OUTCOMES AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM A DECADE OF NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION-SUPPORTED GEOSCIENCE OUTREACH AND RECRUITING EFFORTS AT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, BAKERSFIELD

Beginning in the early 2000s, the Department of Geological Sciences at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) embarked on a comprehensive outreach and recruiting effort. CSUB is located in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California, a fast-growing region characterized by low educational attainment, low income, and a large population from groups underrepresented in the sciences. The vast majority of the student body comes from this region and reflects its demographics. Of the 9,230 students enrolled in fall 2015, 59% were from underrepresented groups, with Hispanics at 51% the largest group.

Historically, the department focused on its small, high quality BS and MS Geology programs with close student-faculty interactions and emphasis on student research. However, faculty saw the need to increase enrollment to strengthen the department and participated workshops of the Building Strong Geoscience Departments program. Grants from the NSF Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences (OEDG) program supported (1) summer research participation programs for teachers and high school students (GEO 1108494 awarded 2003), (2) development of K-12 curricula based on the geology of the region (GEO 0914721 awarded 2009), and (3) dual-credit honors geology classes at high schools (GEO 0303324 awarded 2011). Summer programs and dual-credit classes continue beyond NSF support, sustained by industry donations, and the geology curricula are widely used in area schools.

Enrollment has increased by a factor of four over the last decade, from 27 undergraduate and 6 graduate majors in Fall 2007 to 100 and 34, respectively, in Fall 2015. Students are successfully completing the program. In 2014/2015, the department awarded 35 degrees, up from five in 2003/2004, rivaling much larger campuses. Demographics of the department’s students and graduates closely reflect that of the overall university. The momentum from the OEDG grants contributed to making the department competitive for larger NSF programs. It just began a Phase II award from the HRD Centers for Research Excellence in Science and Technology program.

Recruiting success has created new challenges as number of faculty and space have not grown with enrollment. Department faculty are stretched by demands from teaching, research, outreach, and grants.