Geoscience at Community Colleges: Availability of Programs and Geoscience Student Pathways Leila M. Gonzales Christopher M. Keane Heather R. Houlton American Geosciences Institute

U.S. Higher Education Fall Enrollments

U.S. Higher Education Degrees Conferred

A Source of Untapped Talent

2-year to 4-year Student Transitions

A Source of Untapped Talent

Geoscience 2-year Deparments/Programs

Geoscience Faculty Demographics

National Geoscience Exit Survey Coverage –Academic Pathway of Geoscience Students High school -> Community College -> University –Demographics – diversity, citizenship –Financing of Education –Decision Points –Field and Research Experiences, Internships –Career and Educational Plans (industry, salary, job search methods) Pilot 1 – completed 2011

Geoscience Faculty Demographics

National Geoscience Exit Survey Pilot 2 – Spring 2012 –Includes ability for departments to add custom questions (up to 5). –Question / Answer bank Peer departments can quickly compare results Development of longitudinal survey Full roll-out in 2012 Future plans include customization for 2- year departments

Expanding Coverage of Community College Faculty Directory of Geoscience Departments : 287 active 2-year programs/colleges with geoscience faculty 2011: 421 active 2-year programs/colleges with geoscience faculty ~1,000 faculty at 2-year US programs

Acknowledgements Heather Macdonald, interns/work study students from College of William & Mary –Did majority of data collection activities to help expand DGD coverage of 2-year geoscience faculty Abi Howe, AGI –Adding data into DGD and following up with community college geoscience faculty