Institution Submitting Proposal: UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY College: Science and Health Department: Earth Sciences Program Title: Environmental Science and Management Recommended Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code: 03.0104 Degree to be Awarded: BS Proposed Beginning Date: Fall, 2011 Institutional Signatures: _____________________________________________ Matthew S. Holland University President ______________________________________________ Ian Wilson Vice President for Academic Affairs _______________________________________________ Sam Rushforth Dean _______________________________________________ Daniel Horns Department Chair Date: 11/12/2010 1 Executive Summary Utah Valley University Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management 12 November 2011 Program Description The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management will be very similar to the existing Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management. The program will include courses in environmental technology, geology, hydrology, chemistry, and geography. These courses will teach students about the physics and chemistry of our water, air, and soil resources; introduce the laws and regulations that relate to the protection of those resources; explore the ethical issues that motivate people to either exploit or protect the environment; and introduce the technologies that are used to prevent disease and protect the environment. Students will be taught through classroom instruction and hands-on experience. To help students be more effective in their future careers, they will be required to practice their written and oral communication skills, as well as learn the basic skills of managing an organization. Internships are strongly recommended. The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management program is designed to prepare graduates for careers helping private industries comply with environmental regulations, working for companies that conduct environmental surveys and cleanups, working for government agencies that enforce environmental regulations, and for graduate school programs that deal with environmental science and/or environmental policy. Role and Mission Fit These changes are consistent with UVU's mission to offer undergraduate programs that contribute to the quality of life and economic development at the local and state levels (R312-5.1.1). The changes are also consistent with UVU's roles of providing quality academic learning opportunities and promoting economic and cultural development to contribute to the quality of life of the region and state. The changes will contribute to quality of life issues by preparing graduates who will better protect the region's environmental quality. The changes will contribute to economic development issues by preparing graduates who can help Utah’s expanding industry comply with environmental standards and regulations. Faculty Number of faculty with Doctoral degrees Number of faculty with Master’s degrees Number of faculty with Bachelor’s degrees Other Faculty Tenure Tenure Tenure Tenure 7 3 0 0 Contract Contract Contract Contract 0 0 0 0 Adjunct Adjunct Adjunct Adjunct 0 0 0 0 Market Demand The market demand for this degree program is demonstrated by the success of our graduates from the existing Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management. Over 80% of the graduates from the existing Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management program are finding jobs in their fields within a few months of graduating. These include jobs at engineering companies working with environmental cleanup and water resources, and jobs at government agencies that enforce environmental regulations. Student Demand 2 This change was requested by students in the existing program, so that the name of their degree program will better communicate the content of that program. This proposed change resulted from a formal exercise conducted by students in the Fall 2008 Environmental Management Systems class (ENVT 3530). Students in ENVT 3530 learn how to use the methods of ISO 14000 (“continuous process improvement”) to improve the operations of an organization. Each time the class is taught; students in ENVT 3530 conduct a project in which they apply the methods of continuous process improvement to an existing operation. In Fall of 2008, the students applied the methods to their own major (Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management). The students collected and compiled employment advertisements and interviewed potential employers. The students concluded that the content of the degree program would be better communicated to potential employers by changing the name of the program from “Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management” to “Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science Management.” Furthermore, the students concluded that the new name was a better match with the job titles listed in employment advertisements. These conclusions are consistent with comments from other students over the past couple years and with comments from Renee Zollinger, Environmental Programs Manager for Salt Lake City Corporation. Statement of Financial Support There will be no financial impact since the proposed degree will replace a nearly identical emphasis within an existing program. Similar Programs Already Offered in the USHE Programs similar to the proposed UVU Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science Utah State University, Applied Environmental Geosciences degree Weber State University, Bachelor of Science in Applied Environmental Geosciences University of Utah, Bachelor of Science in Geoscience with an Emphasis in Environmental Geoscience Utah Valley University, Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management 3 Section I: Request Utah Valley University requests approval to offer a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management degree effective Fall 2011. This action was approved by the UVU Board of Trustees on October 28, 2010. Section II: Program Description Complete Program Description The proposed Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management replaces the existing Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management. Coincident with this new degree program, the Department of Earth Science has also submitted a