EARTH HORIZONS: A TSU-VANDERBILT PARTNERSHIP BUILDING A PATHWAY TO BROADEN PARTICIPATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL AND THE GEOSCIENCE WORKFORCE

Minority groups continue to be underrepresented in the geosciences. In order to help close this persistent diversity gap, we are building a partnership between Tennessee State University (TSU), Vanderbilt University (VU), government agencies, and local nonprofits with the goal of strengthening pathways for minority students entering geoscience careers and graduate programs. HBCUs like TSU have a strong track record of recruiting and retaining minority students in STEM programs but rarely have geoscience programs. VU is a research institution with a strong geoscience department and an institutional commitment to increasing diversity in all fields. Earth Horizons leverages TSU’s strong record of preparing minority students for STEM careers and the vibrant geoscience research environment of VU to draw students from underrepresented groups and prepare them for the geoscience workforce. Our 2-year program targets TSU Environmental Science students in their junior and senior years. Key program components during the first year include an introductory geology course taught by VU faculty at TSU, a 2-week summer field course in TN state parks and an 8-week paid research internship. Year 2 includes upper level coursework at VU and a Career Seminar to help students determine geoscience career pathways that best fit their goals. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible and competitive for internships with program partners including TN State Parks, state and municipal government agencies, the USGS, and local nonprofits. Many of these internships involve direct interaction with the public, allowing the students to serve as role models of minority geoscientists. A main product of this effort will be the construction and dissemination of a translatable model, or toolkit, designed to help institutions create and sustain partnerships at the undergraduate level. In this way, this partnership can be the start of a larger movement that promotes cross-institutional and agency collaboration to provide crucial support for students at key transitional moments in their careers and therefore to enhance diversity in the geoscience workforce and academic pipeline.