STRATEGIES IN RECRUITING AND RETAINING GEOLOGY MAJORS AT RADFORD UNIVERSITY, VIRGINIA

The Geology Department of Radford University, a state university of 10,000 students in southwest Virginia, faces numerous challenges in recruiting and retaining geology majors. The department has 5 full-time faculty members with approximately 60 undergraduate majors. Despite its excellent geologic location, the campus is far from a large population center, and the university has decided not to expand its enrollment despite budgetary constraints. In Virginia, many high school students take Earth Science in 9^th grade, meaning very few freshmen come to RU as geology majors. Other sources of majors are “major switchers” – students who decide to switch to geology after taking an introductory course, and transfer students primarily from Virginia community colleges.

In 2012, a study was undertaken of the incoming class for that academic year. Of the 8 new geology major freshmen, half encountered academic difficulties and left RU in their first year. However, the 12 of the 14 transfer students were in good academic standing after the first year,

To boost enrollments, the Geology Department takes a multi-pronged approach. Community outreach takes the form of “Science Day” for elementary school children. 9^th graders learn earth science with the aid of the Geology of Virginia CD website. However, the main focus is on attracting transfer students. The Geology Department has embarked on a program of building relationships with community college faculty. This includes visits to community colleges, course equivalency agreements, and field trip activities. A selling point is the small size of the department and the opportunity to do research with faculty members, leading to presentations at GSA and AEG. Near the beginning of the academic year, the department holds a special field trip for new students only, including freshmen and transfers. Students not only learn about the geology of the area, they get to know professors and each other, and the experience serves to bring freshmen into the social fabric of the department.