Texas Tech University
Department of
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries
Management
Graduate Program Review
2005-2006
Ernest B. Fish, Chair
January 2006
PROGRAM REVIEW OUTLINE
Range, Wildlife and Fisheries Management
I.
Program Overview – A summary of department’s vision and goals.
II.
Graduate Curricula and Degree Programs
A. Scope of programs within the department
B. Number and types of degrees awarded
- Degrees Awarded – Academic Year
- Total Degrees Awarded – Academic Year
- Comparison of Degrees Awarded – Fall Data
- Program Degrees Awarded
C. Undergraduate and Graduate semester credit hours
- Semester Credit Hours – Academic Year
- SCH compared to Budget - Academic Year
D. Number of majors in the department
- Enrollment by Level – Fall Data
- Total Enrollment by Year – Fall Data
- Comparison of Enrollment – Fall Data
- Program Enrollment
E. Course enrollments over the past six years (enrollment trends by course)
- Course Enrollments by Academic Year
F. Classes cross listed
III.
Faculty
A. Number, rank and demographics of the graduate faculty
- Teaching Resources
- Tenured and Tenure-Track by Rank - Fall Data
- Comparison of Full-time Faculty
B. List of faculty members (graduate and non-graduate)
C. Summary of the number of refereed publications and creative activities (table)
D. Responsibilities and leadership in professional societies
- Professional Leadership
- Committee service
E. Assess average faculty productivity for Fall semesters only (use discipline appropriate criteria
to determine)
- Faculty Workload
- College SCH/FTE – Fall Data
- Department SCH/FTE – Fall Data
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
IV.
Graduate Students
A. Demographics of applicants and enrolled students
- Graduate Student Summary by Category – Fall Data
- Graduate Student Summary by Year – Fall Data
- Graduate Applicants by Region – Fall/Summer Data
- Graduate Applicants - Fall Data
- Admitted Graduate Students - Fall Data
- Enrolled New Graduate Students - Fall Data
- Demographics of Enrolled Graduate Students - Fall Data
- Demographics of Enrolled Undergraduate Students - Fall Data
B. Test scores (GRE, GMAT or TOEFL) of enrolled students
- Average GRE Scores for Enrolled Graduate Students – Fall Data
C. GPA of new students
- New Graduate Students GPA by Level – Fall Data)
D. Initial position and place of employment of graduates over the past 6 years
E. Type of financial support available for graduate students.
F. Number of students who have received national and university fellowships, scholarships and
other awards
- fellowships awarded
G. Graduate Student Publications and Creative Activities
H. Programs for mentoring and professional preparation of graduate students.
I. Department efforts to retain students and graduation rates
V.
Department
A. Department operating expenses
- Department Operating Cost - Academic Year
- Department Operating Cost as a Fraction of Employees
B. Summary of Proposals (Submitted)
- Summary of Number of Proposals Written and Accepted
C. External Research expenditures
- Summary of Faculty Awards
- Research Expenditures
- Peer Institution Info
D. Internal funding
- Source of Internal Funds (TTU)
E. Scholarships and endowments
F. Departmental resources for research and teaching (i.e. classroom space, lab facilities)
G. HEAF expenditures
VI.
Conclusions – a summary of the observed deficiencies and needs. Areas of greatest need and
areas of significant contributions.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
VII.
Appendices –
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
Strategic plan
Course Offerings
Recruiting Materials
Graduate Student Handbook
Graduate Student Association(s)
Completed Theses and Dissertations 1999-2005
Graduate Faculty Information
Department comments on data anomalies
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
1
I.
Program Overview
The Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management has long been committed
to ranking among the top programs in natural resources in the U.S. Toward this end, the faculty
has distinguished itself in both teaching and research, as well as within the professional
discipline of individual faculty members.
The Department takes great pride in its commitment to teaching and advising
undergraduate and graduate students. The Department was founded on excellent instruction by
Professor John Hunter (retired), who has received many teaching awards on and off campus,
including the initial Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award presented by the Range
Science Education Council (RSEC) and the Society for Range Management (SRM).
Two faculty members are charter members of The Teaching Academy (TTU) and two
other faculty have been elected to the Academy in recent years, five (including two former
faculty members) have received the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award (TTU), and three
(including one former faculty member) have been recognized by Mortar Board and Omicron
Delta Kappa as Outstanding Faculty (TTU). Dr. Loren M. Smith was recognized as the Educator
of the Year by the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society in 2001. Dr. Carlton M. Britton
recently received international recognition as a recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate
Teaching Award presented jointly by the Range Science Education Council and the Society for
Range Management.
The Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management faculty members have
distinguished themselves and honored the Department by recognition they have received in other
academic areas. Four faculty members (three current and one former) have received the
President’s Academic Achievement Award (TTU), one received the President’s Book Award
(TTU), and seven have received the Outstanding Research Award from the College of
Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). Dr. Warren B. Ballard received the first
Chancellor’s Research Award (TTU). Eight faculty have been honored by their Alma Maters for
their distinguished careers. Although the Department does not currently have a Horn Professor,
the highest recognition of a faculty member by Texas Tech University, it has had two Horn
Professors in the past. The Department has one active endowed professorship (Caesar Kleberg
Professor of Wildlife Management) and one bequest for an endowed chair (the Dr. Donald and
Sammie Bricker Endowed Chair in Wildlife Management).
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
2
In addition to on-campus recognition of the Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries
Management (RWFM) faculty for teaching and research, three of its faculty have been elected
“Fellow” by the Society for Range Management, and three have received the Outstanding
Achievement Award from SRM. One faculty member was recognized with the W. R. Chapline
Research Award. Two former faculty members received the Renner Award, the highest award
given by SRM, and five RWFM faculty members (current and former) have received the
Outstanding Contribution to Range Management Award, the highest recognition given anyone
by the Texas Section, SRM. Dr. Warren B. Ballard is the most recently recognized faculty
member having been selected as a “Fellow” by the Wildlife Society at its annual meeting in fall
2005.
Many of the Department’s faculty have served or are serving as editors, associate editors,
and members of editorial boards for professional journals (Table Section III-D). Also, several
current and former faculty members are serving or have served in leadership roles of their
professional societies (Table Section III-D).
Other measures of successful and professionally recognized faculty include the number
of publications and the number of times individual publications are cited in peer-reviewed
professional journals. During 1999-2004, the RWFM faculty published 316 peer-reviewed
journal articles, or an average of 3.0 publications per year per graduate faculty member (Table
Section III-C). During this same period, in addition to peer-reviewed publications, 4 books were
authored/co-authored or edited/co-edited by RWFM graduate faculty, several book chapters
written, and numerous presentations made and abstracts presented.
One of the mainstays of the undergraduate and graduate degree programs in RWFM is
the Departmental endowments. The Department has more than $1.93 million in endowment
principal that supports undergraduate and graduate scholarships, a professorship, and
assistantships in education and research (Table Section V-E).
The Department averaged $417,703 of Special Line Item funds from the State Legislature
from FY 99 through FY 05 (Table Section IV-E). Although these funds constituted only 20 –
25% of the Departmental operating budget, they provided a base for other monies attracted by
the faculty.
Extramural funds brought into the Department to support graduate research during the
past 6 years averaged nearly $1,024,905/year (Table Section IV-E). The Special Line Item
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
3
(Rangeland Improvement) was leveraged at a ratio greater then 2.48 toward extramural funds
during FY 99 – FY 05.
The Department offers B.S. Degrees in Range Management, Wildlife and Fisheries
Management, and Environmental Conservation of Natural Resources. Semester credit hours
generated by service, majors, and graduate courses within the Department averaged 5,356 for the
academic years 1999/2000 through 2004/2005 (Table Section II-C). The Department has
graduated an average of 26.8 Baccalaureate students, 9 M.S. students, and 3.5 Ph.D. students per
year 1999-2004 (Table Section II-B). Employment of graduates exceeds 90%.
The Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries has a strong program in natural
resources with a highly successful employment rate. Its faculty is well recognized on campus
and throughout the natural resource professions. The Department continues to strive to provide a
sound educational program for undergraduate and graduate students in natural resources, and to
prepare its graduates to face challenges and decisions that will confront them daily after
graduation. The Department also strives to maintain a solid research program dealing with
current issues in natural resource sciences and management. In order for the Department to
remain strong and viable, it must continue to receive base funding from the University and
College, to allow the faculty to be competitive for extramural funds and to provide education and
training for graduate students.
This report is a collaborative effort of the faculty in the Department of Range, Wildlife,
and Fisheries Management. Individual members have provided specific input with respect to
their own productivity and that of their students. All faculty have had an opportunity to review
and comment on the report during various stages of its preparation. Our goal has been to
compile an accurate record of the accomplishments of the Department during the six year
evaluation period (academic years 1999-2000 through 2004-2005) and meet the requirements
established by the Graduate School for this activity.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
4
II. Graduate Curricula and Degree Programs
A. Scope of programs within the department
The Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management (RWFM) offers the
M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees in Range Science, Wildlife Science, and Fisheries Science. The
Department does not participate in the Master of Agriculture Degree. The Department depends
upon the graduate faculty from the Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (COOP)
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the wildlife and fisheries degree programs,
particularly the fisheries science degree program, by directing graduate students and teaching
graduate courses in wildlife and fisheries sciences.
Each of the departmental degrees depends heavily upon courses offered outside RWFM
as well as upon courses offered within the Department. Departments from which many of the
departmental graduate students take classes include Animal and Food Sciences, Plant and Soil
Science, Agricultural and Applied Economics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Biological Sciences, Economics and Geography, and Civil Engineering. All degree programs
are tailored to the individual student’s needs and interests.
Two subjects must be completed by all doctoral students, either upon matriculation to
the doctoral program at Texas Tech or before completing the doctoral degree. These courses
are one semester of Teaching Practicum (RWFM 7210) and one semester of Experimental
Design (RWFM 5403 or equivalent). Additionally, range science doctoral candidates must
successfully complete or have completed two semesters of calculus and either College Teaching
in Agriculture (AGED 5310) or College Teaching (EDHE 5342). There is no foreign language
requirement for the doctoral degree. Declaration of a “minor” for either the M.S. or Ph.D.
degree is at the student’s discretion.
The Department faculty periodically undertakes a broad review of all courses and course
content in an effort to insure that offerings are current and relevant. As new course offerings
are proposed they are reviewed at the Department level and subsequently by the CASNR
curriculum committee before being forwarded to the Graduate School and the Office of the
Provost for final approval. The sequence of course offerings is patterned to meet levels of
demand while insuring that sufficient numbers of students enroll in a class to meet Coordinating
Board requirements.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
5
Full-time enrollment (9-12 hours per semester) is required by The Graduate School of
all students once they begin a graduate degree program. The Department requires enrollment in
9 Semester Credit Hours (SCH) during each long-term semester and 9 SCH during the summer
sessions, for a minimum total of 27 SCH per calendar year. If a doctoral student has not
completed the Ph.D. within 3 years, which frequently occurs, then they may register for 3 SCH
per semester for the next year. However, they must complete their degree within four calendar
years or (1) the Department faces a penalty for their continued registration or (2) the student
must get a waiver from The Graduate School that allows them to exceed 99 SCH without
penalty to the Department. Credible field research data in natural resource management
typically requires a minimum of two or three collection seasons. In practice this dictates that
graduate students in RWFM will seldom have adequate time for data collection and analysis to
complete their degrees in less than 30 months at the masters’ level and typically 40 months at
the doctoral level. Any effort to shorten this timeframe will result in a sacrifice of quality and
will likely preclude publication of the research results in respected journals.
For many years the Department has prepared a Departmental Graduate Student
Handbook (Section VII Appendix D) that explains the transition from being an undergraduate to
becoming a graduate student and the Departmental policies concerning graduate education. The
Handbook explains everything from the Departmental registration policy, to expectations of
conducting and publishing research, professional obligations, and care and use of University
facilities.
Several years ago the Department began conducting an annual evaluation of each
graduate student’s performance. Especially with the 99-Hour Rule, it is important that each
student make satisfactory progress in his or her graduate degree program in a timely manner. A
copy of the evaluation form is included in Section VII Appendix D.
All faculty (Table Section III-B) in the Department are expected to be on the Graduate
Faculty (Section VII Appendix G) and are expected to maintain an active research program and
direct graduate students. In addition to the departmental faculty, the two faculty in the COOP
Unit, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collaborator, the Department has several adjunct
faculty who are also involved in our graduate degree programs (Table Section III-B). Adjunct
faculty serve as members of graduate advisory committees, chair (or co-chair) a student’s
graduate advisory committee, and provide facilities and experimental opportunities for students.
They regularly participate in RWFM graduate degree programs. Other non-faculty and nonRange, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
6
adjunct faculty members are appointed to graduate advisory committees on “special, one-time”
appointments. These individuals often work with research institutions and funding agencies
that support specific graduate student research efforts (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service, etc.).
Graduate student numbers have remained relatively constant for many years (Table
Section II-D). The expense associated with conducting natural resource research is costprohibitive for students who do not work on a funded research project. Therefore, many years
ago the Department opted to accept only graduate students for whom financial support (stipend
and research project) can be provided. An exception to the above rule is made if a student is
financed (personal stipend or salary) by his or her employer (e.g., university or governmental
agency, includes several international students), who has encouraged and allowed them to
pursue an advanced degree. For this group even then, and regardless of their other
qualifications, a funded research project must be available on which these students can complete
their thesis or dissertation research, or they are not accepted into RWFM degree programs.
There is a great deal of interest in the graduate degree programs within RWFM (Table
Section IV-I). The Department has averaged more than 100 inquiries per year since 1999,
approximately 30% of whom are female. Inquiries received directly within the Department or
referred to the Department by The Graduate School are sent an application packet which
includes (1) an application procedure, (2) an application form, (3) a graduate catalog, and (4) a
graduate student brochure (Appendix VII-C). In addition to the information sent to each
inquirer, interested students can learn about the application procedure from the departmental
website. Due to the departmental policy of only accepting students for whom financial
assistance can be provided, a number of students do not follow their initial inquiry with an
application. The number of applicants and students admitted to our degree programs are
illustrated in Table Section IV-A. The average GRE score for all graduate students in RWFM
exceeds 1000 (Table Section IV-B). Both masters and doctoral students maintain a respectable
GPA throughout their graduate degree program while taking basic and applied graduate courses
(Table Section IV-C). During the admissions process, potential graduate students are screened
with great care and as a result very few students “drop-out” once accepted into the Department.
In this evaluation cycle reasons for students not completing their degrees have included
academic failure by reason of failing to successfully pass a comprehensive examination;
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
7
unwillingness to meet expected work ethic standards; and personal reasons involving family
obligations.
The Department currently funds the stipend of 15-20% of the graduate research
assistantships from the Special Line Item appropriation. For the past several years, the
Department has had five Teaching Assistantships paid from the Departmental Teaching budget
and one endowed Caesar Kleberg Fellow (for a wildlife science student). Extramural funds
obtained by individual faculty members fund the other 65-75% of graduate research
assistantships.
There are a few graduate scholarships available within the Department (provided by
specific endowments, Table Section IV-F) but not enough to fully support a graduate student.
However, the graduate scholarships are an area of endowments that the Department is
attempting to build. The long-term goal is to have sufficient endowment principal to provide
scholarships for all the Departmental graduate students and at least one endowed research
assistantship/faculty member.
Graduate education within the Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries
Management has been enhanced during the past several years by the Graduate Tuition Rebate.
The Graduate Tuition Rebate is derived from the difference in tuition fees charged to graduate
and undergraduate students. A substantial portion of the tuition fee difference was originally
returned to the academic unit in which it was generated. Graduate Tuition Rebate funds have
partially defrayed the cost of equipping and establishing a state-of-the-art Geospatial
Technology Lab, assisted with new faculty graduate research programs, and purchased and
updated analytical laboratory and field sampling equipment. The Graduate Tuition Rebate
funds returned to RWFM have greatly benefited the graduate degree programs in range,
wildlife, and fisheries sciences.
Since 1999 the Department has awarded a total of 75 graduate degrees, including 21
Ph.D.’s and 54 M.S. (Table Section II-B). Table Section IV-D lists the students who have
completed a graduate degree in RWFM since 1999 and their current employment. Thesis and
dissertation titles since 1999 are listed in Section VII Appendix F.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
8
Degrees offered in the Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management1 and the
dates they were approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Discipline
Degree
Date Approved
Range Management
B.S.
1966
Range Science
M.S.
1966
Range Science
Ph.D.
1970
Wildlife Management
B.S.
1970
Wildlife Science
M.S.
1982
Wildlife Science
Ph.D.
1990
Wildlife & Fisheries Management
B.S.
1995
Fisheries Science
M.S.
1995
Fisheries Science
Ph.D.
1995
Environmental Conservation of
Natural Resources (ECNR)
B.S.
1995
1The Department officially became the Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries
Management in 1995.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
9
B. Number and types of degrees awarded
Degrees Awarded - Academ ic Year (RWFM)
Sour ce: Insti tuti ona l Resea r ch Servi ces
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
Bachelor
39
33
26
26
24
13
Masters
10
4
8
7
14
11
Doctorates
4
3
4
3
1
6
Total Degrees Awarded by Year - AY (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
60
50
4
10
40
3
4
4
8
30
1
3
7
14
6
20
39
11
33
26
26
10
24
13
0
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
4
3
4
3
1
6
Masters
10
4
8
7
14
11
Bachelor
39
33
26
26
24
13
Doctorates
04/05
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
10
Comparison of Degrees
Aw arded (TTU progra m e quiva le nt)
Utah State (Ra nge a nd W ildlife )
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
Colorado State (RW FM)
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
University of Ariz ona (RW FM)
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
Texas A&M (Ra nge a nd Fishe rie s)
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
South Dakota State (Fishe rie s)
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
Oregon State (Ra nge a nd W ildlife )
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
University of Nebraska (Fishe rie s)
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
Texas Tech
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
83
24
12
82
30
7
83
34
9
70
25
2
72
33
6
155
39
9
174
31
4
163
39
4
134
35
4
131
36
8
138
28
8
n/a
44
22
11
29
26
6
22
20
4
22
15
5
14
11
2
n/a
119
32
16
113
34
16
123
30
13
150
31
8
139
33
14
30
6
1
24
5
2
24
9
1
33
5
0
24
7
2
37
5
0
information not provided
28
7
0
33
10
0
19
2
0
33
6
4
19
5
2
19
6
2
39
10
4
33
4
3
26
8
4
26
7
3
24
14
1
13
11
6
(Note from South Dakota State University:
1
Our B.S. degree is in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. Students take both, not just
fisheries. All of the other figures shown are just for fisheries students, faculty, and
dollars. )
(Note from University of Nebraska at Lincoln:
Bachelor’s enrollment includes BSNR in Fisheries & Wildlife, BSAS in Grazing
Livestock Systems, and Pre-Forestry. Master and Doctoral degrees are for Natural
Resource Sciences. )
Program Degrees Awarded
Source: Institutional Research Services
Name of Program
Fisheries Science
Range Science
Wildlife Science
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
5
3
6
0
5
2
2
3
7
1
3
6
2
2
11
1
1
15
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
11
C. Undergraduate and graduate semester credit hours
Semester Credit Hours - Academic Year (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
Undergraduate
Graduate
99/00
4,326
797
00/01
4,043
1088
01/02
4,800
1187
02/03
4,524
1269
03/04
4,288
1214
04/05
3,545
1,054
AY SCH compared to Budget (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
6,000
$120,000
5,000
$100,000
4,000
$80,000
3,000
$60,000
2,000
$40,000
1,000
$20,000
0
Undergraduate
Graduate
Operating Cost
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
4,326
4,043
4,800
4,524
4,288
3,545
797
1088
1187
1269
1214
1,054
$72,413
$102,966
$58,841
$74,524
$105,461
$100,624
$0
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
12
D. Number of majors in the department for the fall semesters
Enrollment by Level - Fall Data (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
Bachelor's
189
155
158
147
165
164
Masters
22
24
27
29
29
16
Doctoral
14
16
20
19
20
24
Total Enrollment by Year - Fall Data (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
250
14
200
22
16
20
24
27
155
158
20
19
24
29
29
16
150
100
189
147
165
164
50
0
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
Doctoral
14
16
20
19
20
24
Masters
22
24
27
29
29
16
Bachelor's
189
155
158
147
165
164
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
13
Comparison of Enrollment
(TTU progra m e quiva le nt)
Utah State (Ra nge a nd W ildlife )
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
Colorado State (RW FM)
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
University of Ariz ona (RW FM)
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
Texas A&M (Ra nge a nd Fishe rie s)
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
South Dakota State (Fishe rie s)
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
Oregon State (Ra nge a nd W ildlife )
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
University of Nebraska (Fishe rie s)
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
Texas Tech
Bachelor
Master
Doctoral
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
415
112
38
394
96
35
366
92
38
344
101
41
481
495
823
151
40
764
150
32
684
147
35
634
130
38
650
122
39
641
116
39
n/a
n/a
n/a
133
70
48
109
76
46
103
70
51
123
74
53
119
72
56
381
86
81
394
81
72
407
99
69
412
107
63
415
102
71
410
105
69
132
19
5
152
19
6
177
17
4
201
19
5
202
20
7
219
24
8
information not provided
127
16
--
123
15
--
103
12
--
108
13
11
116
15
13
109
29
11
189
22
14
155
24
16
158
27
20
147
29
19
165
29
20
164
16
24
Program Enrollment
Source: Institutional Research Services
Name of Program
Fisheries Science
Range Science
Range Science w/thesis
Wildlife Science
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
5
10
2
19
4
12
1
23
6
13
6
11
5
9
3
9
28
31
35
28
“Range Science w/thesis” is an aberration of IRS data. The Department requires all graduate
students to write a thesis or dissertation. Range Science data for 1999-2000 and 2000-2001
should be 12 and 13, respectively.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
14
E. Course enrollments over the past six years (enrollment trends by course)
•
Figures are totals – classes may be offered more than once per year
Course Enrollments by Academic Year
Source: Institutional Research Services
Department
Subject
Course
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
RWFM
5100
5302
5303
5304
5305
5306
5307
5309
5310
5311
5312
5313
5314
5315
5316
5317
5318
5320
5322
5323
5324
5330
5335
5337
5401
5402
5403
5404
6000
6001
6002
6003
6301
6303
6305
6324
7000
7210
8000
TOTALS
1999-00
19
34
8
0
0
0
7
3
4
7
0
4
0
2
0
8
22
3
0
20
0
1
3
0
0
0
47
6
30
5
2
4
0
0
14
0
73
3
40
369
2000-01
22
0
0
6
3
10
0
1
5
4
8
0
6
7
10
9
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
9
10
12
77
10
21
0
5
2
0
8
17
0
89
5
41
403
2001-02
33
10
7
0
0
0
6
2
5
5
4
6
0
9
0
5
5
10
0
18
9
1
3
0
0
0
39
4
41
2
13
0
10
10
15
0
63
2
58
395
2000-01
34
0
0
6
0
10
0
2
6
9
4
0
6
9
4
6
0
0
6
0
0
0
0
6
4
0
65
4
59
3
11
7
9
8
7
0
98
5
43
431
2003-04
23
8
7
0
0
0
8
4
0
6
4
6
0
4
0
6
3
0
3
8
4
0
2
0
0
0
62
6
34
4
20
0
0
6
26
0
86
7
58
405
2004-05
23
0
0
4
0
6
0
6
1
2
5
0
6
0
2
4
0
9
0
6
0
0
0
0
2
0
47
4
26
1
15
6
5
0
14
5
81
6
59
345
Total
154
52
22
16
3
26
21
18
21
33
25
16
18
31
16
38
30
28
9
52
13
2
8
15
16
12
337
34
211
15
66
19
24
32
93
5
490
28
299
2348
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
15
F. Classes Cross Listed
Graduate students enrolled in the following classes attend the corresponding lecture and
laboratory session presented for the indicated undergraduate class. In all cases, additional work
in the form of reports, projects, field trips, and other advanced academic effort is required of the
graduate students.
5304. Fire Behavior and Ecology (3:2:3). Prerequisite: RWFM 3501 and 3302. An assessment
of the role of fire in succession and management of plants and animals in all major vegetation
types of U.S. and Canada; effect of fire on litter and soil properties; fire temperatures and heat
effects; prescribed burning techniques. Field trips required. S, odd years. (RWFM 4304)
5309. Population Estimation and Dynamics (3:3:0). Prerequisite: AAEC 3401. Principles of
estimation theory. Detailed examination of modern analysis techniques; indices, line transect,
capture-recapture, Jolly-Seber, survival, and life table limitations. Computer use. S. (RWFM
4408)
5310. Advanced Range Ecology (3:3:0). An examination of the basic ecological principles
affecting plant growth and development, distribution of plants, community structure and
dynamics, and nutrient cycling. Field trips required. F, S. (RWFM 3302)
5311. Wildlife Conservation and Management (3:3:0). An examination of conservation
principles and management practices enhancing wildlife populations. Not open to biological
science majors. (RWFM 2311)
5312. Ecology of Renewable Natural Resources (3:3:0). An introduction to the ecology of
renewable natural resources such as vegetation, wildlife, soil, and water. Not open to biological
science majors. (RWFM 2302)
5313. Advanced Big Game Ecology and Management (3:3:0). Prerequisite: RWFM 4305 or
equivalent or consent of instructor. An advanced study of the ecology and management of big
game resources. Field trips required. S, even years. (RWFM 4305)
5314. Advanced Upland Game Ecology and Management (3:2:3). An advanced study of the
ecology and management of upland game resources. Field trips required. S, odd years.
(RWFM 4306)
5315. Advanced Studies in Range-Wildlife Habitat (3:3:0). An ecological approach to
wildlife management stressing the relationships between animals and their habitat. Focuses on
rangeland habitats. Field trips required. F, S. (RWFM 4309)
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
16
5316. Waterfowl Ecology (3:2:3). Prerequisite: RWFM 4310. An ecological examination of
waterfowl behavior, breeding biology, and habitat requirements. Field trips required. F, even
years. (RWFM 4310)
5317. Watershed Management (3:3:0). Management concepts of watersheds as a holistic unit.
Inventory techniques, information sources, analysis procedures, and economic and financial
effects applicable to watershed management planning. F, S. (RWFM 4314)
5320. Natural Resource Biopolitics (3:3:0). Policy, planning, and conflict resolution from a
natural resource management perspective. Historical, agency, and private organization roles in
natural resource management are evaluated. S. (RWFM 4320)
5322. Advanced Nongame Ecology and Management (3:2:2). Prerequisite: RWFM 2301 or
consent of instructor. Ecological approach to nongame wildlife population management. Public
policies, socioeconomic factors, population dynamics, and species-at-risk issues are examined.
