The University Scorpion Scholars (USS) is designed to assist students awarded the University Scorpion Scholars Scholarship.

The program has several intrusive educational elements that help retain our Scorpion Scholars while enriching there campus experience. These elements include a peer mentor, college success workshops, student life events, learning communities and a program advisor.

PEER MENTOR
Scorpion Scholars are required to meet with their peer mentor once a week. Scholars will establish a working personal trusting relationship with mentor who will guide them their first year in college. The mentor will give them valuable advice in becoming academically successful at our campus. In their second year as a scholar, students will become peer mentors themselves to an incoming scholar. This will help reinforce their learning experience and help them understand the relationship between being successful in college and helping others.

COLLEGE SUCCESS WORKSHOPS
During the first year our scholars will be asked to attend several college success workshops. These workshops are created to host and engage learning on topics important to college success and transition. Our First Year Success Workshops include topics on time management, money management, stress management, conflict resolution, student services, career counseling and many more. The program wants to make sure that students adjust adequately to the challenges college life will provide. You must earn 8 workshop credits every semester.

STUDENT LIFE EVENTS
Our program research has shown that students who are involved in student activies and organizations tend to do better academically and adjust better socially to the campus environment. Our program strongly supports this ideal and enforces it by having our scholars participate in the many diverse campus life events our university provides. These activities include special guest lecturers, bar-b-q, movies, silly game shows, tournaments, recreational sports and dances. Our events provide stress free relaxation from academic work and opportunities to build relationships with students, faculty and staff. Scholars must earn 4 student life credits. Events must be hosted by UTB/TSC departments. Students must fill out an activity form an turn it in as evidence of attendance. All activities must be completed before finals week.

LEARNING COMMUNITIES
A Learning Community offers first year students the opportunity to enroll in a predetermined set of specific university general education required courses that focus on a theme. First year students also participate in a variety of co-curricular activities that support the same theme. Program will require registration in specific classes at a specific time (e.g. HIST 1301, MWF, 10am-11am).

Learning Communities are a great way for our scholars to interact with each other in the classroom. Research shows that students who participate in learning communities do better academically and great strong bonds with other students. Learning Communities give students the opportunity to establish relationships with other students in the classroom environment. This helps them in during class time and in the long run when seeking other assistance.

 

PROGRAM ADVISOR
The USS Program Advisor acts as a professional resource to our students and coordinates the USS program. The advisor is there to help clarify requirements of the program, fix billing disputes, facilitate communication between the student and the financial aid office, coordinate program events and staff, and become a resource of information to our scholars. The advisor also performs grade checks, attendance checks, assessments on student learning outcomes, requirement checks and program performance. Students must meet with program advisor once a semester in the fall and spring respectively.