NSF-IUSE HSI Program
South Texas is on the verge of a regional transformation as UTRGV, a new Hispanic Serving Institution, aims to execute its strategic plan that emphasizes cultural and linguistic relevance and a recognition of cultural community engagement and regionally-relevant research at the core of student success. The College of Sciences has developed an innovative plan to increase retention and graduation of its more than 5,000 undergraduate students in science and math, by offering courses that highlight the importance and value of culture and community. We aim to train STEM faculty in culturally relevant pedagogy and community engaged scholarship and learning, to facilitate new offerings for first year/early career students to take core courses in Math and Biology in a bilingual modality, and new classes in Community Engaged Scholarship and Learning (CESL) that facilitate meaningful engagement in ongoing community-based STEM projects.