HR: 1330h
AN: ED12A-0126    [PDF]
TI: Recruiting Quality Majors: New York High School Students Experience the Geology of Southern Utah
AU: * Colberg, M R
EM: colberg@suu.edu
AF: Southern Utah University, 351 W Center Street SC 309, Cedar City, UT 84720 United States
AU: Eves, R L
EM: eves@suu.edu
AF: Southern Utah University, 351 W Center Street SC 309, Cedar City, UT 84720 United States
AU: Lohrengel, C F
EM: lohrengel@suu.edu
AF: Southern Utah University, 351 W Center Street SC 309, Cedar City, UT 84720 United States
AB: Southern Utah University (SUU), Division of Geosciences, is faced with seriously increased competition for students within its traditional recruiting area, the direct result of nearby two-year institutions expanding their missions to four-year roles. Because of this increased competition, it is obvious that students must be recruited from new source areas. Research indicates that New York State has one of the most outstanding high school Earth Science programs in the United States, and it became a target area for recruiting quality students to the SUU geoscience program. Located in the Colorado Plateau to Basin and Range transition zone, SUU is situated in one of the most spectacular and diverse geologic regions in the world. SUU is surrounded by classic southwestern geologic exposures and extensive public lands. In order to use this resource to its maximum advantage, a one-week field program was arranged that would accommodate a maximum of 30 students from New York high schools. The target audience is comprised of juniors and seniors who have participated in an Earth science course, and have expressed an interest in a geoscience career. The field program provides students with a positive learning experience, and stresses basic geologic concepts while utilizing the stunning regional geology of southern Utah as an outdoor classroom. Students receive transferable college credit for participation. To make contact with potential participants, a letter was sent to high school principals requesting the name(s) of the earth sciences teacher(s) in the school. The response was limited (apparently principals do not forward materials to faculty members). However, there was sufficient response to conduct a field experience during late July, 2003. This initial offering was extremely successful and received positive reviews from all participants. The final results of this pilot offering are not yet known, but we are convinced that enrollment of students into SUU's program will result from an intense, and consistent, follow-up with the participants, until they are ready to enter university.
DE: 6319 Institutions
DE: 6329 Project evaluation
DE: 6600 PUBLIC ISSUES
DE: 6605 Education
DE: 6699 General or miscellaneous
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting