Initial Publication Date: April 13, 2015

Most Important Factor in Departmental Success

Go back to the beginning of this presentation, by Randall Richardson and Susan Beck of the University of Arizona, about the results of a national survey of geoscience departments.

Key findings:

  • At 4-year and master's institutions curricula, teamwork, recruitment and partnerships were considered important for success.
  • At PhD granting institutions recruitment was the most important followed by curricula and partnerships.
  • At 2-year institutions curricula was the most important factor for success.

Click on the thumbnail images to see larger versions of each graph.


Of the seven items listed below, which one would you choose as the single most important measure or indicator of departmental success?

Two-Year Programs


Undergraduate Programs


Master's Programs


PhD Programs


PhD Programs >20 FTEs