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AGU Bridge Program

Advancing the Earth and space sciences through increased representation of Hispanics, African Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians in geoscience graduate programs.

AGU Bridge Program

Inaugurated in 2019, AGU's Bridge Program was initiated to develop, adopt, and share inclusive practices for recruiting, admitting and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduate programs. AGU members are encouraged to share information about the AGU Bridge Program with any current or prospective students who may have an interest in pursuing graduate degrees in the Earth and space sciences. African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian students who want to join the Bridge Program can take advantage of a free common graduate school application that will be shared with multiple partner institutions.

The list of participating institutions, announced in a recent Eos article, as well as eligibility requirements for students can be found below.

Students, Bridge Program Application Portal now open!

Deadline for applications is 15 April 2020. Students must submit their application by April 1, 2020, to allow enough time for faculty recommendations to be submitted.

Apply now

About the program

The AGU Bridge Program is part of the Inclusive Graduate Education Network (IGEN), an effort to develop, adopt, and share inclusive practices for recruiting, admitting, and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in STEM Ph.D. programs.

The specific goal of the AGU Bridge Program is to increase the number of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups obtaining a Ph.D. in the geosciences by offering students who have not applied to graduate school, or who have applied but were not accepted:

  • A free common application that can be shared with multiple institutions
  • Professional development opportunities, including workshops and conferences
  • Connections to faculty who can serve as mentors
  • Connections to other students in the program who share their experiences

By creating sustainable transition programs and a national network of doctoral granting institutions that provide substantial mentoring for students, more students from underrepresented populations will be able to successfully obtain doctorate degrees in the geosciences, addressing the persistent disparities.

Download a copy of our AGU Bridge Program promotional flyer to print and share.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants Nos. 1834540, 1834545, 1834528 and 1834516. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

AGU Bridge Program Partner Institutions

The AGU Bridge Program is an asset to institutions seeking to increase diversity in their departments and the larger geosciences community. By working together, we can create a more welcoming environment in the Earth and space sciences for everyone. Congratulations to the inaugural AGU Bridge Partner institutions, announced in a recent Eos article.

The following list of departments were selected as Bridge Program partner institutions:

  1. Colorado State University, Department of Atmospheric Science
  2. Georgia State University, Department of Geosciences
  3. Hampton University, Department of Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
  4. Lehigh University, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
  5. Michigan Technological University, Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
  6. University at Albany, State University of New York, Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences and the Atmospheric Science Research Center
  7. University of California, Irvine, Department of Earth System Science
  8. University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Earth Science
  9. University of Chicago, Department of the Geophysical Sciences
  10. University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Geological Sciences
  11. University of Massachusetts, Department of Geosciences
  12. University of Minnesota, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
  13. University of Wisconsin–Madison, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

The AGU Bridge Program seeks to increase the number of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups obtaining a graduate degree in the geosciences. A key component to fulfilling this goal is building a large base of institutions that can admit and retain students from underrepresented groups through an AGU-led student application process.

The AGU Bridge Program student applicant database provides access to a unique talent pool for departments in the geosciences to facilitate pairings between student applicants and partner institutions.

Partner Institutions are departments that have demonstrated that they will provide a supportive, inclusive and nurturing environment for students. The AGU Bridge Program recommends programs to interested students and helps departments committed to Bridge Program principles recruit talented students.

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AGU Bridge Program Partner Benefits

  • 1
    Access to the AGU Bridge Program student applicant database
  • 2
    Public recognition by AGU of the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the Earth and space sciences
  • 3
    Access to AGU Bridge Program staff, veteran Bridge Program Partners, and other subject matter experts to provide resources and support strategies for aiding underrepresented students in graduate programs
  • 4
    Recommendation of the department’s supportive post-baccalaureate educational environment to prospective and current Bridge Program students, students from underrepresented groups, and others
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Becoming an AGU Bridge Program Partner

Becoming a Partner is free. All U.S. institutions that grant a master’s or doctoral degree in the geosciences are eligible to apply.

