Director of Undergraduate Studies
Dr. Rizk's Contribution to Undergraduate Student Recruiting and Retention Efforts
| Name of Effort | Year | The Approach | Target/Tasks | Outcome | Hours Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Informatics | 2026 | Providing undergraduate students with hands-on exposure to real-world healthcare data systems and technologies | Undergraduate Students |
Bridging the gap between academic theory and industry practice Developing globally aware, ethically grounded computing professionals |
4 |
| UH AI Hackathon | 2026 | The UH AI Hackathon is a high-intensity competition where teams race against the clock to solve real-world data problems and build powerful AI solutions. Participants push beyond theory, creating models that perform under pressure and stand out. | Undergraduate Students |
Compete for recognition, prizes, and a portfolio-worthy project—while proving students’ skills against some of the most driven builders at UH. |
4 |
| Codepathways | 2024-2026 |
Organized in collaboration with Cougerettes(ACM org). The Computer Science Mentorship Program has demonstrated measurable success in improving student confidence, engagement, and retention through structured peer mentorship between upperclassmen (mentors) and underclassmen (mentees). |
Undergraduate Students |
1. Improve first- and second-year retention rates 2. Increase internship and career placement outcomes 3. Build a structured mentorship culture within the department 4. Strengthen industry engagement and student networking |
4 |
| AI & Data Science Showcase | 2022-2026 | Organized in collaboration with the HPE Data Science Institute to recognize the accomplishments and commitments of outstanding young researchers. | Undergraduate Students | The showcase aimed at educating students on the research process and research-related academic resources, while also providing them a channel of peer support and colloquia for a future in data analytics. | 4 |
| ICPC Regional | 2016-2026 | As a site director, Organize and manage a regional competition at UH | Undergraduate Students | Students can participate in competitive coding competitions and display the outcome on their resume | 1 |
|
IDNS 3360 Operating systems SEP Workshop |
2026 | Scholar Enrichment Program (SEP) provides supplemental academic support | Students work practice problems 3 hours a week (MWF 1 hour sessions or TuTh 1.5 hour sessions) | Students enrolled in Operating Systems | 3 |
|
IDNS 3320 Algorithms & Data Structures SEP Workshop |
2025-2026 | Scholar Enrichment Program (SEP) provides supplemental academic support | Students work practice problems 3 hours a week (MWF 1 hour sessions or TuTh 1.5 hour sessions) | Students enrolled in Algorithms and Data Structures | 3 |
IDNS 2436 Data Structures SEP Workshop |
2022-2026 | Scholar Enrichment Program (SEP) provides supplemental academic support | Students work practice problems 3 hours a week (MWF 1 hour sessions or TuTh 1.5 hour sessions) | Students enrolled in Data Structures | 3 |
| Retention Strategies for Reboot Scholars at University of Houston (RS)2@UH - One on One Mentoring | 2023 |
Creating a student-led, student-designed peer mentoring program with two sub-components:
|
Undergrduate Students | A more experienced, senior student takes a junior colleague under their wing, sharing their expertise to help them develop skills and gradute on time. | 5 |
| Scholar Excellence in Research | 2022 | The mission of the computer science director of undergraduate studies is to engage students in the research process and facilitate the discovery of new knowledge through collaboration | Undergraduate Students | Educate undergraduates about available research-related academic resources | 5 |
| Insights into Teaching and learning | 2022 | Explore new tools and emerging technologies, approaches, and teaching strategies to facilitate vibrant, challenging, and reflective learning experiences at the Computer Science Department. | Share Knowledge and teaching practices | Faculty discussions and teaching enhancement methods | 2 |
| Undergraduate Empowerment Booster @ Computer Science | 2022 | Diversity, equity, and inclusion are part of our core values, shape our culture and drive our social life. Undergrduate's empowerment may be defined as including accepting undergraduates' viewpoints, or trying to seek them, raising the status of undergraduate through education, awareness, literacy, and training. | Offering guidance to schools on how to promote undergraduate’s empowerment in the workplace and community through service learning. | Undergraduate mentors mentor middle and high school students. The focus is on social responsibility and teamwork | 3 |
| AI Triangle | 2020 | The AI Triangle encompasses three key components aimed at fostering a comprehensive understanding and utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) within educational contexts | By fostering a collaborative environment between parents and children with a shared understanding of AI, this approach facilitates meaningful dialogue and support for AI education both at home and in academic settings | 400+ students | 1 |
| CoogTube | 2020 | Offers another space for students to visualize their way into learning | Self-assessing or reflecting on their strengths, or challenges, recording their thoughts instead of writing offers a space free of red pen marks | 400+ students | 1 |
| Consulting Clinic | 2020 | Consulting Clinic (CSCC) is a practicum program in which second and third year STEM students, under the direct supervision of Dr. Rizk, assist Houston-area entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations | Provide assistance in implementing the technological solution as an end-product. | 130 students | 5 |
| Joint Program with the Executive Services Corps – Houston | 2020 | The program from the UofH's perspective consists of offerings from the "Computer Sciences" class whereby students form teams to execute a project to affect a solution that may take on various facets of IT solutions for the Houston area's NonProfit community. | Build strong Relationships between computer science students and the Houston Community | 39 students in a group of 3. each group helps at least two businesses per semester | 7 |
| Coding with Digital Storytelling (SHECODES) | 2020 | Mentoring undergraduate computer science students to mentor middle and high school students from marginalized communities and multicultural backgrounds in the Houston area. | Empower students through coding using digital story telling | 20 undergraduates to mentor and 60 middle and high school students | 6 |
| Undergraduate Retention Program through coding | 2019 | Inviting companies to educate and to offer internship to Undergraduates in STEM | Inviting companies to educate and to offer internship to Undergraduates in STEM Computer science undergraduates engaged with regular learning focus group | Educate at least 20 undergraduates in STEM per year | 4 |
| Self and Peer assessment | 2019 | Conducting assessment and including expected outcome metrics and satisfaction | Students gaining more confidence. The positive impact on their grade is amazing | Around 2753 students so far | 3 |
| TA/Mentor Training | 2019 | Create a positive learning environment | Provides explanation Of UH Policy and resources | 100 students | 4 |
| Honors Thesis | 2018 | Inviting Honors college employee to explain the process and the requirements of the Honors college and encourage undergraduates to join. | Our first Honors Thesis enrolled in Spring 2018. so far, we have 3 (one under my supervision) | 5 students per year | 2 |
| Peer Mentoring Program | 2017 | Implemented a system to recruit assign and assess mentorship | The outcome is amazing, every semester we have 20+ volunteering students to help levels: 1xxx , 2xxxx | Expand to upper-level courses: 3xxx and 4xxxx | 10 |
| B.S. / M. S. | 2016 | Launching promotional campaigns (posters) to promote the sub-plan, emailing high performing students from all courses, targeting all CS students with high GPA through special email invitation | Implemented as a sub- plan, since 2016 38 accepted students. | 10 students per year | 6 |
| Senior Research Project | 2016 | Surveying professors about undergrad research and motivate them to involve undergraduates. Maintain the website for research opportunities by sending regular emails to faculty requesting a one slide research announcement. | The number of enrolled undergraduates for the first time starts to grow, currently there is 3 (2 of them under my supervision) | 5 students per year | 2 |
| Undergraduate Research (PURS, SURF, REU): | 2016 | Promote student’s involvement through organizing regular seminars and by Inviting professors for research explanation | Computer science has no presence in REU program, Honors Thesis and senior projects in 2015, after my recruiting efforts the numbers start increasing | 10 students per year and promote student’s involvement in other REUs |