The TIES program: A transfer initiative for engineering students

Strategies to recruit and retain underrepresented students in the STEM fields are as diverse as the students they seek to engage. The community college pipeline is well recognized as a source for both nontraditional and underrepresented students for engineering programs. The Transfer Initiative for Engineering Scholars (TIES) addresses the unique needs of this cohort who transfer as juniors from the community college environment. TIES is currently in the fourth year of receiving funding from NSF´s S-STEM program and providing financial support to eligible students in an environment committed to smooth transitions, multiple options for student support services, community building with peers and faculty, leadership development, and mentor relationships. Many of the support activities build upon previously existing retention programs, but new components, such as leadership seminars, community building, and industry mentoring, were developed specifically for TIES participants. Among the several components of the program, those that contribute to a supportive community environment were seen by the students as extremely important for a successful transition to Georgia Tech´s undergraduate electrical engineering and computer engineering programs.