This Webinar Series is co-hosted by The American Geophysical Union and The American Geosciences Institute

This Webinar Series is co-hosted byThe American Geophysical Union

andThe American Geosciences Institute

Introductions Pranoti Asher: Manager of Education

and Public Outreach, AGU Heather Houlton: Workforce

Development, Education, & Outreach Specialist, AGI

Carolyn Wilson: Geoscience Workforce Data Analyst, AGI

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Heads & Chairs Webinar Series Schedule

Program Assessment: Thursday, November 15,11:00 AM-12:00 PM EST

Recap of the 2012 AGU Meeting Fall H&C Meeting: Wednesday, December 19, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM EST

CAROLYN WILSONAMERICAN GEOSCIENCES INSTITUTEGEOSCIENCE WORKFORCE PROGRAM

AGI’s National Geoscience Student Exit Survey – Spring

2012 Results

Description and Purpose

Purpose: To ascertain the relevant experiences in school and immediate career trajectories of students graduating with geoscience degrees

Objectives Identify the necessary knowledge and skills acquired while in school that aided

the students in securing employment upon graduation Identify student decision points for entering geoscience fields Identify the geosciences fields that students pursue in undergraduate and

graduate school Identify employment preferences and realities of graduating students Collect information about salary projections for entry positions in different

geosciences careers Demonstrate the value of geosciences degrees to future students, the

institutions, and employers Establish a benchmark to perform longitudinal studies of geosciences

graduates

Pilot #1

32 Departments were invited to participate14 Departments did participate

103 total responses 11 Partial responses 92 Completed responses

67 Undergraduates 23 Master’s Students 2 Doctoral Students

Pilot #2 Deployment Strategy

Invitations to participate were sent to 81 different departments; 58 agreed to participate

Department incentives offered for participation

Survey created using online tool, LimeSurvey

Emailed out late April 2012

Participating Departments

46 departments participated 294 Full Responses

233 Undergraduates 40 Master’s students 21 Doctoral students

79%

14%

7%

Students' Earned Degree

BA/BSMS/MAPhD

Student Demographics

Undergraduates Graduates0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Gender Breakdown

Male students Female students

93%

1%5% 1%

Citizenship Status in the U.S.

US Citizen

Permanent Resident

Temporary Resident

No Answer

84%

5%1% 4%

6%

Race and Ethnicity of US Citizens

Caucasian

Latino/Hispanic

Asian

Other Underrep-resented Minori-tiesNo Answer

Educational Background


10%20%30%40%50%60%

Students with Exposure to Earth Science in High School

Took an Earth science classParticipated in an Earth science extra-curricular activity


10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

Students that Attended Com-munity College

Took at least 1 class in community collegeTook a Geosciences course in community collegeHas an Associates degree

Statistics

Calculus II

Linear Algebra

Quantitative/Computational Methods

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Quantitative Skills

Undergrad-uates

Points to Consider…

Survey edits to the race/ethnicity question

Fixing the community college questions

Clarifying the Quantitative Skills question

Other thoughts?

Geoscience Degree Fields/Research Focuses

UndergraduatesAtmospheric Science 7%Environmental/Earth Science 13%Geography 3%Solid Earth Geology 73%Oceanography/Marine Science 3%Geoscience Education 1%Other >1%

MA/MS PhDAtmospheric Science 5% 15%Environmental/Earth Science 22% 14%Geography 0% 5%Solid Earth Geology 45% 52%Oceanography/Marine Science 23% 10%Other 5% 5%

Financing Education

Student Loans

Research Assistantships

Teaching Assistantships

Work Study

NSF Grant

Institutional Scholarship

External Scholarship

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Sources of Financial Aid Given to Students

Undergraduates MA/MS PhD

Decision Points for Majoring in the Geosciences

Other

I became interested as a result of a geosciences introductory course in college or university

I became interested as a result of a geosciences course at community college

I became interested as a result of a high school earth science course

I specifically wanted to pursue a geosciences career

I enjoy the outdoors

It was recommended to me

I was previously interested in the subject

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

Most Important Reason for Students to Major in the Geosciences


Decision Points for Majoring in the Geosciences

Other

After receiving undergraduate degree

Undergraduate-3rd year

Undergraduate-2nd year

Undergraduate-1st year

After transferring from community college

Before beginning college

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

The Point in Which the Students Decided to Major in the Geosciences


Field Camps, Field Courses, Other Field Experiences

Field Camp only

Field Course only

Other Field Experience only

Field Camp + Field Course

Field Camp + Field Experience

Field Course + Field Experience

All Three Different Field Experiences

None

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Student Field Experiences


Research Experiences

No Research Experiences

1 Research Experience

2 Research Experiences


4Research Experiences


6+ Research Experiences

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

Student Participation in Research Experiences


Research Experiences

Literature based research

Field based research

Lab based research

Computer based research

No individual research

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Methods Used by Students for Personal Research


Internship Experiences

Did Not Have an In-ternship

1 Internship

2 Internships

3 Internships

4+ Internships

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Students that Participated in at least One Internship



Somehow clarifying the question categorizing financial aid

Suggested edits for the Decision Points questions

Should there be a limit of 2 selections for the question on Methods Used for Personal Research?

