Recruitment Issues

1
Recruitment Issues

• Diversity major issue with recruitment of
  minorities
• Why? the image of geoscientists as
  field-based is not attractive to all cultural
  groups. Need more emphasis on promotion of
  technical/professional aspects of the discipline.
  PR targeted to specific groups. Talk one-on-one
  to minority students about issues related to not
  becoming geoscience majors
• Start early! junior and high schools
• Most African-Americans in urban centres have to
  recognize this background and characteristics
  that would attract students into geoscience.
• One-student-at-a-time approach most effective
  when students are used as recruiters.
• Recognition that many groups do not want to have
  mobility, want to stay local.
• Reward structure to enhance diversity
• Female recruitment undergraduate enrolments
  good, graduate OK, faculty still underrepresented
  in places
• Need broad searches for positions, target women

2
Recruitment Issues

• Internal Recruitment
• Career opportunities need to be identified and
  promoted in level I courses
• Use of case studies/applications to appeal to
  wider audience
• Cross-listing of courses with other disciplines
• (e.g. Chemical Society of America
  recognition of Geochemistry courses for
  professional certification?)
• Undergraduate counseling extremely important
  Co-ordination of material/resources within the
  department for recruitment and distribution

3
Recruitment Issues

• Working with high schools/guidance counselors
• Creation of material for distribution paper
  advertising, careers fairs, website, open houses.
• Students giving talks in high schools program
  recruitment and promotion of geosciences
  students paid, other recognition? (transcript
  notation?)

4

• First generation college-goers professional
  programs favoured
• Interacting with existing structures/programs in
  schools/professions, scholarship programs
• Entrance to AP envir science community
• Examples?