This project, developed under the leadership of the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP), establishes a Comprehensive Regional Center for Minorities in the El Paso region of West Texas. Cooperating institutions and organizations, in addition to the University, include the following: El Paso Community College; the El Paso, Socorro, and Ysleta Independent School Districts; New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; Sul Ross State University; Western New Mexico University; and, the Texas Region XIX Education Service Center. Figures on the minority enrollment in the cooperating colleges and universities show a total of 21,000 minority students (over 19,000 of whom are Hispanic). This represents 66% of the total enrollment in those institutions. Minority enrollment in the targeted school systems is 101,000 (95,500 of whom are Hispanic), representing 81% of the total enrollment. Center activities include: a focus on critical junctures in the science career pipeline and on the factors that affect Hispanic students' decisions about education; an emphasis on the needs and characteristics of the local Mexican American population and of the institutions in the region; characteristics designed to complement and support the University's NSF Minority Research Center of Excellence; and, an emphasis on the support and involvement of industry, business and community leaders. Center management is the primary responsibility of the two Co- Directors with advice from two committees: a Regional Advisory Board; and, the NSF National Advisory Committee. The membership of the Regional Advisory Board includes one key administrator from each of the three participating school districts, three teachers, one representative of each higher education institution, two regional business leaders, one regional civic leader, and one state-wide leader of public education. The NSF National Advisory Committee consisting of leaders in science, industry, engineering, science education, and higher education provides advice to the Center and to NSF on long-term planning and evaluation. Among the enrichment activities for precollege and community college students are: Summer Science Day Camps at elementary schools; Summer Math/Science Computer Camps for 8th and 9th Grade students; Summer Institutes in science and engineering for junior and senior high students; Campus Visit Days for science students; and, Summer Bridge Programs for Community College Graduates. A series of activities to improve instruction in the schools include: A series of Summer Workshops for precollege teachers; a Science/Math Aides Program; and, Regional Conferences for Science Educators. The Center also sponsors a series of Science and Engineering Career Workshops for counselors and teachers. Improvements in the effectiveness of entry level college mathematics and science courses is the major focus of the undergraduate activities of the Center, with Chemistry being the discipline targeted in the first year. A detailed evaluation and reporting plan will be completed during the first year including a formative evaluation of first year Center activities and a report to NSF outlining the results of that evaluation and proposing program revisions for the second through fifth years. Ample computer capacity is available to support the evaluation of Center activities. This project is an excellent example of a Comprehensive Regional Center for Minorities. It is targeted at a minority population of substantial size, and it is comprehensive in terms of attention to the various educational levels and age groups, in disciplinary coverage, in coordination and cooperation among school systems, colleges and universities and community organizations, and in its focus on nurturing, encouraging and motivating minority students. Significant additional financial support is being contributed to the project by the participating organizations and groups. //
