“An Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions:

A Framework for Producing Minority Scientists in NOAA-Related Disciplines”

Larry RobinsonProfessor, Environmental Sciences Institute

Director, NOAA’s Environmental Cooperative Science CenterFlorida A&M University

Background

• The Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) Program is a NOAA-wide initiative.

• The program uses the Department of Education definition of MSIs (e.g., HBCU, HSI, TCU, ANHS)

• The EPP/MSI Program was initiated in FY 2001 with a $15M budget appropriation. In FY 05 EPP received a $14.4M program budget

Program Goals

• To increase programs and opportunities for students to pursue research and education in NOAA sciences.

• To develop collaborative programs with MSIs that provide education to serve the interests of NOAA and the nation at large.

• To increase linkages between MSIs, other research institutions, the private sector, the NGO community, and NOAA.

– Cooperative Science Centers

– Environmental Entrepreneurship Program

– Graduate Sciences Program

– Undergraduate Scholarship Program

Program Components

Undergraduate Scholarship Program

• Designed to increase the number of students who undertake course work and graduate with degrees in specific scientific areas or fields integral to NOAA’s mission

• Approximately 15 students entering their junior year are selected annually, who have matriculated in the natural and/or physical science fields

• Students participate in HQ orientation where they rotate through NOAA Line and Program Offices to learn about the programmatic and research objectives and potential career opportunities within NOAA

Graduate Sciences Program

• Specifically designed to recruit, hire and provide graduate level training to qualified women and minority candidates in NOAA-related sciences

• Individuals are trained in a pre-determined course of study to meet the specificity of NOAA’s scientific occupations

• Mentorships established between students and NOAA staff strengthen collaborative research in NOAA’s mission related areas

• Applications are accepted annually from October thru January

Environmental Entrepreneurship Program

• The program’s objective is to increase the number of students proficient in environmental business enterprises.

• The program facilitates linkages between MSIs, NOAA and the private sector.

Environmental Entrepreneurship Program

• The program involves engaging students at MSIs in the application of business skills and best management science techniques.

• The purpose is for promoting environmental sustainability and revitalizing local communities.

• Approximately $14.7 million has supported 50 EEP Awards.

Cooperative Science Centers

Four Cooperative Science Centers were designated in October 2001, at MSIs with established programs and graduate degrees in NOAA related disciplines. A 5th Center will be designated in July 2006. The four existing Centers are:

– City College of the City University of New York, Remote Sensing;

– Florida A&M University, Environmental Science;– Howard University, Atmospheric Sciences; and,– University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, Living Marine

Resources ► 17 of the 21 academic partners are MSIs

Best Practices - 1

• Program Developed Collaboratively

– Incorporated Concepts and Ideas from “EOC”

– Allowed continuous input from HBCU Consortium

– Championed by DOC and NOAA leaders

– Designed to met a clear national need garnering non-partisan support

Best Practices - 2

• Strong NOAA leadership commitment to support EPP goals and objectives– MSI Council Input and Guidance– Diversity recognized and supported by Science Advisory Board– Top management involvement in major program activities

• Dedicated Program Administrative and Scientific Support – 7 full-time employees to provide programmatic and administrative– 2 high-level NOAA scientists and administrators as scientific

liaisons for CSCs– Scientific and management committees and advisory boards with

NOAA presence

Best Practices - 3

• Alignment and Integration into Mainstream NOAA– Activities support NOAA strategic priorities

– Competitive cooperative agreements vs. grants – CSCs aligned with specific NOAA Line Offices

– CSCs participate in planning and research activities with other NOAA funded institutes and centers

– Collaboration with NOAA Scientists

– Research transferable to NOAA operations

Best Practices - 4

• Appropriate Performance Measures and Metrics– Students, students and more students