(RWFM 4322)
5330. Advanced Aquaculture (3:3:0). A global overview of aquaculture including fish, aquatic
invertebrates, plants, and design and operation of production facilities. F, odd years. (RWFM
4330)
5335. Advanced Fisheries Science (3:3:0). Scientific study of the use of aquatic organisms.
Includes resources, sampling, ecology and analysis of populations, resource conflicts, and
management. May not be taken for credit by students who have taken RWFM 4335. S, even
years. (RWFM 4335)
5347. Advanced Conservation Science (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent instructor. A survey of
the theory and practice of conservation biology for advanced students. (RWFM 3307)
5401. Advanced Fisheries Management (4:3:3). Theory and methodology used in managing
aquatic renewable resources; applied field problems, equipment use. May not be taken for credit
by students who have taken RWFM 4401. F, even years. (RWFM 4401)
5404. Aerial Terrain Analysis (4:2:4). Exploration of methods, the utilization of techniques,
and evaluation of landscape using aerial photographs. An introduction to the theories, technical
and practical aspects, and considerations of computer based geographic information systems in
landscape planning, design, and management. F. (RWFM 4403)
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
17
III. Faculty
(NOTE: There is a discrepancy in faculty counts in this chapter and in the appendices. The department acknowledges data
anomalies. For more information, see memo in Appendix H.)
A. Number, rank, and demographics of the graduate faculty
Teaching Resources (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
Tenured/Tenure Track faculty
13
14
14
13
13
12
Non-tenure track faculty
0
1
1
0
0
0
GPTI
4
0
1
0
0
0
TA's
0
3
3
4
6
7
Tenured and Tenure-Track by Rank - Fall Data
(RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Horn Professor
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
99/00
0
3
4
2
00/01
0
4
4
2
01/02
0
3
4
1
02/03
0
3
4
3
03/04
0
3
6
3
04/05
0
4
6
3
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
18
Comparison of Full-time Faculty
(TTU program equivalent)
Utah State (Range and Wildlife)
Tenured/Tenure Track
Non-tenure track
GPTI's
TA's
Colorado State (RWFM)
Tenured/Tenure Track
Non-tenure track
GPTI's
TA's
University of Arizona (RWFM)
Tenured/Tenure Track
Non-tenure track
GPTI's
TA's
Texas A&M (Range and Fisheries)
Tenured/Tenure Track
Non-tenure track
GPTI's
TA's
South Dakota State (Fisheries)
Tenured/Tenure Track
Non-tenure track
GRA's GPTI's
TA's
Oregon State (Range and Wildlife)
Tenured/Tenure Track
Non-tenure track
GPTI's
TA's
University of Nebraska (Fisheries)
Tenured/Tenure Track
Non-tenure track
GPTI's
TA's
Texas Tech University
Tenured/Tenure Track
Non-tenure track
GPTI's
TA's
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
22
9
21
11
22
11
41
5
42
5
25
30
18
19
2
2
38
13
39
11
3
2
18
0
3
2
17
0
26
3
28
3
0
0
13
0
0
6
12
0
0
7
categories not applicable
43
5
41
3
26
27
n/a
16
n/a
2
33
8
45
7
26
12
3
2
16
0
3
2
17
0
39
35
9
9
category not applicable
25
34
21
20
category not applicable
3
1
42
43
10
13
category not applicable
13
3
2
17
0
3
2
17
0
information not provided
35
4
36
6
0
1
13
0
4
0
14
1
0
3
26
26
2
3
category not applicable
0
0
14
1
1
3
13
0
0
4
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
19
B. List of faculty members
FACULTY NAME
John R. Hunter
Gerald Thomas
Thad Box
Joe Schuster
Eric G. Bolen
Henry A. Wright
Billie E. Dahl
Don Klebenow
Russell D. Pettit
Ronald E. Sosebee
Darrell Ueckert
Jerran Flinders
Donald Burzlaff
Ernest B. Fish
John Garcia
Dee Quinton
David Simpson
Ken Stromborg
D. Lynn Drawe
Fred C. Bryant
Fred Guthery
Danny B. Pence
Robert Warren
Carlton M. Britton
Bryan Murphy
Jim Pfister
David B. Wester
Loren M. Smith
Steven Demarais
Hal Schramm
Pete Jacoby
HIRE
DATE
JOB TITLE
END
DATE
Member
of Grad
Faculty?
Y or N
Associate Professor
Professor and Dean
Professor
Professor and Chairman
(1969-72)
Horn Professor
Horn Professor & Chairman
(1980-90)
Professor
Professor
Associate Professor
Professor and Chairman
(1990-96)
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Professor and Chairman
(1973-1980)
Professor and Chairman
(1999-present)
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
1948
1958
1962
1964
1996
1970
1970
1970
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
1966
1967
1990
1994
Yes
Yes
1967
1968
1969
1969
1993
1971
1990
Present
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
1969
1971
1973
1977
1975
1980
Yes
Yes
Yes
1973
Present
Yes
1973
1973
1979
1975
Yes
Yes
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Adjunct Professor
Professor
Associate Professor
Adjunct Professor
Associate Professor
Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Professor
Caesar Kleberg Professor of
Wildlife Ecology
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Adjunct Professor
1975
1975
1976
1977
1978
1978
1979
1980
1980
1983
1983
1984
1983
1977
Present
1996
1985
Present
1985
Present
1986
1987
Present
Present
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
1984
1986
1986
1997
1991
1994
Yes
Yes
Yes
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
20
Scott Lutz
Nick C. Parker
Reynaldo Patino
William D. Harvey
Jim Winter
Emilio Laca
Karen Launchbaugh
O. Gene Rhodes
David A. Haukos
David L. Price
Gene R. Wilde
Robert Mitchell
R. James Ansley
Charles A. Taylor
W. Richard Teague
C. Brad Dabbert
David J. Schmidly
J. Carlos Villalobos
Mark C. Wallace
Phillip Zwank
Dale Rollins
Warren B. Ballard
Kevin L. Pope
Matthew Cronin
Paul R. Krausman
Markus J. Peterson
Darrell N Ueckert
Jerry Winslow
Clint W. Boal
Jeffrey C. Bowman
Phillip S. Gipson
Robert Sullivan
Gad Perry
Robert Mitchell
Kathleen R.LeVering
A. Faiz Rahman
Sandra Rideout-Hanzak
Michael C. Farmer3
Associate Professor
Professor
Professor
Adjunct Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Associate Professor
Professor and President
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Professor and Chairman
(1997-1999)
Adjunct Professor
Professor
Associate Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Assistant Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Assistant Professor
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
1989
1989
1989
1991
1992
1992
1992
1992
1993
1993
1995
1995
1995
1995
1995
1996
1996
1996
1996
1997
1995
2003
Present
1999
1997
1996
1996
Present
Present
1999
Present
2002
2001
2001
2001
Present
2003
Present
Present
2002
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
1997
1998
1998
1998
1998
1999
1997
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2002
2002
2002
2005
2005
2005
2003
Present
2005
Present
Present
Present
2003
2004
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
21
Stephen J. DeMaso
Adjunct Professor
2005
Present
Yes
Kevin L. Pope
Adjunct Professor
2005
Present
Yes
Lance T. Vermeire
Adjunct Professor
2005
Present
Yes
1The Range Management Program was an option in the Department of Agronomy until it
became autonomous in 1969 as the Department of Range and Wildlife Management. The
Department officially became the Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries
Management in 1995.
2Listed in order of employment at Texas Tech University.
3Joint appointment with Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics (25% RWFM
and 75% AAEC)
C. Summary of the number of refereed publications and creative activities.
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
N=16
N=17
N=18
N=18
N=18
N=17
Publication Type
F=16
F=17
F=18
F=18
F=18
F=17
Referred Articles/Abstracts
40
50
48
48
66
64
Books/Book Chapters
0
0
0
0
3
1
Other Publications
9
26
5
12
11
1
Presentations/Posters
59
42
53
40
84
82
N = # of full time faculty contributing
F = # of full time faculty in department
D. Responsibilities and leadership in professional societies.
1999
N=16
F=16
7
3
3
33
Professional Leadership
Editor/Editorial
Executive Board
Officer in National Org.
Committees
Faculty Fellow in National
Societies
1
Positions on Special
Federal/State/Regional
Committees/Boards/Review
Panels
33
N = # of full time faculty contributing
2000
N=17
F=17
11
4
5
24
2001
N=18
F=18
11
4
4
18
2002
N=18
F=18
8
3
4
16
2003
N=18
F=18
11
2
3
19
2004
N=17
F=17
9
2
2
11
1
1
1
1
1
45
40
33
14
F = # of full time faculty in department
60
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
22
Graduate committee responsibilities.
Committees
Chaired
MS
PhD
17
6
7
0
5
3
5
1
2
1.5
2
0
5
3
3.5
3
3.5
2
1.5
2
3
10
2
1
1.5
5
12
2.5
2
3
5
1
2
1
2
1
Faculty Name
Warren Ballard
Clint Boal
Carlton Britton
Brad Dabbert
Ernest Fish
David Haukos
Robert Mitchell
Reynaldo Patino
Gad Perry
Kevin Pope
Loren Smith
Ronald Sosebee
Carlos Villalobos
Mark Wallace
David Wester
Gene Wilde
Jerome Winslow
Phillip Zwank
Committees
Served in
department
MS
PhD
2
2
2
0
2
9
3
0
3
6
0
3
0
3
0
3
1
1
6
1
3
3
3
6
1
2
8
8
2
15
2
6
0
0
1
0
Committees
Served outside
department
MS
PhD
1
0
0
2
0
0
3
1
8
3
0
0
4
3
0
3
0
0
1
0
5
3
4
2
7
5
2
0
6
17
1
2
0
1
0
0
E. Assess average faculty productivity for Fall semesters only (use discipline appropriate
criteria to determine).
