Academy for Chemistry Transfer Students (ACTS)

Our Program

UTSA’s new ACTS program is modeled after the successful Transfer Academy for Tomorrow’s Engineers (TATE) program. Both programs consist of a collaborative partnership between UTSA and Alamo Colleges designed to increase the academic success of individuals who might not otherwise have access to postsecondary training in science or engineering fields. In particular, ACTS and TATE aim to support underrepresented ethnic minority students, women, and students who are the first in their family to attend college.

TATE students with Darrell Balderrama, Director of P-20 Initiatives

Our Impact

Both transfer academies, ACTS and TATE, consist of two major components: (1) An intensive Summer Bridging Institute (SBI) focused on research and technical writing, and (2) a sustained community of practice that includes faculty/staff and peer mentoring opportunities. 

The major goal of the new ACTS program is to provide a summer experience for chemistry transfer students in order to ease their transition to UTSA and eventual graduation. Students will research and write about water quality topics in connection with locally relevant themes; the San Antonio River Authority (SARA), a key partner in the summer experience, will provide opportunities to study the chemistry of the San Antonio waterways. 

The programs are facilitated by the UTSA Office of P-20 Initiatives, an administrative entity at UTSA focused on facilitating educational opportunities. These efforts are grounded in collaborative partnerships with K-12 and post-secondary institutions, and with the greater community, and are designed to support students in the pursuit of their college and career goals.

TATE student Cecilio Cadena with Dr. Joseph Kulhanek and Dr. Carmen Fies

How You Can Help

You can help us by donating in support of scholarships for students in our first cohort this summer. Students who successfully complete the SBI will be eligible to receive a scholarship to support their first-year tuition costs in the fall of 2016. Without scholarships, most students who are qualified for ACTS will not be able to afford UTSA tuition.

Please Share This Message

We are recruiting students for this summer’s ACTS cohort now. Please share our project with friends, family, and colleagues to help us surpass our goal and provide even more support for our students.

We Appreciate Your Support

Each and every donation helps students transition to UTSA and eventually graduate—thank you for your generous support!