ethnically diverse population • Lower average socio-economic background • Lower persistence and graduation rates (35.7% graduate in 4 years)

  7. Study Abroad & Degree Completion • 7,845 students in the first-time-in-college (FTIC) cohort of 2002 • 13.6% of cohort studied abroad, representing 21% of graduates

  8. Predicted Probability of Graduating • Study abroad participation did not predict: • time-to-degree • graduation in 4 years • Study abroad participation did predict: • graduation in 5 years (46% more likely to graduate) • graduation in 6 years (185% more likely to graduate) • graduation in 8 years (712% more likely to graduate) • Effect increased as GPA decreased

  9. Yes, but…. • Study abroad students: • have higher GPAs (true) • have higher standardized test scores (true) • are more motivated, organized, etc. (maybe) • When applicants were compared to non-participants, no differences existed in predicted time-to-degree or likelihood of graduating from UT

  10. The First Abroad Initiative • Three components: scholarships, partnerships, outreach/mentoring • Goals: • Increase access to study abroad for a diverse and underrepresented population • Enable seamless integration of study abroad into degree progress • Contribute to student retention and success at UT

  11. First Abroad: Scholarships • Scholarships: address the financial barrier early = increased opportunities + better academic planning • 250 scholarships over 5 years for first-gen students with financial need: • Hutchison International Scholars: scholarships awarded at admission, no application • First Abroad Scholarships: apply in first/second year of attendance, 2 academic years to use funds

  12. First Abroad: Partnerships, Outreach • Partnerships: collaboration to promote early outreach to students, academic integration, and reduce financial barriers • Collaboration with UT retention programs, increased partnerships with academic departments • Funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation • Add-on awards from study abroad program partners • Outreach and mentoring: staff and peer advisors

More Related