All faculty members teaching graduate level courses are reviewed using college and
university approved teaching performance instruments completed by students each time a
course is taught. Mean teaching evaluation scores for RWFM faculty are above those reported
for the University and CASNR. Untenured faculty, in tenure track positions, are additionally
provided peer review on an annual basis in selected courses.
Average Workload Values (Fall Semesters)
1999
University
College
Department
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
11.61 11.45 11.34 12.24 16.23
19.18 20.03 18.85 19.20 18.82
18.24 19.80 22.58 21.98 25.08
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
23
College SCH/FTE - Fall Data
Source: Institutional Research Services
250
200
150
100
50
0
SCH/FTE for total faculty
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
215
189
195
196
199
176
Department SCH/FTE - Fall Data (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
SCH/FTE for total faculty
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
171
160
177
188
159
147
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
24
IV. Graduate Students
A. Demographics of applicants and enrolled students
Graduate Student Summary by Category - Fall Data (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Total Applicants
Total Admitted
New Grad Students
Students Graduated
1999
31
9
6
6
2000
21
6
9
3
2001
26
14
13
3
2002
30
13
9
2
2003
17
8
7
8
2004
19
10
5
9
Graduate Student Summary by Year - Fall Data (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
31
21
26
30
17
19
Total Admitted
9
6
14
13
8
10
New Grad Students
6
9
13
9
7
5
Students Graduated
6
3
3
2
8
9
Total Applicants
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
25
Graduate Applicants by Region - Fall/Summer Data (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
TX
USA
1999
Blank Code
1
4
2000
3
6
2
6
2001
INT'L
1
5
2002
6
2
1
2003
2
2
3
2004
2
3
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
26
Graduate Applicants - Fall Data
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
Amer Ind
Asian
Black
Hispanic
Non-Resident
Unknown
W hite
0
0
0
2
1
0
11
0
0
0
0
4
0
13
1
0
0
1
1
0
9
0
0
0
0
3
1
5
0
0
0
1
3
0
3
0
0
0
1
6
0
12
0
0
0
1
1
2
7
0
0
0
0
3
1
15
0
0
0
0
1
2
7
0
0
0
0
0
2
5
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
8
1
6
Gender Total
14
17
12
9
7
19
11
19
10
7
4
15
31
Total Applicants
26
21
30
Admitted Graduate Students - Fall Data
1999
2000 2001
17
19
2002
2003
2004
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
Amer Ind
Asian
Black
Hispanic
Non-Resident
Unknown
W hite
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
6
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
5
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
0
0
0
1
1
6
0
0
0
0
1
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
4
1
3
Gender Total
1
8
4
2
3
11
5
8
5
3
2
8
9
Total Admitted
6
14
13
Enrolled New Graduate Students - Fall Data
1999
2000 2001
8
10
2002
2003
2004
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
Amer Ind
Asian
Black
Hispanic
Non-Resident
Unknown
W hite
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
4
0
6
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
4
0
0
0
0
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
Gender Total
1
5
4
5
3
10
4
5
4
3
1
4
Total Enrolled
6
9
13
9
7
5
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
27
Demographics of Enrolled Graduate Students - Fall Data
1999
2000 2001
2002
2003
2004
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
Amer Ind
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Asian
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Black
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Hispanic
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Non-Resident
1
4
0
4
1
7
1
8
2
9
2
10
Unknown
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
2
1
W hite
5
24
10
25
9
29
11
26
15
20
10
14
Gender Total
7
29
11
29
11
36
14
34
19
30
14
26
Graduate
36
40
47
48
40
49
Demographics of Enrolled Undergraduate Students - Fall Data
1999
2000 2001
2002
2003
2004
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
Amer Ind
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
Asian
0
0
0
1
0
3
0
2
0
2
0
2
Black
1
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
Hispanic
3
6
3
3
3
5
3
6
4
12
7
7
Non-Resident
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unknown
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
2
W hite
46
133
36 109 31 112
17
115
14
130 13 131
Gender Total
50
139
41 114 37 121
23
124
19
146 21 143
Undergraduate
189
155
158
147
165
164
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
28
B. Test scores (GRE, GMAT and/or TOEFL) of enrolled students
Average GRE Scores for Enrolled Graduate Students Fall Data (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Verbal
528
494
477
459
414
388
Quantitative
623
608
607
571
494
534
C. GPA of new students
New Graduate Students GPA by Level - Fall Data (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Masters
3.483
3.618
3.63
3.588
3.587
3.728
Doctoral
3.709
3.714
3.77
3.818
3.776
3.799
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
29
D. Initial position and place of employment of graduates over the past 6 years
Name
Initial Position
Initial Employer
Location
1999-2000
Timothy Bonner
Assistant Professor
Biologist
Southwest Texas State
University
Tetra Tech EM, Inc.
Wayne Brown
Thomas Cox
Wilmington, MA
Law Student
Law School
Baton Rouge, LA
Andrew Forbes
Wildlife Biologist
U. S. Army
Fort Bragg, NC
Amy Ganguli
Oklahoma State
University
City of Austin Water
Utility
Prairie City ISD
Stillwater, OK
Randall Hennen
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Environmental
Technologist
High School Teacher
Prairie City, OR
Scott Hohensee
Wildlife Biologist
Terrisosa Ranch
San Antonio, TX
Eric Holt
Wildlife Biologist
JRB Environmental
Salt Lake City, UT
Ricardo Jimenez, Jr.
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Wildlife Biologist
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Nature Conservancy
Fort Hood, TX
Wetland Resources,
Inc.
Shepherd Miller, Inc.
Everett, WA
Ft. Collins, CO
Aztec ISD
Aztec, NM
Alpine, TX
Balmorhea, TX
Joanna Hahm
Irene Raquel LeyvaEspinosa
Derrick Marks
Ricardo Mata-Gonzales
Fisheries Biologist
San Marcos, TX
Austin, TX
James Brent McFarland
Environmental
Consultant
School Teacher
James Mueller
Assistant Professor
Deanna Oberheu
Wildlife Biologist
Kenneth Ostrand
Fisheries Biologist
Amy Russell
Wildlife Biologist
Calub Shavlik
Fisheries Biologist
Matthew Sprenger
Wildlife Biologist
John Taylor (deceased)
Biologist
Jason Wrinkle
Senior Land Steward
Lisa Wrinkle
Consultant
Sul Ross State
University
Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
Thorne Bay Ranger
District
Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources
Lacreek National
Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
The Nature
Conservancy
Self-employed
Josh Avey
Access Coordinator
Arizona Game and Fish
Tucson, AZ
Warren Conway
Assistant Professor
Nacogdoches, TX
Jennifer Davidson
Fire Security
Stephen F. Austin State
University
Boeing Aircraft
Quiteque, TX
Longview, WA
Thorne Bay, Alaska
Walker, MN
Martin, SD
Socorro, NM
Dryden, TX
2000-2001
Australia
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
30
Russell Fox
Range Scientist
Pedro Juardo-Guerra
Range Scientist
Hisham Nofal
Assistant Professor
Susan Rupp
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Range Scientist
Yvonne Warren
Bureau of Land
Management
Instituto Nacional de
Investigaciones
Forestatles y
Agropecuarias, U. of
Chihuahua
University of Jordan
Safford, AZ
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Bureau of Land
Management
Worland, WY
University Autonoma de
Chihuahua
Chihuahua, Mexico
Chihuahua, Mexico
Amman, Jordan
2001-2002
Gerardo Bezanilla
Professor
Cherise Carr-Ginsburg
Homemaker/mother
Chris Chizinski
Matthew Gray
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Assistant Professor
Jan Kamler
Wildlife Biologist
Patrick Lemons
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Resource Contaminant
Specialist
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Rangeland Ecologist
Bart Durham
Rachel McCaffrey
Brian Spears
Joseph Treadway
Lance Vermeire
Austin, TX
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
University of
Tennessee
Fulbright Scholar
Knoxville, TN
Oxford, England
University of Nevada
Reno, NV
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
Texas A&M University
– Kingsville
Fort Keogh Livestock
and Range Laboratory
Spokane, WA
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Texas Parks & Wildlife
Department
The Nature
Conservancy
Canadian, TX
Northwest Watershed
Research Center
Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department
Racher Resource
Management, LDD
USGS – BRD
Boise, ID
Bureau of Land
Management
Rifle, CO
Kingsville, TX
Miles City, MT
2002-2003
Shawn Haskell
Derrick Holdstock
Richard Kostecke
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Assistant Area Manager
Corey Moffet
Publications
Specialist/Science
Specialist II
Research Scientist
Gregory Pleasant
Wildlife Biologist
Brent Racher
Rangeland Consultant
Scott Sebring
Fisheries Biologist
Brett Smithers
Wildlife Biologist
Fort Hood, TX
Giddings, TX
Carona, NM
Cook, WA
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
31
Elizabeth Wilbanks
Science Teacher
Steamboat Springs ISD
Sheldon Mark Wimmer
Rangeland Specialist
Eric Wolf
Ecologist/project
Associate
Bureau of Land
Management
Virginia Tech University
Steamboat Springs,
CO
Glenwood Springs,
CO
Blacksburg, VA
2003-2004
Clifford Wade Abbott
Wildlife Biologist
Kansas Department of
Wildlife & Parks
INIFAP Campo
Experiment Station
Wetland Regulatory
and Hydrologic
Consulting
Private Business
Miguel Avila
Range Scientist
Terri Barnett
Biologist
Michael Todd Byerly
Consultant
Rogelio Carrera-Trevino
Lubbock, TX
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Stephanie DuPree
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Environmental Scientist
Halff Associates
Fort Worth, TX
Joel Merriman
Biological Consultant
Seattle, WA
Jena Moon
Waterfowl Biologist
Amy Norton
Biologist
Kevin Offill
Fisheries Biologist
Richard Phillips
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Non-game
biologist/Zoologist
Raedeke Associates,
Inc.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
Sphere 2
Environmental
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
Texas Tech University
Alison Pruett
Utah Department of
Natural Resources –
Division of Wildlife
Resources
Hillsboro, KS
Tamaulipas,
Mexico
Reno, NV
McAllen, TX
Longview, TX
Red Bluff, CA
Lubbock, TX
Salt Lake City, UT
Janet Reed
Online Biologist Editor
Austin, TX
Troy Sternberg
Range Scientist
Fulbright Scholar
Mongolia, China
Thomas Thompson
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID
Adrian Andrei
Assistant Professor
Lincoln University
Jefferson City, MO
Joydeep Bhattacharjee
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
John Brunjes
Post-doc Research
Associate
Research Technician
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Kristina Brunjes
Research Technician
TIEHH Reese Center
Lubbock, TX
Dana Ghioca
Post-doc Research
Associate
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Regional Biologist
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE
Department of Game
and Inland Fisheries
Warsaw, VA
2004-2005
Matthew Giovanni
Galon Hall
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
32
Rachel Houchin
Extension Specialist
Oklahoma State
University/Forestry
Extension
Conservation Seeding
and Restoration, Inc.
Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation
Commission
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
University of Arizona
Stillwater, OK
Ross Huffman
Biologist
Daniel McDonald
Wildlife Biologist
Brady McGee
Wildlife Biologist
Kerry Nicholson
Carlos Ortega
Graduate School
Ph.D. Student
Research Scientist
Tucson, AZ
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Jennifer Owen
Ranger III
Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department
McAllen, TX
Nikki Radke
Seeking Employment
Jessica Rose
Instructor
Northwest College
Powell, WY
Susan Rupp
Research Scientist
Los Alamos Laboratory
Los Alamos, NM
Jesse Shuck
Seeking Employment
Andrew Teaschner
Computer Network
Specialist
Rawlins, WY
Perry, FL
McAllen, TX
Bowie, MD
Albuquerque, NM
Comcast
Lubbock, TX
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
33
E. Type of financial support available for graduate students
The Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management had nominal research
and graduate degree programs prior to 1967. Several students received their M.S. Degrees
during the years prior to 1967, but the Departmental program had minimal funds with which to
conduct research. In 1967 the State Legislature enacted a Special Line Item (Noxious Brush
and Weed Control) providing the impetus for the research program that has continued through
2005. The initial funding by the Special Line Item was approximately $200,000/A for FY68
and 69. In 1969 the Special Line Item was substantially increased and provided the opportunity
for the Department to expand its faculty and staff and to initiate a major research effort.
The faculty increased from 6 (excluding Dean Gerald Thomas and Dr. Thad Box,
Director of the International Center for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Studies) to 9 members in
1969. The Department consisted of several disciplines in range science (general range
management, fire ecology, grazing management/livestock nutrition, and plant ecophysiology)
and wildlife management/waterfowl ecology, and wildlife habitat management. In FY 68 and
69, all faculty members regardless of discipline (to the extent they were interested) shared in the
Special Line Item research funding, a protocol that has continued through the present time.
Funds provided by the Special Line Item have constituted only 20-25% of the Department's
operating budget (excluding faculty salaries during the academic year), but they have provided
the base funding that has allowed the faculty to compete nationally and internationally for
graduate students and extramural funds. In FY 2000-2005, the Special Line Item funds
provided an average of $413,917 to Departmental research. These funds have been leveraged at
a ratio greater than 1:2.48/A toward attraction of extramural funds. Extramural funds generated
by the Department FY 2000 - FY 2005 averaged $1,024,905.
In addition to the extramural funds that sponsoring agencies provide, many of the
research cooperators also provide "in-kind" support. The "in-kind" support that funding
agencies provide include provision of offices (including telephone and computers), wet labs, dry
labs, grinding rooms, drying rooms, vehicles, ATVs, dormitory and temporary housing for
students, faculty, and scientists. Cooperators also provide livestock for grazing management
studies. Many landowners allow the use of their farms, ranches, and government lands, at no
cost, for RWFM research. The total "in kind" support that the Department received for the
years 2000-2005 exceeded $2 million.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
34
The RWFM faculty have their own research projects, but a number of faculty participate
on research teams involving other faculty members and graduate students within the
Department as well as interdisciplinary projects across campus, with other Universities, and
with governmental agencies. Graduate students are also encouraged to work together and to
assist with projects other than their own to expand their education beyond their specific research
and to engage in team research.
The Department has been a leader for many years in prescribed/controlled burning,
chemical brush and weed control, grazing management, range plant ecophysiology, wildlife
habitat, and wetland playa ecology and management research. A Fire Ecology Center exists
within the Department to spearhead prescribed controlled burning research and to provide a
concerted education effort in conducting prescribed/controlled burns throughout Texas and
across the Southwest and West.
The Wildlife and Fisheries Management Institute (WFMI) within the Department was
formed to coordinate the activities of several Texas Tech University departments, a federal
agency, and private industries that work together on wildlife and fisheries research projects.
These groups jointly seek and contribute money to fund a variety of research projects which
directly benefit graduate students by providing assistantship stipends and operational funds.
Graduate student stipends (graduate research assistantships and teaching assistantships)
and fellowships are established by the Department and the University. The value of Teaching
Assistantships is established by The Graduate School and the Provost’s office. All
assistantships within the Department have initial base ranges for starting salaries. Graduate
student salaries tend to diverge after year 1 pending upon annual salary increases (determined
by the University or State Legislature) and the length of time a student has been at Texas Tech
University. TA salaries begin at approximately $14,700/A ($11,250 for the academic year), but
TAs are paid by the Department during the summer at similar rates that other RWFM graduate
students are compensated. Students working toward the M.S. Degree begin at $12,800/A, while
students working toward the Ph.D. begin at $13,800/A. All graduate students receiving
assistantships are employed 50% time by the State of Texas. The financial package for all State
employees includes medical insurance that adequately covers single individuals (additional
medical and dental insurance may be purchased if the graduate student wishes) and fringe
benefits (workman’s compensation, social security, etc.) Retirement is not withheld from the
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
35
student’s salary, but Federal withholding taxes are. State employees and students receiving
scholarships $1000/A, minimum) pay in-State tuition rates.
All of the accomplishments in research have been made possible by the Special Line
Item funding provided by the State Legislature. It is very important that this source of funding
continue to be provided by the University because it constitutes the basis for (1) graduate
student support (approximately 30-40% of the graduate student stipends have been paid from
the Special Line Item); each State-supported graduate faculty member is provided at least one
graduate student from Departmental funds; (2) seed money (every faculty member participates
equally in seed money provided by the Special Line Item), (3) secretarial, bookkeeper, lab and
field technician support; (4) vehicle fleet support (each faculty member is provided at least one
road-worthy vehicle), and (5) summer salary for State-supported graduate faculty. Most of the
items supported by the Special Line Item are functions that funding agencies expect
Universities to provide. Therefore, were we to lose this funding, the graduate research program
in RWFM would be in jeopardy of being severely impaired.
Special Line Item (State of Texas) and Extramural funding received by the Department of
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management FY 2000 – FY 2005.1
Line Item
Contracts
Appropriations
and
Year
(CASNR)
Grants
_____________________________________________________________________________
1999 – 2000
$426,001
$ 637,160
2000 – 2001
$414,006
$1,024,147
2001 – 2002
$416,783
$ 653,528
2002 – 2003
$409,562
$1,629,029
2003 – 2004
$403,972
$1,043,936
2004 – 2005
$413,178
$1,161,632
Average (FY 2000 – 2005)
$413,917
$1,024,905
_____________________________________________________________________________
1
Values do not include monies attracted by graduate faculty members of the Texas Cooperative
Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, USFWS, or TTU faculty members prior to coming to Texas
Tech University.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
36
F. Value of awards to students who have received national and university fellowships,
scholarships and other awards
AWARD
CH Foundation
Cash
Falconwood Foundation
International Programs
Jones
Junction
Kleberg
Landwer
Moise Cerf
Other
Sandyland
Summer Dissertation
Waterman
Welder Wildlife
99/00
00/01
$10,450 $10,300
01/02
$3,633
02/03
$ 4,541
03/04
$21,254
$14,000
$1,500
$ 500
$14,000
$ 2,400
$11,330
$ 7,700
$7,000
$1,000
$7,455
$8,800
$ 500
$16,400
$16,400
$ 710
$3,000
$500
$ 8,000
$ 5,000
$10,000
$ 8,400
04/05
$ 9,871
$ 3,000
$12,800
$1,500
$ 3,500
$ 500
$11,667
$ 500
$ 2,000
$ 8,000
$11,200
Note: The Landwer Endowment is also used in support of undergraduate students.
