Ivan Ramos-Medina, assistant professor of math at Lone Star College-University Park, believes GradUP provides a clear perspective for faculty, staff, and administrators. The primary focus at LSC-University Park is student success. 

"GradUP designs the delivery of the teaching and learning process so that it meets and exceeds students' needs," said Ramos-Medina. "With this design, faculty can employ specific tools and skills necessary for students to thrive and succeed in their classes. It also prepares them for whatever comes next in their lives, including graduation and employment, or graduation and transfer to a university. In either case, graduation from LSC-University Park comes with pride, confidence, and a measure of optimism that prepares them for the next stage of their lives."

The focus of GradUP comes naturally to Ramos-Medina because he has always been student-focused. Ramos-Medina became a professor due to his desire to prepare students for the realities of life. Whatever path students choose, he wants them to exude confidence. He desires that students are brave enough to make mistakes and open to learning new tasks and skills.

"Faculty members like professor Ramos-Medina are particularly encouraging for their students," said LSC-University Park President Dr. Shah Ardalan. "He will do anything in his power to provide the necessary help and motivation to ensure they succeed, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In providing encouragement and motivation, our faculty helped raise our graduation rate more than 14 percent in the first year of our goal.”

Ramos-Medina tells his students he is available to help them, shares all the materials they require to pass the class, and shows them how to use different processes to solve exercises. He creates videos of his classes and some of the students are live on the videos. During the class, he encourages them to participate and ask questions. He posts all the videos on D2L and the students can revisit them as many times as they want. All the sections from the classes are covered in the daily videos. He also watches the videos to self-evaluate his performance during the classes to see where there is room to improve.

"I am currently taking professor Ramos-Medina for statistics, and as of now, I really enjoy taking math online. I'm actually learning," said LSC-University Park student Evelin Mendez Ureta. "Initially, I was terrified that it was going to be a challenge, but professor Ramos-Medina makes it a great experience! He goes out of his way to make sure we understand a concept by explaining it thoroughly in our zoom meetings or through email." ?

Ramos-Medina receives encouragement from both his present and former students. It provides him with the understanding that how he teaches is working.

"I feel proud when I can see in their eyes that they know they are important to us," said Ramos-Medina. "When I receive emails telling me they will be staying in class and finishing because of the motivational words of their professors, I'm delighted. And, I'm especially proud when I see a student with no hope show renewed interest and go on and pass the class. This unexpected success is when I know they are owners of GradUP; they are living GradUP."