Can cohort experiences increase interest and participation in earth and environmental sciences at an urban undergraduate institution?

太平洋大学地球与环境科学系和学生生活办公室正在合作开发一个地球与环境生活和学习住宅社区和支持课程。这个居住学习社区（RLC）将专注于传统课堂界限之外的学习。RLC通常是围绕小的，关系驱动的单位，培养学生，教师和机构之间的社区意识。REELL社区的基本目标是提高对地球科学的兴趣和参与以及对环境问题的认识。REELL社区的本科生居民每学年将开展五项核心活动，包括：（1）与邻近大学的地球与环境项目进行校际交流（CSU奇科）;（2）一个提案驱动的研究项目;（3）一个特邀演讲者系列;（4）外展到当地，少数民族服务的K-12学校和狡猾的公园环境教育中心;（5）传播项目成果和材料。预计该项目将导致建立一个自我维持的地球和环境资源中心，这将加强研究和教育基础设施，补充太平洋的长期目标，并产生有助于发展太平洋以外的其他地球和环境资源中心的成果和材料。

The University of the Pacific (PACIFIC) Department of Earth and Environmental Science and Office of Student Life are collaborating to develop a Residence for Earth and Environmental Living and Learning (REELL) community and supporting curriculum. This residential learning community (RLC) will focus on learning outside the traditional classroom boundaries. RLCs are commonly developed around small, relationship-driven units that foster a sense of community between students, faculty, and the institution. The fundamental goal of the REELL community is to increase interest and participation in the geosciences and awareness of environmental issues. Undergraduate residents of the REELL community will conduct five core activities each academic year, including: (1) an inter-campus exchange with a neighboring university with an Earth and Environmental program (CSU Chico); (2) a proposal-driven research project; (3) a guest speaker series; (4) outreach to local, minority-serving K-12 schools and the Sly Park Environmental Education Center; and (5) the dissemination of project results and materials. This project is expected to lead to the establishment of a self-sustaining RLC that will enhance the research and education infrastructure and complement PACIFIC's long-term goals and generate results and materials that will assist in the development of other Earth and Environmental RLCs beyond PACIFIC.