Other thoughts?

Future Plans – Graduate School

Undergraduates

MA/MS

PhD

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Students Pursuing a Graduate Degree

Undergraduates (89) Graduates (16)

Atmospheric Sciences 11%Environmental/Earth Sciences

8% 19%

Solid Earth Geology 60% 37%Geography 2% 6%Oceanography/Marine Sciences

3% 19%

Geosciences Education 1%Other 11% 19%

Undergraduates• 84% pursuing a

MA/MS• 13% pursuing a PhD• 2% pursuing a MAT• 1% undecided

Graduates• 6% pursuing a

MA/MS• 94% pursuing a PhD

Future Plans – Geoscience Employment

Students seeking employment in the geosciences 33% doctoral

students (7) 40% master’s

students (16) 48%

undergraduate students (112)

OtherInformation Technology

FinanceConsulting

EnvironmentalMining

Oil & GasNonProfit/NGO

State/Local GovtFederal Govt

Research Institute4-Year University

2-Year CollegeK-12 Education

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Business Sectors Where Students are Seek-ing Employment

Undergraduates Graduates


Students that accepted a position in the geosciences 48% doctoral

students (10) 30% master’s

students (12) 17%

undergraduate students (40)

Other

Consulting

Environmental

Mining

Oil & Gas

NonProfit/NGO

State/Local Govt

Federal Govt

Research Institute

4-Year University

K-12 Education

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Business Sectors Where Students Found Jobs




Other

Through my own network

Campus recruiting job fair

College/University career center

Internet Job Board

Professional Society

Networking

Faculty Referral

Student Organization

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Sources Where Geoscience Jobs were Found


Future Plans – Employment Outside of the Geosciences

Students that are seeking a job outside of the geosciences 5% master’s

students 15%

undergraduate students

Students that accepted jobs outside of the geosciences 5% graduate

students 6%

undergraduate students

OtherInformation Technology

FinanceConsulting

EnvironmentalMining

Oil & GasNonProfit/NGO

State/Local GovtFederal Govt

Research Institute4-Year University

2-Year CollegeK-12 Education

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Business Sectors Where Students are Seek-ing Jobs Outside the Geosciences

Master’s Students Undergraduates

Number of Students

Why Are Students Seeking Jobs Outside of the Geosciences?

“To serve my country.”

“Have not yet found a geosciences position.”

“Historic Preservation is interdisciplinary and I want to use my geology background in order to be a materials conservator.”

“I want to explore other options for a career path before I continue my education in geosciences.”

“I have decided that I would like to be a teacher.”

“I found a career path that was better suited for my skills and interests than geosciences.”


Should there be a limit to the number of selections for business sectors that a student can search for a job?

Clarifying the categories for Sources where Geoscience Jobs are Found

Concern over the misunderstanding about the definition of geoscience jobs

Other thoughts?

Next Steps…

Advertising the existence of the Exit Survey

Conversations with participating departments on ways to improve the survey

Edits, Additions, Subtractions, etc…

Connecting with more departments to participate

Develop a longitudinal study to look at how these careers develop over time

Thanks for Your Attention

Discussion Questions:Would you department be willing to participate next spring?

Are the department incentives appropriate?

Any suggestions for getting more student involvement?

Is there any other information not covered in the survey that should be covered?

Other comments or questions?

If you have any follow-up questions or comments, please email me:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Wrap-up If you have additional questions or

comments about the webinar series or would like to join the AGU Heads and Chairs workshop at the AGU meeting, please contact Pranoti Asher at [email protected]

If you have questions about today’s presentation, contact Carolyn Wilson at: [email protected]

Heads & Chairs Webinar Series Schedule

Program Assessment: Thursday, November 15,11:00 AM-12:00 PM EST

Recap of the 2012 AGU Meeting Fall H&C Meeting: Wednesday, December 19, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM EST

Documents

This Webinar Series is co-hosted by The American Geophysical Union and The American Geosciences Institute