proposal requesting the restructure of their Bachelor of Science in Earth Science which would eliminate the emphasis in Environmental Management and change the name of the existing degree to Bachelor of Science in Geology. The curriculum of the restructured Bachelor of Science in Geology will be virtually identical to the Bachelor of Science in Earth Science approved by the BOR in 2000. The program will include courses in environmental technology, geology, hydrology, chemistry, and geography. These courses will teach students about the physics and chemistry of our water, air, and soil resources; introduce the laws and regulations that relate to the protection of those resources, explore the ethical issues that motivate people to either exploit or protect the environment, and introduce the technologies that are used to prevent disease and protect the environment. Students will be taught through classroom instruction and hands-on experience. To help students be more effective in their future careers, they will be required to practice their written and oral communication skills, as well as learn the basic skills of managing an organization. Internships are strongly recommended. The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management program is designed to prepare graduates for careers helping private industries comply with environmental regulations, working for companies that conduct environmental surveys and cleanups, working for government agencies that enforce environmental regulations, and for graduate school programs that deal with environmental science and/or environmental policy. Purpose of Degree The first purpose of the Environmental Science and Management Program is to prepare students for careers as environmental professionals. In those careers, graduates of the program will work to prevent those diseases and illnesses which are caused by pollution, to prevent pollution that is unsightly and unpleasant but may not be immediately harmful, and to protect the environment. This protection includes the living part of the environment, such as plants and animals, as well as the nonliving aspects, such as the clarity of the water and the cleanliness of the air. Environmental protection is improved by educating future environmental professionals and by raising awareness among the general public. Institutional Readiness Since the proposed degree will replace a virtually identical degree that has been offered since 2004 (the Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management), this change will require no new institutional resources. The existing Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management is supported by the Chair of the Department of Earth Science, the 4 Department of Earth Science Administrative Assistant, and the Department of Earth Science Academic Advisor. This support will be sufficient for the proposed program. Faculty No new faculty members are necessary to deliver the Environmental Science and Management program, since the needed faculty are currently serving the existing Environmental emphasis in Earth Science. Appendix C includes a list of faculty members who are key to UVU’s Environmental Management program. Of the required core classes for the proposed degree (see Appendix A), 80% to 100% of the course sections will be taught by full-time, tenure track faculty members. All of the Environmental Management faculty members were hired at UVU because of their dedication to undergraduate education. These faculty members take great advantage of the faculty development opportunities at UVU, most notable training sessions by UVU’s Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence and peer review programs in the Departments of Earth Science and Chemistry. Staff Because this new program will replace the Environmental Management emphasis, this change will require no new staff. Library and Information Resources The UVU library currently holds 447 titles related to environmental science (55 related to environmental science, 57 related to hydrology, 80 related to water resources, 51 related to water quality, 26 related to air quality, 139 related to soil resources and soil quality, and 39 related to Geographic Information Systems); which are sufficient to support the requirements of the new degree. Furthermore, students in the program will have access to books and journal articles from throughout the Utah System of Higher Education through the interlibrary loan program. Admissions Requirements Upon admissions to UVU, students may declare Environmental Science and Management as their major and will be required to meet with an advisor from the Department of Earth Science. Incoming freshman would be welcome into the program their first semester at UVU. Student Advisement Students in the Environmental Science and Management degree program will be required to meet at least once per year with the Earth Science advisor in order to plan their curricula and track their progress. Additionally, students will be encouraged to talk with Earth Science faculty members about choosing and preparing for internships, careers, and/or graduate programs. Justification for Graduation Standards and Number of Credits The proposed program curriculum is listed in Appendix A, attached. The curriculum is designed to provide a firm grounding in environmental science and related fields of math and science. The degree program has enough flexibility to allow students to pursue their particular interests within the field of environmental science and management. A total of 125 credit hours is required for the proposed program. 