Report:

Conference Proceedings

Expanding Opportunities in Ocean Sciences

FOREWORD

This Report of Conference Proceedings endeavors to provide a clear and objective account of the conference, Expanding Opportunities in Ocean Sciences: A Conference to Strengthen the Links Between HBMSCU Undergraduates and Oceanic Graduate Studies. The conference was held on the Hampton University campus in Hampton, Virginia September 11 and 12, 1995. The event was hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service and co-sponsored by the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC), the Southern Association of Marine Laboratories (SAML), the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), The Oceanographic Society (TOS), and the National Association of Marine Laboratories (NAML). This conference was a significant event, at least in part because of the degree of motivation of attendees, the cooperation of its sponsors, and the array of pragmatic recommendations generated. Eighty-six individuals from state and private, majority and minority colleges and universities, government agencies, and other Ocean Sciences institutions participated in the conference.

In commissioning this document, the Conference Steering Committee recognizes that there were many students and faculty interested in strengthening the links between historically black and minority serving colleges and universities (HBMSCUs) and Oceanic marine graduates studies who were not able to attend. It is understandable that they have a sincere interest in knowing the outcome of the conference.

This document may also serve as a resource for policy makers in education and employment, educators at all levels, historians, and other parties interested in the current situation of minorities in marine studies and the recommendations of this conference aimed at increasing minority graduate study and employment in such fields. Many of the issues and recommendations raised at the conference reflect the broader concerns of historically minority colleges and universities and their potential role in introducing students to non-traditional fields of employment. Thus there are applications for this document that extend beyond its reporting of this conference.

The participants generated substantive and far reaching discussions. While a detailed reporting and analysis of this discussion is presented in the body of this report, it is useful here to highlight the themes and concerns that were raised most frequently.

The Need for Communication

between majority and minority institution faculties, among students, faculty, administrators, and business leaders, on the Internet and through computer user groups, and most importantly, in one-to-one interactions.

The Need for Collaboration

among members of federal agencies, faculty at both HBMSCUs and majority institutions, students, and administrators and educators involved in minority support and Ocean Sciences.

The Need for Increasing the Visibility of the Ocean Sciences

particularly among minority populations, including K-12 teachers.

The Need for Support, Retention, and Follow-through

when encouraging minority students to choose Ocean Sciences.

The need for large research majority institutions to improve their success of educating and training underrepresented minority students by enlarging the pool of these students through more effective recruitment. Recruitment efforts can be improved by ensuring the quality of the "messenger" and of the "message." Effective messengers can range from students to faculty to administrators but all need to be articulate speakers, well versed in the Ocean Sciences, convinced of the need to increase the number of underrepresented minorities completing graduate school, and willing to assume the responsibility needed to attract, support, and retain minority students.

The Need for Continuity and Sustainability

of efforts, e.g. subsequent conferences on a bi-annual basis.

The need to address what students can expect as they leave undergraduate departments to enter multi-disciplinary schools of marine science and oceanography. What can they expect once they acquire advance degrees? Will the early experiences of minority students prepare them for anticipated changes?

The need to communicate what experiences and knowledge will students need to bring to grad school and to the workplace. Therefore, what courses must they take in undergraduate and graduate school? Therefore, what courses and experiences should the HBMSCUs offer the prospective marine science scholar?

The need to address how the profession can reach out to the interested but uninformed student in the large private and state-supported majority institutions. The following narrative provides initial "new ways forward," based on retrospective evaluations of previous shortcomings in appropriate mentoring and training.

NANCY FOSTER

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

PREFACE

These proceedings of the conference held on the campus of Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia are emblematic of our continued efforts to increase minority involvement in the Ocean Sciences. The conference, Expanding Opportunities in Ocean Sciences: Strengthening the Links between HBMSCU Undergraduates and Oceanic Graduate Studies, was the catalyst for bringing together for the first time government agencies from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Office of Naval Research, faculty, students, and administrators from historically black and minority serving colleges and universities and from graduate institutions with programs in the Ocean Sciences to share ideas on topics ranging from preparing students for graduate study to expanding interagency collaboration. This conference, with its emphasis on small working groups, allowed for a depth of discussion rarely possible and produced a list of constructive recommendations for all the participating parties. This is the first step to subsequent conferences, workshops and action to continue promoting diversity and equality in the workplace.

The issues addressed at the conference and the proposed recommendations are of importance to other employers, government agencies, colleges and universities, and to our society as a whole. Should you want more details on the conference, refer to Jearld (1996) as listed in the bibliography on page 67. We hope the dissemination of these proceedings will stimulate discussion, debate, and action. We also hope it will lead to progress in affirming human equality, valuing diversity, and creating an enriched world in which to live and work.

AMBROSE JEARLD, JR.

Acting Chief, Research Planning and Coordination Northeast Fisheries Science Center

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This conference was conceived and planned under the auspices of the six organizations: the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, the Southern Association of Marine Laboratories, the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, The Oceanographic Society, the National Association of Marine Laboratories, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. It was hosted at Hampton University. The National Marine Fisheries Service funded the conference: its planning, costs incurred during the event, and the preparation and printing of the reports. Some participant travel costs were also supported directly by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Conference Steering Committee

Ambrose Jearld, Jr., National Marine Fisheries Service (Chair)

Brian Bingham, Western Washington University

Susan B. Cook, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc.

Benjamin Cuker, Hampton University

John W. Farrington, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Teri Frady, National Marine Fisheries Service

Natalie Huff, National Marine Fisheries Service

Darryl Keith, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Margaret Leinen, University of Rhode Island

Nancy H. Marcus, Florida State University

Livingston S. Marshall, University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Carlos Robles, California State University

Denise Stephenson-Hawk, Clark Atlanta University

Conference Chair

Ambrose Jearld, Jr., NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA

We also thank many individuals for their contribution to the conference and this report. An especial thanks to Dr. Nancy Foster, National Marine Fisheries Service.

For her editing expertise, style, patience, and wit: Emily Miller.

This conference, beginning with the notion for and through this report, is the product of a cooperative undertaking. It began several years ago at a NOAA EEO conference. For their cheerful assistance beyond the call of duty: Drs. Carolyn Brown, George G. Grice, and John B. Pearce, Teri Frady, Natalie Huff, Evelyn Jones and Denise Peloquin, National Marine Fisheries Service; Dr. Ben Cuker, Hampton University; Dr. Melinda F. Davis, Fort Valley State College; Dr. Joan Mitchell, National Science Foundation; Emorcia Hill, New England Board of Higher Education; Dr. N. Joyce Payne, Public Black Colleges, NASULGC; Dr. Matt Gilligan, Savannah State College, GA.

Finally, for all of the panelists and working session chairs, and to the many, many more who go unnamed for your enduring inspiration.

www.nefsc.noaa.gov

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