2YC REU PROFILE OF THE 2019 UTEP ROCCS PROGRAM: A LEAPFROG RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR 2YC UNDERGRADUATE DEVELOPMENT … REAL RESEARCH, REAL CHALLENGES, REAL EXPERIENCE, REAL GROWTH

Research Opportunities for Community College Students (ROCCS) is a 2YC focused REU program (funded by the National Science Foundation) that will be conducted in the Summer of 2019 as a 2-phased experience starting in June with on-site research, followed by a home-phase in July for poster creation. The program has been conducted in the Summer of 2017 and 2018 by the Geoscience Department at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and in partnership with El Paso Community College (EPCC) Geology faculty. The ROCCS program provides applied research experience for 2YC students that are typically excluded from research experiences and/or resources. UTEP provides the research setting, guidance, and resources with additional faculty support from EPCC. Imbedded cohort mentoring by senior-level, UTEP undergraduates (most former 2YC students themselves), provides program assistance and enhanced developmental guidance for the 2YC participants, while also providing a unique mentoring experience for the UTEP cohorts. ROCCS engages 2YC participants with a regional geologic overview coupled with a focus on correlating Eocene intrusions for synchronous, multi-faceted research applications, consequently accelerating and enhancing participant geological development. Simultaneously, participants are introduced to multiple discipline facets for facilitating academic and career pathway selection. The ROCCS experience individually culminates at minimum into an AGU virtual poster, with the potential to expand to additional conference presentations and/or collaborative research publications. A profile of program facets, accomplishments and challenges will be presented for Summer 2019 preparations and recruitment.