1. Building Strong Partnerships to Support 2YC Geoscience Student Success

2. Current Partners/Project Leaders
Wake Tech Community College (Wake Tech)
Gretchen Miller
Adrianne Leinbach
Stephanie Rollins
Sara Rutzky
North Carolina State University (NC State)
John Fountain
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS)
Lindsay Zanno

3. What is the Problem we are Addressing?
Shortage of students pursuing geoscience
Lack of diversity in geoscience workforce

4. Original Collaboration
National Science Foundation (NSF) Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences (OEDG) grant: Diversity in the Geosciences, Making a Pathway to Success
Wake Tech students participated in paid summer research internships at NC State
Students presented their research projects at a poster session at the end of the summer
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number GEO   Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

5. Impacts of Original Project
Accomplishments from
49 students completed at least one research project
13 students completed at least one additional research project in following year(s) and acted as mentor to new students
76% of participants fell into at least one of these diversity categories:
-Racial/Ethnic Minority Female
-Military Veteran -LGBT
Many also first generation and/or non-traditional students
Former participants have been graduating from 4YCs with geoscience degrees
Several now employed in geoscience or in graduate school

6. New GEOPATHS-EXTRA Project
Engaging Diverse Two-Year College Geoscience Students: Expanding Opportunities Through Undergraduate Research and Mentoring (Start date: October 1, 2016)
In addition to research projects at NC State, some students participate in field research experiences with NCMNS paleontologists
Some students also present research posters at professional meetings
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Numbers , , and   Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

7. Additional Mentoring
Students participate in structured professional socialization and outreach activities with additional collaborators
Wake County Public School System
High school career fairs
Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG)
Carolinas Chapter meetings and field trips
Wake Tech Student Chapter of AEG
Also NCMNS and Wake Tech STEM/career events

8. Summer 2017 Results
8 Wake Tech students completed research projects at NC State

10. Summer 2017 Results (continued)
2 Wake Tech students completed field research in New Mexico with NCMNS paleontology team

11. Fall 2017 Activities
4 students attended national Geological Society of America (GSA) meeting in Seattle, WA, and presented their posters at undergraduate research session we chaired

13. Fall 2017 Activities (continued)
Students are making presentations about their research experiences to Introductory Geology classes at Wake Tech
Students taking leadership roles in Wake Tech Student AEG Chapter

14. Wrap Up: Keys to Success
Recruit students in introductory geoscience courses
Maintain communication with interested students
Mentor students on multiple levels
Develop local institutional partnerships
Provide quality research experiences for students
Support students financially during research experience
Provide opportunities for outreach and professional socialization
Assist students through transfer process

15. Other Possible North Carolina Collaborations?
College Foundation of North Carolina map of colleges and universities in state: