IT TAKES A COMMUNITY: THE CRITICAL ROLE OF 2YR FACULTY IN EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE WORKFORCE PREPARATION

The Higher Education Working Group (HEWG) of the NASA Science Mission Directorate Education and Public Outreach Forum conducted a survey of Earth and space science faculty serving and 2YR and community colleges in September 2012. The aim of the survey was to collect data about 2YR college teaching specific to NASA-related science domains that could not be construed from national survey data available through the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES). The purpose of the study was to inform the work of the NASA Science Mission Directorate Education and Public Outreach Forum, tasked with making recommendations to best achieve NASA's strategic objectives with respect to supporting the linked needs of STEM education support and STEM workforce development. Because the majority of our nation's diverse students and U.S. science teachers attend 2YR colleges for at least part of their education, the Working Group wanted to evaluate the opportunities and challenges associated with making outreach to 2YR college faculty a priority. The study employed an expedient methodology, contacting members of space and Earth science organizations catering specifically to 2YR faculty. The survey had a response rate of 57%, with a total of 183 respondents. We present results of the survey here, including demographics, teaching responsibilities, and what kinds of professional support 2YR faculty say they most need from the broader EPO community. We also include 2YR faculty feedback and results from a face-to-face validation study focus group held in August 2013.