Grants Totaling $490,000 to Improve College Readiness, Developmental Education - August 17th., 2010

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin School of Undergraduate Studies have received $400,000 from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to improve college readiness and developmental education.

Dr. Larry Abraham, a professor in the College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education and assistant dean in the School of Undergraduate Studies, will be co-director of the grant along with Dr. Cassandre Alvarado.

Dr. Larry Abraham, a professor in the College of Education's Departments of Kinesiology and Health Education and Curriculum and Instruction, and associate dean in the School of Undergraduate Studies, will be co-director of the grant along with Dr. Cassandre Alvarado. Alvarado is an assistant dean in the School of Undergraduate Studies and lectures in the College of Education's Department of Educational Administration.

The Developmental Education Demonstration Project grant provides funding for new and innovative approaches to developmental education. The grant will offer students required to take developmental education the opportunity to participate in an innovative learning community, a summer bridge program and non-course-based remediation options.

"By developing and testing innovative approaches to developmental education, we can positively impact the future success of not only University of Texas at Austin students, but students across the state," said Alvarado.

The two-year grant is worth $200,000 each year. The innovations developed with the grant funds will be administered through the Texas Success Initiative program in the School of Undergraduate Studies.

"We are delighted that the coordinating board will help us better address the unique college readiness problems that a number of students face in the transition from high school to The University of Texas at Austin," said Abraham.

Dr. Harrison Keller, who has worked with Alvarado and Abraham on the development of these proposals and related institutional policy initiatives, said, "These grant funds will support groundbreaking work to help many more Texas students understand and meet the expectations of The University of Texas at Austin. Students across the state will benefit from this unique collaboration among the university's School of Undergraduate Studies, colleges and departments." Keller is vice provost for higher education policy, executive director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and a lecturer in the Department of Educational Administration.

Alvarado received an additional grant of $90,000 for her work examining the Texas College and Career Readiness Standards in the context of a research university. Research funded by both grants will enhance college readiness across the state.

(Adapted from School of Undergraduate Studies news release.)

—Kay Randall, University Communications, 512-232-3910