BC Colleges and Universities Earth Science Articulation Committee
MINUTES - Annual meeting - held at the University of Calgary - May 28th 2000
PRESENT
Chris Barnes (CB) University of Victoria
Mary Lou Bevier (MB) University of British Columbia
Gary Clohan (GC) College of the Rockies
Robbie Dunlop (RD) Simon Fraser University
Steven Earle (SE) Malaspina University-College and B.C. Open University
John Greenough (JG) Okanagan University-College
Ken Klein (KK) University-College of the Cariboo
Maggie McColl (MM) Malaspina University-College
Mark Smith (MS) Langara College
Michael Wilson (MW) Douglas College (Chair of meeting)
1. Adoption of the agenda
The meeting was called to order at 9 AM by MW. The agenda was adopted without modification
2. Introduction and regrets
MW welcomed everyone and read regrets from Dileep Athaide (Capilano College), Carlo Giovanella (Alumnus), Des Wilson (Liaison Administrator), Ken and Barb Shaw (Northwest Community College), John Martin (Kwantlen University-College) and Saf Kakar (Douglas College)
[Lesley Anderton (Selkirk College) subsequently sent regrets by e-mail; unable to attend because of a broken ankle]
SE and RD agreed to collaborate on meeting minutes.
3. Approval of minutes and matters arising
Moved MW, seconded GC: The minutes of the meeting held at College of the Rockies May 15th 1999 should be adopted (carried).
GC asked CB about the impact of 1st year geology and geography courses being cross-listed at U.Vic. Specifically, would students from other institutions who have completed both first-year GEOL and GEOG be denied credit? CB replied that they should be given unassigned credit, and that he will look into it.
There was general discussion about Physical and Historical Geology course contents and transferability, and the possibility of Historical Geology being repackaged as a second-year offering.
4. Report of the Chair
a) MW noted that he has not been receiving all of his e-mails, but that the problem is now fixed.
b) MW reported that he and RD submitted proposals to BCCAT for Transfer Innovations projects involving the Transfer Grid and the Flexible Pre-major option, and that these have been funded at $5000 each.
c) MW, RD and DA went to BCCAT Annual Meeting of Chairs. One issue discussed was that of Liaison Administrators not being visible to articulation committees. RD gave a presentation on the Earth Science transfer grid. MW noted that our committee seems to work better than many others.
d) A new brochure has been produced by BCCAT with assistance from APEGBC entitled: "Thinking of a career in Engineering and Geoscience?" There are several glaring errors and omissions in this pamphlet. The brochure implies that the only place to go for earth science education is one of the universities, and that certain professional streams are the only careers in geology. There is a very limited description of what a graduate geologist is or can do. CB suggested that we should make our displeasure known to BCCAT.
Moved CB, seconded MW: We should write to BCCAT expressing the need to revise the brochure as soon as possible, or preferably prepare a separate brochure on Earth Sciences that properly defines the discipline and potential careers. (carried)
5. Institutional reports
Most institutional representatives circulated written reports.
a) K. Klein (UCC)
UCC has a new minor in geoarcheology. The requirements include 9 upper-level courses in each of geology and archeology. Some students will graduate this coming year.
KK is trying to establish the Institute of Cenozoic Studies at UCC and has applied for a grant. The objective is to keep material in the interior and to provide facilities for storage, research and a museum, along with vehicles and equipment.
The 4th BC Paleontology Conference will be held at UCC May 11 to 14, 2001. Keynote speaker is Mark Wilson from U. of A., who will hopefully do a pre-symposium workshop on fossil fish. Bruce Archibald from Harvard University may do a workshop on fossil insects. A call for papers will be distributed in January 2001.
b) J. Greenough (OUC)
OUC now has a minor in Earth and Environmental Science. The major is in the works.
Ties have been established with geography for a cross-listing of courses and a possible combined GEOL/GEOG degree.
Articulation forms for OUC courses have now been completed.
Current faculty: J. Greenough (since 1990), Jeff Curtis (Since 1994), Dr. Chen attained permanent status in 2000, Rick Walker (35%).
Two new faculty members are anticipated through FRBC: Soil Science and Hydrology.
OUC will be dual-listing a number of the EESC courses. This means one course with two or more names.
5 faculty members have NSERC grants, and there were 12 journal publications from faculty this year.
c) C. Barnes (UVIC)
Earth/Ocean Science courses 110/120 are now equivalent (and dual-listed) with GEOG 216/217. The curricula have been established by both departments (EOS-110 is Oceans and Atmosphere, EOS-120 is Solid Earth). Rocks and minerals are now being down-played in first year, as is Historical Geology, in favour of an emphasis on global change and ocean atmosphere interaction. The question was raised: How can colleges send students to UVic if they are lacking in oceanography and climatology? CB assured the committee that UVic can still accept transfers from traditional earth science programs.
There are 55 to 60 graduate students in the department.
The field-school is now at Strathcona Park (moved from Saltspring).
The department attracted approx. $5 M in research money this year. This includes part of a $6.2 M SSHRC/NSERC joint grant on "Coasts Under Stress"
d) R. Dunlop (SFU)
Enrolment in 1st year courses is limited by space. Historical Geol. (102) registrations are down, and the course is not being offered this summer. (The reason may be that Phys. Geol. (101) is now a prerequisite for 102.) KK stated that at UCC the Historical Geology course has a “permission of instructor” caveat.
There are 3 students in the co-op program. The number of available placements limits the numbers.
