GP EXTRA: GETUP- Geoscience Education Targeting Underrepresented Populations

该项目将评估多方面途径的有效性，以增加地球科学专业的招生、参与度，并最终提高毕业率和职业安置，重点是韦伯州立大学代表不足的拉丁裔和女性群体。这些途径包括对高中生的早期推广、与当地高中合作教授的大学课程、高中和大学课程之间的暑期桥梁、社区参与学习、本科研究的早期介绍，以及通过完成学位对学生群体的支持。该项目每年将招募两组不同的学生，第一组来自当地高中授课的班级，他们接受早期干预，为大学做准备并参加夏季桥牌项目；第二组来自校园里教授的通识教育班级。然后，两组学生将遵循类似的课程路线，进行暑期研究，并接受老师和同学的指导。通过比较不同途径的保留率、学生态度的变化和职业社会化，我们将评估哪些活动和时机的组合对学生从事地球科学职业生涯最有准备。这个项目将帮助解决全国地球科学劳动力的预计短缺问题。GetUp(面向代表性不足的人群的地球科学教育)项目将开发和评估多方面方法的有效性，以增加地球科学专业的招生、留住和最终毕业率和职业安置，重点是韦伯州立大学(WSU)代表不足的拉丁裔和女性学生。尽管就读威斯康星州立大学的拉丁裔学生人数有所增加，但在STEM领域的参与滞后，尽管对合格地球科学家的需求日益增长，但许多进入WSU的学生是第一代大学生，他们在STEM领域没有家族传统。为了克服这些挑战，该项目将开发通往地学职业的途径，将早期扩展到高中、早期合作研究、学生队列、社区参与学习和多种教学方法的各种组合结合起来，以支持不同的学习方式。具体活动包括：与高中教师合作教授的地球科学同步招生课程，其中包括基于项目的学习活动并促进早期招聘；帮助过渡到大学的暑期桥梁计划；环境地球科学课程中的社区参与学习；暑期研究计划，学生围绕新开发的大盐湖野外观测站开展合作项目；以及参加结构化核心课程的学生队列，包括强调劳动力技能和职业规划的新的大二课程。学生的成功和态度将在多个方面进行评估，以评估什么组合和活动的时机最能促进代表不足群体的招募、留住和职业社会化。将对两种途径进行比较：一种是学生在高中较早进入管道，并有夏季桥牌体验；另一种是从大学课程中招募学生。结果将通过出版物、研讨会和专门的网页发布，并将向其他大学提供材料，以加强招聘和留住工作。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will assess the effectiveness of multifaceted pathways to increase recruitment, engagement, and ultimately graduation rates and career placement of Earth Science majors, focusing on underrepresented Latinx and female groups at Weber State University. The pathways integrate varying combinations of early outreach to high school students, university courses taught in collaboration with local high schools, a summer bridge between high school and university classes, community engaged learning, early introduction to undergraduate research, and support of student cohorts through degree completion. Two different cohorts of students will be recruited each year of the project, cohort 1 from classes taught in local high schools who receive early intervention in preparing for college and participate in the summer bridge program, and cohort 2 from general education classes taught on campus. Both cohorts will then follow a similar pathway of courses, conduct summer research, and receive mentoring from teachers and classmates. By comparing retention rates, changes in student attitudes, and professional socialization for the different pathways, we will assess what combinations of activities and timing best prepare students for geoscience careers. This project will help address the projected shortfall in geoscience workforce nationally.The GETUP (Geoscience Education Targeting Underrepresented Populations) project will develop and assess the effectiveness of a multifaceted approach to increase recruitment, retention, and ultimately graduation rates and career placement of geoscience majors, focusing on underrepresented Latinx and female students at Weber State University (WSU). Although the number of Latinx students attending WSU had risen, participation in STEM fields lags, and despite a growing demand for qualified geoscientists, many students entering WSU are first-generation college students who do not have family traditions in STEM fields. To overcome these challenges, this project will develop pathways to geoscience careers that integrate varying combinations of early outreach to high schools, early collaborative research, student cohorts, community engaged learning, and multiple pedagogies to support varied learning styles. Specific activities include: a Geoscience concurrent enrollment class taught in collaboration with high school teachers that incorporates project-based learning activities and promotes early recruitment; a summer bridge program that helps with a transition to college; community-engaged learning in an environmental geoscience course; a summer research program where students conduct collaborative projects centered around a newly developed Great Salt Lake field observatory; and student cohorts who take a structured sequence of core classes, including a new sophomore-level class that emphasizes work-force skills and career planning. Student successes and attitudes will be assessed at multiple points to evaluate what combinations and timing of activities best enhance recruitment, retention, and professional socialization of underrepresented groups. Two pathways will be compared: one in which students enter the pipeline earlier in high school and have a summer bridge experience; and a second where students are recruited from college courses. Results will be disseminated via publications, workshops, and a dedicated webpage, and materials will be made available to other universities for enhancing recruitment and retention efforts.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.