Building a Strong Geoscience Program from Scratch: Perspectives from a New Program at a State-supported Primarily

Undergraduate Institution

Joseph L. AllenDavid L. Matchen

Dept. Geology and Physical SciencesConcord UniversityAthens, WV 24712

Outline

-Institutional profile

-Characteristics and demographics of regional service area

-How a new geoscience program was founded at Concord

-Programmatic strengths, recruiting, and retention in a rural setting with declining population

Athens, WV

St. Clair Thrust Fault

Valley and Ridge

Appalachian Plateau

-Geologic Setting

Institutional Profile•3000 students

•16% Science/math

•liberal arts focus

•public funded

Quick History:

•1872–1931 State normal school for teachers

•1931–1943 State teachers college

•1943+ (especially 1960’s) shift in focus to liberal arts 4-yr college

•2004 change to University status; limited graduate degrees (educ)

•Little history of geology instruction until mid-1990’s

Characteristics of Regional Service Area

-Demographics-Economics & resources

WV Population 1870-2000

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990

YearWV Population

[~10% statewide population decrease 1950-2000]

-Demographics

Source: US Census

62980

1358327329

25708

7972012999

+11 %-32%-32%-18%

-72% -16%

% = Population gain or loss 1950-2000

62980 = Current population by county

MU

WVU

CU

-Demographics

= University geoscience programs

Source: US + WV Census

-Demographics

English Language Spoken at Home: WV vs. USA

97.3

82.1

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

WV (%) USA (%)

% E

ng

lish s

peake

rsRace: WV vs. USA

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

White Black Am. Indian Asian Hispanic/Latino%

WV (%)

USA (%)

Source: US Census

-Demographics

Median Age: WV vs. USA

38.9

35.3

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

WV USA

AG

EEducation: WV vs. USA

75.280.4

14.8

24.4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

WV HS Grads USA HS Grads WV 4-yr Grads USA 4-yr Grads%

High School College

Source: US Census

-Demographics

Median Household Income: WV vs. USA

29696

41994

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

WV ($) USA ($)

$Occupations: WV vs. USA

27.9

33.6

16.6 14.9

26.1 26.7

12.39.4

16.4 14.6

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

WV

Man

agem

ent/P

rofe

ssiona

l

USA M

anag

emen

t/Pro

fess

iona

l

WV

Serv

ice

USA S

ervice

WV

Sales/offi

ce

USA S

ales

/offi

ce

WV

Cons

truct

ion/

extra

ction

USA C

onst

ruct

ion/

extra

ction

WV

Prod

uctio

n/tra

nspo

rt

USA P

rodu

ction/

trans

port

%

6.4% more production, transport, construction, extraction, service jobs

5.7% less management/ professional jobs

Source: US Census

-Economics & resources

Energy Resource Jobs (% workforce)

3.6

0.40.2

0.340.19

1.2

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

WV SE GSA VA PA OH KY

%

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

History of Geoscience Program

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

IDS I IDS II New Program (S04)

1974

Failed Proposal

Foundation grant

GEOL 101 Earth Processes, Resources,

and the Environment

IDS program revised/re-implemented

Undergraduate Geoscience Departments per Million Residents

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

AL

WV

Data from Directory of Geoscience Departments 38th ed. (1999-2000, AGI) and 1990 census. WV was in the lowest 18th percentile with a ratio of 1.1 departments/million residents compared to a national average of 4.6, with a range 0.5 (WY) to 18.4 (NY). WV is now ~36th %-ile.

National average

(2000)

Geology Enrollment and Budget Trends at CU

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1990

-91

1991

-92

1992

-93

1993

-94

1994

-95

1995

-96

1996

-97

1997

-98

1998

-99

1999

-00

2000

-01

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

Academic Year

Geology Enrollment in SCH (x100)

CU Headcount (x100)

Geology Majors (Headcount, Fall)

Geology Graduates

Budget-Supplies/Equipment(x$1000)

Geol majors

Geol graduates

CU Headcount x100

Enroll

Budget

-Departmental SCH/enrollment trends

IDS I IDS II New

Program Focus:

Geoscience fundamentals for graduate studies and employment in energy and environmental services

Geoscience Core101 - Earth processes, resources and the environment202 - Evolution of Earth systems205 - Environmental geology370 - Earth materials and minerals 371 - Optical mineralogy380 - Sedimentary geology385 - Structural geology404 - Field geology

CognateGeog 311 - Computer cartography/Intro GIS1 yr general chemistry7 hrs math past algebra/trig

(most take calc + stats or 2 calculus)

One of three elective concentrations:•Geography & GIS (16 hrs)•Ecology and Life Sciences (16 hrs)•Physical sciences (16-20 hrs, 1 yr physics and calculus required)

Programmatic Strengths

Field skills -Traditional Mapping

-Linked to assmt

Field skills -Applied Geophysics

Collaborative Research Opportunities

GISOptical Petrography

Student Centered Environment

Successes in geology have mirrored re-invigorated chemistry program

Recruiting/Retention

•Selective suggestion (Geol 101+)•Geol 101 careers discussions; examples of geoscientists at work•Flexible curriculum (concentration area; math; physics)•Presentation of geology as a liberal arts science degree option

FUTURE:•Coal in the Schools Program•HS Recruiting Poster

Lessons

•Role of GEOL 101:

•Role of external student-faculty collaboration/research:

•Fostering a student-centered learning environment:

•Link field work/field camp to programmatic assessment:

•Role of flexible curriculum

•Role of institutional freedom:

Enrollment, budgets, intangibles

Retention, publicity, visibility

Retention +

Longevity

Recruiting/retention

All of the above