Pre-College Youth Development and Student Diversity Initiatives

Directed by Dr. Wanda L. Nelson, Associate Vice President
The Pre-College Youth Development and Student Diversity Initiatives portfolio focuses on partnering with target schools to promote college attendance for underrepresented students in Texas. Students are identified at the elementary school level and receive academic preparation as well as non-cognitive support through high school graduation to facilitate their enrollment in an institution of higher education. SDI assists students enrolled at UT to matriculate, succeed academically, graduate, and pursue post-baccalaureate degrees.

ChemBridge
… offers a web-based chemistry program designed to provide college level science curriculum to previously under-served urban and minority high school students, and is a collaborative program between the College of Natural Science, Office of Community and School Relations, and participating high schools in the state of Texas

Students Partnering for Undergraduate Rhetoric Success

..prepares under-represented minority and economically disadvantaged students for college-level coursework by improving their writing and analytic thinking skills and by increasing their ability to learn through technology

Office of Assistant Vice President for Pre-College Youth Development and Student Diversity Initiatives
Directed by Dr. Leonard Moore Assistant Vice President and Executive Director Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence
 The Pre-College Youth Development and Student Diversity Initiatives group focuses on:

• building a pipeline to college for underrepresented, low-income, and first generation K-12 students;
• assisting with the recruitment, retention, and graduation of these students; and
• encouraging undergraduates to attend graduate or professional school

Programs in this area are: Neighborhood Longhorns Program, the University Outreach Centers, the Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence, and TRIO Programs.

Neighborhood Longhorns Program - Celina Ruiz-Snowden, Director
… increases student achievement through an  educational incentive program operated in partnership with the Austin Independent School District in 21 Title 1 elementary schools and middle schools to improve overall grade performance,  reading, math, science, and language arts skills, to increase student retention rates; and provide scholarship awards for students to apply towards a college education

University Outreach Center – Kenya White, Executive Director
… assists underrepresented students in grades 8-12 to excel academically, take college entrance exams, graduate high school, complete college admissions and financial aid applications, and enroll at an institution of higher education 

Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence – Dr. Leonard Moore, Executive Director
… increases and maximizes the academic and personal success of first generation and traditionally under-represented students at UT Austin

Gateway Scholars – Michelle Monk, Director
...maximizes the academic success and social connections of new first generation and underrepresented students at UT Austin. Started in the fall of 1994, Gateway Scholars has expanded to include UTransition, a learning community for first generation and underrepresented transfer students, the Achieving College Excellence (ACE) Program, a service for students who seek additional academic assistance, and the Welcome Program, a diversity education program for incoming first-year students.

TRIO Programs – Michael Nava, Director
… increases college retention and graduation rates through academic, career and social programs

Office of Assistant Vice President for Diversity Education Initiatives

Directed by Dr. Michele R. Guzmán, Assistant Vice President

The Diversity Education Initiatives group promotes learning that fosters a climate of inclusive excellence and includes the Diversity Education Institute (DEI), Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC), and the Multicultural Information Center (MIC). The three units collaborate to foster a climate of acceptance, appreciation, and respect for diverse identities and multiple perspectives on campus.

Diversity Institute – Dr. Michele R. Guzmán (interim director)
… promotes learning that critically examines multiple identities and perspectives in order to foster a climate of inclusive excellence at the University of Texas at Austin and surrounding communities in Texas, and is a collaborative, multidisciplinary project of faculty, staff, students and community members in the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin 

Gender and Sexuality Center – Ixchel Rosal, Director
… provides a safe space for all members of the university community to explore, organize, and promote learning around issues of gender and sexuality and supports the needs of women and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) communities through education, outreach and advocacy

Multicultural Information Center – Brenda Burt, Director
… develops and prepares students for the multicultural society of today and the future by providing diverse educational opportunities and support services for all students; maintains a comprehensive scholarship index; aids individuals and organizations with event planning and fundraising; facilitates diversity workshops; provides outreach to Texas middle and high schools through tours and workshops; organizes the Multicultural Leadership Institute, a weeklong program where participants from of all walks of life work together to create a program designed to teach middle school students and their parents about preparing for college.

Pre-College Youth Development and Student Diversity Initiatives Staff