Sacramento City College
Unit Plans
Completed Spring 2004
Department Name: Geography
Department Spokesperson: Eileen Sarasohn
Prepared by Craig Davis
Division Dean: Kari Forbes-Boyte
Place an X in the boxes of included elements:
X
Accomplishments
X
Three-Year Plan
X
Action Plan
X
Budget Request
X
Budget Narrative
X
Key Performance Indicators
Geography Department / Accomplishments 2003 – 2004
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1b
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2d
2e
Linkage to
Year-End Status and Accomplishments
Other Plans
Goal 1: Create AS Degree in Geography
SCC Curriculum Committee Approval
 Yet to be submitted
Los Rios Community College District
 Yet to be submitted
Curriculum Committee Approval
State Approval
 Yet to be submitted
Goal 2: Increase student numbers and course offerings
Expand course offerings
 Geog 306 and Geog 390 have been added.
Continue increase in student numbers
 We continue to increase student numbers in our
courses, but are starting to see institutional and
budget constraints minimize this progress.
Expand offerings at outreach centers (Davis,
 We offer classes at the Davis Center.
Downtown)
 We would like to offer more classes at the
outreach centers, but space and time conflicts
have impeded this reality
Expand adjunct faculty contacts and pools
 Our adjunct pool has stayed constant as our class
offerings have stagnated as a result of the
aforementioned realities.
Utilize new technologies (weather station, GPS
 These technological tools have helped greatly in
units) to increase student interest and
attracting students to take additional Geography
understanding.
courses.
 Students can readily relate to these technologies
as they become more ubiquitous in our daily
lives.
 The greatest impact of these technologies has
been witnessed in our GIS courses. These
courses have had their largest enrollment numbers
to date. Problematic to this increased interest is
the lack of adequate computer lab space to
conduct these courses in.
Action Plan
Geography Department / Accomplishments 2003 – 2004
#
Action Plan
Investigate potential for new course offerings
2f
3a
3b
3c
3d
4a
4b
Linkage to
Other Plans
Year-End Status and Accomplishments

Additional Geog 390 locations are being
considered.
 Ongoing
Goal 3: Upgrade Classrooms and Labs
Continue to participate in creation of
 We have been active in this discussion when
CAD/GIS/Sewing lab.
informed. Lately, meetings discussing the
technology building remodel have been held
without our knowledge, making input and
collaboration difficult at best.
Help in developing a BSS Division computer lab.
 Ongoing
Mount LCD Projector in RN229
 Accomplished
Hook-up Document Camera
 Accomplished
Goal 4: Acquire new classroom and lab materials and equipment
Purchase materials for classroom use
 We have purchased various equipment and
materials for classroom use including, but not
limited to:
- Wall Maps
- Atlases
- Topo Sheets
- Lab equipment
- Software
Purchase state-of-the-art materials and software
 The department has continued to maintain our
and stay current in new developments in GIS
ESRI license through the California Community
(computer upgrades, training, conferences etc…).
College Foundation
 Continually training on software upgrades and
technological changes
 Attended APCG and CGS meetings, which
included paper sessions, exhibits and vendors
dedicated to GIS education.
Geography Department / Accomplishments 2003 – 2004
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4c
4d
5a
5b
Action Item
Continue the purchase and utilization of new
technologies and materials in our core classes
(GEOG 300(1), 310(2), 320(10) and 301(11)
Linkage to
Other Plans
Year-End Status and Accomplishments

This commitment has been realized by utilizing
GPS units, computer exercises, SCC weather
station etc. to expose our students to the
expanding role of technology in the study of
geography.
Create Topo Map Collection/Repository
 Thousands of free 1:24,00 USGS Topographic
Quadrangles were acquired from the CA
Department of Water Resources.
 Discussing placement, management and
procedures associated with a collection of this
nature with the Learning Resource Center staff.
 Waiting on funding for map cabinets.
Goal 5: Foster interdepartmental relationships
Work with ISP and Biology department
 Visited Bahia de Los Angeles, Baja Norte Mexico
investigating field school opportunity in Baja
in the summer of 2003 with Steve James of the
California
SCC Biology Department.
 First Biology field course is scheduled for
Summer 2004.
Discuss the offering of joint field courses with
 Ongoing
the Anthropology and Biology departments
Geography Department / Accomplishments 2003 – 2004
Other Accomplishments:
1) Continued close relationship with the Map My World Foundation. The aim of this foundation is to further departmental
and college goals through community support. To date this foundation has raised thousands of dollars through equipment
and monetary donations, which have been utilized to further Geographic education.
2) Craig Davis was elected to the California Geographical Society’s (CGS) Board of Directors.
3) Michael Hunter attended American Meteorological Society’s on-line course training at the National Weather Service
Training Center in Kansas City, Missouri in May 2003.
4) Michael Hunter attended the American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington in January 2003
5) Faculty attended the California Geographical Society (CGS) meeting in Spring 2004 at Long Beach City College.
6) Attended Association of Pacific Coast Geographers meeting in Fall 2005 at Portland State University.
7) Active in environmental concerns on campus, namely waste reduction program and 1st Annual Earth Day Celebration.
8) Continued updating of Geography department home page (http://www.scc.losrios.edu/~geog).
9) Received one-year operating budget increase of $1500.00.
10) 3rd Annual Geography Awareness Week Speakers Series.
Three-Year Plan
Geography Department
#
Long Range Plan
2005-2006
1.
Create Geography Degree
Continue to develop GIS courses and
program.
Increase student numbers and course
offerings.
Hire new full-time GIS/Geography instructor
Foster development of Map My World
Foundation and Community Contacts.
Develop new weekend and week-long field
course locations for the approved Field
Studies in Geography Course (390).
Examples: Geography of Death Valley,
Geography of the Redwoods, Volcanoes of the
Cascades, etcY
Upgrade RN229 (a) for lab courses with lab
tables and new lab equipment and (b) for all
Geography and BSS courses. Examples
include adding more audio/visual and
computing capabilities.
Continue to participate in the Development of
a CAD/GIS/Sewing/Graphics Lab.
Purchase new equipment (GPS units,
increment borers, sling psychrometers, maps,
videos, field supplies etc.) to be used in all
Geography lecture, labs and field courses,
especially GIS and Physical Geography.
Create new ties to the Biology department and
Anthropology department through GIS and
field course offerings.
Help in developing a BSS Division computer
lab.
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2006-2007
2007-2008
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Geography Department / Action Plan 2004 – 2005
#
1a
1b
1c
2a
2b
2c
2d
2e
2f
3a
3b
3c
3d
Linkage to
Year-end Status and Accomplishments
Other Plans
Goal 1: Create AS Degree in Geography
SCC Curriculum Committee Approval
Los Rios Community College District Curriculum
Committee Approval
State Approval
Goal 2: Increase student numbers and course offerings
Expand course offerings
Increase student numbers
Expand offerings at outreach centers (Davis,
Downtown)
Expand adjunct faculty contacts and pools
Continue to utilize new technologies (weather
station, GPS units) to increase student interest and
understanding.
Investigate potential for new course offerings
Goal 3: Upgrade Classrooms and Labs
Continue to participate in creation of
CAD/GIS/Sewing lab.
Help in developing a BSS Division computer lab.
Continue push for retrofit of RN229 for use in
Physical Geography Lab course.
Secure use of reliable GIS computer lab space
Action Item
Geography Department / Action Plan 2004 – 2005
#
4a
4b
4c
4d
5a
5b
5c
5d
5e
5f
5g
Linkage to
Year-End Status and Accomplishments
Other Plans
Goal 4: Acquire new classroom and lab materials and equipment
Purchase materials for classroom use
Purchase state-of-the-art materials and software and
stay current in new developments in GIS (computer
upgrades, training, conferences etc…).