– Collaborative research involving MSI partners

– Leveraged funds

– Publication of peer reviewed papers

• Rigorous Program Evaluation and Monitoring– Comprehensive three year review

– Semi-annual reporting with feedback loop

– Extensive student tracking data base

– Biennial Education and Science Forum

Best Practices - 5

• Partnerships led and impacts realized mostly in the MSI community

– Supports institutions with strong track records for recruitment and matriculation of minorities in STEM

– All principal institutions funded through EPP must be MSIs – CSC lead institution must be an MSI – No more than 20% of awarded funds may be provided to a

majority institution – Includes an outreach component to address pipeline issues

Best Practices - 6

• Significant and long-term investment – Program funding part of NOAA’s long-term budgeting process

– NOAA has established an additional five-year commitment to EPP program components

– Five-year funding commitment to CSCs

– External efforts underway to increase program funding

Program Outcomes

B.S. M.A. M.S. JD Ph.D TOTAL

Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Center

43 24 3 70

Environmental Cooperative Science Center

28 20 1 8 57

Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center

57 1 11 2 71

NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences

23 19 7 49

TOTAL STUDENTS 151 1 74 1 20 247

TOTAL MINORITY STUDENTS 91 40 1 19 151

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Educational Partnership Program

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Educational Partnership Program Student Tracker Database

Graduated Students

Program Outcomes - 2

B.S. M.A. M.S. Ed.D Ph.D TOTAL

Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Center

66 36 38 140

Environmental Cooperative Science Center

30 1 18 1 12 62

Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center

53 18 9 80

NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences

63 12 15 90

TOTAL STUDENTS 212 1 84 1 74 372

TOTAL MINORITY STUDENTS 186 65 58 309

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Educational Partnership Program

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Educational Partnership Program Student Tracker Database

Student Pipeline

Program Outcomes - 3

• According to NSF, between fiscal years 2001 and 2004, a total of 9 Ph.D. degrees in Atmospheric Sciences were awarded nationally to African Americans. In May 2006, Howard University, the NCAS lead institution, made an unprecedented impact on national statistics by awarding 3 Ph.D. degrees in Atmospheric Science to African Americans. An additional 12 African American Atmospheric Scientists are in the pipeline with graduation dates expected within the next two years.

• A total of 22 Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Sciences were awarded to African and Hispanic Americans between fiscal years 2000 and 2004 according to NSF. An ECSC partner institution, Jackson State University (JSU), awarded a minimum of 3 Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Science in 2003 and 2004. Between fiscal years 2005 and 2006, ECSC graduated 8 minority students with Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Sciences: 1 by Jackson State University and 7 by the ECSC lead institution, Florida A&M University (FAMU).

Impacts on NOAA Workforce - 1

Fiscal Year

Total Employees Hired into

NOAA Professions

Total Minorities Hired into

NOAA Professions

% of Minorities Hired into NOAA

Professional Occupations

Minority GSPs Hired into NOAA Professions

% Minority GSPs Hired into

NOAA Professions

2001 201 9 4.5% 6 66.7%

2002 373 22 5.9% 5 22.7%

2003 316 13 4.1% 3 23.1%

2004 212 18 8.5% 5 27.8%

2005 239 22 9.2% 2 9.1%

Impacts on NOAA Workforce - 2

Fiscal Year

Total Employees Hired into

NOAA Professions

Total Minorities Hired into

NOAA S & T Professions

% of Minorities Hired into NOAA S & T Occupations

Minority GSPs Hired into NOAA S & T Professions

% Minority GSPs Hired into

NOAA S & T Professions

2001 201 5 2.5% 5 100.0%

2002 373 14 3.8% 5 35.7%

2003 316 11 3.5% 3 27.3%

2004 212 13 6.1% 5 38.5%

2005 239 17 7.1% 2 11.8%

Educational Partnership ProgramConclusion

A successful framework has been developed for building science capacity and generating minority students in STEM disciplines and if continued commitment and support are provided then future successes are certain.

Acknowledgements: NOAA EPP Staff; Office of Civil Rights; NOAA administrators and scientific staff; CSC Directors and staff; and the talented faculty, staff and students at MSIs throughout this great Nation.