Partner Department applications are reviewed annually by members of selected AGU committees and AGU Bridge Project management. The annual deadline for partner applications will be mid-October. Next year’s applications for 2021 AGU Bridge Partner will open soon.

Please download Request for Proposals Instructions and complete the Proposal Template to apply.

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How can departments benefit from the AGU Bridge Program?

The AGU Bridge Program believes in nurturing a positive culture that supports diversity as well as study. We encourage graduate programs that have demonstrated commitment to working with diverse students and supporting them as graduate scholars to join the Bridge Program as a Partner Department.

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AGU Bridge Program Partner Benefits

  • 1
    Access to the AGU Bridge Program student applicant database
  • 2
    Public recognition by AGU of the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the Earth and space sciences
  • 3
    Access to AGU Bridge Program staff, veteran Bridge Program Partners, and other subject matter experts to provide resources and support strategies for aiding underrepresented students in graduate programs
  • 4
    Recommendation of the department’s supportive post-baccalaureate educational environment to prospective and current Bridge Program students, students from underrepresented groups, and others
Green mountains and grassland surrounding a small pond

Becoming an AGU Bridge Program Partner

Becoming a Partner is free. All U.S. institutions that grant a master’s or doctoral degree in the geosciences are eligible to apply.

Partner Department applications are reviewed annually by members of selected AGU committees and AGU Bridge Project management. The annual deadline for partner applications will be mid-October. Next year’s applications for 2021 AGU Bridge Partner will open soon.

Please download Request for Proposals Instructions and complete the Proposal Template to apply.

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Which students are right for the Bridge Program?

The AGU Bridge Program is appropriate for undergraduate students in the geosciences who can contribute to the diversity of the geosciences, are driven in their study, and would benefit from additional consideration from graduate programs in the Earth and space sciences.

Students with degrees closely related to geosciences may apply to the program, but they must have completed many of the advanced undergraduate core geoscience requirements or their applications will not be considered. These may include courses in advanced calculus, math or other appropriate courses. Students without undergraduate geoscience degrees should be sure to include in their application strong reasons for why their studies have prepared them to pursue a master's or Ph.D. in the geosciences.

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Frequently asked questions

Eligibility for the AGU Bridge Program states that students should hold a degree, either bachelor's or master's in the geosciences or a closely related discipline. Note that students who have already attained a master's degree in the geosciences must meet all other eligibility requirements. This includes not receiving an offer of admission into a doctoral program.

The AGU Bridge Program does not presently offer funding to successful applicants nor to participating institutions, however, these institutions typically offer financial support, typically comparable or identical to stipends received by other graduate students at the institution. Once students receive graduate program offers, students should consider whether the offered financial support is sufficient for their needs.

Although women of all racial and ethnic groups are underrepresented in geosciences and many other STEM fields, the specific focus of the AGU Bridge Program is to increase the number of Ph.D.s awarded to African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian students irregardless of gender. Students who fall under these racial and ethnic minority groups are encouraged to apply to the Bridge Program.

Information for Student Applicants

The AGU Bridge Program is open to prospective African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian students who meet the eligibility criteria, exhibit academic promise, and plan to pursue a master's or doctoral degree in the geosciences or related fields.

The Bridge Program aims to improve access to graduate education for all students, with emphasis on those underrepresented in doctoral programs in the geosciences.

Is the Bridge Program for me?

The AGU Bridge Program is committed to increasing representation of Hispanics, African Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians in geoscience graduate programs. The ideal candidate for this program will be a current or former undergraduate geoscience student who demonstrates the commitment, drive, and potential to complete a rigorous graduate program in the geosciences, but for various reasons, does not have the necessary coursework, research experience, or guidance to gain admission to a geoscience graduate program.

If you have already been accepted into a graduate program in the geosciences, you do not qualify for acceptance into the AGU Bridge Program.