Continue the purchase and utilization of new
technologies and materials in our core classes
(GEOG 300(1), 310(2), 320(10) and 301(11)
Create Topo Map Collection/Repository
Goal 5: Foster inter-departmental, district and outside relationships
Foster development of Map My World Foundation
and Community Contacts.
Discuss and plan the offering of joint field courses
with the Biology, Anthropology and Geology
departments
Continue participation in the Los Rios Field Studies
Consortium
Attend IMPAC meetings
Foster and expand contacts in the GIS community.
Foster and expand relationships with area CC, CSU
and UC Geography departments.
Attend state, regional, and national Geography
conferences and meetings.
Action Item
Geography Department Budget Request 2005 - 2006
Line
#
1
2
3
Operating
Budget
Increase
Description
Full-Time Faculty Hire
RN 229 Upgrade
Operating Budget
Increase
Instruction
Supplies
Computers
Equipment
Furniture
X
X
New
Program
Start-up
Marketing
Materials
Remodel
Space
Faculty
Hires
Staff
Hires
Student
Hires
X
X
X
4
Totals
Budget Narrative 2005-2006
Geography Department
Line
#
Description
Total
Amount
Priority
Rank
1
Operating Budget Increase
$2500/annually
1
2
RN 229 Upgrade
$15,000
2
3
Full-Time Faculty Hire
?
3
Justification
This increase will allow the department to foster more technological
and field based learning experiences for our students. These
experiences will not only prepare our students for further educational
and job opportunities, but will make them more aware of their natural
surrounding and expose them to issues that will affect their lives as
citizens of California, the United States and the World.
This money will allow us to offer a lab environment for our Physical
Geography and GIS courses. This money will also be used to finalize
the audio/visual upgrade of RN22, making it a truly smart classroom.
Our department has increased student contact, productivity and class
offerings in recent years. As a result, our two full-time faculty are
unable to offer new courses or more class sections without being put
in the position of teaching 4-6 different courses per semester. We feel
that to continue our program growth we need another full-time faculty
member to assist us in this process. This faculty member should have
broad-base Geography knowledge and be proficient in GIS
technologies and concepts.
Temp
Hires
Key Performance Indictor for Geography Department
KPI #1
Utilization of GIS mini-lab, smart classroom, GPS units and weather station in classroom projects, exercises and/or delivery of course materials. The
following table estimates the number of times these items have been used in our core and GIS courses during the Spring 2003 term.
Note: When considering course delivery the estimate depicts use.
When considering projects or exercises the number of assignments given in each class is considered.
Class
Geog 300 (1)
Geog 301 (11)
GIS mini-lab
5 - Exercise
0
Smart Classroom
Daily – Course Delivery
20 – Course Delivery
GPS
3 - Exercise
2 – Exercise
Geog 310 (2)
Geog 320 (10)
Geog 330 (9)
Geog 332 (25a) & 333
(25b)
0
0
2 - Exercise
4 – Project and Exercises
Daily – Course Delivery
Daily – Course Delivery
Daily – Course Delivery
N/A – Other Classroom
0
0
1 - Exercise
1 - Exercise
Weather Station
25 – Course Delivery
2 - Course Delivery
2 - Exercise
0
0
0
0
For comparison purposes, the following table estimates the number of times these items have been used in our core and GIS courses during the Spring
2003 term.
Class
Geog 300 (1)
Geog 301 (11)
GIS mini-lab
5 - Exercise
0
Smart Classroom
Daily – Course Delivery
20 – Course Delivery
GPS
4 - Exercise
3 – Exercise
Geog 310 (2)
Geog 320 (10)
Geog 330 (9)
Geog 332 (25a) & 333
(25b)
0
0
2 - Exercise
4 – Project and Exercises
Daily – Course Delivery
Daily – Course Delivery
Daily – Course Delivery
N/A – Other Classroom
0
0
1 - Exercise
1 - Exercise
Weather Station
25 – Course Delivery
2 - Course Delivery
2 - Exercise
1 - Course Delivery
0
1 - Course Delivery
0