P/A SEA Change works with departments to address their entire departmental ecosystem to remove unnecessary barriers and strengthen promising efforts so that all can flourish.

Fast Facts

• The first cohort began on 3 May 2021. P/A SEA Change has had 4 cohorts and 3 awardees, thus far.
• Departments range from bachelor’s only granting to PhD-granting, as well as public and private institutions.
• Departments have been in 14 different states
• Some highlights regarding action plans include building more pathways into the physics major, improving mentorship, and

What does participating in P/A SEA Change involve as a department?

P/A SEA Change primarily focuses on supporting physics and astronomy departments, as well as medical physics programs, in self-study and creating bespoke action plans that are rooted in their unique contexts.

Participating departments work through a comprehensive self-assessment created through a working group established by AAAS SEA Change. The self-assessment covers policies, practices, outcomes, and experiences for all populations. requires using data to understand themselves, seeking to find differences in experiences and outcomes. As relevant, the departments look at all faculty, undergraduates (majors and non-majors), graduate students, post-docs, and research staff. They reflect on the root causes of any issues they encounter and consider how they can take a systems-approach to improving the issues they find.

They create a 5-year action plan with specific activities, metrics, and outcomes that are likely to improve their departments. The action plans, along with narrative summarizing findings and providing context for the action plan, is reviewed by a panel of physics and astronomy stakeholders who provide comprehensive feedback. The P/A SEA Change Committee decides to award departments who undergo this process. If awarded, departments must work on their action plans. At the end of 5 years, they can renew their award undergoing this process again or seek a higher level.

Currently, participating departments can receive a Bronze Award. Silver and Gold Award tiers are being developed.

Why participate?

The SEA Change process requires a holistic look at the department or program and all populations, using data to better understand differences in experiences and accounting for the local context.

Specifically, the program provides:

• A comprehensive self-assessment and guidance to use the self-assessment for improvement
• Opportunity for departments to reflect deeply on the challenges and opportunities within their department, as well as with other departments, so that they can improve outcomes for those facing the starkest barriers
• Supportive, actionable feedback if applying for an award
• Recognition within the U.S. national physics and astronomy community for ensuring excellence by improving outcomes for all.
• Continued feedback and guidance if awarded

Eligibility

P/A SEA Change uses an application process for admission to a cohort.

Qualifications

• Physics and astronomy departments, as well as medical physics programs, in the U.S. or U.S. Territories are eligible to participate.
• A team, ideally broad stakeholders, to work on the application
• Some prior experience or background in working on systemic change for excellence and inclusivity

Those admitted to a cohort are expected to apply for an award ~1.5 years after their start date. They may be allowed to move to the subsequent cohort if they cannot apply for an award after ~1.5 years.

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