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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Academic Bridge Program at The University of |
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Texas at Dallas has benefited hundreds of students over the past 15 |
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years; and |
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WHEREAS, A summer scholarship initiative, ABP was |
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established in 2000 by Dr. George Fair, dean of the School of |
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Interdisciplinary Studies, to attract, support, and retain |
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promising graduates of Dallas-area urban high schools who had not |
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completed the full university-track curriculum; the program |
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assists select incoming freshmen with the transition from high |
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school through advising, mentoring, and tutoring; it annually |
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enrolls about 160 young men and women, most of whom are |
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first-generation college students; and |
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WHEREAS, Participants in ABP also gain experience in the |
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social aspects of college life by engaging in cultural awareness |
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activities and community service projects; over the years, many of |
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the program's alumni have gone on to become campus leaders and have |
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volunteered at their old high schools to recruit prospective ABP |
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students; and |
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WHEREAS, The program has achieved impressive results; |
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approximately 90 percent of ABP students return to the university |
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as sophomores, and the 70 percent graduation rate of its |
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participants is significantly higher than state and national |
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averages; moreover, some 30 percent of ABP alumni are enrolled in |
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graduate school, and 20 percent have already completed advanced |
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degrees; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Academic Bridge Program has |
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helped young Texans build a strong foundation for success in higher |
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education, and in so doing, it has played an important role in |
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preparing them for the many challenges and opportunities that lie |
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ahead; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Academic Bridge Program at The |
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University of Texas at Dallas for its contributions and extend to |
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all those associated with the program sincere best wishes for the |
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future. |