Goals and Statistics
Below are our programs statistics, goals, and successes. We are very proud of what we have accomplished so far and will continue to enlighten today's youth with the ability to solve community-based environmental problems.
Program Statistics
- People of color comprise 80% of the population within the City of Detroit but less than 10% of science majors at UM-Dearborn
- Fewer than 2% of the DPS earth science teachers have ever had a college course in geology
- The high school drop out rate in the City of Detroit is over 40%
- Only 21% of DPS high school students graduate in 4 years
Goals of the Geoscience Institute for Research and Education
- Involve earth science teachers and students in community-based geoscience research projects
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Enlist the aid of professional geologists from universities, regulatory agencies and environmental
consulting firms to work with teachers and their students
- Focus on environmental issues facing southeast Michigan
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Expose the teachers and students to environmental issues such as groundwater contamination, health concerns related to brownfield properties,
soil contamination, environmental racism and injustice through hands-on research activities, field trips, and classroom activities involving
modules that facilitate the understanding of the concepts and theory behind the field work.
- Through corporate support make this program self-sustaining within 5 years
Program Successes
- The Pilot program has reached over 30 DPS middle school and high school teachers with a potential to directly impact 900 students
- Directly involved over 50 middle school and high school students in two years
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UM-Dearborn is starting to benefit from the programs success. Fall semester 2006, three of the Institutes first high school students enrolled
as geology majors. More importantly, 15 at-risk students (students expected to drop out of school before their senior year) are still in school
and are on track to graduate this summer. Twelve middle school have enrolled in the top technical high schools in Detroit and are doing
extraordinarily well. We hope to see them at UM-Dearborn in another three years.