HR: 11:20h
AN: ED22A-05    [Abstracts]
TI: The Non-traditional Student, a new Geoscience Resource
AU: * Ferrell, R
EM: rferrell@lsu.edu
AF: Louisiana State University, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 United States
AU: Anderson, L
EM: landerson@geol.lsu.edu
AF: Louisiana State University, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 United States
AU: Bart, P
EM: pbart@geol.lsu.edu
AF: Louisiana State University, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 United States
AU: Lorenzo, J M
EM: juan@geol.lsu.edu
AF: Louisiana State University, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 United States
AU: Tomkin, J
EM: tomkin@geol.lsu.edu
AF: Louisiana State University, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 United States
AB: The LSU GAEMP (Geoscience Alliance to Enhance Minority Participation) program targets non-traditional students, those without an undergraduate degree in geoscience, in its efforts to attract African American and Hispanic students from minority serving institutions (MSIs) to pursue careers in geology and geophysics. Faculty collaborators at nine MSIs (seven HBCUs and two HSIs) work closely with LSU faculty to advertise the program and to select student participants. The enthusiastic cooperation of the MSI Professors is crucial to success. The ideal student is a junior-level, high academic achiever with a major in one of the basic sciences, mathematics, engineering or computer science. A special summer course uses a focus on research to introduce basic geoscience concepts. Students are encouraged to design a cooperative research project to complete during their last year at their home institution and to apply for GAEMP graduate fellowships leading directly to an M.S. or Ph.D. in Geoscience. There are several reasons for the emphasis on these students 1. They have special knowledge and skills to use in graduate programs in geophysics, geochemistry, geobiology, etc. 2. Third-year students have demonstrated their ability to succeed in the academic world and are ready to select a graduate program that will enhance their employment prospects. 3. The MSIs, especially some of the physics programs at the collaborating HBCUs, provide well-trained, highly motivated graduates who have compiled excellent records in highly ranked graduate programs. This pool of talent is not available in the geosciences because most MSIs do not have geoscience degree programs. 4. This group provides a unique niche for focus as there are many programs concentrating on K-12 students and the recruitment of traditional majors. In the first year of GAEMP, 12 students participated in the summer program, six elected to pursue research projects and expressed interest in applying for the fellowships, and one student entered the graduate program early. The paucity of information regarding career opportunities and rewards in geoscience is one of the major obstacles encountered. GAEMP is sponsored by a 5-year NSF award through the OEDG program
UR: http://www.geol.lsu.edu/GAEMP
DE: 6605 Education
DE: 6630 Workforce
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting