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AnnualReportCollaborativeResearch:GP-EXTRA:Geo-Launchpad:PreparingColoradoCommunity

CollegeStudentsforGeoscience–FocusedCareers

GrantPeriod:December3,2015–December2,2018ReportingPeriod:December3,2016–December2,2017

UNAVCOInvestigators:DonnaJ.CharlevoixandAishaR.Morris

FrontRangeCommunityCollegeInvestigators:PatrickL.ShabramandShashiUnnithan

AwardIDs:1540588(FRCC),1540524(UNAVCO)

Program-track:IUSE-EngagedStudentLearning:Exploration

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AccomplishmentsWhatarethemajorgoalsoftheproject?

TheIUSEprogram:TheGeo-LaunchpadProgram(GLP)isacollaborativeeffortbetweenFrontRangeCommunityCollege(FRCC)andUNAVCO,anon-profit,university-governedconsortiumthatfacilitatesgeoscienceresearchandeducation,toprovidecommunitycollegestudentsinColoradowithexperientiallearningopportunitiesingeosciencethroughsummerinternshipprogramsthatimparttechnicalknowledgeanddevelopmentofstudents’softskillsforadvancementalongcareerpathwaysinthegeosciences.Theprojectalsobuildscurriculumandnewinstructionmaterialstosupporttheseandotherinternship/employmentopportunities,careerexplorationthroughseminarsandworkshops,andamentorshipprogram.Theprojecthasthreeoverallgoals:

Goal1:Buildstudents’interestandcapacitytoengageingeoscience-focusedSTEM(science,technology,engineering,mathematics)careerpathways.

Goal2:ProfessionaldevelopmentofcommunitycollegeSTEMfacultyasmentorstostudentsingeosciencefocusedcareers.

Goal3:Increasethenumberofstudentsfromcommunitycollegesthattransitiontogeoscience-focusedcareers.

Whatwasaccomplishedunderthesegoals?

MajorActivities

Twotracksofprimaryactivitytookplace.Thefirstoftheseactivitieswastoprovideacademicpathwaysforstudentstolearn,engage,andpursuefurtheracademic,research,andcareeropportunitiesinSTEMrelatedfieldsfocusingongeosciencerelatedfields.ThesecondoftheseactivitiesinvolvedasummerinternshipforstudentsatUNAVCOinBoulder,Colorado.

AcademicPathwaysTheprimaryacademicactivityoftheGeo-Launchpadprogramisthedevelopmentofcurriculum.Otheractivitiesincludedon-campusseminarsandprofessionaldevelopmentactivitiesforfacultyattwo-yearcolleges.

CurriculumDevelopment–acourse,“GEO210Careers/ResearchintheGeosciences”wasofferedasaonecreditcourseattheLarimerCampusofFrontRangeCommunityCollege.

Thecourseincludedpresentationsofinternshipopportunities(includingbutnotlimitedtoGeo-Launchpad),studentinvestigationofcurrentresearch,informationontransfertofour-yearcolleges,expectationofcoursesrequiredforadmissiontofour-yearcollegesand

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futurecareers,afieldtriptoUNAVCO,andguestspeakers.GuestspeakersincludedarepresentativefromtheResearchExperienceforCommunityCollegeStudents(RECCSattheCooperativeInstituteforResearchintheEnvironmentalSciences(CIRES)),aretiredhydrologistfromU.S.GeologicalSurvey(USGS),andformerinternswiththeRECCSandGeo-Launchpadprogram.

“GEO210Careers/RsrchinGeoscience,”waspresentedandtoandapprovedbyFRCCandunanimouslybytheStateFacultyCurriculumCommittee(SFCC)forinclusionintheColoradoCommunityCollegeCommonCourseNumberingSystem(CCNS).Thecourseisnowavailableforadoptionbycommunitycollegesthroughoutthestate.ThecoursehasruntwiceatFrontRange’sLarimerCampusandiscurrentlyontheSpring2018schedule.

Seminar–SeminarswerepresentedatthethreemainFrontRangeCommunityCollegecampuses.TheseseminarswereledbyUNAVCOpersonnelandFrontRangeCommunityCollegefaculty.Bothstudentsandfacultywerewelcometoattend.TheseseminarsincludedinformationaboutUNAVCO,informationontheGeo-Launchpadinternship,recommendedcourseworkforinternshipsliketheGeo-Launchpadinternship,andaquestionandanswersession.

ProfessionalDevelopmentforFaculty–InadditiontoafacultymentorprogramassociatedwiththeUNAVCOinternships,facultywereofferedopportunitiestolearnofinternships,careers,andrecentresearchinthegeosciencesforthepurposeofpassingthisknowledgeontostudents.Facultywereinvitedtotheabovenotedseminars.Further,earthsciencefacultyandcollegeadministrationwereinvitedtoattendanend-of-internshippostersymposium,whichincludedUNAVCOinternsandstudentsfrommultipleResearchExperiencesforUndergraduates(REU)opportunitiesintheBoulder,Coloradoarea.

Internship

TheprimaryactivityfortheGeo-LaunchpadprogramisasummerinternshipforColoradocommunitycollegestudents.Thefocusoftheinternshipistohelpdevelopresearchreadyskills,ratherthanconductingindependentscientificresearch.InternsspenteightweeksofthesummerworkingatUNAVCOinBoulder,Colorado.Theirexperienceincludedthefollowingmajoractivities:

Team-BuildingWorkshop.Duringorientationweek,internsparticipatedinanafternoonofactivitiesthatemphasizedteambuildingandcommunication.Throughthevariousactivities,internswereabletoexploreeach-others'skillsets,personalities,andworkethicsbycollaboratingasateamtoproblem-solveandcompleteexercises.Internsreportedthatparticipatinginthisworkshophelpedto'breaktheice'andgainfamiliaritywithteammatesearlyonintheprogram.

ResearchSupportProject.InternsworkedcollaborativelyinteamsonaresearchsupportprojectunderthedirectsupervisionofUNAVCOorUSGStechnicalstaff.Studentswereprovidedofficespaceandanyrequiredcomputingresourcesandsupplieswithinthefacilitywheretheyworked.Technicaltrainingwasprovidedthroughouttheexperience.

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GeologyFieldTrips.Internsparticipatedintwogeosciencefieldtrips.Geo-LaunchpadinternsvisitedRockyMountainNationalPark(RMNP)alongwithupper-divisionundergraduateinterns,graduateinterns,andpostgraduateinternsinvolvedininternshipprogramsatUNAVCO.ThefieldtripfocusedonthegeologicalhistoryoftheRockyMountainsandincludedatourfromaUniversityofColorado(CU)graduatestudentandaparkrangerfromRMNP.TheinternsalsojoinedstudentsfromtheRESESS(ResearchExperienceinSolidEarthScienceforStudents)internshipprogramforanovernightfieldtriptotheUniversityofColoradoMountainResearchStation,ledbyCUfacultyandgraduatestudents.

CommunicationsSeminar.Internsparticipatedinweeklyseminarsforformalandinformalcommunicationsasastudentandascientist.TheseseminarswerecollaborativewithRESESSinternsandallowedforopportunitiesfornear-peermentoring.

GeoscienceCareerCircles.Guestspeakersfromvariousgeo-workforcesectorsjoinedtheinternsoverluncheveryMondayforaninformaldiscussionabouttheirjobsandcareerpaths.Sectorsincludedindustry,research,academia,government,non-profit,andconsulting.StudentsfromotherinternshipprogramswithinUNAVCOalsoparticipated,whichledtoabroadscopeofdiscussionduringthequestionandanswerperiod.

SkillsWorkshop.Internsmetweeklyforaskillsworkshopthatprovidedprofessionaldevelopmentontopicsincludingdigitalfileorganization,timemanagement,emailetiquette,andbasicsofselectsoftwarepackagesincludingGoogleEarthandAdobeIllustrator.

PortaltothePublicNetwork(PoPNet).AlongwithinternsintheUNAVCOStudentInternshipProgram(USIP),Geo-Launchpadinternsparticipatedinaweeklyworkshopthatprovidedhands-onscientificcommunicationtrainingtoenablemeaningfulexperiencesbetweengeoscientistsandthepublic.ThisprogramconcludedwithtwooutreacheventsattheBoulderCountyFarmersMarket.

CommunicationwithFacultyMentors.Internscommunicatedwiththeirfacultymentorsthroughoutthesummer,sharingworkhighlightsandinternshipsummaries.Thisallowedtheirfacultymentorstostayabreastoftheintern’sexperiences.

ProjectDissemination.Studentspresentedtheirworkinapostersymposiumattheendofthesummer.Internsfromsimilargeosciencesummerprogramsalsoparticipated,totalingover60posterspresented.Membersofthelocalscientificcommunitywereinvitedtothesymposiumandinteractedwiththeinterns.

FacultyMentorship

TheGeo-LaunchpadProgramincludesfacultymentorshiptodevelopasupportiverelationshipwithafacultymemberfromtheintern’shomeinstitution.Thegoalisforthestudenttohaveanindividualtofollowupwithaftertheinternshipprogramconcludesandtohelpguidethemastheycontinueonapathtowardacareerinscience,technology,or

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engineering.Allinternswererequiredtoapplytotheinternshipwithafacultymentor.Facultymentorswereaskedto:

• writealetterofrecommendationforthestudentaspartoftheapplicationprocess,• regularlycommunicatewiththeinternabouttheirwork/researchthroughoutthe

summerinternship,• traveltoUNAVCOinBoulderonAugust2ndand3rdtoparticipateinaworkshopon

mentoringstudentsandattendthestudentpostersymposium,and• conductoneformalmeetingwiththestudentintheFall2017semestertodiscuss

careerpaths,opportunitiesoncampus,howtostayconnectedtothescientificcommunity,andanyotheradvicethatwillhelpthestudentinpursuitoftheiracademicandprofessionalgoals.

Thestudentwasrequiredtosubmitasummaryofthefallmeeting.Facultywereencouragedtosetupadditionalmeetingswiththestudenttomaintainamentoringrelationshipwiththestudent.Facultywerecompensatedfortheirtimewithamodesthonorariumaftertheconclusionofthefallmeetingandsubmissionofthestudentsummary.

SpecificObjectives

Datawerecollectedbyanexternalevaluatorusingbothformativeandsummativeelementsutilizingmixed-methodsmeasuresincludingpre-postinternsurveysandstudentandfacultyinterviews.Studentevaluationsofthespecialtopicscoursewerealsocollectedfromstudentswhoparticipatedinthiscourse.Overall,first-yearbenchmarksweremet.

Fourstudentsparticipatedinthespecialtopicscourse(GEO210)intheSpring2017semester.Allfourcompletedthecourse.Studentfeedbackforms(standardtothecollege)werecompletedbyallfourstudents.Allstudentsspecifiedintheirresponsetotheopen-endedquestiononthepostsurvey“Howdidthiscourseinfluenceyourcareeroreducationalplans?”thatthecoursehelpedthemdevelopmoreknowledgeaboutgeosciencecareersandtheacademicpreparationtheyneededtoenterthem.Students’onlycomplaintaboutthecourseisthatitdidnotincludemoreguestspeakersfrom4-yearuniversityfacultyinadditiontogeoscienceprofessionals.

Theinternshipalsoprovedtobehighlysuccessful.Theeightinternsselectedwerehighlyenthusiastic,aswereUNAVCOstaffworkingwiththeinternsandsevenfacultymentors.DatawerecollectedusingamodifiedversionoftheUndergraduateResearchStudentSelf-Assessment(URSSA)instrument(Hunter,Weston,Laursen&Thiry,2009).TheURSSAwasdevelopedwithfundingfromtheNationalScienceFoundationtoassessstudents’personal,professional,andintellectualoutcomesfromparticipatinginundergraduateresearch,includingREUexperiences.BecauseGeo-Launchpadisnotstrictlyaresearchinternship,itemswereadaptedtobetterfitthetechnicalworkandfieldworkoftheGeo-Launchpad

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internship.Thesurveygainsscalesitemsareratedona5-pointLikertscale(1=stronglydisagree,2=disagree,3=neutral,4=agree,5=stronglyagree).Surveyscalesincludenetworking/collaboration,intellectualgains,scientificcommunication,organizationalskills,technicalskills,careerknowledgeandcareerpreparation.Thesurveyalsomeasuresotheraspectsoftheinternshipexperience,includingtheimpactoftheinternshipsonstudents’educationalandcareeraspirations.

Careerknowledgeandpreparation

• StudentsfromGEO210displayedthemostgrowthincareerknowledge(surveymeanoncareerknowledgescalerosefrom3.75to4.36ona5-pointscale)(Figure3:Pre-postsurveymeans,GEO210).

• All4studentsfromGEO210reportedthatthecoursestrengthenedtheircommitmenttotheirpre-existinggoals,includingpursuingabachelor’sdegreeand/orgraduatestudyingeoscience,aGIScertificate,orafuturegeosciencecareer.

• AllGEO210studentsreportedthattheirknowledgeaboutgeosciencecareeroptionsincreasedsubstantially(e.g.,surveymeanincreasedfrom3.75to4.36ona5-pointscale)(Figure3:Pre-postsurveymeans,GEO210).

• AllGEO210studentsfeltmorepreparedtostudygeoscienceata4-yearinstitution(e.g.,surveymeanincreasedfrom4to4.25ona5-pointscale)(Figure3:GEO210,GainsinCareerKnowledge).

• TwoGEO210studentsreportedthattheyaremoreconfidentandsolidifiedintheirinterestinpursuingworkinthegeosciences.

Technicalandresearchskillsgains

• Internsmadeverystronggrowthintechnicalskills/instrumentation(surveymeanrosefrom2.78to3.64ona5-pointscale)(Figure1:Pre-postmeansonsurveyscales,GLPinterns).

• Internsreportedthattheybenefitedfromworkingside-by-sidewithUNAVCOandUSGSscientistsonrealworld,engagingprojectsthatinvolvedtrouble-shootingandproblemsolving.

Scientificcommunicationskills

• StudentsfromGEO210madestronggainsinscientificcommunicationskillsincludingwritingandanalyzingscientificreports(surveymeanrosefrom2.75to3.75ona5-pointscale)(Figure5:GEO210,Gainsinscientificcommunicationskills).

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• Interns’knowledgeofhowtoprepareascientificposterincreasedmarkedly(surveymeanrosefrom2.42to4.57ona5-pointscale)(Figure2:Growthininterns’abilitytoprepareascientificpaper).

Adiscussionofspecificobjectivesfollows.

Goal1:Buildstudents’interestandcapacitytoengageingeoscience-focusedSTEMcareerpathways

Objective1.1:Increasestudentawarenessofacademicandcareeropportunitiesingeoscience-relatedfieldsviaawebsiteandelectronicmedia,workshops/seminars,webinarsandannualmini-symposiaatUNAVCO.

Objective1.2:Increasestudents’knowledgeandskillsingeosciencefundamentals,methods,andtechniquestoprepareforinternshipexperiencethroughworkshops,symposia,andaspecialtopicscourseingeoscience.

SeminarswereconductedatallthreecampusesofFrontRangeCommunityCollege.SeveralstudentsparticipatingintheseseminarsappliedfortheUNAVCOinternshipand/orenrolledinthespecialtopicscourse.Ofthe18completed,eligibleapplicationsreceivedbyUNAVCOfortheinternship,13werefromFrontRangeCommunityCollege,suggestingthattheseminarsmayhaveplayedaninfluenceinstudents’applyingtotheGeo-Launchpadinternship.SixoftheeightinternshipstudentswerefromFrontRangeCommunityCollege,onewasfromCommunityCollegeofAuroraandonewasfromCommunityCollegeofDenver.TheinternshipwaspromotedbytheprojectPrincipalInvestigator,otherfacultymembersatFrontRangeCommunityCollege,andthroughfacultycolleagueswhoknowabouttheprogram.UNAVCOstaffcontactedallColoradocommunitycollegefacultyfromdepartmentsofscience,geology,andgeographyviaemailtoshareinformationabouttheinternshipprogram,applicationdetailsandaflyertopostintheirdepartment.

Fourstudentsparticipatedinthespecialtopicscourse(GEO210),withstudentsreportinganincreasedawarenessofcareersandinternships.

Goal2:ProfessionaldevelopmentofcommunitycollegeSTEMfacultyasmentorstostudentsingeosciencefocusedcareers.

Objective2.1:Increasefacultyknowledgeofexistingprivatesectorandgovernmentgeo-STEMcareersviaworkshops,networkingandsymposia

Objective2.2:DeveloppartnershipsbetweenfacultyandUNAVCOstaff tosupportstudents

Objective2.3Developresourcesforfacultymentoringandinstruction

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Accordingtotheexternalevaluation,theGLPinternshipshadapositiveimpactonthefacultymentorsthemselves,expandingtheirawarenessofthedifferenttypesofprojectsundertakenbythegeoscienceworkforceandkeepingthemapprisedofcurrentworkinthefield.Severalfacultymembersnotedthatthisknowledgewouldinfluencetheirteachingandworkwithstudents.Facultymentorsalsoreportedthattheyhadbecomebettermentorsfromtheexperiencebecauseoftheintentionalmentoringworkshopandtheformalmentoringarrangementtheydevelopedwiththeirinternmentee.Facultyalsofeltthattheyhadreceivedhelpfulmentoringresourcesfromtheintentionalmentoringworkshop.

Goal3:Increasethenumberofstudentsfromcommunitycollegesthattransitiontogeo-focusedcareers.

Objective3.1:Providestudentswithauthenticandexperientialopportunitiesingeoscience-relatedworkthroughinternshipsatUNAVCOinvolvingitsscienceandtechnologyconsortiummembers.

EightinternsparticipatedintheUNAVCOinternships(fouratUNAVCOandfourattheUnitedStateGeologicalSurvey).Internsreportedstronggrowthintechnical/instrumentationskillsandcommunicationskills.

SignificantResults

(ReferencedfiguresandquotesarefromattachedExternalEvaluationReport.)

OfthefourstudentsparticipatinginGEO210,threeappliedforinternshipsatUNAVCOand/orotherREUprograms.OnestudentwasacceptedintotheUNAVCOinternship(anotherstudentwasselectedasanalternatetoanotherREUprogram,butdidnotultimatelyparticipateintheinternship).AtleastonestudenthassincetransferredtotheUniversityofNorthernColorado,andanotherstudentisacceptedintoColoradoStateUniversityfortheSpring2018semester.Botharepursuingdegreesingeosciencerelatedfields.AthirdstudentisreceivingaGIScertificatefromFrontRangeCommunityCollege.

Students’strongestgrowthoverthesummerinternshipwasintheirunderstandingofinstrumentationintheirfieldandtheirabilitytousescientificandtechnicalinstrumentationandtools(Figure1:Pre-postmeansonsurveyscales,GLPinterns).Studentsalsoreportedstronggainsincareerknowledgeandcommunicationskills.Studentsdemonstratedthelowestgrowthincollaboration/teamworkandorganizationalskills,largelybecausetheyenteredtheinternshipwithstrongabilitiesintheseareas.

FacultymentorsandstudentsboththoughtthatoneofthemostvaluableaspectsoftheGLPinternshipwastheinteractionthatstudentshadwithgeoscienceprofessionalsandtheopportunitytolearnmoreabouttheirworkandcareerpaths.Mentorsfeltthatstudents’

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careeroptionshadbeenbroadenedandthatstudentsmightbeencouragedtopursuecareerpathsthattheymaynothavepreviouslyconsidered.

InternsalsofeltthattheybenefitedfromtheopportunitytolearnaboutgeosciencecareerpathsduringCareerCirclesandworkside-by-sidewithUNAVCOandUSGSstaff.Thestudentsparticularlyappreciatedgainingabetterunderstandingofthebreadthofgeosciencecareersandtheoftenindirectpathsthatprofessionalsfollowedtotheircurrentcareers.

Interns’secondstrongestgainswereintheirabilitytouseinstrumentationingeosciences.Studentsfeltthattheyalsogainedabetterawarenessofthemajorinstrumentsthatareusedingeoscience.Thus,studentsbecamemoreawareofthecommoninstrumentationusedinthedisciplineandgainedtheconfidenceandabilitytouseit.

TechnicalSkills/Instrumentation

Technicalskillswereinterns’largestgainaccordingtothepre/postsurveyandinterviews.StudentsreportedthatworkingwiththeinstrumentationavailableatUNAVCOandUSGSprovidedareal-worldcontextforthesciencethattheyhadlearnedaboutincoursework.Mostimportantly,theGLPinternshipofferedopportunitiesthattheywouldnothaveintheircourseworktoapplytheirgeoscienceknowledgeandcareerpath.

StudentsreportedthattheopportunitytolearnaboutavarietyofinstrumentsandtoactuallyusetheminthefieldwasthemostbeneficialaspectoftheGLPinternship.Studentsappreciatedtheexposuretonewinstrumentationandsoftwaresuchas3Dprinters,drones,andGISsoftware.

CommunicationSkills

Studentsinthecareerscoursesawanoverallincreaseincommunicationskills.Surveymeansrosefrom3.39to3.92inthisarea(Figure3:Pre-postsurveymeans,GEO210).Thegreatestgainwasseeninunderstandingofscientificreports(Figure5:GEO210,Gainsinscientificcommunicationskills).

InternsreportedstronggrowthincommunicationskillsfromtheGLPinternship,especiallyinareasinvolvingcreatingandpresentingascientificposter(Figure2:Growthininterns’abilitytoprepareascientificpaper).Studentsalsoreportedstronggrowthinusingdatatodiscussideasingeosciencesandunderstandinggeosciencejournalarticles(Figure5:Geo210,Gainsinscientificcommunicationskills).

OrganizationalandProjectManagementSkills

Surprisingly,giventhebreadthanddepthoftheirprojectsundertakenoverthesummer,internsdeclinedslightlyintheirperceptionsoftheirorganizationalskills.Thisislargelybecausetheyenteredtheprogramwithexceptionallystrongskills.

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CareerPreparation

Studentsinthecareerscoursemadethegreatestgainsincareerknowledge(surveymeanrosefrom3.75to4.36)(Figure3,Pre-postsurveymeans,GEO210).Gainswerealsoseeninstudents’senseofcareerpreparedness(3.95to4.6)(Figure3,Pre-postsurveymeans,GEO210).Especiallystrongwasanincreasedknowledgeinhowtopreparearesumeforascience-relatedcareerorinternship(Figure4:GEO210,CareerPreparation,itemmeans).

Internsreportedgainsinfeelingpreparedforfutureeducationandcareersingeoscience.StudentsfeltquitewellpreparedalreadyfortheirfutureingeosciencewhentheystartedtheGLPinternship.However,theystillreportedsomegainsintheirbeliefsandconfidencethattheycouldsucceedinageosciencefield.

Internsshowedthemostgrowthintheunderstandingoftheeverydayworkofgeoscientists(surveymeanrosefroma3.5toa4.25)(Figure3:GEO210,GainsinCareerKnowledge).Inaddition,attheendofthesummer,100%ofstudents“stronglyagreed”thattheyare“preparedtostudygeoscienceata4-yearuniversity.”StudentsinGEO210madestronggainsintheirsenseofpreparednesstopursueadvancedstudiesinthegeosciences(Figure4:GEO210,CareerPreparation,itemmeans).

FacultymentorsnoticedthattheirstudentshadsolidifiedtheireducationalplansasaresultoftheGLPinternship,andhadbeguntothinkaboutcareerplans.InternsgainedconfidencethattheybelongedingeoscienceandcouldsucceedingeosciencefromtheGLPprogram.

IntellectualGains

Studentsreportedfewerintellectualgainsthantheydidinotherskillsdomains,astheirconceptualunderstandingofthedisciplineremainedrelativelysteadyoverthesummer.Nonetheless,internsdevelopedamoresophisticatedunderstandingoftheprocessofsciencesespeciallythatitisaslowprocessthatmovesinfitsandstarts,andcanbeambiguous.Internsreportedthestrongestgainsintheirreadinesstopursuearesearchexperienceinthegeosciences.Internsdevelopedabetterunderstandingofthescientificresearchprocess,topics,andmethodologiesthatfallwithinthegeosciences.

Preparationforresearch

MentorsandinternsreportedthattheGLPinternshiphadhelpedtopreparestudentsforfutureresearchexperiences.Thecommentsfromfocusgroupsreflectthatstudentsappreciatedtheexposuretoresearchthatresultedfromtheirinteractionswithgraduatestudents.

CollaborationandNetworking

Studentsmadeslightgainsincollaborationandnetworkingskills,primarilybecausetheyenteredtheinternshipwithverystrongconfidenceintheirabilitytonetworkwith

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scientificprofessionals.However,studentsrecognizedtheimportanceofnetworkingandbecamemorecomfortableworkinginteams.Studentslearnedhowtomoreeffectivelycollaborateonscientificprojectswithgraduatestudentsandconductinformationalinterviews.

Mentoring

Moststudentsandmentorsreportedthattheycommunicatedrelativelyfrequentlyoverthesummer.

InfluenceonCareerIntentions

InternsreportedthattheGLPinternshiphadnotnecessarilychangedtheircareerpath,butconfirmedthattheywereontherighttrack.Studentsnotedthattheyhadstrengthenedtheircommitmentandconfidencetogeoscienceandthattheyhadchosentherightfield.MentorsalsonoticedthattheGLPinternshiphadinfluencedstudents’careerpathsbyprovidinginformationaboutfuturecareersandeducationingeoscienceandsolidifyingtheireducationaldecisions.

InternsalsoreportedthattheyaremorelikelytopursuegraduateschoolbecauseoftheGLPinternship.

FacultyOutcomes

TheGLPinternshipalsohadapositiveimpactonthefacultymentorsthemselves,expandingtheirawarenessofthedifferenttypesofprojectsundertakenbythegeoscienceworkforce(specificallyUNAVCOandUSGS)andkeepingthemapprisedofcurrentworkinthefield.Severalfacultymembersnotedthatthisknowledgewillinfluencetheirteachingandworkwithstudents.

Facultymentorsalsoreportedthattheyhadbecomebettermentorsfromtheexperience.Facultyalsofeltthattheyhadreceivedhelpfulmentoringresources.

Keyoutcomeandotherachievements

Perhapsthebiggestachievementoftheseminars,specialtopicscourse,andinternships,isbuildingconfidenceinthestudentthatthistypeofworkisindeedsomethingtheycando.

StudentsandfacultywereverypositiveabouttheformatoftheGLPinternshipanditsbenefitsforstudents.StudentsandfacultyexpressedalotofpositivefeedbackabouttheimplementationoftheGLPinternship.Someofthehighlightsfrominterviewsandsurveywrittenresponseswere:

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• Internso “BasicallyIlearnedaboutnewtechnologiesthatareupandcomingthatIwould

bebetteroffhavingundermybelt.LikeGISandthedronetechnologyandprogrammingskills.”

o “Itwasreallygreattalkingtoalotoftheprofessionalsthatcameintotellusabouttheircareerpath.Thatwasaninvaluableexperience,definitely.It’snotastraightline,it’sdefinitelynotlikethat.”

o “Ithinkthemostbeneficialthingwastheprofessionaldevelopment…Allofthesethingswereso,sohelpful…Theyarethingsthatwecantakewithusthroughouttherestofoureducationandthroughourcareers.”

o “There’ssomethingtotakingaprojectfromthebeginningandrunningitallthewaythrough…thatIthinkisveryinvaluable.ThatisanexperiencethatIhadnothad.”

o “Ifeelmoreconfidentinpursuingmygoalsandinmakingmythoughtsbeknown.”

o “Iwouldsaythattherewasareallyamazingexposuretotheresearchthat’shappeningnow.”

o “IthinkeveryoneatUNAVCOdidareallygreatjobwithmentoring.Itseemslikethey’revery,veryinterestedincultivatingagreatbatchoffuturescientistsandtheyverymuchcareaboutenhancingourknowledgeasmuchastheypossiblecan.”

• Facultymentorso “Ithinkthatgreatlyincreasedherconfidenceofbeingabletoworkinthattype

ofenvironment,andthenhelpedhershapeheracademicandcareersgoalsabitmorespecifically.”

o “Ithinkitwasreally,itseemslikeitwasreallygoodforherinthataspect,kindofreaffirmwhatshewasdoing.”

Whatopportunitiesfortrainingandprofessionaldevelopmenthastheprojectprovided?

Trainingandprofessionaldevelopmentwasimplementedwithfourdistinctgroups:students,interns,UNAVCOandUSGSstaff,andfacultymentors.StudentprofessionaldevelopmentStudentsinthespecialtopicscoursemetandinteractedwithprofessionalsfromanumberofrelatedfields.Further,studentswererequiredtopreparearesume,distinguishbetweenaresumeandacurriculumvita,andanalyzetechnicalpapers.

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Internprofessionaldevelopment

AsignificantelementoftheGeo-Launchpadprogramwasstructuredprofessionaldevelopmentforinterns.Aweekly,2-hourskillsworkshopwasimplementedtoprovideinternsbasictraininginapplicationssuchasGoogleEarthandAdobeIllustrator.Softskillssuchastimemanagement,digitalorganization,andemailetiquettewerealsoaddressed.Theweeklytwo-hourcommunicationseminarwasofferedjointlywiththeRESSESSinternshipprogram,facilitatingnear-peermentoringbetweentheupperdivisionundergraduatesconducingindependentresearchprojects(RESSESS)andthetwo-yearcollegestudentsconductingresearchsupportprojects(Geo-Launchpad).Thejointseminaralsoenabledstaffingefficienciesascontentwasdeliveredtobothinternshipprogramsatonetime.Theseminarhighlightedthediversetypesofprofessionalcommunication,includingwritingcoverletters,thedifferencesbetweenresumesandCVs(aswellasUNAVCOstaffreviewofinternresumesandcoverletters),developingandpresentingascientificposter,andpreparinganelevatorspeech.TwoseniorgraduatestudentsfromtheUniversityofColoradoBoulderdeliveredseveraloftheseminars,encouragingprofessionaldevelopmentforthetwograduateassistantsaswellasfortheinternshipparticipants.

Facultymentors

SevencommunitycollegefacultymembersparticipatedintheGeo-Launchpadprogram.TheyparticipatedintwodaysofprofessionaldevelopmentatUNAVCOheadquartersinBoulder.TheyattendedtheRESESSinternresearchcolloquium,participatedinanIntentionalMentoringWorkshop,andattendedandservedasjudgesfortheStudentPosterSymposium.TheIntentionalMentoringWorkshopfocusedonbestpracticesinmentoringincludingdifferencesinmentoringversusadvising,mentoringstudentsfromminoritypopulations,andstrategiesforaddressingchallengesinmentoring.

UNAVCOandUSGSstaffmentors

ThreeUNAVCOtechnicalstaffworkeddailywiththeGeo-Launchpadinterns.Priortothestartofthesummer,thesestaffmetwithprogramstaff.Duringthesemeetingstechnicalstaffwereprovidedwithguidanceonhowtodevelopaprojectappropriatefortheinterns,tipsonhowtomanagetheworkofundergraduateinterns,andgeneraltipsonmanagingothers’work.Someofthestaffinvolvedintheprogramareengineers(fieldanddata)anddonotmanagepeopleasapartoftheirnormalduties.Thiswasanopportunityforthemtodevelopandpracticemanagerialskills.AlthoughnomeetingwasheldwiththeUSGStechnicalstaffdirectlymanagingthefourinternsworkingatUSGS,UNAVCOstaffmetwiththeUSGSmanagertoprovideinformationsimilartowhatwasprovidedtotheUNAVCOtechnicalstaff.

Howhavetheresultsbeendisseminatedtocommunitiesofinterest?

Theresultsofstudentinternshipsweresharedwithfacultymentorsattheendoftheinternship,aswereposterspresentedatanannualStudentPosterSymposiuminBoulder,Colorado.FacultyandadministratorsfromFrontRangeCommunityCollegeattendedthis

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event.ResultsoftheworkofinternsisavailableontheUNAVCOwebsite.FrontRangeCommunityCollegehasalsowrittenablogaboutthestudentparticipationandpresentation.Presentationsabouttheprogramalsohavebeenmadeatthe2016AmericanGeophysicalUnionFallMeetinginSanFrancisco,theEarthEducators’RendezvousinAlbuquerque,NewMexico,theGeologicalSocietyofAmericaannualmeetinginSeattle,andattheannualmeetingoftheGreatPlains/RockyMountainDivisionoftheAssociationofAmericanGeographersinGrandForks,NorthDakota.

Whatdoyouplantododuringthenextreportingperiodtoaccomplishthegoals?

ThesecondyearoftheprogramintroducedtheinternshipstocommunitycollegestudentsoutsideFrontRangeCommunityCollege.ThenextyearwillfocusonexpandingthatoutreachtoothercommunitycollegestudentsaroundthestateofColorado,includingagreaterintroductionoftheGEO210Careers/ResearchcoursealongwithcontinuedpromotionoftheUNAVCOinternship.Thiseffortwillincludeoneononemeetingswithfacultyatsisterinstitutionsandworkingwithfacultyatthoseinstitutionstoconsidersimilarprograms.Further,facultyfromanumberofcommunitycollegeswillbeinvitedtoattendendofinternshipactivities,includingtheIntentionalMentoringWorkshop,atUNAVCO.WearealsoreachingouttoacommunitycollegeoutsideColoradotoexpandthefacultymentorshipprogram.Theprogrammaticelementsofthe2018internshipwillbeimplementedinasimilarwayto2017,withafewmodificationsbasedonthepositiveevaluationdataandpost-summerprogramteamdiscussions.SignificanteffortswillbemadetoinformcommunitycollegefacultyacrossthestateofColoradoabouttheinternshipprogramincludingagaincontactingindividualsfromgeology,geography,andphysicsdepartments.WithinUNAVCO,theprogramstructurewillbereviewedandmodifiedasneededtoensurethetechnicalstaffworkingwithinternsarereceivingthesupportandtrainingtheyneed.Wewillreviewthestudentsummerprojectdesignprocesstoensurebothstudentsandtechnicalstaffreceivebenefitfromtheexperience.Thenumberofinternsinsummer2018willbe4,andallinternswilllikelyworkatUNAVOtofacilitateamorecohesivecohort.Internsselectedinpreviousyearshaveincludedstudentsattendingatwo-yearcollegetoobtaincertificates,particularlyinGIS.Thedesignoftheprogramisstructuredtoassiststudentswhohavenotyetobtainedbachelor’sdegrees,andinordertoensurestudentsbenefitfromtheprogramming,nextsummerwewilltargetcommunitycollegestudentswhodemonstrateanintentiontotransfertoafouryearuniversitytocontinuetheirstudies.Products

ConferencePapersandPresentationsMorris,AishaR.andCharlevoix,DonnaJ.“ProfessionalDevelopmentforCommunityCollegeFaculty,”AGUFallMeeting,SanFrancisco,CA,December2016.

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Morris,AishaR.,Charlevoix,DonnaJ.,andRusso-Nixon,Kelsey,“ProfessionalDevelopmentforCommunityCollegeFaculty:LessonsLearnedfromIntentionalMentoringWorkshops,”EarthEducators’Rendezvous,Albuquerque,NM,July2017.Morris,AishaR.,Charlevoix,DonnaJ.,andRusso-Nixon,Kelsey,“Pre-REUInternshipsforCommunityCollegeStudentsSupportedbyaUniquePartnershipBetweenaCommunityCollege,Facility,andFederalAgency,”GeologicalSocietyofAmericaAnnualMeeting,Seattle,Washington,October2017.Pawloski,JamieL.,Shabram,PatrickL.,Charlevoix,Donna,Morris,AishaR.,Smith,Heidi,“BuildingPathwaystoSTEMCareersthroughCommunityColleges,”GeologicalSocietyofAmericaAnnualMeeting,Seattle,Washington,October2017.Shabram,PatrickL.,Pawloski,Jamie,Miller,MaxJ.,“ChallengesandBenefitsofDevelopingaGeoscienceCareersCourseatCommunityColleges,”MeetingoftheGreatPlains/RockyMountainsDivisionoftheAmericanAssociationofGeographers,October2017.

Shabram,PatrickL.,Charlevoix,Donna,Gold,Anne,Miller,Max,Morris,Aisha,Russo-Nixon,Kelsey,Smith,Lesley,“BuildingPathwaystoSTEMCareersinGeoscienceandEnvironmentalSciencethroughtheColoradoCommunityColleges,”EarthEducators’Rendezvous,Albuquerque,NM,July2017.OtherPublicationsSchoonover,Jodi,Blanchard,Dylan,Okal,Marianne,Crosby,Christopher,“PrintingProceduresandApplicationsinOutreachandFieldSupport,”BoulderStudentPosterSymposium,UCARCenterGreen,Boulder,Colorado,August2017.Lucas,Brandon,Schaeffer,Elizabeth,Mencin,Dave,“TheSlumgullionSlide:UsingDrones(UAVs)forStructurefromMotion(SfM),”BoulderStudentPosterSymposium,UCARCenterGreen,Boulder,Colorado,August2017.Pedrino,AmyeR.,Traversie,BillyJack,Rhoades,John,“ShowcasingMineralsandElementsCriticaltotheNationalSecurityoftheUnitedStates,”BoulderStudentPosterSymposium,UCARCenterGreen,Boulder,Colorado,August2017.Etzel,Elizabeth,Ghent,Jessica,McKinney,KevinC.,Stuckey,Chris,“LocatingFossils:GeoreferencingandMappingInvertebratesintheWesternUnitedStates,”BoulderStudentPosterSymposium,UCARCenterGreen,Boulder,Colorado,August2017.Websites“Geo-Launchpad,”http://www.unavco.org/geolaunchpad“Geo-Launchpad,”http://www.frontrange.edu/geo-launchpad

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“SummerResearchExperiencePropelsStudentsDeeperintoScienceStudies,”FrontRangeCommunityhttps://blog.frontrange.edu/2017/10/06/summer-research-experiences-propel-students-deeper-into-science-studies/OtherProducts“LaunchYourCareerwithaPaidInternshipinGeoscience,”flyerforallColoradocommunitycollegestudents.“LaunchYourCareerwithaPaidInternshipinGeoscience,”forFrontRangeCommunityCollegestudents.“BeaGeo-LaunchpadMentor,”forallfacultyinterestedinbecomingamentor.“Geo-LaunchpadInternship-ExperienceUNAVCO!”videohighlightingtheinternshipopportunity-https://youtu.be/TmOlUcUmMyc

Participants

Whatindividualshaveworkedonthisproject?[Redacted] Whatotherorganizationshavebeeninvolvedaspartners?USGS.FourinternsworkedatUSGSforthesummerinternship.Haveothercollaboratorsorcontactsbeeninvolved?Yes[Informationisredacted]ImpactsWhatistheimpactonthedevelopmentoftheprincipaldiscipline(s)oftheproject?Thegeosciences,asaSTEMfield,arenotedforlowparticipationbyunderrepresentedgroups.Geo-Launchpadhasproveneffectiveinengagingcommunitycollegestudents(whichiscommonlythefirstpostsecondaryschoolformanyunderrepresentedgroups).Whatistheimpactonotherdisciplines?Studentsparticipatinginthesummerinternshiplearnaboutworkinginthefieldofgeosciencethroughtheirexperiencewithtechnicalinstrumentation.Studentsarealsoexposedtoscientificdatamanagement(akeyaspectofdataengineering).

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Whatistheimpactonthedevelopmentofhumanresources?TheGeo-LaunchpadprogramprovidedUNAVCOtechnicalstafftheopportunitytodeveloppeoplemanagementskillsincludingtimemanagement,projectmanagement,andinterpersonalskills.Internswereprovidedopportunitytodevelopskillshelpfultoworkinginacollaborativeenvironment.FacultyasFRCC,CommunityCollegeofDenver,andtheCommunityCollegeofAuroradevelopedmentoringskills.Whatistheimpactonphysicalresourcesthatforminfrastructure?Nothingtoreport.Whatistheimpactoninstitutionalresourcesthatforminfrastructure?FrontRangeCommunityCollegepersonnelhavegainedvaluableexperienceonworkingwithcollaborativefacultyledgrants.SomeofthedepartmentstouchedbyuniquerequestscreatedbytheGeo-LaunchpadgrantincludeHumanResources,Academicdeans,andFiscal.FRCChasmadeimprovementstoitsprocessestoaccommodatefutureprojects.

WithinUNAVCOGeo-LaunchpadisexecutedbytheEducationandCommunityEngagementprogramwithsupportfromtheBusinessAffairs(BA)program.TheprocesseswithintheBAprogramhavebeenupdatedandadaptedtoaccommodatetheinternsworkingatUNAVCOforeightweeks.Updatedprocessesincludetheon-boardingofinterns,methodofpaymentforwork,procurementprocessesforinternshipmaterials,andITsupportservicestailoredforstudents.Whatistheimpactoninformationresourcesthatforminfrastructure?Nothingtoreport.Whatistheimpactontechnologytransfer?Nothingtoreport.Whatistheimpactonsocietybeyondscienceandtechnology?Theprogramhasprovidedformaleducationofcareersandresearchinthegeosciences,hasprovidedtechnicaltrainingofthefuturegeoscienceworkforce,hastaughtvaluableprofessionalskillsinsideandoutsideofscience,andhasengagedstudentstoseekfutureeducation.Facultyandstudentsatbothtwo-yeararenowmoreawareofgeosciencecareeropportunitiesopentostudents.Changes/ProblemsChangesinapproachandreasonforchange:

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Objective1.1includesthedevelopmentofawebinartobuildsstudents’interestingeosciencefocusedcareers.Aftertwoyearsoftheprojectandaone-yearseparatepilotproject,PIs,co-PIs,andSeniorPersonalhavecometounderstandthatoneofthemosteffectiveaspectsoftheGeo-Launchpadprojecthasbeenpersonalandone-on-oneinteractions.Assuch,resourceshavebeenshiftedtowardincreasingacceptanceandparticipationintheCareers/Researchcourse(GEO210)andworkingdirectlywithfacultyatsisterinstitutionstoexpandtheimpactofGeo-Launchpad.ActualorAnticipatedproblemsordelaysandactionsorplanstoresolvethem:Noactualoranticipatedproblemsordelaysexistatthistime.Changesthathaveasignificantimpactonexpenditures:Nochangesthathaveasignificantimpactonexpendituresexistatthistime.Significantchangesinuseorcareofhumansubjects:Nothingtoreport.Significantchangesinuseorcareofvertebrateanimals:Nothingtoreport.Significantchangesinuseorcareofbiohazards:Nothingtoreport.