Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® WKU Archives Records WKU Archives Fall 1998 UA66/8/3 Geogram WKU Geography & Geology Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records Part of the Geography Commons, Geology Commons, Hydrology Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Mass Communication Commons, Public Relations and Advertising Commons, and the Speleology Commons Recommended Citation WKU Geography & Geology, "UA66/8/3 Geogram" (1998). WKU Archives Records. Paper 5204. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_records/5204 This Other is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in WKU Archives Records by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. - - GEOG M The Annual Newsletter of the Department of Geography and Geology at Western Kentucky University we The Department of Geography & Geology has hosted our annual "pig roast," to which all students completed another successful year. During the were invited. in our Geology Club, students were 1997-98 academic year, the fo llowing significant actively recruited to participate in a series of field activities were initiated or expanded. trips and lectures that were held throughout the year. A departmental fres hman seminar (Geography Moreover, the Department hosted a series of Depart­ lO2lGeoiogy 101) was conceptualized and passed ment seminars held every other week for student and by the necessary curriculum committees. The De­ faculty development and enjoyment. partment offered the course for the first time in the We continue to offer innovative approaches to Fall 1998 semester. We expect that this departmen­ student learning in our freshman classes, including tal effort will increase the freshman re­ interactive web projects, critical think­ tention of our declared majors. ing exercises, and logical analyses of During the past year, we increased our critical local, national, and international efforts with the public scbool teachers events. These exercises are designed to of the Commonwealth. Department fac­ foster a keen desire in students for learn­ ulty actively sought opportunities to in­ ing and to aid in the increased retention troduce our respective disciplines to the of students. We also have strengthened public school students of the Common­ the skill components of upper-division wealth. Faculty participated in thirty- courses so that our graduates are well one separate activities during the A Letter from the prepared to function as outstanding 1997 calendar year. This outreach contributors to society. has led to a significant increase in Department Chair To introduce our students to our freshman majors and it helps to ex­ courses and modern technology, we plain the popularity of our 100-level courses. have expanded our web site to include the catalog To help "introduce" geography to the P-J2 teach­ description of all of our courses, a complete descrip­ ers of the Commonwealth, we continued our in­ tion of major and minor tracks available, and the volvement with the Kentucky Geography Alliance. instructors' syllabus for individual courses. In addi­ This Alliance has received a $50,000 grant from the tion, we believe we are the only Department with a National Geographic Society to strengthen the role web site for a large multi-section general education of geography in the stale. This effort has influenced course - Geography 100. The site contains syllabi, the role of geography in all institutions of higher review questions, links to other sites, and other learning in Kentucky. It has played a positive role in helpful information for the student. Over 400 stu­ our enrollment increase and in the resurgence of the dents visited this site in the Spring 1998 semester. discipline. As a result of our intensive rec ruitment and During the past year, we intensified various club, retention efforts, the Geography area ranks among page inside ... in Geography ................................................ ............ pages 7-9 Faculty Notes ................................................................................ pages 11-22 Alumni News ...................................... ................................... ....... pages 23-24 the top 20 uni versities in the United States in total has played an integral role in the College enrollment. In the area of program enrollment Rural Water Grant ($4 mi ll ion over a 5-year period) (majors), Geography at WKU is the dominant un­ and is a major participant in the College's proposed dergraduate program in Kentucky. Geology is sec­ Program of Distinction. ond in dominance only to the University of Ken­ The Department has not limited its activities to the tucky. Nationally, geography ranks among the top local region. We have also significantly increased our 30 universities in the number of undergraduate ma­ activities in ioternationaUglobal education. The De- jors, yet another indication of our success. of Geography and Geology continued to To improve teaching and research support, the I d,ev"lop the multicultural and international aspects Department in the past year has allotted funds to v",ioc" programs during the 1997-98 academic modernize equipment in our classrooms. Six com­ The Department is involved in organizing two puters, a server, various software, and a color printer lirnp,ortant conferences that have international implica­ were purchased to upgrade our teaching and re­ I cc,on:s. as well as attracting researchers and students search efforts. Finally, through the judicious use of overseas. The first, convened in September 1998, funds and the cooperation of our computer support the "Joint meeting of the Friends of Karst & The staff, we were able to network several of our com­ Ilntenoational Geological Correl ation Program Project puters to the Internet. The Depamnent now has 'Karst Processes and the Global Carbon .... y'''". two student laboratories where projects and research I ~~~::~~~~ . by Dr. Chris Groves and hosted by can be undertaken. Ii . In October 1998. the annual C~':'~~~ ~;~s~ I To strengthen the quality of our academic pro­ of the Midwest Association of Latin American grams, the Department has involved students and coordinated by Dr. David Keeling and hosted by faculty in myriad professional and outreach pro­ Department, convened at Western. grams. Significant among these is our active re­ International travel and research by D''PaLrtrne,o- 1 search program with Mammoth Cave National tal fac ulty members continue to influence the cl,css"1 Park. The Park Hydrologist is an adjunct member room setting. During 1997. six faculty visited of the Department. Under the leadership of Chri s countries. Ozone-level research in Antarctica Groves, we have involved ten or more of our stu­ sustainable development in Ecuador are j ust two of dents in signi fi cant research projects within the Na­ international projects currently underway that directly I tional Park. In addition, we conti nue through the benefit our undergraduate and graduate students. Center for Cave and Karst Studies to coordinate Department also strongly supports, and actively the successful Summer Program at Mammoth Cave. crui ts for, study abroad programs. One faculty mem­ This program brings to Western the leading karst ber took 18 students from various Kentucky i ~~~ :~~ I scientists in the country. This adds to the experti se tions to Ecuador this past summer fo r a fie ld sl of our facu lty and our students. The Department is also developing an ex­ Two other significant outreach centers are the Icllan,ge program with a Dutch university to host several Kentucky Climate Center and the College Heights engaged in international compar ative re· \Veather Station. Under the leadership of Glen I searc:b on global economic development. Conner (State Climatologist), the Kentucl..-y Climate Depamnent fac ulty remain engaged in local, re­ Center responded to over 3,200 individual requests I ! :.: :~:; national, and international attempts to in 1997. The Center's web page was visited 1,982 11 levels of cross-cultural awar eness among limes during the same period. The College Heights I ~:::~~:::~:s;tu~d ents and Kentucky's citizens, incl uding Weather Station continued to provide data and infor­ II such as Partners of the Americas, Sister mation to interested citizens. It also served as a International, Chamber of Commerce Intema­ focal point in providing tours to various public Itional Relations Committee, the Internati onal Bio­ school groups during the year. As a consequence of I sp,he,re Reserve, and many others. our outreach activity and research, the Depamnent Participation in professional organizations and so- deties by the faculty are also important indicators of in the Department under the supervision of the quality and outreach. Our geologists have been faculty had 9 publications and presented 17 papers; a instrumental in shaping the development of the Ken­ superior effort. tucky Society of Professional Geologists, and the In the personnel area, Deborah Kuehn submitted her State Certification of geologists has been a major I~:~~~:t:~ effective 30 June, 1998. During her tenure, accomplishment of this group. This close working I] did an outstanding job involving her students relationship between academia and professional ge­ research. The Department will miss her efforts and ologists has been beneficial to our students as they calm demeanor. Dr. Fred Siewers, a seek certification within the State. a Ph.D from the University