GeoPaths Projects: Examples
The National Science Foundation's Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Pathways into Geoscience (IUSE: GEOPATHS) program exists to "address the current needs and opportunities related to undergraduate education within the geosciences community. The primary goal of the IUSE: GEOPATHS funding opportunity is to increase the number of undergraduate students interested in pursuing undergraduate degrees and/or post-graduate degrees in geoscience through the design and testing of novel approaches for engaging students in authentic, career-relevant experiences in geoscience. In order to broaden participation in the geosciences, engaging undergraduate students from traditionally underrepresented groups or from non-geoscience degree programs is a priority. The IUSE: GEOPATHS solicitation features two funding Tracks: (1) Engaging students in the geosciences through extra-curricular experiences and training activities (GEOPATHS-EXTRA), and (2) Improving pathways into the geosciences through institutional collaborations and transfer (GEOPATHS-IMPACT)."
The projects described on the following pages were all funded through the IUSE GeoPaths program, and each has a strong component supporting 2YC-4YCU transfer. We have profiled each of these projects to highlight some promising strategies for supporting transfer.
GeoPaths-Impact
- Improving Geoscience Education Pathways through Engaging Scientific and Career Experiences
University of Rhode Island; Community College of Rhode Island - Freshman Year to Geoscience Career
Queens College CUNY; LaGuardia Community College; Queensborough Community College - Engagement of Students and Faculty at Community Colleges to Enhance Recruitment to 4-Year Geoscience Programs
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College, Roane State Community College, Volunteer State Community College
GeoPaths-Extra
- Supporting the Academic and Social Integration of Incoming Transfer Students
Fort Lewis College - Engaging and Retaining Students in the Geosciences at Two-year Colleges (2YC) Through Undergraduate Research
Austin Community College; University of Texas at Austin; Texas A&M University - Geoscience Educational Opportunities and Career Oriented Research Experiences
Suffolk County Community College - Geo-Launchpad: Preparing Colorado Community College Students for Geoscience-Focused Careers
Front Range Community College; UNAVCO - Engaging Diverse Two-Year College Geoscience Students: Expanding Opportunities Through Undergraduate Research and Mentoring
Wake Tech Community College; North Carolina State University; North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - Plugging the Leaky Geoscience Pipeline: Bridging the Transition from Community College to University in Oregon
Linn-Benton Community College; Oregon State University