April 2003 Association of American Geographers Council Meeting Minutes 7-8 September 2002 University of Akron recently moved into Falls, SD, will host the next regional Washington, DC renovated quarters; both Central Michi- meeting. Napton also is developing a web- gan University and Michigan State Uni- site that will list all geography departments Attending: M. Duane Nellis, President; versity have initiated master’s degrees in in the Great Plains-Rocky Mountain Janice J. Monk, Past-President; Alexander B. geographic information science. region, and will include programs that Murphy, Vice-President; Katherine Klink, Southeast: Pandit reported that many teach geography even if no geography Secretary and Regional Councillor (West Lakes departments in the region were dealing department is present on campus. Division); and Robert B. Kent, Treasurer and with budget cuts, while at the same time Middle Atlantic: Luzzadder-Beach Regional Councillor (East Lakes Division). most departments are reporting a healthy reported that the Middle Atlantic region National Councillors: Sarah Witham Bed- rise in interest in geography courses. She consists mostly of professional, govern- narz, Kenneth Foote, Victoria A. Lawson, also reported that the geography graduate ment, and academic geographers, who Kent Mathewson, James R. Shortridge, program at the University of Miami has meet most often during evening dinner and Cort J. Willmott. Regional Councillors: been subsumed into international studies. meetings, but also are co-hosting an annu- Percy H. Dougherty (Middle States Divi- Middle States: Dougherty reported that al division meeting with SEDAAG in sion), Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach (Middle several new programs in GIS were in place, November. She noted that budget cuts Atlantic Division), Darrell E. Napton or in development, within the Middle also are affecting the Middle Atlantic (Great Plains-Rocky Mountains Division), States region; most of the programs are region, but that enrollments in geography Kavita K. Pandit (Southeastern Division), within community and four-year colleges. continue to be strong. Fred M. Shelley (Southwestern Division), He also noted that, because of budgetary New England-St. Lawrence Valley: Judy Walton (Pacific Coast Division), and constraints, several geography departments Yacher reported that there have been very Leon I. Yacher (New England-St. within the region were facing the possibil- large budget cuts in the region but at the Lawrence Valley Division). AAG Execu- ity of being merged with other units on same time there has been growth in terms tive Director Ronald F. Abler, AAG their campuses. On a more positive note, of enrollments, including enrollments in Research Division Director Douglas B. changes in the requirements for education geography. There has been a trend toward Richardson, and AAG Executive Assistant students in the state of Pennsylvania will increased class size as a cost-saving meas- Ehsan M. Khater. require geography education majors to ure. Yacher noted that in Connecticut, take up to 45 credit hours of geography, geography education students must have a Agenda and Logistics and this should increase enrollments in formal major in geography, and that this upper division geography courses at col- has greatly benefited the department. President Nellis called the meeting to leges and universities in the state. Yacher also reflected on the loss of Glenn order at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, 7 Septem- Pacific Coast: Walton noted that Miller, who was an important supporter of ber, and welcomed the Council to Wash- budget cuts also are affecting the Pacific geography within the NESTVAL region. ington. The Council unanimously adopt- Coast region, but that most geography Southwest: Shelley reported that, ed the agenda prepared by President Nel- departments seem to be doing well for the despite the economic downturn, geogra- lis and Executive Director Abler. Council time being. Enrollments are gaining at phy departments within the division have also noted with sadness the passing of both the undergraduate and graduate lev- experienced healthy growth in enrollments Jeanne X. Kasperson, Glenn R. Miller, and els. There has been a trend toward fund- and continued strong support for geogra- Jack P. Mrowka. ing new GIS labs and faculty on campus, phy within their institutions. Two impor- but many are funded on soft money. She tant events within the region include the Challenges and Opportunities noted that geographers in the APCG were new Ph.D. program in geography at Okla- for the Association immensely saddened by the loss of Jack homa State University, and the generous Mrowka, who was a very active member bequest to Louisiana State University from REVIEW OF GEOGRAPHY PROGRAMS— in the region. the