# Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at EPCC-UTEP

> **NIH NIH T34** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO · 2022 · $361,843

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Studies examining the national landscape of college-going Hispanic students report these students more likely
to start their undergraduate studies at a community college. Yet, only 25% transfer; and a mere 3% obtain an
associate degree. Factors explaining these dismal numbers are: Hispanic students are more likely to be first in
their family to start college; and, students who “stop out” are less likely to return. High-impact educational
practices — such as undergraduate research, internships, and learning communities — have been proven to
support student transfer and degree completion. Given these challenges and opportunities, the proposed Bridges
to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at EPCC-UTEP is well positioned to address these needs,
given The University of Texas at El Paso’s (UTEP) and El Paso Community College’s (EPCC) statuses as
majority-Hispanic institutions. Moreover, UTEP and EPCC have historically worked together to increase regional
student success, and are the only higher education institutions in the greater El Paso region of Far West Texas
with EPCC’s Rio Grande campus less than one mile away from UTEP. The training mission of the proposed
Bridges program is to develop a pool of diverse, research-oriented community college students who transition to
a 4-year institution, possess the requisite knowledge and skills to complete their baccalaureate degree, and
advance into graduate or professional school to position themselves for careers in biomedical research. The
overarching goal is to provide structured activities to prepare a diverse cohort of community college students
to transfer to and complete a bachelor's degree in biomedical research fields. To meet this overarching goal, the
aims and objectives are: Specific Aim 1: Develop a majority-UR pool of research-oriented undergraduates
who bridge from EPCC to UTEP with majors leading to biomedical careers. Objectives meeting this aim are: (1)
recruit and retain trainees from underrepresented groups who are full-time undergraduates at El Paso
Community College with an interest in biomedical careers; and (2) maintain a transfer rate of 90% of Bridges
trainees to baccalaureate degree programs in the biomedical sciences. Specific Aim 2: Develop a majority-UR
pool of well-trained biomedical scientists who have the necessary technical, operational, and professional skills
to advance in biomedical research careers. Objectives meeting this aim are: (1) create a sense of community
and belonging among Bridges trainees that builds confidence, belonging, and identity as researchers in
biomedical sciences; and (2) increase the percentage of transferred trainees who complete a baccalaureate
degree in the biomedical sciences. Expected outcomes of the proposed Bridges program are: 92% trainee
transfer rate; higher levels of retention and academic achievement at UTEP; increased sense of community and
belonging; increased awareness and educational aspirations of biomedica...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10459298
- **Project number:** 5T34GM137855-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO
- **Principal Investigator:** Allison Bruce
- **Activity code:** T34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $361,843
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10459298

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10459298, Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at EPCC-UTEP (5T34GM137855-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10459298. Licensed CC0.

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