GP-IMPACT: Pathways into Geoscience at the University of Arizona


Karl W. Flessa, University of Arizona (PI)
Noah P. Fay, Pima Community College (Co-PI)

Short Description

We have established a recruiting, mentoring and internship program for transfer students in the University of Arizona's Geosciences major. Transfer students participate in workshops on academic and job-seeking skills, recruit at Pima Community College and get paid internships with Tucson-area geoscience-related businesses, agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Context

Despite course alignment and shared faculty, transfer students are often under-prepared in coursework, unsure of University of Arizona degree requirements, uncertain about job prospects, and concerned about financial support. Transfer students are also less likely to have occupational mobility after receiving their undergraduate degree because of their family commitments. Our GeoPathways program provides these students with workshops, faculty-mentoring, peer-mentoring and job experience. The program eases the transition to academic work at a research university and provides financial support through a paid summer internship. We expect that participation will increase retention in the major and make the students more competitive for jobs after graduation.

Goals

  1. Reduce "transfer shock" to the undergraduate B.S. program at the University of Arizona;
  2. Improve transfer students' academic skills, retention and time-to-graduation;
  3. Provide transfer students with job experience in the earth sciences;
  4. Increase the number of students transferring to the Geosciences at the University of Arizona.

Activities

  • Workshop on academic skills
    • Familiarize students with resources for academic success, study habits and access to research opportunities.
  • Workshop on job-seeking skills
    • Preparation of resumes and cover letters, interview skills
  • Leading field trips and classroom activities at Pima Community College
    • Presentation skills, becoming familiar with local geology, recruiting for University of Arizona Geosciences
  • Eight week paid internships with local earth-science agencies (e.g., USGS), businesses (hydrology, geology and environmental consulting), and non-governmental organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy)
    • Job experience with local employers

Theory of Change

We expect that our cohorts of transfer students will get mentoring and acquire academic and job skills that will improve their academic performance, reduce their time-to-graduation and increase their employment opportunities.

Instruments and Measures of Success

Higher GPAs, lower time-to-graduation, more placement with local employers than occurs with transfer students not in the program (either currently or historically).

This work is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation GeoPaths program, grant #1540596.