Welcome to TU’s STEM Bootcamp!
The summer in between high school and college couldn’t be more important — when a student enters the academic community for the first time, sometimes it’s hard to know what to expect. The University of Tulsa’s STEM Bootcamp can help!
TU’s STEM Bootcamp is an invitational summer bridge program designed for inbound, first-time freshmen pursuing a major in a STEM field. The program is focused on helping students develop their core abilities in math, chemistry, and study skills while introducing them to several STEM-related disciplines. Our goal is to ensure that participating students begin their studies at TU with the motivation, preparation and tools necessary to succeed as freshmen and beyond. The support students receive in the STEM Bootcamp will not only provide instruction, support, and college preparation but also will build confidence along with the skills and strategies necessary for success.
The course meets daily for two weeks in August, with classes and main activities scheduled between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Participation in the STEM Bootcamp is by invitation only, and all required course materials will be provided.
Benefits
The TU STEM Bootcamp offers students the chance to meet and network with faculty, advisers, and student mentors, and build essential skills for success in the academic community. Students will have the opportunity to:
- Learn and understand expectations for college level classes
- Receive one-on-one support for math and science skills
- Build effective study habits and time management skills
- Get familiar with the TU Campus
- Gain experience with the latest instructional technology
Contact Information
For more information on the TU STEM Bootcamp, contact Matt Haswell at matthew-haswell@utulsa.edu.
Detailed Program Information
Student Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Apply the concepts of unit conversion, dimensional analysis, scientific notation and significant figures to solve calculations relevant to STEM-related problems.
- Increase skills in mathematics and problem-solving to meet the expectations of TU’s freshman STEM curriculum.
- Recognize different expectations in various laboratory courses.
- Gain familiarity with core techniques and tools to acquire, store, process and analyze data.
- Understand and record good notes regarding material presented from various lecture styles and course delivery formats.
- Practice effective time management and studying techniques.
Provided Materials
- Texas Instruments TI-30X IIS Solar Scientific Calculator.
- Lab goggles
- Lab notebook (carbonless duplicate pages)
- Binders and/or notebooks
Assessments
Math Assessment
Pre-assessment: Proctored ALEKS PPL math placement assessment to be taken on the first Monday, unless already completed.
Weekly quizzes (two), in addition to daily homework assignments.
Post-assessment: Proctored ALEKS PPL math placement assessment to be taken on the last Friday of the program.
Other Course Assessment
The chemistry, biology, physics, engineering and computer science segments of the program will be assessed based on homework assignments and lab projects.