Description:

In the U.S., college and university atmospheric sciences and meteorology programs often strive to ensure that students completing B.S. degree programs meet the qualifications outlined by the Meteorology 1340 Series (i.e., the “GS-1340” series). This series outlines the specific coursework that students must complete to be eligible for positions within the National Weather Service (NWS) as well as other government sector atmospheric sciences positions. While the series provides a predetermined set of coursework that a department can adapt within a meteorology degree program, three challenges have emerged within the past decade: 1) students often seek private sector or academic positions that may require coursework or skills not considered within the Meteorology 1340 series, 2) the skillset required of government sector meteorologists has evolved, and 3) the rise of both artificial intelligence and machine learning will require future meteorologists to be familiar with the use of such tools within the context of weather analysis and forecasting (which are not a focus within the current series). Motivated by the above, the authors of this submission propose co-hosting an AMS town hall to allow discussion of the above topic amongst AMS community members. Specifically, this session would include a very brief discussion of the history of the series and reasons for advocating for any changes, updates on the current movement within the AMS Board on Higher Education (BHE) to create an ad hoc committee to accomplish the above, and ample time for discussion about best practices to consider in proposing any series changes.