5 External Review and Accreditation The proposed degree program was developed by the faculty of the UVU Department of Earth Science, and was strongly influenced by conversations with Florence Reynolds, Water Quality Administrator for Salt Lake City Public Works; Neil Taylor of the Utah Dept of Environmental Quality; and David Pitcher of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. The degree program was reviewed by Renee Zollinger. Ms. Zollinger is the current Environmental Programs Manager for Salt Lake City Corporation, and she has over 20 years of experience consutling to industry and government on environmental issues. There are no subject-specific accreditation requirements that apply to the proposed degree. The degree is however, designed to prepare students for several certification exams. Graduates working toward careers at health departments will take the Environmental Health Scientist test administered by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. Graduates of the existing program usually pass this exam on their first try; whereas graduates from other related programs (e.g., biology and chemistry) typically must take the exam three or four times before they pass. Projected Enrollment Year Student Headcount # of Faculty Student –to-Faculty Ratio Accreditation Req’d Ratio 1 58 5 12:1 N/A 2 60 5 12:1 3 60 5 12:1 4 65 5 13:1 5 65 5 13:1 Expansion of Existing Program The Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management has been offered since 2004. Below is a chart illustrating the headcount of students with that declared major and emphasis for each of the past five years. Year 2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 Student Headcount 42 53 47 52 58 Section III: Need Program Need Graduates of the proposed program, like the existing Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management, are needed to protect the quality of Utah’s soil, air, and water resources and to meet the demands for qualified environmental professionals by regional water system operators, industries, and regulatory agencies. The name change from "Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an emphasis in Environmental Management " to “Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management” is needed due to confusion over the name of the existing program. Many 6 prospective students, as well as some employers of our graduates, have expressed confusion about what exactly is meant by a "Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an emphasis in Environmental Management". It is, on the other hand, well understood what is meant by a "Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management" (see Student Demand, below). Labor Market Demand The market demand for this degree program is demonstrated by the success of our graduates from the existing Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management. Over 80% of the graduates from the existing Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management program are finding jobs in their fields within a few months of graduating. These include jobs at engineering companies working with environmental cleanup and water resources, and jobs at government agencies that enforce environmental regulations. Jobs in environmental science seem to be strong nation-wide. According to Simply Hired Employment Trends (http://www.simplyhired.com), environmental science jobs in the U.S. increased by 25% between September 2008 and March 2010. Furthermore, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos311.htm#projections_data) projects that between 2008 and 1018, the numbers of jobs in environmental science in the U.S. will increase by 28%. Student Demand This change was requested by students in the existing program, so that the name of their degree program will better communicate the content of that program. This proposed change resulted from a formal exercise conducted by students in the Fall 2008 Environmental Management Systems class (ENVT 3530). Students in ENVT 3530 learn how to use the methods of ISO 14000 (“continuous process improvement”) to improve the operations of an organization. Each time the class is taught, students in ENVT 3530 conduct a project in which they apply the methods of continuous process improvement to an existing operation. In Fall 2008, the students applied the methods to their own major (Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management). The students collected and compiled employement advertisements and interviewed potential employers. The students concluded that the content of the degree program would be better communicated to potential employers by changing the name of the program from “Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management” to “Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management”. Furthermore, the students concluded that the new name was a better match with the job titles listed in employement advertisements. These conclusions are consistent with comments from other students over the past couple years and with comments from Renee Zollinger, Environmental Programs Manager for Salt Lake City Corporation. Similar Programs Similar programs offered in Utah: Utah State University, Applied Environmental Geosciences degree Weber State University, Bachelor of Science in Applied Environmental Geosciences University of Utah, Bachelor of Science in Geoscience with an Emphasis in Environmental Geoscience Utah Valley University, Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management 7 The proposed program differs from existing similar programs in that each of the the similar programs is essentially a geology degree with some emphasis on environmental science. The proposed program, on the other hand, has a solid focus on environmental science and management. For example, students in the “Applied Environmental Geosciences” program at Utah State University are required to take 42 credit hours of geology classes and just 12 credit hours of environmental science classes1. Students in the “Bachelor of Science in Geoscience with an Emphasis in Environmental Geoscience” at the University of Utah are required to take 28 credit hours of geology classes and just 12 credit hours of environmental science classes. Students in the “Bachelor of Science in Applied Environmental Geosciences” at the Weber State University are required to take 31 credit hours of geology classes and 27 credit hours of environmental science classes. By comparison, students in the proposed program at UVU will be required to take at least 44 credit hours of environmental science classes, and from 4 to 12 credit hours of geology classes. There are no similar degrees at any USHE institution south of Salt Lake city. Collaboration with and Impact on Other USHE Institutions Because this is effectively a name change of an existing degree program, it should have no impact on other USHE institutions. Benefits The chief benefit of this change will be to the graduates of the program. A degree titled “Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management” is more concise and better describes the nature of the degree program than “Bachelor of Science in Earth Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Management.” The