T247 Supporting Geoscience Student Transfer Between Institutions and Transitions into the Workforce: Pathways for Success (Posters)

Tuesday, 27 September 2016
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall E/F

BROADENING AND IMPROVING TRANSFER PATHWAYS FOR GEOSCIENCE MAJORS AT A LARGE COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITY

Paper number: T247-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

The mismatch between the high demand for geoscience-trained employees and projections for geoscience graduates over the next decade is well documented. The focus of the NSF GP-EXTRA grant TU GEO Careers (Towson University Geoscience Educational Opportunities for Careers) is to meet this demand for geoscience while conducting research on the effectiveness of recruiting and retention methods.

The Geosciences program at TU is a small program (6 full-time faculty) in a large comprehensive university that offers 2 degrees: Geology and Earth-Space Science (for secondary education) and strongly supports the Geology track of Environmental Science. Two-thirds of current majors and of recent Geology graduates transferred to TU, mostly from community colleges in Maryland. One major emphasis of TU GEO Careers is to broaden and improve transfer pathways through development of articulation agreements and building strong connections with 2YC faculty. Results of these efforts will be reported along with survey data about student motivations and stumbling blocks for degree completion. Where possible, similarities and differences between 'native' students and transfer students will be explored. Initial results indicate that personal interest, cost of attendance, and media/books were the most important motivating factors for becoming a geosciences major. Continuing majors identified course content, interaction with other students, and faculty support and advising as important to continuing their degree progress while the most commonly identified stumbling block was course availability.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 48, No. 7

doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-285296

© Copyright 2016 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.