G. Graduate Student Publications and Creative Activities – Number of publications and other
activities by Master and Doctoral students in the department
Publication:
Year
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
Referred
Thesis
Diss.
ND
ND
15
25
9
15
6
21
9
19
9
11
6
11
Non-Referred
Thesis
Diss.
ND
ND
25
23
29
18
23
26
24
24
29
18
18
11
Poster
presentations
Thesis
Diss.
ND
ND
21
16
16
17
17
14
14
11
15
13
23
21
Other activities
Thesis
Diss.
10
6
13
2
14
2
7
4
4
3
7
4
13
3
ND = No Data Available
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
37
H. Programs for mentoring and professional preparation of graduate students
Ideally, the relationship between a graduate student and his or her major professor is
akin to that of apprentice and master craftsman. The Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries
Management Department strongly encourages and supports the notion that faculty, as major
professors, are primarily responsible for mentoring and guiding the professional preparation of
their graduate students. The second order of such activity is the responsibility of the student’s
committee members and finally all faculty as well as the Department Chair share in the overall
responsibility to insure that graduates of our programs have access to opportunities that will
prepare them for success in their chosen professional pursuits.
Graduate students are encouraged to join appropriate professional organizations and to
actively participate in the activities of the organization at the appropriate levels. Graduate
students are also encouraged to work cooperatively with their fellow students and, thus, benefit
from each other’s experiences. Offices are configured to encourage collaboration, and the
Department strives to facilitate additional opportunities for interaction.
Graduate seminars are specifically directed at the development of professional level
skills in the broad area of oral communication with specific emphasis on the techniques required
to disseminate the results of scientific research to a variety of audiences. Appropriate
publication of research results is an expectation instilled in our graduate students. Table Section
IV-G indicates that students, as a whole, are very successful in producing referred publications
on various aspects of their completed or in progress theses or dissertations.
Finally, the Department publishes and provides to each student a copy of the
Departmental Graduate Student Handbook. The expressed purpose of this document is to help
graduate students successfully chart their course through a graduate degree program leading to
professional employment opportunities.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
38
I. Department efforts to retain students and graduation rates
All graduate students are encouraged to maintain close contact with their major
professor and other members of their graduate program advisory committee throughout their
tenure in the Department. The desired outcome is that the student will benefit from the
expertise of the faculty and at the same time be able to receive needed support and assistance in
a timely fashion. The Department requires all graduate students to receive an annual evaluation
from their major professor. The expressed purpose of this evaluation is to ensure that the
student is “on track” in his or her program and that any problems with coursework or research
activities are identified and addressed before they can become limiting factors.
The Department Chair maintains an open-door policy for all students and is available to
provide advice and guidance as required. Many departmental staff members have extensive
experience within the Department, and they also provide counsel and assistance as required to
insure that “our students” have every possible opportunity to achieve success both academically
and upon graduation as a professional.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
39
Inquiries to the Graduate Degree Program in Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Sciences, 1999 –
20051.
1999-00
Total Inquiries2
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
239
120
77
83
100
74
28
15
4
12
14
7
Wildlife Science
132
64
44
47
49
30
Fisheries Science
57
23
11
11
18
11
Range Science
0
0
4
0
2
1
Wildlife Science
3
1
10
7
5
0
Fisheries Science
1
0
1
0
3
3
12
13
1
2
5
2
TTU
3
3
6
8
4
5
Texas (excluding TTU)
3
5
7
9
6
8
U.S. (excluding Texas)
30
3
27
22
18
24
7
28
8
5
13
16
156
89
58
54
82
59
83
31
17
28
18
15
Degree Program of Interest
M.S.
Range Science
Ph.D.
Unknown
3
Previous Region, Degree
Obtained
International
Gender
Male
Female
1
Data obtained through Departmental records of inquiries.
These values represent only those inquiries reported within the Department.
3
Number of individuals who sent a general letter of inquiry to the Department without stating
specific area or degree of interest.
2
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
40
V. Department
(NOTE: There is a discrepancy in the proposal and awards numbers in this chapter, items B and C. The department
acknowledges data anomalies. For more information, see memo in Appendix H.)
A. Department operating expenses
Department Operating Cost - Academic Year (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
$120,000
$100,000
$80,000
$60,000
$40,000
$20,000
$0
Operating Cost
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
$72,413
$102,966
$58,841
$74,524
$105,461
$100,624
Department Operating Costs as a Fraction of Employees
Dept Operating Cost
Faculty & Staff
Dept Op Cost /FS
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
$72,413
$102,966
$58,841
$74,524
$105,461
$100,624
24
24
26
27
26
25
$3,017
$4,290
$2,263
$2,760
$4,056
$4,025
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
41
B. Summary of Proposals (submitted)
Summary of Number of Proposals Written and Accepted
Foundation
D
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
M
State
D
Federal
M
D
Others
M
D
M
2
4
3
0
0
5
1
0
1
3
2
2
1
6
2
0
1
1
2
0
3
6
3
0
2
3
0
0
4
4
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
3
4
1
2
1
2
0
3
0
3
0
D = proposals written by CO-PI’s from your department only
M = proposals written by CO-PI’s from multiple departments
Successfully
funded
D
M
18
21
23
19
23
16
4
4
4
4
3
3
C. External Research expenditures
SUMMARY OF FACULTY AWARDS BY HOME DEPARTMENT
Source: Office of Research Services
Year
Numb er of
Awards
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
9.00
13.00
10.20
16.95
11.12
11.50
$30,262
$90,035
$45,442
$146,972
$62,101
$99,963
$367,937
$636,481
$336,465
$1,258,108
$705,552
$805,728
71.77
$474,775
$4,110,271
Totals:
FacilitIes &
Administrative Award Amount
Research Expenditures (RWFM)
Source: Institutional Research Services
$1,400,000
$1,200,000
$1,000,000
$800,000
$600,000
$400,000
$200,000
$0
Sponsored
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
$367,937
$636,481
$336,465
$1,258,108
$705,552
$805,728
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
42
Comparison of Research
Expenditures (TTU program equiv.)
Utah State (Range and Wildlife)
Colorado State (RWFM)
(includes entire dept - not just grad)
University of Arizone (RWFM)
Texas A&M (Range and Fisheries)
South Dakota State (Fisheries)
Oregon State (Range and Wildlife)
University of Nebraska (Fisheries)
Texas Tech University
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
information not provided
n/a
n/a
$19,772,159
$2,843,376
$6,595,378
$3,144,053
$6,552,841
$3,659,578
$6,720,731
$4,655,840
$2,147,113
$707,000
$2,272,215
$737,000
$2,344,726
$693,000
$2,939,086
$697,000
$3,208,234
$710,000
$745,000
$2,242,548
$2,752,623
$2,793,745
$3,266,903
$4,186,436
$4,237,317
$367,937
$636,481
$336,465
$1,258,108
$705,552
$805,728
information not provided
D. Internal funding
Source of Internal Funds (VPGSTT)
Source: Institutional Research Services
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
Research Enhancement
Research Incentive
Line Items
11,575
9,596
12,308
8,788
15,595
20,624
426,001
414,006
416,783
409,562
403,972
413,178
8,500
10,000
17,500
Interdisciplinary Seed Grants
New Faculty Start-ups
Matching from VPRGSTT
Special needs and opportunities
Research Promotion
Graduate School Fellowships
HEAF
TOTALS:
500
21,280
19,202
71,362
40,002
37,647
61,400
458,856
443,304
500,453
466,852
467,214
512,702
E. Scholarships and endowments—(Endowment Balances: 30 September 2005)
G. R. White Trust Endowment
$211,303.03
Caesar Kleberg Fellowship Endowment
$436,154.05
S.A.L.E. Graduate Student Endowment
$553,979.50
1/
$430,044.33
M. F. & Virginia Landwer Endowment
Moise-Cerf Endowment
1/
$258,720.35
Not exclusively for Graduate Students - Undergraduates are also eligible.
