2009 Institutional Report

Reporting Institution

Selkirk College - Castlegar, BC

Representative

Frank H. Fowler, M.Sc.

Changes 

No changes in course offerings from last year.  

Programs/Courses

Selkirk still offers two geology courses with Physical Geology (GEOL132) given in the fall semester followed by Historical Geology (GEOL142) in the winter semester.

Staffing

Staffing is the same with Frank Fowler at a 0.5 time position.  

Enrolment Trends

Enrolment for Geology 132 was down slightly to 11 students (from 15 in the previous year).  
Enrolment for Geology 142 was up to 10 students (from 7 in the previous year).
The quality of students was exceptionally good this year in both classes.

Facilities

Facilities for geology remain the same with one classroom (shared with geography and occasional other classes) and a small attached room for sample storage.  Within the rooms there is storage space for maps, air photos, rock and mineral samples and displays for student use in labs.  There is currently one student work-study position available that is split with the School of Renewable Resources.  Geology also has access to the college map collection and (for a price) the use of college vans for field trips.

Issues/Challenges

Issues and Challenges include a slowly recovering enrolment hampered by ever-changing requirements in other programs as well as no longer having Earth Science or Geology offered in the local high-schools. Another challenge has been scheduling conflicts for students with single sections of other courses within the College.