Report:

Conference Proceedings

Expanding Opportunities in Ocean Sciences

VII. RECOMMENDATIONS

Targeted Recommendations

When the entire body reconvened some items were mentioned by all the groups. Communication on a continuing basis was part of each set of recommendations. Communication through the Internet and World Wide Web were cited by most of the groups as necessary to effect desired outcomes. However, perhaps surprisingly in this age of the information highway, communication on a face-to-face basis was a recurrent theme throughout the conference. Unanimously, each group felt that this conference or one similar should be reconvened on a bi-annual basis. It was suggested that other agencies might host it to represent their unique needs and perspectives. Other suggestions included having an annual meeting of HBMSCU contacts, perhaps in conjunction with professional meetings. Holding the proposed conferences at various locations would foster contacts between faculty, researchers and administrators from both majority and minority academic institutions and research laboratories. Each group also desired a written response to this conference. This document serves as a partial fulfillment of that request. NOAA/NMFS will report on the progress of recommendations, thus fulfilling the request of participants.

Another recurring theme was the advice to not reinvent programs but to use and expand successful ones while building connections between them. Just a few of the successful programs cited were NSF/Hampton/ASLO, NOAA/Clark-Atlanta University, NSF's REUs, MARC and MBRS.

The success of the recommendations was seen as dependent upon the commitment of funding from various sources, including NMFS/NOAA, as well as a commitment of time and key personnel at every institution involved. This brought up underlying concerns about such activities not being seen as important by the participants' home institutions. These concerns were expressed by professionals from every type of institution and reveal the second-class nature of student-oriented activities at many educational institutions as well as the persistent inability of many institutions, educational and otherwise, to deal with minority issues at every level.

The following are specific recommendations targeted to particular groups:

To the NOAA/NMFS

1. Make funds available to support a variety of activities, including:
   • conferences such as this.
   • HBMSCU research fairs
   • annual meetings for HBMSCUs

2. Assist HBMSCUs in leveraging funds to support a variety of activities, including: . technological upgrades such as building internet and computer capabilitiesp. site visits and exchanges between faculties of minority and majority schools

3. Provide employment and experiential learning opportunities, including:
   • internships
   • summer institutes for faculty

4. Utilize NOAA's staff to develop a speakers program

5. Support a nationwide, electronic recruitment system that creates a pipeline for students in the sciences between Ph.D. granting universities and institutions serving large numbers of minority students, such as the NASULGC's collaboration with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

6. Establish a national scholarship program for undergraduates and graduate students that is designed to encourage minorities to major in disciplines pertinent to Ocean Sciences.

7. Establish liaison positions at HBMSCUs. Liaison officers will be charged with the responsibility of providing technical assistance to create and sustain programs that support NOAA's mission.

8. Establish a NOAA/HBMSCU Task Force that will promote and enhance policies and programs designed to encourage collaborative programs, cooperative research and the institutionalization of NOAA programs at HBMSCUs.

To Federal Agencies

1. Funding agencies who support ocean science research and education should examine proposal and funding guidelines to ensure that the unique capabilities and characteristics of HBMSCUs can be reasonably accommodated.

2. Increase support for predominantly minority institutions that produce mathematics, engineering and science (both natural and social) graduates , particularly those with aquatic sciences programs.

3. NSF and other federal agencies should continue or begin to replace isolated and piecemeal opportunity efforts with more ambitious, coordinated, and coherent approaches that provide a systemic effort.

4. Effectively integrate government resources to develop a federal (multi-agency cost-share) partnership program to complement and/or stimulate (financially) emerging partnerships between the oceanographic institutions and HBMSCUs.

5. Link NSF-sponsored Science and Technology (S&T) Centers at majority institutions with HBMSCUs to encourage and support joint research and fund this linkage with NSF funds.

6. Develop a national NSF-like Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU).

7. Provide talented undergraduate students with summer research opportunities and experience for a minimum of three summers through a "partnering" of academic and federal laboratories and provide similar opportunities for faculty at HBMSCUs.

8. Expand program support to include other federal agencies such as the EPA.

To the Private Business Sector

1. Link up with existing mentor programs to increase students' experience in the business world of the Ocean Sciences (for example, summer internships in aquariums).

2. Continue to enhance existing and explore new opportunities for unique and productive partnerships with academia, especially small universities and colleges, and particularly HBCUs. Such partnerships should/could include: endowed chairs; research funding and support for equipment upgrade and purchase, facility construction; and access to corporate labs (faculty/student research experiences; IPA-like exchanges between business/ industry and universities).

3. Provide direct support to minority and majority institutions through financial or in-kind contributions, mentoring, research and employment opportunities for students.

4. Assist in persuading government agencies that increased funding for structural changes is crucial and must continue.

To Majority Institutions

1. Sponsor faculty exchanges between majority institutions with marine science programs and minority institutions to build connections between undergraduate and graduate institutions.

2. Work with minority institutions to increase joint funding for mutually beneficial programs.

3. Increase minority graduate enrollment by clusters not individuals.

4. Offer an increased number of fellowships/scholarships for students from HBMSCUs. Recognize the cultural differences between majority and minority institutions which may influence academic training for students in the respective types of institutions; utilize knowledge in this area to design and offer strong programs for all students. In all cases possible, research opportunities and funding should be pursued inclusive of smaller universities and colleges, particularly the HBMSCUs.

5. Intensify efforts to recruit and promote the development of minority students.

6. Improve minority faculty recruitment and retention.

7. Actively support mathematics and science-based choices by minority students.

8. Encourage minority students from a broad range of majors to consider the Ocean Sciences.

9. Involve the private sector.

To Minority Institutions

1. Recognize that graduates of HBMSCUs are considered strong candidates for graduate study and aggressively foster undergraduates for graduate studies in the Ocean Sciences.

2. Continue strengthening students' basic skills and providing opportunities for Ocean Sciences research experience.

3. Develop strong mentor programs.

4. Increase visibility and lobbying influence with your state and federal legislators (representatives); many of whom graduated from minority institutions or are associates of those who did.

5. Provide assistance to public schools to improve the preparation of elementary and secondary students for college work.

6. Create a supportive and stimulating environment for undergraduates.

7. Support graduate programs at selected HBMSCU campuses.

8. Support cooperation with major doctoral-granting research institutions.

9. Insist that any emerging program be developed with the end-users, underrepresented minority students, in mind. Demand that programs be tailored to their needs.

To the Students

1. Recognize that you are ultimately responsible for your own education, including:
   • using support systems
   • developing a strong mentor relationship
   • taking advantage of provided opportunities

2. Continue strengthening your academic record for graduate admission.

3. Continue to take advantage of opportunities (particularly research experiences and funding opportunities) available through federal agencies, academic institutions and business/industry network.

4. Use your experience to recruit and mentor less experienced individuals.

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