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
43
F. Departmental resources for research and teaching (i.e. classroom space, lab facilities)
Graduate education in the Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
includes a wide array of research activities. A number of research labs are housed and
maintained within the Department, including a fisheries science lab, a plant ecophysiology lab
(wet chemistry), an analytical/pathology lab (wet chemistry), a nutrition lab, a range ecology lab,
and a wildlife ecology lab. In addition to the analytical labs, the Department has a fisheries
science lab equipped with aquaria for environmental/habitat and aquatic nutrition studies. The
respective labs have the necessary equipment to conduct water quality, fish taxonomy, soil
mechanical and chemical analyses, plant chemical analyses, pressure bomb, portable
photosynthesis/ transpiration/leaf area systems, plant nutrition, ADF/NDF, bomb calorimeter,
atomic absorption, microKjeldahls, and much more. The labs are equipped to conduct all of the
routine laboratory analyses done in our graduate degree programs. As stated in Section 4,
Research Incentive Award and Graduate Tuition Rebate funds have been used to purchase
additional equipment as needs arise. The Department also maintains a state-of-the-art Geospatial
Technology (GST) lab with computer hardware and software and digitizing capabilities to
produce any desired Geographic Information Systems (GIS) needed to complement current and
proposed research projects. Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment is also available for use
by the various research projects within the Department.
Several graduate students are, or have been, funded by Coop Unit research projects. The
Fish and Wildlife Lab (a Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit facility) is
maintained across the street from the Goddard Range and Wildlife Building. The Fish and
Wildlife Lab has large environmentally-controlled tanks for fish cultures, sensitively-controlled
growth rooms with aquaria for reproductive and sexual behavior studies, a necropsy lab, and cold
storage facilities.
The Department owns and maintains a fleet of vehicles that are assigned to faculty
members for carrying out their research. Each faculty member has at least one assigned vehicle
that was purchased with HEAF or State Special Line Item monies. Once these vehicles are
purchased and assigned, each faculty member is responsible for their upkeep and maintenance.
Since all of the Department's research is field oriented or, at least has a field component,
Departmental vehicles are a necessity to fulfilling our research responsibilities.
Graduate students within the Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
are provided shared office space, usually in offices shared by up to 8 other graduate students.
All office space is provided with network "drops" for students who have their own computers or
for whom computers are provided by the project. Additionally, a computer lab is maintained
within the Goddard Range and Wildlife Building for use by all graduate students. Internet access
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
44
is available in the Computer Lab for all graduate students within RWFM. Scanning capabilities
and photographic imaging are also available in the computer lab.
Texas Tech University Library, as with most libraries, is undergoing major changes due
to increasing costs (sometimes prohibitive) of journals and subscriptions and of information
technology transfer. Regardless, the Texas Tech Library contains 1 to 1.5 million volumes of
literature. Essentially all of the information needed for faculty and graduate student research is
housed within the library or can be obtained electronically or via interlibrary loan.
The Department has approximately 140 acres of native Shortgrass Plains rangeland on
campus for teaching and research. The rangeland is fenced to provide 24-hour/day security for
students and faculty working there. The area provides a diversity of habitats and range sites,
including a playa and wetland area. Moist soil management research activities on the playa have
been severely impaired by the University’s decision to allow the well on this property to be used
in the road construction activities along Quaker Avenue. The contractor damaged the pump
rendering the well inoperative. As of November 2005 the University has been unable or
unwilling to force the contractor to repair this damage. The rangeland is predominantly blue
grama with an infestation of mesquite. In addition to the rangeland, the Department has a
teaching nursery under fence and an enclosed compound that includes vehicle storage, barn with
a shop, office, wet lab, drying room, and grinding/weighing room. Individual stalls are provided
each State-supported and Coop faculty member for storage of teaching and research supplies and
equipment. The Department also has access to an experimental ranch (2200 acres) that has been
available for grazing management/range livestock nutrition and wildlife research as well as
providing an outdoor classroom for many departmental classes.
Since Texas is a private-land state (97% of Texas is privately owned), much of our
research is conducted on private farms and ranches. Cooperative agreements are arranged with
landowners that allow faculty and graduate students access to the private property and the
opportunity to conduct research without fear of reprisal from the landowners and/or their
managers.
In addition to our research throughout Texas, our graduate research is conducted on
private and public lands throughout the Great Plains, West and Southwest, as well as Canada,
Mexico, and Alaska. In addition to Canada and Mexico, our faculty have international projects
in the British Virgin Islands and Costa Rica; previously, we have worked in South America,
Asia, and Africa.
In many respects, graduate education and research at Texas Tech University (a nonlandgrant institution) has many advantages. Our students have the opportunity to work in
"everyday" management systems on private lands without all of the encumbrances associated
with public lands. The Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management at Texas
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
45
Tech University has enjoyed an excellent rapport with private landowners allowing unrestricted
use of private lands for research. This is a relationship that the Department has worked
diligently to cultivate. We anticipate this will continue throughout the future of the Department.
Type of Space
Number of Rooms
Total Assignable Square Feet
OFFICES:
18
2,961.3
6
1,092.6
16
3,253.7
Technician
2
159.8
CLASSROOMS:
1
695.4
3
1,819.4
Research Labs
14
5,322.9
STORAGE/SERVICE:
24
4,620.0
Faculty & Administration
Clerical
Graduate Assistant
LABS:
Special Instruction Labs
LIBRARY:
FIELD RESEARCH
LABORATORY:
(Erskine Research Facility)
2
604.6
12
4,348.0
TOTALS
98
24,877.7
G. HEAF expenditures
Labs
Classroom
2004 $14,714.00
-0-
2003
-0-
-0-
2002
-02001 $ 9,554.00
2000
-01999 $10,953.00
-0$ 8,150.00
$12,264.00
$ 3,745.10
Other
(Field Research Equipment, Vehicles)
Field Vehicles (1)-$24,186.00
Research Ponds (Erskine)-$22,500.00
Field Vehicles (1)-$24,186.00
GPS Field Equipment-$13,461.00
Field Vehicles (Part of 2)-$40,002.00
Field Vehicles (Part of 3)-$53660.00
Field Vehicles (Part of 2)-$6936.00
Night Vision Scope-$2,126.90
Radio Transmitters-$2,700.00
Telemetry Implants-$1,755.00
TOTAL
$61,400.00
$37,647.00
$40,002.00
$71,362.00
$19,202.00
$21,280.00
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
46
VI.
Conclusions
Continual development and enhancement of graduate education and research programs
are critically essential to the future of the Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries
Management, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and Texas Tech
University. Our Department collectively and our faculty as individuals have earned national
and international reputations for excellence in natural resource research and education which
provides the necessary foundation for a world class graduate program. To achieve our potential
in this arena will require specific attention to the following:
1. Recruit high quality graduate students at both M.S. and Ph.D. levels.
2. Increase enrollment at both M.S. and Ph.D. levels.
3. Enhance the research capacity of our faculty.
4. Develop additional physical and financial resources necessary to support an
expanded, nationally competitive graduate program.
We must develop critical partnerships with other educational institutions and research
agencies to insure access to an expanded pool of highly qualified potential graduate students.
Expanding the level of awareness concerning opportunities in graduate programs at Texas Tech
University is essential to our efforts of increasing enrollment. We must continue to encourage
our faculty and their graduate students to seek leadership positions in professional societies at
state, regional, and national levels. Active participation in state, national, and international
organizations devoted to natural resource research are essential to enhance the reputation of our
Department and the University. Expanding research efforts will require enhanced physical
facilities to include renovation of existing laboratories and field research facilities as well as the
creation or acquisition of new and expanded facilities incorporating the latest technologies.
Finally, achieving the level of excellence envisioned by the Department will require the
development of additional endowment support for faculty, graduate students, and research
programs. Calendar year 2005 was the most financially successful year in the history of the
Department in terms of increasing endowment support. However, it is important that this year
become an indicator of the “norm” rather than being a “high-water mark” in terms of future
development efforts.
Range, Wildlife and Fisheries Management
47
In reflecting on the issues addressed in this report, there remain the questions of how is
the progress and ultimate success of the program(s) evaluated and what measures are used to
identify the quality of the programs(s)? Extensive quantitative information has been presented
in a variety of forms as one attempt to address success of the Department in meeting its avowed
mission statement---“ The Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management is
committed to: (1) provide quality instruction and learning experiences to undergraduate and
graduate students from Texas, the United States, and foreign countries in all aspects of regional,
state, and global natural resource management and environmental sciences that will develop the
knowledge necessary for the students to successfully meet natural resource demands of an everchanging world, (2) conduct quality research that provides an understanding of the scientific
method by students and advances knowledge relative to solution of natural resource problems,
and (3) provide quality service to public and private resource managers through the transfer of
technical information.” Expressions of qualitative measures typically tend to be in the form of
external recognition with respect to performance. In addition to faculty related qualitative
indicators as expressed in Chapters 1 and 3---(e.g. teaching, research, and service awards from
professional organizations, success in obtaining competitive grants, publication awards, editor
and associate editorships, alumni awards, election to positions of professional responsibility),
recognition for current graduate students and recent alumni are other reasonable qualitative
measures of achievement. Indicative of student and alumni recognitions, within the past year,
are the following: Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) scholarships; Best
Student Paper Award—Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society, a Rufford Small
Grant for Nature Conservation award, a Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Conservation and
Research Grant award, a Charles Stearns Memorial Grant-in-Aid award, First Place Poster
Award—National Wildlife Conclave, election to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, election
to the Honor Society of Gamma Sigma Delta, 2--Fullbright Fellowship awards, a Marie-Curie
Fellowship award, a Mark J. Reeff Memorial Award—International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, and a Cannon National Parks Scholarship award.
Range, Wildlife and Fisheries Management