GeoFORCE Results

The primary measurable goals of GeoFORCE are listed below.

1)   Engage bright students as 8th graders and encourage them to challenge themselves academically through high school

GeoFORCE Academy

GeoFORCE students are recruited in the 8th grade.  This graph illustrates the retention in the Academy program.  In this group, only 26 students have withdrawn in 8 years, none of them for academic reasons.

2)   Broaden their view and understanding of the planet

GeoFORCE takes students across the country from Florida to Oregon.  We teach geology in some of the best field areas in the country.  The program is academic and rigorous.  There are exams each evening and a final exam.  Students must earn 80% on the final to be invited back.  100% of GeoFORCE students have passed the final exam.

3)   Demystify college at a large public university

Students who come from families with no college experience can be easily intimidated by the thought of a large public university.  By bringing them to UT, and having them live in the dorms and sit in the classrooms, GeoFORCE allows them to envision themselves as university students.  Does it work?  Consider this:

In the 16 years prior to GeoFORCE, 1 student came from our southwest region schools to study geology at UT

In the first three years of GeoFORCE, 19 students came from those same schools to study geology at UT.

4)   Achieve high school graduation

The program has a 100% high school graduation rate and a 96% college matriculation rate, with a 2% college dropout rate.  For comparison, in the communities from which they draw, high school graduation rates average 58% and college matriculation is about 50%.

5)   Ensure college matriculation

95% of GeoFORCE Grads (class of 2009 – 2013) are enrolled in college in Fall of 2012.  Here is where you’ll find them.

6)   Encourage STEM majors, especially the Geosciences and engineering

In comparison to national averages:

7)   Diversify the future high-tech workforce

GeoFORCE targets challenged schools in rural and inner city areas.  Our target schools in Houston are 98% minority, and in SW Texas, 88% minority.  They are also 75% economically disadvantaged, and about 60% of the students in our target schools are considered at-risk.  The demographics of GeoFORCE students reflects their schools.