UTPB honored for AVID

UTPB’s work in developing the Advancement Via Individual Determination program for freshmen students has grabbed the attention of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The board will give the university a special “Recognition of Excellence” award at its meeting scheduled Thursday.
“It’s just amazing, and the most positive thing for us and recognition of Dr. David Watts being proactive and trying to solve a problem before we’re forced to do so,” lecturer and freshman seminar student Lanita Akins said. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is the only university in Texas with an AVID component.
Two of the freshman seminar classes have included AVID components, such as taking good notes and being organized. She said she has already noticed a difference just in attitude by AVID students, such as those students sitting in the front row. She teaches history courses as well.   “It works. I have already seen it, and we just started it this semester,” Akins said.
She said Watts and other university representatives will present information on the program to the coordinating board, which gave UTPB a $25,000 unsolicited grant to start the pilot AVID course. AVID Executive Director Jim Nelson and AVID Texas State Director Eileen Friou are also scheduled to attend the coordinating board meeting.   Watts said the award came as a surprise.
“I can’t explain how it happened. I heard we would be recognized and when I saw it on the agenda, I was delighted,” Watts said.
He said he hopes to expand AVID to all freshmen seminar sections.
“It has the potential to impact success for all freshmen students, and we want them to come back as sophomores and graduate,” Watts said.
Watts credits ECISD as leading the way for AVID in Odessa and said he is glad AVID approved the idea even without an established college curriculum yet.
“They were responsive to us requesting to do this now and not wait,” he said.

WATCH
>> UTPB is receiving an honor from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for its work on integrating AVID into freshmen seminar classes. The board broadcasts the event online. Watch it here once the meeting starts: www.thecb.state.tx.us/apps /events/AllBroadcasts.cfm