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About PREP
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The goal of the Houston PRefreshman Enrichment Program (Houston PREP) is to enhance the academic backgrounds of socially and economically disadvantaged and disabled students at the middle and high school level who are enrolled in public schools with substantial enrollments of these; to encourage them into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers; and to improve their STEM literacy. Houston PREP is directed toward the reinforcement of the normal pre-college mathematics instructional program by discussing college level topics not offered in high school or middle school. We give a science and engineering awareness thrust in the physics and engineering courses, research and study sessions, and career opportunities components. Program participants agree to commit themselves to seven weeks of intellectually demanding classes and laboratories. 

The four successive summer program consists of the following components: Logic/Applications in Mathematics (from basic logic through switching circuits); Problem Solving (analytic skills, verbal reasoning etc. with examples from many disciplines); Introduction to Computer Science (from basics through the use of our modern labs); Introduction to Engineering (studying basic concepts and applying these to constructive experiences with airplane designs, security systems, bridge design, solar reflectors, and engineering team projects); Abstract Algebraic Topics; Research/Laboratory (Library and laboratory work, STEM writing projects, instructor consultations, study time); Introduction to Probability and Statistics; Introduction to Technical Writing; Introduction to Physics; Introduction to Chemistry; Introduction to Biology; Interdisciplinary Topics (emphasizing modeling and computational aspects of problems requiring interplay between various disciplines; STEM Colloquium and Career Opportunities Awareness. Field trips to high technology industries and NASA are arranged. Career counseling on such topics such as resume and SAT preparation, college preparatory expectations, college financial aid, and drug abuse are implemented. 

Houston PREP’s curriculum has been approved for high school graduation credit (one to three units) by the Texas Education Agency. In addition, students graduating from Houston PREP are eligible for scholarships at UHD. 

We normaly recruit 200 seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students in the first year program, 60 second year students, 40 third year students and 30 fourth year students and 10 pre-college teachers each summer.  During the summer of 2006, 210 students attended Houston PREP, among whom, over 91.7% were female or from an underrepresented minority group.

Houston PREP is part of the successful TexPREP initiative of UT-San Antonio (UTSA). During our 18 years of existence, we have enrolled more than 2,500 students. In our most recent follow-up survey of college-age PREP participants, of those who responded, their high school graduation rate is 99.9%. In this surveyed group, 94% are college students or college graduates; over 49% of them are enrolled in STEM fields.