GEOSCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP (GEOS) TO IMPROVE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF ACADEMICALLY TALENTED STUDENTS

The Geoscience Scholarship (GeoS) program at SUNY Geneseo was a five-year program (2015-2020) funded by the NSF’s S-STEM program. The purpose of the grant was to improve recruitment and retention of academically talented students with financial need. The department experienced a 175% increase in the number of first-time-to-college Pell-eligible majors and an overall increase of 70%. Retention of first-year majors in the geosciences increased by ≥10%. Within the program, 89% of the scholars continued in the major compared to the department average of 73% prior to the program. The four-year graduation rate for Pell-eligible geoscience majors during the program (55%) was almost double the rate for the prior ten years (29%) and similar to the average rate for non-Pell eligible geoscience majors (60%). The placement success rate of GEOS scholars in geoscience careers or graduate programs was exceptional (100% pre-COVID-19). The GeoS program also funded support for geology-related activities such as participation in field experiences, guest speakers, attendance at national meetings, and classroom learning support (SI program). Survey results indicated that participation in fieldtrips enhanced enthusiasm for studying Geological Sciences (86-96%), and helped students get to know the faculty (50-96%) and other majors (85-92%). Most participants who took part in a trip to Death Valley reported that the experience reinforced their interest in a career in the geosciences, their interest in acquiring a geoscience graduate degree, and influenced their area of interest in geology. Surveys of students after guest speakers indicated that the presentations provided a sense of graduate school, what professional geologist do, as well as how to navigate beyond receiving an undergraduate degree into a geology career. Most scholars reported that their participation in a professional conference influenced their interest in graduate school and a geoscience career. All scholars took advantage of SI and most (>80%) indicated that they felt it helped improve their class performances. Overall, the increase in the graduation rate (29% to 55%) for students with financial need was significant and suggests that efforts made through the GEOS program were successful in supporting students.