Building Strong Geoscience Departments
These pages are a response to the pressure that departments are facing as a result of shrinking budgets, and include case studies of geoscience departments at the University of Florida and at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Collections and Case Studies
These examples show what geoscience departments across the country are doing.
Curricula and Programs
Curricula and programs form the core of a department; developing and reviewing curricula and programs are some of the most important activities a department undertakes. While every department is unique, we can learn a lot from each other's successes, and from our colleagues in other STEM disciplines.
Defining Strong Departments
Many researchers have studied what makes a department "strong." Read about their findings.
Future of Geoscience
The fields of science are constantly changing, in response to societal needs and scientists' curiosity. These changes have profound implications for future workforce needs and therefore for today's curricula and programs.
Heads and Chairs
Department Heads and Chairs are expected to lead their departments through strategic planning processes, recruit and retain top-notch faculty, and advocate for their departments in a world of finite resources. Learn successful strategies for doing all of that.
Making a Case for Your Department
When budgets are tight, college and university administrators may wonder whether geoscience departments are really essential. Here are some suggestions for making it clear that your department is indispensable.
Professional Preparation
To prepare your students for their future careers, you'll want to know what those careers are most likely to be and what knowledge, skills, and attributes those careers will require.
Program Assessment and Review
With so many demands on your time and energy, you want to be sure that the time and energy you put into your program is achieving your departmental goals. Assess your program elements, so that you can maximize the return on your investments.
Student Recruitment
Recruiting a critical mass of high quality students is essential to building a successful geoscience program. These pages present tried-and-true strategies for doing that, along with examples of how various departments have implemented those strategies.
Workshops and Meeting Sessions
Find out about workshops and conference sessions focusing on strengthening geoscience departments and ensuring the future of quality geoscience education at colleges and universities.
About this Project
Building Strong Geoscience Departments is a project focused on helping geoscience departments adapt and prosper in a changing and challenging environment. Find out about how it all started, contribute to the project, or join our email list discussions.
Geodepartments Email List
Members receive announcements about relevant workshops and events at professional society meetings, as well as discuss issues that are important to the community. Join the email list or browse the list archives to see the kinds of topics that have been discussed in the past.