A new course EASC-100, with a focus on Dinosaurs, is being offered. Science credit is given, but this does not replace 101/102 as a prerequisite for other geology courses. The audience is expected to be students in education and arts looking for a science elective.
e) G. Clohan (COTR)
Enrolments in Phys. geography are down, but those in Phys. Geology are up.
The issue of U.Vic not giving full credit for both geology and geography at the 1st year level is significant.
An Associate degree (2 yr) in Environmental Science is being offered.
f) M. L. Bevier (UBC)
The program names are being changed. All majors students in oceanography, geology and geophysics will be granted degrees in "Earth and Ocean Science". Honours students will continue to get degrees in "Geology" etc.
All courses are being renamed to EOSC. MB will get the registrar to inform BCCAT that the names have changed but the courses have not and that they should articulate the same way as before.
g) M. McColl (MUC)
All courses are full. There are two full-time faculty members. Any additional growth would mean hiring more faculty.
The geology department offered several popular field trips, and participated in public lectures and elementary school outreach programs.
New course offerings are planned if anticipated funding is forthcoming for a combined BSc/BEd program. If this goes ahead MUC will continue to work towards a minor in geology. The courses for the minor have already been through the first step of the curriculum committee.
h) S. Earle (BCOU)
Enrolment is gradually increasing. Most students in GEOL-120 are current teachers seeking to upgrade as instructed by BCTF or prospective teachers getting a science credit in order to enroll in an Education Program at another institution.
We offered a field trip for GEOL-120 students this year, and there are hopes to repeat this in the fall.
A revision of the GEOL-120 printed course materials has just been completed by SE and David Huntley.
i) M. Smith (Langara College)
The only geology courses are physical and historical, and there are no plans to expand. The Physical Geology lab manual was updated this year, and there are plans to update the Historical Geology manual.
Langara offers a Fraser River Studies program in the summer (GEOG 190), which includes 2 weeks rafting the Fraser from Prince George to Vancouver. There could be room for on-board geology guest lectures.
j) M. Wilson (Douglas College)
Ten geology courses are offered and the total enrolment is over 300. Historical Geology has been offered in the evening to accommodate teachers. There is the possibility of offering 1st year geology in the form of up to 10 segments which can be taken separately and then assembled into a credit. Douglas is hoping to start offering geology during the summer at the David Lam campus.
There is a new course possibly in the works: an Evolution course taught in conjunction with Biology.
6. New Business
a) PLA and Advanced Placement
In the absence of Dileep Athaide (Capilano), this discussion topic was tabled for a future meeting.
b) OUC EESC degree
In response to JG's presentation, MW suggested that we write to the ministry stating that we have reviewed the OUC degree proposal and that we feel that it meets a need.
Moved CB, seconded MB: That we write a letter to the Internal Degree Program Review Committee at the Ministry of Advanced Education expressing our support of the OUC Earth and Environmental Science Degree proposal (carried)
c) Role of the Liaison Administrator
We have been asked by BCCAT to evaluate the role of Liaison Administrator – and to indicate if we wish to continue as before. It was stated that the role of the Liaison Administrator is to attend articulation meetings, provide advice on the structure of the post-secondary education system, and provide continuity for the committee.
Moved MB, seconded MM: The we express that we are satisfied with the position of Liaison Administrator, and suggest that in future the position be filled through nomination and approval by the committee, for a renewable 3-year term. (carried)
d) High School Representative
Our recommendation of Teena Della (Terry Fox Secondary) as High School Rep. was ignored in favour of Favian Yee (South Delta), without our consultation. RD will investigate.
e) Emeritus category
MW will talk to council about the possibility of establishing a category of "Emeritus representative" to the committee.
f) Transfer Grid
RD is working on a new transfer grid and hopes to be able to state that the two first-year geology courses are transferable across the system. Based on previous discussion (esp. re. UVic program) this may not be feasible.
There was discussion around APEGBC's syllabus criteria, and whether we should be pushing for change to the "Career Pathways" descriptions. It was agreed that CB would be the most effective spokesperson on this issue. MW will consult with CB.
RD has money for a two-day workshop on the transfer grid. She suggested the end of June at Harrison Hot Springs. Travel and accommodation will be covered. She will get back to us.
GC reiterated his concern about the lack of credit given by UVic for both 1st year GEOL and GEOG courses.
It was noted that the Canadian Geoscience Education Network is meeting Tuesday from 2 until 5. DA has asked that someone attend, and stated that he is willing to be on the executive if there is money for travel. SE said that he could attend this meeting if it does not conflict with an interesting talk.
[SE did attend the meeting and has reported back to DA.]
g) Flexible Pre-major
MW will set up a workshop to discuss this issue.
h) Certification moves
The national syllabus has no geochemistry or environmental science categories. CB may be able to write a letter to APEGBC advising them that the Articulation Committee feels that they should revise the syllabus and broaden the geoscience categories to include streams such as geochemistry and environmental science.
7. Future meetings
Next year's meeting is tentatively planned for UCC with a field trip to the Wells Gray area headed by Cathie Hickson. (MS will contact Cathie.) The meeting should be either before or after the Paleontology conference from May 11 to 14.
The 2002 meeting should be held in Prince Rupert and should (if possible) be in cooperation with the Geography articulation meeting. A fall-back for 2002 would be Langara.
8. Adjournment
Moved SE, seconded JG: to adjourn the meeting at 4 PM (carried).
Minutes prepared by SE with assistance from RD and MW.