‘Plus Two’ Peer-Led Team Learning improves student success, retention, and timely graduation

A dasiaplus twopsila strategy has integrated peer-led team learning (PLTL) as a required component of first semester general chemistry at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Since fall 2000, the C-or-better passing rate has improved from the historic average near 53% to the current rate above 70%, translating into an additional 160 students successfully progressing each year into their science, engineering, and mathematics majors. In 2006, the Plus Two Peer-Led Chemistry Program at UTEP earned the Star Award from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for its innovative active-learning curriculum intervention for improving student success, retention, and timely graduation in the engineering and science disciplines. Plus Two substitutes two hours of Workshop: small-group, active learning guided by an undergraduate STEM student (peer leader) for one hour of large section lecture per week in the three-credit-hour chemistry course. Retention of students for the four semesters subsequent to the plus two innovation improved from 70% to 75% and the number of students receiving undergraduate degrees within nine semesters jumped from approximately 34% to 47%. A National Science Foundation award (DUE - 0653270) entitled ISTAR: integrated student success, teaching, and retention, has now extended the plus two strategy to six other large section lower division courses leading to STEM degrees at UTEP.