Closing the Gap through Guided Pathways into the Engineering and Computer Science Workforce

The retention and graduation of students in engineering and computer science disciplines has been a challenge.The Closing the Gaps initiative in Texas was launched in October 2000.This plan aimed to close educational gaps within Texas and between Texas and other states by focusing on student participation, success, excellence, and research.In this paper we explore a series of interventions in a range of engineering and computer science degrees at the University of North Texas.The University of North Texas College of Engineering supports admission of all students into the degree of their choice.We explore the enrollment patterns from the pre-pandemic, postpandemic, new HSI designation, a resulting NSF grant and planning for implementation of the Texas Senate Bill 17 in 2023.We employ an asset framework through creating a range of degree plans, utilizing a focused experience with one community college and students of the Hispanic demographic through the grant on the engineering student population and all transfer students.