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.