Does Problem Solving Recitation Session Improve Student Retention And Success?

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is an urban, state-supported university and the engineering programs at this institution have been instrumental in providing educational opportunities for under-represented groups of minorities. The engineering curricula for BS degree programs were recently revised. The major objectives of the curriculum revisions were to enhance the educational quality of the program and to improve student retention and success. Recitation hours have been added to a number of foundation engineering courses having large failure rates in the past. The implementation of the recitation sessions began in Fall 2000. The recitation hours have been are conducted in a small classroom setting to help student learn problem solving techniques and encourage cooperative learning. The enrollment for each recitation section is limited to 20-25 students. No new materials are covered in the recitation periods. Instructors use this time to answer questions, solve example problems, involve students in cooperative learning, and introduce application of appropriate computer software. This paper will analyze student retention and success since the implementation of recitation sessions. It will compare the grade distributions for pre and post implementation of recitation hours.