NO. 4 AUSTIN, TEXAS JUNE, 1955 A Plea for Geology three times as much money per student credit hour in Geology as does Texas. Geology University We as teachers of at The of Texas 10. Geology costs are the lowest among sciences (Phys- help in- need the of every alumnus and every person who is ics, Chemistry, and Biology) at The University of in geological in terested the importance of education Texas. Texas.It evencostsless to give a credithour inGeology Weneedit-aowand we,needit badly. thanit does to give a credit hour inspeech. (Detailsof Here are somefacts that youshould know: this analysis are available from the Department of Ge- 1. More than 3,500 (30%) of the membership of the ology, and basic figures arepublished in regular Uni- American Association of Petroleum Geologists live and versityof Texasbulletins.) workinTexas. 11. Returns from 24 of the 57 major universities surveyed 2. The economic income from petroleum in the State of recently on costs of education show that Geology ranks Texas is surpassedby no other industry and this indus- along with other sciences at an average cost of about try is dependent upon geologists for finding its raw $16 to $17 per student credit hour. No favoritism is material. shown to any particular science in these other schools. 3. The prosperity of the State Treasury of Texas is tied 12. Geology teaching costs have declined at The University closely to the prosperity of the petroleumindustry. Any of Texasfrom $9.91per student credit hour in 1951—52 lag in supply of young geologists will definitely meana to an estimated $8.13 per student credit hour in 1954- lag of rawmaterial supplies to the petroleum industry. -55. Thisis due to therapid increase inenrollment with 4.1 Geology is among the top five professions (the others no major increase in expenditures and no major in- \being Business, Engineering, Law, and Medicine) crease innumber of faculty (see accompanying chart). \chosen byTreshmen boys at Texas as being the line of WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT GEOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY Iwork theydesire topursueinlife. of TEXAS? Your faculty has asked for a SH% increaseJin 5. The University of Texashas of thebache- grantedSj^ budget to hire more teachers,payhigher salaries and to buy in Geology in the United States during the lor~cle^r£es moreequipjnent. past15 years.Thismeansthat oneout of twelvegeologists Your_faculty has asked for more laboratoryand class- the United isfrom The University of Texas. in States roojxLaj^ace. We have asked for a wing to the_GeologyBuild- 6. The University of Texas has more students enrolled in mg.No more space is available and we are told noneis ex- Geology than any other university in the world. pectedto be available. Based on this your faculty has asked Our conclusion is clearly that GEOLOGY IS IMPOR- that freshman, sophomore, and junior required courses in TANT TO THE STATE OF TEXAS. As far as number of geologybelimited to the amount of spacein thelaboratories geologists and the amount of geological activity is con- and classrooms and that only students with "C" grades or cerned, Texasisthegeological centerof the world. better in all prerequisitesbe permitted to enroll. This will On the other hand here are some more facts to consider: definitely limit the number of sophomore and junior Geol- ogymiajors each year to thenumber now presenton the cam- regular teaching 7. Only 14 teachers. 26 assistants (grad- pus.No expansionwill be possible without more space. uate students) and 21student assistants are employed All available office space for faculty, graduate students, 2,600 to handle approximately Geology students each and teaching assistants is now full and the addition of new semester. teachers would meandoubling up on office space. 8. The University of Texas now ranks third from bottom The 14 active teachers in Geology at The University of in alistoi"B7 major universitiesin the amount of money Texas arehandling on the average180 students per semester it spends per student credit hour in Geology. (A de- The chance forpersonalcontact islow as compared with other tailed compilation of a recent survey may be had free Universities. Each teacher in Geology at The University of from the Department of Geology.) The survey shows Texas carries a full load of 9 to 12 semester hours of course that the average_cogts_m_Geology are_from Sl6_to_$17 work (by legislative law) and they carry thesis,dissertation, per studentcredit hour in these 57 schools. and research work over and above their full load. Other 9. Schools like Texas A.