Recruiting Isn\u27t Rocket Science So Why Shoot for the Moon?

Undergraduate student enrollment is down in most academic natural resource programs nationwide while professional concern is up that minority engagement in natural resources is not increasing in proportion to minority population growth. Oregon State University Fisheries and Wildlife Science launched a recruiting program in 2002 that has developed a tiered and adaptive management approach to attracting and keeping students of all backgrounds. Our proportion of undergraduates from under-represented groups has increased from about 7% in 2002 to 13 % in 2007. This presentation will discuss a variety of strategies, tools and ideas for recruiting and retaining natural resource students including curricula flexibility, peer-mentoring, 3/2 programs, experiential learning, learning cohorts, “ SPAWN” presentations where students return to their natal high school, a student-produced DVD and salmon bookmarks. We have found one tool can’t do it all and one recruiter can’t either; thus a key to our program is to “out-source” recruiting and retention to existing labor pools. In summary, you don’t have to set your sights on the moon – you can succeed by aiming close to home