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The Impacts of a First-Year Seminar on Academic and Career Planning and Community Building for Geoscience Students

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Title: The Impacts of a First-Year Seminar on Academic and Career Planning and Community Building for Geoscience Students
Language: English
Authors: Elizabeth D. Crook, Julie E. Ferguson
Source: International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. 2025 19(2).
Availability: Centers for Teaching & Technology at Georgia Southern University. IJ-SoTL, Georgia Southern University, Henderson Library 1301, Statesboro, GA 30460. e-mail: sotlij@georgiasouthern.edu; Web site: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ij-sotl/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 9
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: First Year Seminars, College Freshmen, STEM Education, Earth Science, Academic Persistence, School Holding Power, Sense of Belonging, Program Effectiveness, Career Planning, Educational Planning, Resources, Minority Group Students, Minority Serving Institutions
ISSN: 1931-4744
Abstract: Retention of students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields, particularly of traditionally underrepresented groups, remains a nationally recognized concern. Many studies have shown that first-year seminars can have a positive effect on a student's transition to college, persistence in their chosen degrees, and ultimate success and retention in the geosciences and other related STEM fields. We created a one-unit first-year seminar to assist our geoscience students with academic and career planning, increase student awareness of opportunities on campus, and increase a sense of belonging in their major. We present pre and post survey data to assess the effectiveness of the seminar class in meeting our instructional goals for student learning, thereby enhancing our teaching and curriculum through reflective program assessment. Our results suggest that the seminar was effective in meeting our objectives in three key areas, including assisting students with academic and career planning, increasing student awareness of support resources and opportunities on campus, and increasing a sense of community amongst participants.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1491413
Database: ERIC
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  Data: The Impacts of a First-Year Seminar on Academic and Career Planning and Community Building for Geoscience Students
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+D%2E+Crook%22">Elizabeth D. Crook</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Julie+E%2E+Ferguson%22">Julie E. Ferguson</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+for+the+Scholarship+of+Teaching+and+Learning%22"><i>International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning</i></searchLink>. 2025 19(2).
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  Data: Centers for Teaching & Technology at Georgia Southern University. IJ-SoTL, Georgia Southern University, Henderson Library 1301, Statesboro, GA 30460. e-mail: sotlij@georgiasouthern.edu; Web site: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ij-sotl/
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  Data: 9
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22First+Year+Seminars%22">First Year Seminars</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Freshmen%22">College Freshmen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+Education%22">STEM Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Earth+Science%22">Earth Science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Persistence%22">Academic Persistence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Holding+Power%22">School Holding Power</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sense+of+Belonging%22">Sense of Belonging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Planning%22">Career Planning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Planning%22">Educational Planning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resources%22">Resources</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minority+Group+Students%22">Minority Group Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minority+Serving+Institutions%22">Minority Serving Institutions</searchLink>
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  Data: 1931-4744
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Retention of students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields, particularly of traditionally underrepresented groups, remains a nationally recognized concern. Many studies have shown that first-year seminars can have a positive effect on a student's transition to college, persistence in their chosen degrees, and ultimate success and retention in the geosciences and other related STEM fields. We created a one-unit first-year seminar to assist our geoscience students with academic and career planning, increase student awareness of opportunities on campus, and increase a sense of belonging in their major. We present pre and post survey data to assess the effectiveness of the seminar class in meeting our instructional goals for student learning, thereby enhancing our teaching and curriculum through reflective program assessment. Our results suggest that the seminar was effective in meeting our objectives in three key areas, including assisting students with academic and career planning, increasing student awareness of support resources and opportunities on campus, and increasing a sense of community amongst participants.
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 9
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: First Year Seminars
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Freshmen
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: STEM Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Earth Science
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Persistence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Holding Power
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sense of Belonging
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career Planning
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Planning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Resources
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      – SubjectFull: Minority Group Students
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      – SubjectFull: Minority Serving Institutions
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      – TitleFull: The Impacts of a First-Year Seminar on Academic and Career Planning and Community Building for Geoscience Students
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