estate of the late Evelyn Pruitt, for an REGIONAL COUNCILLOR REPORTS. Great Plains-Rocky Mountains: Nap- endowment to support the education of East Lakes: Kent reported that geog- ton described his efforts to help connect women geographers. Shelley also noted raphy programs in the region are doing geographers in academic, business, and the implementation of several GIS well despite declining state budgets. government positions; because of his programs within the region, including the The University of Cincinnati and the efforts, USGS/EROS Data Center in Sioux Ph.D. program at Southwest Texas State 10 AAG Newsletter www.aag.org Volume 38, Number 4 and a Center for Geographic Information Colorado has developed a Geography Fac- question research within geography. It was Science at the University of Texas. ulty Development Alliance, focused on suggested that the Association could make West Lakes: Klink noted that prelimi- assistant professors in geography. The an important contribution to the discipline nary attendance estimates were strong for alliance held two very successful work- by highlighting cross-cutting research arti- the upcoming regional meeting in Min- shops during summer 2002, and there cles as the lead articles in our journals. neapolis. The division officers hope that a already is a waiting list for future work- INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES successful meeting will help build stronger shops that extends through 2004. AND PROGRAMS. ties between the community and four-year Councillor Lawson discussed the cru- Past President Monk described the colleges and the Ph.D. institutions within cial role of geography in central issues workshop on “Race, Space, and Urban the region. As has been the case elsewhere, for the nation: terrorism, globalization. Development” in Johannesburg in August budget cuts are affecting colleges and uni- She noted that it is a good time to be a 2002, which brought together more than versities in the West Lakes division, with geographer but that we seem to be “invis- 25 South African and United States geog- some possible impacts on geography. ible” in the public arena. She wondered raphers. Outcomes from the workshop how the AAG might encourage its mem- REVIEW OF TOPICAL DEVELOPMENTS— included several prospects for collaborative bers to “reclaim our space” in public and NATIONAL COUNCILLOR REPORTS. research projects, and a possible follow-up academic debates in ways that are cre- Councillor Willmott reflected that a panel at the AAG Southeast Division’s ative and engaging. One impediment focus on “geographic dynamics” (from the annual meeting in Fall 2002. The Johannes- that we can work toward removing is our NRC book Rediscovering Geography) would burg workshop was supported by funds lack of disciplinary diversity: there are demand increased interaction between from the National Science Foundation. few geographers specializing in the physical and human geographers. “Geo- Monk also described efforts to promote Islamic world, for example. Councillor graphic dynamics” could involve subjects international participation at the AAG Mathewson wondered whether there has such as risk assessment and scenarios for Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, including been renewed financial support for area the future. He noted that most geography an evening reception for international studies, and whether geographers were majors have insufficient quantitative skills scholars. Monk also urged AAG members involved in area-studies initiatives? to participate in forecasting initiatives. to attend non-U.S. geographical meetings. Research Director Richardson noted that Councillor Bednarz observed that geogra- Councillor Pandit observed that non-U.S. one example is the AAG terrorism initia- phy students increasingly take GIS cours- geographical societies are pleased to have tive, which is being supported by many es in place of statistics or quantitative U.S. geographers at their meetings. agencies in Washington, DC. methods courses. Willmott felt that the PRESIDENT’S PRIORITIES. AAG should make a case for better quan- DISCUSSION OF ARTICLES BY TURNER President Nellis reported that the titative education in geography. (ANNALS, 2002) AND CUTTER ET AL. Endowment Campaign is off to a strong Councillor Bednarz reported on results (PROFESSIONAL GEOGRAPHER, 2002). start. A kickoff event will occur at the from the National Assessment for Educa- The Officers and Councillors lauded the New Orleans meeting. He expressed his tional Progress (NAEP), released in June authors for beginning a discussion of what continued support for the AAG’s strategic 2001. She noted that geographic literacy it is that geography “is good for” but, as initiatives and Richardson’s efforts to had improved for middle-school students, might be expected, there