Diversity Initiatives
Academic Operations and Services
The Academic Operations and Services provides the highest standards of excellence in enrollment planning; actively identifies, counsels, recruits, and enrolls qualified students; and offers services that promote student retention and success.
Academic Operations and Services will:
- be recognized as a national model for innovative enrollment management programs, services and practices;
- ensure the University has a successful and diverse student population
and is committed to the values of:
- leadership;
- cooperation and communication;
- creativity and innovation;
- excellence;
- service; and
- diversity.
One objective is to increase freshman and transfer class diversity by developing and implementing new recruitment programs and events.
Academic Operations and Services also enhances retention programs such as:
PASS: where services are offered for learning through workshops, emails, advertisements, etc. http://www.depts.ttu.edu/passcntr/index.php
DISCOVERY! Program: helping students find a career path. http://ram.tosm.ttu.edu/advising/
First Generation College Students Outreach:
The Advising Center at Texas Tech (ACTT) provides outreach to first generation college (FGC) students and their families through the PEGASUS Program. The majority of FGC students in public schools are students from under-represented groups. PEGASUS is an academic advising program for students whose parents did not earn a four year (bachelor's) degree. PEGASUS plants the seed of a college education in the minds of public school students and their families, supports First Generation College (FGC) students to make a successful transition to college, and works with upper class FGC students to transition to entry level jobs or graduate school.
PEGASUS (Pioneers in Education: Generations Achieving Scholarship & Unprecedented Success). This academic advising program supports FGC students in making a successful transition to college. www.pegasus.ttu.edu
Examples of PEGASUS outreach include:
- Providing information tables at University Days, community fiestas, Education Summit, and financial aid nights in area high schools.
- Working with FGC student groups that visit campus
- Providing a FGC student peer mentoring program to work with prospective FGC students
- Working with prospective FGC students and their families during College Days at South Plains College
- Planting the seeds of a college education through the Boy's and Girl's Clubs of Lubbock and Amarillo
McNair Scholars Program www.mcnair.ttu.edu
Texas Tech University was awarded the Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement Program by the U.S. Department of Education in 1995. The purpose of the program is to prepare first generation college undergraduate students from low income backgrounds for doctoral study. The services provided to participants include the following: assessment of readiness for doctoral study, workshops to prepare for the Graduate Record Examination, workshops on applying to graduate school, pairing with a graduate student mentor, pairing with a faculty member who agrees to advise and guide Scholar research projects, travel to professional conferences, encouragement to present and publish research findings, and travel to visit potential graduate school campuses.
Regional Centers:
The Office of Admissions has Regional Centers in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso. These Regional Centers help to establish Texas Tech's presence statewide and establish relationships with high schools that have diverse populations. The Centers allow the University to target geographically diverse areas while serving as a resource for interested individuals in the area. In some cases, the Regional Centers serve as the first point of contact for families. For students who are not familiar with Lubbock or do not have the means of making a visit to Lubbock, the contact with an admissions counselor becomes an important way of getting these students in the prospect or applicant pool. Establishing relationships with high schools that have diverse populations and visiting with students and parents is evidence of Texas Tech's commitment to recruiting a diverse student body and increasing Texas Tech's visibility outside of West Texas.
Diversity in Admissions:
To accomplish the charge of recruiting a more academically prepared and diverse class, the Office of Admissions:
- Holistically reviews those applicants not in the top 10% of their graduating classes or not meeting assured admission requirements
- Is developing an intensive marketing plan that is designed for students of color and students who rank in the top 10% of their graduating classes and have a 1200 SAT score or higher. The marketing plan will highlight a variety of academic opportunities.
- In Fall 2005, the Office of Admissions will begin using race and ethnicity as one of the factors taken into consideration when making admission decisions.
High School Counselor Updates
Counselor Updates are held in August and September of each year. Over 600 high school and community college counselors attended sessions held in Austin, El Paso, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Houston, Lubbock, Midland, Abilene, and Amarillo. The objectives of the updates are to provide an opportunity for the counselors to interact with Texas Tech University administrators and recruitment staff, and to provide them with information on Texas Tech University University.
University Day
The Office of Admissions hosts a campus visitation event, University Day, for prospective students and their parents. University Day features presentations by all colleges, Financial Aid, and Admissions. University Day also includes an information fair that features student support services and academic departments.
Techsan Preview
The Office of Admissions hosts sessions of Techsan Preview for academically talented prospective students. Typically, sessions are limited to 20 students, which allows for personalized attention for each participant. Techsan Preview showcases the infinite opportunities available at Texas Tech University and is tailored to each student's individual interest. Students hear presentations on the Honors College, study abroad and undergraduate research and meet one-on-one with the academic department of their choice. Nonacademic highlights of the overnight visit include attendance at a Red Raider or Lady Raider basketball game, a stay in a residence hall with current students, and a tour of the Student Recreation Center.
