“An Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions: A Framework for Producing Minority Scientists in NOAA-Related Disciplines” Larry Robinson Professor, Environmental Sciences Institute Director, NOAA’s Environmental Cooperative Science Center Florida 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 5 th Center will be designated in July 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

Program Outcomes - 2

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 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 %666.7% %522.7% %323.1% %527.8% %29.1%

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 %5100.0% %535.7% %327.3% %538.5% %211.8%

Educational Partnership Program Conclusion 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.