Texas State’s SURE Named ‘Program To Watch’ By Excelencia In Education

SAN MARCOS – The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) at Texas State University has been named a Program to Watch by Excelencia in Education, a national organization focusing on the success of Hispanic students and the Hispanic serving institutions that promote their achievement.

Texas State’s SURE program is one of 20 so recognized nationally by Excelencia in Education.

“By promoting and celebrating what works in serving Latino students in higher education, Excelencia increases awareness about the positive impact of the growth of the Latino population and programs that serve them well,” said Sarita Brown, president of Excelencia in Education. “Examples of Excelencia inspires leaders to implement innovations that can serve all students.”

The SURE program prepares Latina/o and first-generation college students for success in graduate school or a STEM-focused career. SURE engages students in an authentic undergraduate research experience under the supervision of trained, culturally-competent faculty mentors.

The program provides students with weekly seminars on building STEM success skills, science communication, the responsible conduct of research, the value of diversity in science and creating an individual development plan.

Faculty mentors receive 16 hours of training on mentoring techniques and cultural fluency, while mentees receive 36 hours of training on community building, science communication skills, and planning for career/professional development.

By the second year, the Latina/o student composition of the SURE program increased to 75 percent. Overall, 100 percent of participants have presented at a local conference and 15 students have received funding to present at a national conference.

The SURE program is in the third year of a five-year Title III Hispanic Serving Institutions grant.

For more information about Excelencia in Education’s 2019 Programs to Watch, visit www.edexcelencia.org/2019-programs-watch.