B.C. COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES EARTH SCIENCE ARTICULATION COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING
MAY 10, 2001
PRESENT:
Lesley Anderton Selkirk College
Mary Lou Bevier University of British Columbia
Teena Della Terry Fox S.S. - Secondary Schools rep.
Karyn Drysdale University of Victoria
John Greenough Okanagan University College
Tark Hamilton Camosun College
Colin James University College of the Cariboo
Saf Kakar Douglas College
John Martin Kwantlen University College
Ken Shaw Northwest Community College
Mark Smith Langara College
Dave Waddington Douglas College
Des Wilson Douglas College (Chair of meeting) System Liaison Person
1.0 ADOPTION OF AGENDA
The meeting was called to order at 9:15 am by Des Wilson. The agenda was adopted with the addition of 7.3 Timely notification of changes in first and second year courses by the universities.
2.0 INTRODUCTION AND REGRETS
Colin James, Dean of Science at UCC welcomed everyone. Des Wilson mentioned regrets from Dileep Athaide (Capilano College); Gary Clohan (College of the Rockies); Steve Earle and Maggie McColl (Malaspina University College); Robbie Dunlop (Simon Fraser University); Carlo Giovanella emeritus; Allan Gell (Camosun; Tark Hamilton attending); Chris Barnes (U. Vic; Karyn Drysdale attending); Jennifer Getsinger (B.C. Open University); Michael Wilson (Douglas College); R. Stevens (BCIT)
In the absence of Michael Wilson, Des Wilson agreed to chair the meeting.
Lesley Anderton agreed to be recording secretary.
New representatives Teena Della, Secondary Schools rep., Tark Hamilton, Camosun, and John Martin, Kwantlen were welcomed.
3.0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approved with the addition to item 5 f) by M.L. Bevier (UBC) that the program names and renaming of courses as EOSC will be effective Fall 2001.
4.0 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES
Generally covered under item 7.
5.0 CHAIR'S REPORT
No report in the absence of Chair Michael Wilson.
5.1 Articulation Committee handbook was distributed and members urged to read it.
6.0 INSTITUTION REPRESENTATIVE'S REPORTS
Some representatives circulated written reports and information packages were provided by UBC and UVIC.
a. UBC M.L. Bevier
New majors program in earth and ocean sciences (EOSC) is coming on stream in Fall 2001. This will be a broad program with a minimum of prerequisites and with lots of choices. With the right electives it will be possible to obtain PGEO status. Existing honors programs will retain their present names eg. Hons. Geology.
New first year courses :
EOSC 110 Solid Earth - similar to Physical Geology but with more geophysics (credit cannot be obtained for both EOSC 110 and GEOG 101 or 102).
EOSC 112 Fluid Earth - Atmosphere and Oceans.
EOSC 114 The Catastrophic Earth - Natural Disasters (credit cannot be obtained for both EOSC and GEOG 102, 103).
All the above courses will be team taught.
EOSC 110 is the only course required for Hons. Geology.
Majors require both EOSC 110 and EOSC 112.
EOSC 114 is to pull students in and it can count as an elective.
These replace all existing first year courses except EOSC 121 Earth Science for Engineers.
See the orange sheet:
Report from UBC EOSC and note item 1 d) regarding first year Science requirements re: biology and item 1 f) B. Sc. Environmental Science degree program which is likely to happen within the next year.
One again we are reminded to inform transfer students of the $1000.00 Aho scholarships (orange sheet IIc).
Co-op Geological Engineering 2000:
Geological Sciences and Geophysics starting in 2001. Must be in an honours program to be eligible for Co-op.
b. SFU unable to attend
Robbie Dunlop reported via e-mail.
SFU Geology is slowly but surely growing. No major changes in first year Physical and Historical Geology. New EASC 103 The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is very popular. John Clague is starting EASC 100 The Geological Landscape of Vancouver in the fall.
c. UVIC Karyn Drysdale
EOS/GEOG 110 and EOS/GEOG 120 are now on stream and new lab exercises have been developed (see lab manuals distributed).
EOS counts as a lab science but GEOG does not!
In addition to the Geoscience and Geotechnics programs (combined EOS/Geography) introduced last year there is now a combined EOS/Biology degree with either an environmental focus or a paleontological focus (Fall 2001).
The Geotechnic degree satisfies PGEO requirements for which there is demand.
The reintroduction of Mineralogy (EOS 205), required for PGEO, has proved useful for third year hard rock courses.
d. BCIT
No one in attendance but a new geologist has just been hired for their Mining Technology and Oil and Gas Technology.
e. UCC Colin James
First year geology enrolment remains high and B. Sc. students must take either Geology or Biology even if they are majoring in Math, Physics or Chemistry.
Second year enrolments are fairly low and most students going on in geology transfer as there is no Geology Major and second year courses have to be alternated.
