Improving a nacme class with an emphasis on detailed time management

In fall 2003, the Fulton School of Engineering began its first National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) class of scholars as part of a five-year block grant from NACME. The third class of freshmen began their studies in fall 2005. A major change in the program began in January 2005 in the second semester of the second NACME class and the fourth semester of the first NACME class. The change is an emphasis on a detailed time management schedule and the activities that go with it using Donna Johnson's 4.0 Plan. The presentation of the process, the student assignments, the students' reactions, and the results of a year of this program will be discussed. The success of the program is very dependent on the commitment of the student to the 4.0 Plan. Dramatic results have occurred with students who were resolved to raise their GPA. Lessons learned and an evaluation of the program will also be discussed in this paper.