Recruiting of Undergraduate Physics Majors

Description Benefits Effective Practices Programmatic Assessments Resources Evidence Glossary

Recruiting includes promoting your undergraduate program, emphasizing its attractive features, and providing incentives for students who are not yet physics majors to join your program, in order to increase the number of majors and minors your department enrolls. This section includes guidance on how to develop a recruiting plan, promote the distinctive features of your program, and effectively recruit students at many stages, e.g., before they enter your institution, as they enter either directly from high school or as transfer students, and when they are in your introductory courses and courses for students in other programs at your institution. See the sections on Retention of Undergraduate Physics Majors and Departmental Culture and Climate for guidance on creating a program with a welcoming, inclusive, and student-focused culture that students want to join.

Benefits

Effective recruiting practices increase the number of students entering your program and enrolled in courses, create and maintain community, increase the diversity of students coming into your program, and strengthen the viability, vibrancy, and climate of your department or program. Creating a successful recruiting plan enables faculty to contribute to the future of the discipline and the community.

Effective Practices

Develop a comprehensive and collaborative recruiting plan and review it regularly
Create and promote flexible pathways for students to major or minor in physics
Connect with students in introductory and, if appropriate, service courses
Connect with prospective students and other students at your institution using existing infrastructure
Connect with high schools and/or community colleges to recruit for your program
Promote the distinctive features of your program

Programmatic Assessments

The Cycle of Reflection and Action

Where are you and what are you trying to accomplish?

Who should be involved?

What will you do?

How did it go and what comes next?

To be intentional about change, a department must have a clear understanding of its present situation and a vision for what it would like to become. Our cycle of self-reflection questions will help your department start conversations and structure thinking about how to get from where you are to where you want to be.

The Cycle of Reflection and Action will help you put the EP3 Guide to work for your department.

Learn more about the Cycle of Reflection and Action and how it can help your department.

Guide to Recruiting of Undergraduate Physics Majors

Benefits

Effective Practices

Develop a comprehensive and collaborative recruiting plan and review it regularly

Create and promote flexible pathways for students to major or minor in physics

Connect with students in introductory and, if appropriate, service courses

Connect with prospective students and other students at your institution using existing infrastructure

Connect with high schools and/or community colleges to recruit for your program

Promote the distinctive features of your program

Programmatic Assessments

The Cycle of Reflection and Action

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