The General Science Degree has an earth sciences option, combining geology and physical geography.
A minor in Geoarchaeology has just been introduced.
A new third year course Environmental Geochemistry will be taught by Colin James.
The long term goal is to expand geology at the institution. The Natural Resources degree program may place more emphasis on reclamation and would need more geology and hence more geology faculty.
There is no Geology Co-op as this is only for four year degree programs.
Ken Klein, geology faculty, was unable to attend as he was busy with the B.C. Palaeontological Alliance meeting.
There is now a proposal for an Earth Science Major.
f. KWANTLEN John Martin
Kwantlen offers seven sections of Physical Geology and one of Historical Geology with good enrolment.
There is also a Geog/Geol/Groundwater course in the Environmental Protection Program.
Jim Urqhart is developing a four year GIS Technical Degree with no strictly geology courses but may have surficial geology and hydrology for Fall 2002.
g. MALASPINA no one present
Report from the geology department was received in written format. Geology courses are fully subscribed.
Continue to offer first year physical and historical courses, a one-term local geology course for non-science students and GEOL 212/312 Environmental Geology.
A proposed B. Sc Minor in Earth Science has passed level II approval and is meant to complement Malaspina's degree offerings in biology, environmental chemistry, forestry, geography and science education.
h. OUC John Greenough - see detailed report distributed
Dept. received 3.5 million dollars from FRBC so that they can hire two chairs, one in Watershed Management and the other in Soil Hydrology.
John Greenough expressed appreciation to Michael Wilson and Colin James for their support in getting the new degree program in Earth and Environmental Sciences through the hurdles. For a description of the degree program see the handout or visit http://www.ouc.bc.ca/calendar/science/bsc/
The degree program is flexible and this facilitates transfer from other B.C. institutions. It is not possible to obtain all the courses required for APEGBC certification at OUC, although the program meets the national guidelines for Professional Environmental Geoscientist.
OUC has never offered a Palaeontology course but it is listed in the calendar and everything in the calendar has or will be offered with lots of alternation. OUC and UCC hope to complement one another so that students can transfer courses between the institutions.
Dr. Charles Fepke and Dr. Leanne Mallory-Greenough are now adjunct professors.
i. CAMOSUN Tark Hamilton
Five sections of Physical Geology and one each of Historical Geology and Stratigraphy and Sedimentology. Boggs text was used for the latter course and students found it hard going.
There is a three year wait list for Environmental Technology.
It seems that there is not much opportunity for growth given the current budget.
j. DOUGLAS Dave Waddington (see handout)
The Geology Dept. offers ten courses in Geology and participates on a team basis with Biology in two Environmental Science courses. The college offers an Assoc. Degree in Science, which can be taken with an Earth Science emphasis, and an Assoc. Degree in Environmental Science. The latter has block transfer to Lethbridge , Royal Roads and SFU.
Physical Geology is not a prerequisite for Historical Geology, which is advantageous in terms of student numbers but it means that there has to be a compressed unit on rocks and minerals at the beginning of Historical Geology.
This summer Physical and Historical Geology are being offered on a six-week basis, one after the other with a weekly four-hour lab facilitating field trips. This is popular with teachers and those preparing for the SFU PDP Program as it is offered at 4:00 pm and on weekends. The Hazards course with a prerequisite of either Physical or Historical Geology or Science 107 is very popular. The text used is Natural Disasters by Abbot. A course in Evolution (jointly with Biology) has been proposed.
k. LANGARA Mark Smith
Offered three full sections of Physical Geology and one of Historical Geology.
Still very much a geography department.
l. SELKIRK Lesley Anderton
Very healthy enrolments in both Physical and Historical Geology. Enrolment in Stratigraphy and Sedimentology was down but the Drumheller Field Trip went well.
Need to look at transferability with Alberta Universities as students go to Calgary , U of A and Lethbridge .
m. NWCC Ken Shaw
Physical and Historical Geology are still on the books but continue to languish due to the popularity of Physical Geography.
The Coastal Integrated Resources Management program continues to grow and mature and offers several earth science related oceanography courses. Construction of a twelve million dollar new campus in Prince Rupert is underway.
n. SECONDARY SCHOOLS Teena Della
Grade 11 Earth Science - no prerequisite other than Sci 10.
Grade 12 Geology - prerequisite is any Sci 11 course - text is Physical Geology by Cara Montgomery - fairly close to a first year UT course but both UBC and UVIC said they would not give credit or advance placement for it.
1800 students wrote Geol 12 exams in 2000.
An on-line Astronomy 11 course is being developed.
Earth Science 11 students found Physical Geology (12) much more challenging. Teena asked about the possibility of projecting thin sections. Des Wilson suggested that a slide projector with polarizing filters would work.
