Using summer enrichment experiences to encourage undergraduate students to pursue careers in environmental health and environmental justice

Purpose: To describe the process evaluation of a pilot Summer Enrichment program (SEP) at the University of South Carolina that provided opportunities and experiences for underrepresented undergraduate students to gain exposure to research careers in environmental health sciences and environmental justice. The project also provided graduate students from the University valuable practice in program planning, implementation and evaluation.

Methods: Qualitative data collection methods were used to conduct a process evaluation of this pilot project, primarily from the perspective of the undergraduate students who participated and the graduate students who planned and implemented the program. Data were collected using two methods, weekly journals and open-ended surveys, which measured the usefulness of program experiences to career intentions and the feasibility of such a project.

Results: The results indicated that the SEP provided both undergraduate and graduate level students the opportunity to utilize the skills and knowledge that they acquired in their formal education that the program was beneficial to their professional, personal, and academic goals and development. Students indicated that the SEP enhanced their confidence level, reinforced prior knowledge and skills, added to current knowledge and provided useful practical experiences in the areas of data collection and processing, GPS/GIS and mapping, and presenting information to targeted audiences.

Conclusion: SEPs play an important role in encouraging underrepresented students to pursue careers in public health and other related health and medical fields. Similar to other SEPs, students gain invaluable knowledge and skills that they can utilize in both their professional and personal lives.