&M., Oklahoma University,Iowa_ Universities requireamaximum teachingload of 6 semester University, and University of Michigan spend two to hours per semester. Again the chance for personal contact Page 2 June, 1955 GEOUOGY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS June, 1955 Page 3 with a geology teacher is reduced because of his work load. Should the GeologyAlumni Organize? The faculty believes the quality of work would improve if If you as Geology Alumni would like to see a formal or- we had a more favorable student-teacher ratio and work ganization of Geology Alumni please writeus letters telling load. us what you would like. We think you should nominate a The University of Texas has no sabbatical leave system. steering committee for this purpose.TheDepartmental Office This reduces thechance for ateacher to study.Ithas actually will be happy to receivenominations for a five-man steering prevented us from hiring outstanding men in Geology to committeeuntil September 15, 1955. The five menreceiving teachGeology. the highest number of written nominations will be selected as the steering committee and will be notified of their se- COR- SOMETHING DRASTIC MUST BE DONE TO lection on September 15th. We will also advise the whole RECT THESE PROBLEMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF Alumni group by mail who was selected on this committee, TEXAS BECAUSE YOUR FACULTY BELIEVES THE k QUALITY OF WORK WILL DEFINITELY DECLINE IF AnImportant Announcement THE WORK LOAD AND THE STUDENT LOAD IN- CREASESFURTHER. As a part of the 75th Anniversary of The University of What Is Needed? Texas, the Department of Geology and the Bureau of Eco- nomic Geology are jointly planning a two-day "CONFER- athigher pay. 1. Moreteachers ENCE ONTHE GEOLOGYOFTEXAS" to beheld at Austin 2. More pay for the present experienced vigorous young sometime during the Spring semester, 1956. The final se- teachers. lection of a date will be announced later. Watch for this im- 3. Morelibrary. portantmeetingand attenditif youcan. 4. Morelaboratory and classroom space. Faculty News 5. Moreequipment. The Geology faculty now has teachers, one of 6. Morescholarshipsandloanfunds. 15 active whom serves without pay and one onmodified service (semi- (Could in 'ft 7. More research money for teachers be used retired).Inaddition, 5areeither retired,on leave of absence, lieu of sabbatical leaves). or on other assignments. These menare aided by 26 teaching assistants (graduate students) and 21student assistants. What CantheAlumniDo? Wilfred F. Roux, Jr. and C. W.Matthews were appointed 1. Arouse the state citizenry to ask their legislators to give instructors for thespring semester 1954-55 and will continue better financial backing to higher education. on the staff in 1955-56.Mr.Roux is a graduate from L.S.U. currently completing Xrouse the Petroleum Industry to help generously in and is aPh.D. at Texas.Mr.Matthews was formerly chairman of the Department of Geology at defraying the costs of Geological Education since the the University Alaska is working at State apparently cannot afford it. of and toward aPh.D. Texas. Jack C. Walper, from the University of Tulsa, will generously Geology r 3. Contribute to the Foundation for join the staff as instructor in September 1955 and he will be supplementary pay library, building, for teachers, working toward a Ph.D. degree at Texas. funds, research equipment, scholarships, loan and W. C. Bell is deep inhis study of the Cambrian of central Large and are money for teachers. small contributions Texas.He is dividing his time in summer field work between welcome. The money donated to the Geology Founda- the Bureau of Economic Geology and Humble Oil and Re- tion is tax deductible. .The Board of Regents holds the finingCompany. "money as a trust tund and spends it like you want it FredM.Bullard is continuing his work onLatin-American spent. The greatest need is for generous contributions volcanoes and is preparing for another summer in Central not earmarked for a specific purpose.Last year more America. He has been the editor of the Proceedings of the ft» than $7,000 was contributed to the Geology Foundation Latin-American on Geology now coming off the V*^ and two researchprojects are well underway now. Send Conference press. A paper based on observations on the volcanoes of -^ your donation to the Chairman of the Department of Costa Rica and Nicaragua during the summer of 1954 was Geology or to the President of The University of Texas. presented at the Washington meeting of the American Geo- Make checks payable to The University of Texas. \ physical UnioninMay. "Doc" Bybee is now consultant to University Lands, does A Reminder no teaching,andhishealth ismuchimproved. Every Geology Alumnus should be reminded that this Steve Clabaugh is continuing his work as assistant to the NEWSLETTER is financedbyroyalties from abeginning Geology Dean of Artsand Sciences (StudentDivision) inaddition to laboratory manual compiled by the Geology faculty. A new teaching an all-time record number of students in Optical edition of this laboratory manual is planned for September Mineralogy. He is directing, again this summer, a concen- 1955. trated geology course for Engineers for the Shell Oil Com- Page 4 June, 1955 pany givenby theUniversity Extension Division.Hehas also ington, andNew York. Hehas also been guest speaker before been awarded a research grant from the Geology Founda- the Corpus Christi Geological Society, the West Texas Ge- tion for a study of Texas vermiculiteduring the summer of ological Society, and South .Texas Geological Society.Grad- 1955.