USING THE RESPONSIBLE MINING INITIATIVE AT UW-EAU CLAIRE TO PREPARE MORE GRADUATES FOR JOBS IN MINING, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING, AND REGULATORY AGENCIES

Most high school students do not recognize geology as a STEM career opportunity. In addition, geology field trips and field camp experiences are expensive barriers to some potential majors. The UWEC Dept. of Geology has had a long-standing, excellent national reputation for rigorous, field-based instruction and high-quality student-faculty research. To build on these strengths, the UW System awarded UWEC Geology a $451,000 Economic Development Incentive Grant to create a Responsible Mining Initiative (RMI, Nov. 2013). The program is designed to prepare more STEM graduates for jobs in mining, environmental consulting, and regulatory agencies such as the DNR.

The two-year RMI grant funded Syverson and Mahoney to attend industry conferences and build relationships with mining firms, environmental consulting companies, and the DNR. The RMI has had a positive impact on students’ educational experiences at UWEC. A major effort to recruit industry partners has increased paid internships from ~2/year to 15-22/year. Student scholarships and need-based grants have increased from ~$2500/yr to >$30,000/yr. The paid internships and scholarships/grants have allowed first-generation college students and some underrepresented minority students to gain valuable educational experiences without accruing large amounts of debt.

Recommendations from a new advisory board have guided curricular changes. Academic certificates in Earth Resources, Water Resources, and Responsible Mining have been developed. A Responsible Mining Seminar (1 cr, 2 hrs/wk) brings professionals from non-metallic and metallic mining companies, DNR, Wisconsin DOT, and legal firms to campus; topics of discussion include environmental monitoring, zoning/permitting, wetland preservation, technical writing, professionalism, and providing expert testimony. Also, an industry partner sponsors free 24-hour MSHA safety training for students.

These changes to our program have enhanced learning opportunities for all students. However, new faculty positions promised by UWEC have yet to materialize because of UW System budget cuts. In the future, the Dept. of Geology will seek out underrepresented minority high school students and encourage them to attend UW-Eau Claire to jumpstart a STEM career in the geosciences.