Spring Receptions
Spring receptions are held for admitted and prospective top scholar students with a 1200 or higher SAT and minority students. Alumni of Texas Tech University usually host the receptions. The receptions are held in major metropolitan areas around the state. There are at least eight receptions held each year and approximately 1,000 students attend. The students had the opportunity to visit with representatives from the Office of Admissions and several of the colleges.
Red Raider Experience
The Office of Admissions hosts two sessions of Red Raider Experience for academically talented prospective students. Each session is limited to 100 students, which allows for personalized attention for each participant. Red Raider Experience showcases the opportunities available at Texas Tech University and is tailored to each student's individual interest. Students hear presentations on the Honors College, admissions requirements, and undergraduate research and meet one-on-one with two academic departments of their choice. Nonacademic highlights of the overnight visit include a stay in a residence hall, a campus tour, and attendance at a spirit dinner and an outdoor movie at the Dan Law baseball field.
Summer Showcase
The Office of Admissions hosts 60 high school and community college counselors for this annual event. The objective of this program is to inform counselors about the diverse academic and extracurricular opportunities available to their students. Schools from most every major metropolitan area in Texas are represented at Showcase, as well as many smaller schools. Faculty and staff representatives provide valuable information that the counselors will pass on to their students, and counselors provide input that will help in future planning for recruitment events and publications.
Home for the Holidays
In Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley, a recruiting program is held that allows current Texas Tech University freshmen who are home for the holidays to go back to their home high school campus and help recruit students. These students share and discuss aspects of their first semester at Texas Tech University, including what convinced them to attend Tech, classroom experiences, social life, and living in the residence halls. Current Texas Tech University students share pictures that they have taken during their first semester.
Outreach Program
In order to prepare first generation college students from West Texas, the Office of Admissions has developed a University Outreach Program. The program provides a campus visitation program to expose students and, especially, families of first generation college students to the possibilities of a higher education and Texas Tech University. The major focus of the Outreach Program will be House Bill 400 schools.
Pathway Partnership
In order to facilitate the transition of students from a community college to Texas Tech University and to increase the number of Texas residents completing a bachelor’s degree, Texas Tech University has signed agreements with 41 community colleges in Texas and one institution in New Mexico. The Pathway Partnership agreements are designed to increase awareness about the educational opportunities available at Texas Tech University, promote an understanding of the personal and financial value of a college education, and encourage currently enrolled students to complete their associate degrees. In combination, the following services provide a more seamless transfer process for community college students: o Students have the opportunity to visit the Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center campuses twice during the year. o Texas Tech University admissions counselors provide information and advisement to students during visits to community college campuses twice each semester. o Students can determine the transferability of courses and view Texas Tech University degree plans via the online Degree Planning and Transfer Credits System. o Students can participate in online chats with Texas Tech University advisors. o Presidential Transfer Scholarships are available to eligible students.
Thomson Peterson’s publications
Thomson Peterson’s helps connect students and educational institutions through a myriad of guides, Web sites, online products and admission services. Texas Tech University’s in-depth description is posted on the undergraduate channel of www.petersons.com and included in the Peterson’s annual Four-Year Colleges and Peterson’s College and University Almanac.
Financial Aid
Education Connection-Unlocking Your Future This is a free interactive outreach workshop held at South Plains Mall in the early spring for all prospective students, targeting Lubbock and the surrounding area. The workshop includes representatives from other colleges and universities and many lending institutions who are available to answer questions and provide information about options for attending and financing a higher education. Web access is available on-site to allow attendees to submit a FAFSA. Texas Tech University representatives are available to answer questions about admissions, scholarships, and financial aid. Currently enrolled students are present to share their experiences and offer insight into the college experience.
Financial aid nights at area high schools and churches
Financial Aid representatives attend numerous financial aid nights in Lubbock and the surrounding area in an effort to help students and parents understand the financial aid process and help them understand the options available in funding their education. 15% of tuition deregulation increases dedicated to need-based aid Texas Tech University set aside not less than 20% of any amount of tuition charged to a resident undergraduate student in excess of $46 per semester credit hour. The funds are used to provide financial assistance to resident undergraduate students. Priority is given to students who meet the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board definition of financial need and whose cost for tuition and required fees is not met through other non loan financial assistance programs. The financial assistance provided may include grants, scholarships, work study programs, student loans, and student loan repayment assistance. The goal is to assist as many need students as possible in covering the cost of tuition and fees. Seventy percent of the set aside is used as need-based Texas Tech University grants and thirty percent is awarded in need-based scholarship money. For FY 2005, approximately 3,164 students received $3,177,350 in need-based scholarship money.
Loan default aversion plan
The loan default aversion plan implements activities, techniques, and tools to promote student and school success and reduce student loan defaults in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program.