Advocating for Earth and Space Sciences: Community Conversation about Dual Credit and Concurrent Enrollments as Valued Pathways

Round Table Discussion

Leaders

Wendi J. W. Williams, South Texas College
Missy Holzer, National Earth Science Teachers Association
Suzanne Traub-Metlay, Western Governors University

Advocating for geoscience education involves being aware of issues affecting K-Graduate Earth Sciences instruction and, in a collaborative effort, speaking up to safeguard or advance learner access to accurate, rigorous, and meaningful teaching. The National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) Advocacy Committee is currently engaged in reviewing and updating association position statements (please visit https://nagt.org/nagt/policy/index.html). Offering rigorous higher education Earth and Space Science courses to highly qualified high school students addresses critical needs in both geoscience education and future workforce demands. Members of the NAGT in collaboration with the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) advise continuing or establishing strong collaborations between high schools and postsecondary institutions around concurrent and dual credit enrollment Earth and Space Science courses. Through a joint Position Statement released 2015, we advocate for more formal bridging of high school to higher education. This position statement is now being updated and we seek conversation regarding in progress revisions for a new 5-year cycle. Come talk with colleagues and consider how you can support students, educators, and schools who care about robust learning in geosciences. Advocacy is a community need.