Improved student retention and timely graduation via “Plus Two” peer-led team learning

CHED 74

Yoon J. Kim, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University, El Paso, TX 79968 and James E. Becvar, Department of Chemisrty, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Universty Av. Physical Science #201, El Paso, TX 79968.
The Chemistry Peer Leader Program at UTEP received the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board STAR Award for 2006. The “Plus Two” Peer-Led Team-Learning (PLTL) curriculum innovation in first semester general chemistry has dramatically improved student success, retention, and graduation in the science and engineering disciplines by substituting two hours of Workshop: small-group, active learning guided by an undergraduate STEM student (Peer Leader) for one hour of large section lecture per week in the three-credit-hour course. Since fall 2000, the C-or-better passing rate improved from the historic average near 53% to the current rate near 74%, translating into an additional 160 students successfully progressing each year into their science, engineering, and mathematics majors. Retention of students for the four semesters subsequent to the “Plus Two” PLTL innovation improved from 70% to 75% comparing pre- and post-intervention cohorts. In addition, the number of students who received undergraduate degrees within nine semesters subsequent to the first semester general chemistry course jumped from approximately 33% to approximately 45%.
 

General Posters
7:30 PM-9:30 PM, Sunday, August 19, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007