CAN A DUAL-ENROLLMENT PROGRAM RECRUIT MAJORS FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT?

Since 2005, the SUNY Oneonta Earth Science Outreach Program (ESOP) has granted college credit for advanced geoscience courses to over 400 high school students from 10 school districts. The program is a direct response to the College Board’s decision to shelve plans for an Advanced Placement course in geology. Preliminary data indicate that nearly 20% of students that participate in ESOP go on to major in one of the geosciences in college. Approximately 10% of the current geoscience majors at SUNY Oneonta were ESOP students. Other students have gone on to a diverse array of colleges. Can a program like ESOP recruit majors for your department?

Through a Geoscience Education (GeoEd) grant from the National Science Foundation, SUNY Oneonta is seeking to expand the availability of ESOP-like programs by helping other colleges and universities develop and implement dual-credit programs. In this manner, we hope to address the meager “flow” in the geoscience workforce pipeline. Our goals include helping to establish several such programs and connecting participating teachers in a virtual professional community. We will gladly assist any department that wishes to explore creation of an ESOP-like program at their institution. We will provide ongoing support as consultants (at no cost to your college) as new programs are developed and implemented. Potential benefits for departments that operate such programs include recruiting majors, excellent public relations with school districts, a new outlet for “broader impacts” activities and positive press for your campus.

Additional information regarding SUNY Oneonta’s Earth Science Outreach Program for dual credit courses is available at http://employees.oneonta.edu/ebertjr/ESOP.htm.