Facilitating Outreach Programs for Minority Students in Rural South Texas

Project Description

Rural students in Texas are less likely to pursue higher education than their urban counterparts. By providing consistent outreach strategies to rural students that emphasize science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and introducing them to transportation opportunities and careers, this project encourages students to attend college. This project facilitated the progression of outreach events in southern and coastal Texas by assisting the sponsoring agencies through the first two years. These events included an Industry to Work Day, career fairs, teacher workshops and conferences, a special colonias outreach facilitation, and assistance with the South Texas Summer Transportation Institute.

In order for these programs to be successful, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) needs to remain an active program partner. If funds were dedicated to outreach on a consistent basis, the overall cost of programs would drop and the quality of the programs would rise because program staff could plan and budget on a regular basis, rather than putting something together as funding becomes available. Smaller and more frequent events could also be planned through dedicated funding. This consistency of events would allow student interest to be reinforced and developed through regular contact and programs.

Link

Link: Final Report

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