Green-SJ

  • environmental science students in the field

Green-SJ

GREEN-SJ: Partnering in your Environmental Future at Rowan University

What is GREEN-SJ?

Green-SJ is a program within the Department of Environmental Science (ES) at Rowan University funded by the National Science Foundation to foster greater diversity in the geosciences and provide a home base for transfer students and existing ES majors at Rowan from communities traditionally underrepresented in science and math.  Green-SJ supports transfer students who have to adapt to a new school and new professors as they earn a Bachelor's degree at Rowan and offers Environmental Science majors already at Rowan the opportunity to get more out of their undergraduate experience.  GREEN-SJ provides opportunities to work in labs, tutor peers, and pursue internships, while earning the credits and salary students need to achieve their educational goals, all within a supportive community focused on their success at Rowan and beyond.

What are the benefits?

  • Professional development and workforce training
  • Scientist mentors from underrepresented groups
  • Up to 6 credits of tuition for students transferring into Rowan University Environmental Science
  • Internships in Southern NJ's premier environmental firms
  • Research opportunities in Rowan University Environmental Science laboratories
  • A strong professional network already in place upon graduation

How do I get involved?

Funded GREEN-SJ opportunities are available for traditionally underrepresented students**.  If interested in being considered for funded opportunities, please apply using the Google Form application.

 

Apply for GREEN-SJ

Applications for participation in Spring/Summer 2024 are open now!

All Rowan University ES students may participate in workshops and professional development.  Watch department email and flyers for notifications.

 

**Funded positions are available for students from traditionally underrepresented groups (Black and African American, Hispanic and Latino, Native American/Indigenous/American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander) in STEM.**

Who is eligible to participate in the GREEN-SJ community?
The GREEN-SJ community is designed to provide support to traditionally underrepresented students but many of the opportunities are designed to benefit all ES majors, especially workshops and professional development.
Who is eligible to apply for funded participation in GREEN-SJ community activities?
  • Undergraduates who identify as historically underrepresented minorities (Black and African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander)
    • ROWAN STUDENTS: Must be enrolled in Environmental Science and have achieved junior standing.
      • Preference will be given to existing ES majors, but students wishing to change majors are encouraged to apply.
      • Students who will reach junior standing in Spring 2024 or Summer 2024 are also encouraged to apply.
    •  TRANSFER STUDENTS FROM RCSJ-C: Must be enrolled in Environmental Science or in an allied majors (e.g. Biology, Chemistry)
      • Students at RCSJ should be ready to transfer after the Spring 2024 semester
    • Students who meet the criteria and are enrolled in other regional community colleges are encouraged to contact us about applying.
  • Financial support (paid stipends) is available only to US citizens or those who hold a green card as a permanent resident, per Federal requirements.  Tuition is available to all participants.
    • If you have questions about your eligibility, please talk to us.
Are there any other things I should know?

We are excited for you to participate in GREEN-SJ, and we will be offering opportunities throughout the academic year (e.g. peer tutoring, mentoring from diverse scientists already working in the field).  We will also offer opportunities in the summer (e.g. internships, research opportunities, coursework).  Please make sure that your schedule can handle the expected time and commitment.

All students need to commit to attending and actively participating in program activities, including meetings and discussion with mentors.

Transfer students must be available to take courses in Summer 2024 to enroll in this program.

Rowan students should be available for an internship or research experiences in Summer 2024.

Contact us for more information

At RCSJ-C: Professor Young, myoung24@rcsj.edu

At Rowan University:  Dr. Christensen, christensenb@rowan.edu or Dr. Crumrine, crumrine@rowan.edu 

Goals of the GREEN-SJ Program

For too long, environmental science has not been inclusive.  Check out this article that documents that < 3% of the environmental science degrees in 2016 were awarded to African American students.  We aim to change that, and in doing so plan to build an inclusive and welcoming space for students from all backgrounds and experience.

GREEN-SJ is funded by a grant to Christensen and Crumrine by the NSF.  Below, you can see our grant goals and objectives, and learn more about GREEN-SJ.  Note- URM stands for traditionally underrepresented minority, which NSF defines for STEM as Black and African American, Hispanic and Latino, Native American/Indigenous/American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander.

 

  1.  Goals and Objectives of GREEN-SJ (as taken from our NSF proposal)
Our four main goals focus on building a network of institutions that will prepare and support a diverse student body empowered with the skills, experience, and confidence necessary to follow their chosen career path in environmental science. Ultimately, GREEN-SJ will unlock overlooked talent for the strong existing environmental science job sector in NJ. The need for this work is both immediate and cardinal, and will prepare southern NJ’s URM students for a leading role in the green energy industry that is currently being developed in the region.  Since Rowan ES is simultaneously building its graduate programs, these efforts, particularly those focused on improving our visibility and explaining the relevance of ES, should yield even higher dividends.
 
Goals:
  1. Establish the GREEN-SJ GLE in southern New Jersey
    1. Grow a new transfer relationship between RCSJ-C and Rowan to support the new ES A.S. that is  aligned to Rowan’s ES curriculum, paying attention to URM-specific issues.
    2. Develop relationships with other community colleges in the region and include strategies for URM students learned in this first GREEN-SJ initiative.
    3. Build relationships with industry partners and potential employers that are supportive for URM students by making cultural awareness a requirement of participation as a mentor in GREEN-SJ.
    4. Engage with individuals in the region about opportunities in environmental science particularly wind energy and other green energy initiatives and highlight the role URM students are already playing at Rowan ES and RCSJ-C.
  2. Recruit diverse talent to populate the GREEN-SJ GLE.
    1. Recruit ES URM students from a diverse and underserved region of New Jersey through outreach to high schools (Cumberland County).
    2. Facilitate the successful transfer of URM students from RCSJ-C to Rowan ES through on-ramp coursework and orientation and skills-building workshops.
    3. Expand to other regional 2-year institutions using best practices identified by program evaluation to broaden URM recruitment post-funding.
    4. Recruit Rowan ES URM students to enter the major from other pathways (e.g., changing majors; transfer from other universities or colleges).
  3. Retain URM students by helping them grow and flourish within GREEN-SJ GLE.
    1. Provide a supportive academic transition and build in cohort-based opportunities to stay on a 4-year pathway to on-time graduation
    2. Provide professional preparation through workforce development programming and internships.
    3. Provide funding to students to ease the financial burden of earning a B.A. or B.S. degree in ES and to promote on-time graduation.
    4. Familiarize students with Rowan support offices to ensure success beyond the program.
  4. Ensure that the GREEN-SJ GLE is culturally competent, supportive and welcoming to URM students
    1. Engage faculty and affiliated leaders such as internship supervisors in focused DEI training to promote inclusivity in mentoring, teaching, and supervising
    2. Provide student participants with access to URM mentors during all phases of their involvement in GREEN-SJ.
    3. Generate knowledge on the GREEN-SJ efforts and disseminate at national conferences (AGU, ESA)
 In short, we will expand and enhance the opportunities in ES for URM students from southern NJ by building academic and community bridges for students moving from two- to four- year institutions, create an even more welcoming culture with targeted opportunities for existing Rowan ES URM students and DEI training for faculty and staff, provide important gateway experiences (internships, training) in professional fields, and provide financial support to ensure these students are able to finish their training.