Samples and Used Equipment - Schools teaching geology and colleges have limited budgets and would welcome the opportunity to acquire more material. UBC sometimes has surplus which is available for purchase and Mary Lou Bevier offered to keep track of this and e-mail people on the list.
6.2 Implications of UBC Changes: First Year Transfers
See attachment 6.2
Two main issues:
a. Transfer credit.
b. APEGBC requirements for registration as a Professional Geoscientist (P. Geo).
Geology as a discipline is very broad ranging and can be taught with different biases. Traditionally first year has been Physical Geology and Historical Geology, which is still the case at SFU, the Colleges and the University Colleges . UBC and UVic have de-emphasized Historical Geology in favour of more emphasis on Atmosphere and Oceans. UVic will still give credit for the first year Physical/Historical combination and UBC grants second year credit Geol 205 for Historical Geology.
Discussion ensued as to the relative merits of Historical Geology and Atmosphere and Ocean courses. It makes sense for the coastal universities to place emphasis on the oceans but most Canadian and U.S. universities still offer Historical Geology with its broad sweep from the Big Bang to humans.
APEGBC has no requirements for first year courses. Big changes are probably coming in APEGBC requirements that may bring them more in line with Canadian requirements for professional registration. There will be demand for earth scientists with a strong environmental background. We should probably invite a representative from APEGBC to our meetings and perhaps now is the time to consider our first year offerings. When advising students we should be aware of the cross listing of Physical Geology and Physical Geography courses at UVIC and UBC and that credit can only be given for one of them.
7.0 NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Flexible Premajor -see attachment to Agenda: Transfer Credit in the Geosciences.
Discussion took place as to how we can allow students more flexibility. Is it possible to have a core program taking into account other science courses? Would a two year Associate Degree in Earth Science or Geoscience have block transfer? It was noted that the three major coastal universities all have different requirements making it easier for a first year block transfer, but this may impact on second year offerings.
Karyn Drysdale - Even at UVic students have to go back and make up courses as they may not decide where they are heading until third year.
Mark Smith - We won't reach consensus but we have to be careful what we advertise.
Colin James - Cannot get an absolute linkage. Can have sixty credits of transfer but some courses could be missing. Difficulty comes if missing second year courses that are prerequisites to third and fourth year courses.
Mark Smith - Asked if there was a limit to the number of unassigned credit courses that can be used for electives and was told that they were okay so long as they were academic credits.
John Greenough - Time is money. The longer it takes to get an undergraduate degree the more it costs. The process has to be efficient. Is there any point in pursuing the idea of a flexible premajor? We should tell students to see an advisor at the receiving institution. Should we come up with core requirements for first and second year - not a lot of optimism at the universities for this.
Mary Lou Bevier - First year courses are not a problem. In second year everything diverges at UBC.
Lesley Anderton - What happens to former second year credit courses that get changed to third year?
Mary Lou Bevier - College courses will still get second year credit and may earn exemption from the third year course but another third year course will have to be taken.
7.2 Transfer Grid
Robbie Dunlop e-mailed that it is coming along nicely. Robbie has set up an HTML document that has the transfer grid in it as well as links to all the institutions' calendar pages. A meeting is scheduled for May 18 with Finola Findley of BCCAT when Robbie will find out how much more is required.
7.3 Notification of Course Changes in a Timely Fashion
Lesley Anderton expressed concern that as she missed the 2000 meeting in Calgary she was unaware of some important changes by UVic and UBC. The Colleges need at least a years notice of forthcoming changes, if they require changes in College offerings, in order to go through the necessary procedures. Consultation concerning impacts of changes on the Colleges would be helpful. It was agreed to do the following to assist in this process:
a. Distribute the minutes within one month of the meeting.
b. Distribute the meeting packages via snail mail to non-attendees.
c. Where possible have a representative from the Articulation Committee who can meet with University Earth and Geoscience Curriculum Committees. Mark Smith agreed to represent the Colleges at UBC.
d. Set up a list server to reach everybody for news between meetings.
8.0 NEW ARTICULATION COMMITTEE CHAIR
After discussion of the duties of the chair, Mark Smith was elected by acclamation.
9.0 NEXT YEAR'S MEETING AND FIELD TRIP
Ken Shaw agreed to host a joint Geography/Earth Science meeting at NWCC in Prince Rupert .
The Geography meeting will be May 10/11 with a boat trip on the Friday and the meeting on the Saturday. The Geology meeting will be May 11, 12 and 13 so that we can have separate articulation meetings on the morning of the 11 th and a joint meeting in the afternoon with geography. Lincoln Hollister is willing to assist in a roadside geology tour from Prince Rupert to Terrace for May 12 and 13. It may be possible for some earth scientists to join the geographers for the boat trip on May 10, 2002.
10.0 VOTE OF THANKS
The meeting concluded at 2:30 pm with a vote of thanks to Michael Wilson for organizing the meeting and arranging the excellent field trips.
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