GEOSCIENCE SERVICE LEARNING ACTIVITIES INTEGRATED WITH 2YC/4YC STUDENT MENTOR-BASED INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS

The Geoscience partnership between El Paso Community College (EPCC) and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) serves as a bridge between 2YC and 4YC education levels and is further fostered by a collaborative NSF grant named Service Learning Activities Targeting Earth Science (SLATES). This partnership is facilitated by numerous educational engagements that involve introductory level field tours (Geo-Ventures), hydrology & water sustainability awareness (H2O-4-Life), primary/secondary schools outreach, and 2YC instruction/research enhancement. These engagement activities are coupled with an integration of student mentoring by EPCC and UTEP Geology majors that serve as either instructional assistants and activity coordinators or leaders. Integration of student mentors within Geoscience educational engagements builds a cohort amongst 2YC and 4YC students between EPCC and UTEP while simultaneously developing individual skills in instruction, leadership, and community awareness.