Apply now

Eligibility requirements

Successful applicants to the AGU Bridge Program must also meet the following criteria:
  • 1
    Applicants must be Hispanic, African American, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native, or Native Hawaiian U.S. citizens, permanent U.S. residents, or enrolled in the DACA program
  • 2
    Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in geoscience or a closely related discipline by the time they would enter the AGU Bridge Program
  • 3

    Applicants must satisfy either of the following criteria in the current academic year:

    • Did not apply to a geoscience graduate program; or
    • Applied to one or more geoscience graduate programs but did not receive acceptance by any program

    Please note: if you are waiting to receive acceptance into a program, you are still encouraged to apply for the AGU Bridge Program.

  • 4

    Applicants must satisfy additional requirements of individual Bridge Program institutions, such as minimum GPA or GRE scores (as not all institutions have the same requirements, these are not required to apply, but applicants should be aware that they may be asked to submit additional materials if admitted to programs that require them)

  • 5
    Applicants must be committed to improving diversity in the geosciences
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Deadlines to Remember

December - 15 April

AGU Bridge Student Applications open

December

Application portal opens. Students are encouraged to submit complete applications well before the deadline to avoid technical issues. This includes your application, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Please allow some time to ensure those writing your letters of recommendation have ample time to upload their letters before the deadline.

15 April

Deadline for all application materials.

(Students must submit their application by April 1, 2020, to allow enough time for faculty recommendations to be submitted.)

16 April - Mid-Summer

Applicants notified of offers

16 April - July

When your application is complete, you will receive a confirmation email regarding your application status. Partner institutions will contact students to schedule interviews. Student applicants should plan to be available during this time. Students accepted into Bridge Programs will receive admission offers from April through July, through direct email contact with institution graduate directors or AGU Bridge Program staff.

Although most offers go out in May and June, some institutions may make offers for fall enrollment later in the summer. As such, you should be sure to 1) Check that the email listed on your Bridge application is one that that you will use after graduation and that you check often, and 2) Keep an eye out for contact from institutions throughout the summer. The application cycle closes in early September, and no offers with be made after this deadline.

Frequently asked questions

Eligibility for the AGU Bridge Program states that students should hold a degree, either bachelor's or master's in the geosciences or a closely related discipline. Note that students who have already attained a master's degree in the geosciences must meet all other eligibility requirements. This includes not receiving an offer of admission into a doctoral program.

The AGU Bridge Program does not presently offer funding to successful applicants nor to participating institutions, however, these institutions typically offer financial support, typically comparable or identical to stipends received by other graduate students at the institution. Once students receive graduate program offers, students should consider whether the offered financial support is sufficient for their needs.

Although women of all racial and ethnic groups are underrepresented in geosciences and many other STEM fields, the specific focus of the AGU Bridge Program is to increase the number of Ph.D.s awarded to African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian students irregardless of gender. Students who fall under these racial and ethnic minority groups are encouraged to apply to the Bridge Program.

Inclusive Graduate Education Network (IGEN)

The AGU Bridge Program is part of the Inclusive Graduate Education Network (IGEN), an effort to develop, adopt, and share inclusive practices for recruiting, admitting, and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in STEM Ph.D. programs. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants Nos. 1834540, 1834545, 1834528 and 1834516.

Please review the following documents to learn more about the project’s findings and available resources. These documents highlight best practices for persons and institutions not directly involved in the program that are interested in advancing goals similar to those of the AGU Bridge Program and IGEN.

In August 2019, a brief document was put together to communicate IGEN’s goals and methodology.

This document from the IGEN Research Hub draws from published research and demonstrated community successes to answer questions about the positive impacts of increased diversity in graduate education programs.

 

Contacts

AGU Staff Headshot Asher

Pranoti Asher

Assistant Director, Grants and Education Programs

202.777.7522 | [email protected]

Nakita Dolet

Nakita Dolet

Graduate Student Support & Mentoring Coordinator, AGU

202.777.7430 | [email protected]