EO-04. Be a Mentor for the Research Experience For Community College Students Program!

Abstract
The Research Experience for Community College Students (RECCS) is a summer research internship program for Colorado community students. Compared with 4YC students, community college (2YC) students often have different goals and backgrounds that include: veteran or minority status, significant family responsibilities, rural or lower-income community residency, full- or part-time work off campus, and preparation for second careers. The goal of RECCS is to give these students an authentic research experience that allows them to explore environmental or geosciences and gain the confidence to transition to a four-year program in the STEM disciplines. Last year, due to COVID-19, the usual 9-week in-person program was converted to a 2-week virtual professional development workshop in which 15 students conducted mini data analysis research projects with science mentors. This summer, 18 students will participate in a hybrid (part virtual, part in-person) program, our largest and most diverse cohort since the program’s inception. Mentors have come from CIRES, NOAA, INSTAAR, USGS, CDPHE, and the Niwot Ridge LTER. We are always looking for mentors! The program has had a high success rate with the majority of our alums continuing onto Front Range universities, many on scholarship, and graduating with secured employment or going onto graduate school. This program, started in 2014, received renewal funding in 2020 from the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (REU).