COMMUNITY COLLEGE GEOSCIENCE FACULTY AS CHANGE AGENTS

The primary goal of this SAGE 2YC project is to transform geoscience education in two-year colleges (2YCs) through an innovative program that focuses on 2YC geoscience faculty as “Change Agents” (CAs). Twenty-four full-time and part-time faculty are implementing high-impact, evidence-based instructional and co-curricular practices that support the academic success of all students, facilitate students’ professional pathways into geoscience careers, and broaden participation. The faculty come from a diverse group of 2YCs including high and low enrollment schools across the US; many of the institutions are MSIs.

The CAs are divided into ten geographical teams, some of which are multi-institutional while others have faculty from one or more campuses at one institution. The teams span multiple disciplines including marine science, physical geography, and geology. The CAs will work individually as well as with their teammates, colleagues, and administrators from their institutions, to make instructional and programmatic changes. Throughout the four-year duration of the project, CAs will receive ongoing support via annual workshops, virtual follow-on activities (e.g. journal clubs, book discussion groups, implementation groups), as well as development activities and on-going mentoring from the project leadership team. The SAGE 2YC website is another important support (http://serc.carleton.edu/sage2yc/index.html). The project is supported by a robust research and evaluation team as well as an advisory board.

The CA teams will expand the project impact to other 2YCs and 4YCUs in their region via annual one-day workshops and follow-on activities. The faculty CAs will become important hubs of a sustainable national network of 2YC leaders who catalyze change at multiple levels from courses to institutions in their local regions and within the community of practice.

The project provides many ways for others to participate including virtual professional development opportunities, regional workshops hosted by current teams, and events at professional meetings in 2017 and 2018. We will also seek a new cohort of CA teams in 2017.