TEAM-UP Next Steps: Lessons from the First TEAM-UP Implementation Workshop

The AIP Team-Up Report, the Time is Now, highlighted that over the past 25 years the total number of “Black undergraduates” completing Bachelor’s in Physics has steadily declined while all other demographics in Physics are having record increases in degree attainment. The decline in numbers can be attributed to factors such as lack of belonging, physics identity, academic support, financial support, etc. In addition, the report gave recommendations on how to address each factor.

To aid departments in implementing the recommendations, the Workshop Organizing Committee made up of representatives from several AIP Member and Affiliated Societies invited applications from Physics & Astronomy Department Chairs for the first AIP TEAM-UP Implementation Workshop. Of the applications, 47 departments were selected with teams of students, faculty and staff consisting of nearly 145 departmental team workshop participants and 435 departmental team members total. The first workshop focused on cultural change in physics and astronomy, race equity and data metrics, and in this talk, we will present the along with findings from the post-workshop survey. Further, to further develop the strategic plans of the participating Departments, asynchronous interactions on collaboration apps along with webinars are planned along with a follow-up workshop in the Summer.