Professional opportunities at two-year colleges

1. Professional opportunities at two-year colleges Becca Walker (rwalker@mtsac.edu)Mt. San Antonio College Academic Career Workshop, July 2014 Mt. SAC Global Opportunities Hawai’i program, 2014

2. Field experiences • Field trips associated with courses • Field courses • GEOL24, GEOL25, GEOL29 at Mt. SAC • Pasadena City College: Colorado Plateau, Western Cordillera, Klamath Mountains • Northern Virginia Community College: Canadian Rockies Regional Field Geology • Institutional-level • Global Opportunities program at Mt. SAC • Cooperative field programs • Border to Beltway (El Paso Community College and Northern Virginia Community College)

3. Curriculum development and assessment • InTeGrate (NSF-STEP Center) • Interdisciplinary Teaching about Earth for a Sustainable Future • Supports geoscience teaching of societal issues through curriculum development, professional development, and assessment • 7 2YC faculty currently working as module authors • GETSI (NSF-TUES) • GEodesy Tools for Societal Issues • Development of teaching materials to address societally important Earth science questions through the use of geodetic data

4. SAGE 2YC • Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education in Two-Year Colleges (NSF-DUE) • Professional development program for 2YC faculty; national, regional, and local workshops Tacoma, WA 2012 workshop: Preparing Students in 2YCs for Geoscience Degrees and Careers. Image courtesy of SAGE 2YC.

5. NAGT Geo2YC • National Association of Geoscience Teachers, 2-Year College Division • Quarterly newsletter, discussion board, listserv, and events at national meetings provide networking opportunities for 2YC faculty

6. Research and other grant work • Some 2YCs have research/special topics courses • Grant programs geared toward 2YCs: • NSF-ATE (Advanced Technological Education) • NSF-OEDG (Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences) • General NSF push to foster collaborative work between 2YC and 4YC students and faculty • This just in: There are funding agencies other than NSF!

7. Workshops and short courses • Examples from the past year: • Helping Students Succeed in Geoscience Courses at Two-Year Colleges (NAGT-2YC) • Modernizing the Seismology in Your 100 and 200 Level Geoscience Course (NSF, IRIS) • Undergraduate Research in Earth Science Classes: Engaging Students in the First Two Years (InTeGrate, On the Cutting Edge) • Geoscience and the 21st Century Workforce (InTeGrate) • Geoscience Careers for Today’s 2YC Students (SAGE-2YC)

8. Local, regional and national meetings • National level: • social events, technical sessions, and professional development opportunities for 2YC faculty are growing at national GSA and AGU meetings • Regional level: • NAGT (National Association of Geoscience Teachers) Section meetings • Local level: • Strengthening Student Success Conference

9. Student advising and mentoring • Connect students with internship/enrichment programs • Assist students with transfer process • Serve as Geoscience Club advisor Crater Hill, Zion National Park, UT Image courtesy of Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program

10. Campus service and committee work • Academic Senate • Faculty Association • Task forces • Judicial/grievance committees • Search committees • Student learning outcomes • Faculty coordinator positions • Countless options! Find something that interests you and enriches your academic work.