In 2002, CSUSM launched the Office of Training, Research and Education in the Sciences (OTRES) aimed at supporting minoritized students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree programs. While the program was successful, as CSUSM expanded, there was a recognized need to intensify student support, leading Drs. Denise Garcia and Richard Armenta to propose the evolution of OTRES into a broader entity: The Center for Research, Training, and Educational Excellence (CTREE). This proposed center was designed to provide extensive support to minoritized students throughout their educational journey. One of the main benefits of becoming a center was that CTREE was able to centralize services normally housed in multiple offices at academic institutions to offer an array of resources including comprehensive academic advising, research support and mentorship, research and ethics training, and community building among like-minded students.
On a broader scale, CTREE’s mission is to diversify the academic and nonacademic workforce by providing significant support and resources. CTREE, even in its short time as a center, has seen rapid expansion in program offerings and student outreach, growing from directly supporting 40 to over 90 students within a few years. Further, having centralized services has elevated student success by increasing student graduation rates and graduate school admissions. From 2019 to 2023, CTREE's annual funding has seen significant growth, from $827,144 to nearly $3 million, indicating the increasing trust and value seen in its programs and initiatives. Further, the Ph.D. matriculant rate increased from 69% to 95%.
CTREE houses nine federal- and state-funded student programs that provide multiple entry points during a students’ education, allowing for flexibility in student admissions. Each program is comprehensive, providing students with research opportunities, seminars, workshops, and peer mentoring. Its commitment is especially visible in its focus on students from historically and presently excluded groups. In addition to student support, CTREE plays an instrumental role in faculty development. This includes engaging with new hires to facilitate grant submissions and providing resources, training, and mentorship to faculty to ensure they can best support students from minoritized backgrounds. CTREE ensures that faculty are equipped to support minoritized students effectively. Further, CTREE has built valuable partnerships with prominent institutions such as the University of California, San Diego, San Diego State University, and Scripps Research.
CTREE represents a committed and effective approach to diversifying the academic and non-academic workforce. Through its comprehensive student programs and strong faculty engagement, CTREE stands as a beacon for inclusivity and diversity in education and research. The success of CTREE serves as a blueprint for other institutions aiming to achieve similar goals in supporting and advancing underrepresented groups. CTREE’s model can be replicated at other institutions to enhance student and faculty success nationwide.
In 2002, CSUSM launched the Office of Training, Research and Education in the Sciences (OTRES) aimed at supporting minoritized students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree programs. While the program was successful, as CSUSM expanded, there was a recognized need to intensify student support, leading Drs. Denise Garcia and Richard Armenta to propose the evolution of OTRES into a broader entity: The Center for Research, Training, and Educational Excellence (CTREE). This proposed center was designed to provide extensive support to minoritized students throughout their educational journey. One of the main benefits of becoming a center was that CTREE was able to centralize services normally housed in multiple offices at academic institutions to offer an array of resources including comprehensive academic advising, research support and mentorship, research and ethics training, and community building among like-minded students.
On a broader scale, CTREE’s mission is to diversify the academic and nonacademic workforce by providing significant support and resources. CTREE, even in its short time as a center, has seen rapid expansion in program offerings and student outreach, growing from directly supporting 40 to over 90 students within a few years. Further, having centralized services has elevated student success by increasing student graduation rates and graduate school admissions. From 2019 to 2023, CTREE's annual funding has seen significant growth, from $827,144 to nearly $3 million, indicating the increasing trust and value seen in its programs and initiatives. Further, the Ph.D. matriculant rate increased from 69% to 95%.
CTREE houses nine federal- and state-funded student programs that provide multiple entry points during a students’ education, allowing for flexibility in student admissions. Each program is comprehensive, providing students with research opportunities, seminars, workshops, and peer mentoring. Its commitment is especially visible in its focus on students from historically and presently excluded groups. In addition to student support, CTREE plays an instrumental role in faculty development. This includes engaging with new hires to facilitate grant submissions and providing resources, training, and mentorship to faculty to ensure they can best support students from minoritized backgrounds. CTREE ensures that faculty are equipped to support minoritized students effectively. Further, CTREE has built valuable partnerships with prominent institutions such as the University of California, San Diego, San Diego State University, and Scripps Research.
CTREE represents a committed and effective approach to diversifying the academic and non-academic workforce. Through its comprehensive student programs and strong faculty engagement, CTREE stands as a beacon for inclusivity and diversity in education and research. The success of CTREE serves as a blueprint for other institutions aiming to achieve similar goals in supporting and advancing underrepresented groups. CTREE’s model can be replicated at other institutions to enhance student and faculty success nationwide.