change will make it easier for those students to gain jobs or acceptance into graduate programs. Consistency with Institutional Mission These changes are consistent with UVU's mission to offer undergraduate programs that contribute to the quality of life and economic development at the local and state levels (R312-5.1.1). The changes are also consistent with UVU's roles of providing quality academic learning opportunities and promoting economic and cultural development to contribute to the quality of life of the region and state. The changes will contribute to quality of life issues by preparing graduates who will better protect the region's environmental quality. The changes will contribute to economic development issues by preparing graduates who can help Utah’s expanding industry comply with environmental standards and regulations. Section IV: Program and Student Assessment Program Assessment The desired outcomes of the program are: technical knowledge, skills in oral and written communication, skills in problem solving and reasoning, knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, and a knowledge of professional options and responsibilities. Our success in achieving these outcomes is assessed by surveying students in the program, surveying graduates of the program between one and two years after 1 For the purposes of this comparison, ”environmental science” classes are taken to be classes that deal with environmental aspects of biology, chemsitry, geography, health, hydrology, meteorology, remote sensing, and public planning. 8 graduation, and surveying the supervisors of the program’s graduates between one and two years after their graduation. Expected Standards of Performance Graduates will be able to do the following at the time of graduation: 1. Understand and discuss the major environmental problems occurring in our society. Why Chosen: Defining the problem is key to solving the problem. Assessment Measures: Student understanding of major environmental issues will be measured by their academic success in discussion classes such as ENVT 1110 (Introduction to Environmental Management) and ENVT 3700 (Current Topics in Environmental Management). 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the major laws and regulations that are important to environmental managers and their organizations. Why Chosen: Graduates are frequently expected to have knowledge of current environmental laws and regulations. Assessment Measures: Student understanding and academic success in ENVT 3280 (Environmental Law) and ENVT 3530 (Environmental Management Systems). 3. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Why Chosen: Environmental managers often need to give presentations to their employers and to regulatory agencies. They also frequently need to write memos and letters. Assessment Measures: Most of the ENVT courses require term papers. Several courses, such as ENVT 3700 (Current Topics in Environmental Management) and ENVT 3530 (Environmental Management Systems), require oral presentations. Student communication skills will be measured through success in those courses. Student communication skills can also be measured as students participate in internships. 4. Have a working knowledge of the technologies used to prevent pollution and disease. Why Chosen: Environmental managers are expected to use various environmental technologies on almost a daily basis. Assessment Measures: Student technological expertise will be measured through 1) academic success in courses that focus on technology such as ENVT 1360 (Introduction to Drinking Water Treatment) and ENVT 1510 (Hazardous Materials Emergency Response); 2) participation in internships; and 3) independent certifications such the State of Utah licenses for water and wastewater operators. 5. Understand the role that environmental management plays, in relation to government agencies, private industry, and public perception, in protecting the environment. Why Chosen: People hold a wide variety of opinions about what environmental workers should be doing. A clear understanding of their duties will enable environmental managers to focus on matters of higher priority. Assessment Measures: Student understanding of the role of environmental managers will be measured by academic success in discussion courses and through participation in internships. 9 Section V: Finance Funding Sources Budgetary impact of the new degree will be limited. The proposed degree will be administered by the Department of Earth Sciences which is already in place and will, therefore, not require any additional advising personnel, administrative staff, or other related administrative expenditures during the initial years of operation. As this proposal is to create a standalone bachelor’s degree from an existing emphasis and no new courses are proposed, this degree will require no additional financial resources. Thus, the financial analysis form is not required. Reallocation Not applicable. Impact on Existing Budgets There will be a minimal impact on existing budgets with the development of these degree program. 10 Appendix A: Program Curriculum All Program Courses Course Prefix & Number General Education Courses ENGL 1010 ENGL 2020 MATH 1050 American Institutions PHIL 2050 HLTH 1100 or PES 1097 BIOL 1010 GEO 1010 GEO 1015 ENVT 1110 Humanities Fine Arts Soc/Behavior Science Core Courses CHEM 1010 CHEM 1210 CHEM 1215 CHEM 1220 CHEM 1225 CHEM 3020 MATH 1060 MATH 1210 MATH 2040 ENVT Core Courses ENVT 1200 ENVT 1270 ENVT 1300 ENVT 1510 ENVT 2560 ENVT 2710 Title Credit Hours Introduction to Writing Intermediate Writing College Algebra from list Ethics and Values Personal Health and Wellness or Fitness for Life General Biology Introduction to Geology Introduction to Geology Lab Introduction to Environmental Management from list from list from list Sub-Total 3 3 1 3 3 3 3 37 Introduction to Chemistry Principles of Chemistry I Principles of Chemistry I Lab Principles of Chemistry II Principles of Chemistry II Lab Environmental Chemistry Trigonometry Calculus I Statistics Sub-Total 3 4 1 4 1 3 3 5 4 28 Environmental Worker Safety Environmental Microbiology Environmental Lab and Sampling Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Environmental Health Environmental Careers 11 3 3 4 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 1 ENVT 2730 ENVT 3000 ENVT 3630 ENVT 3280 ENVT 3530 ENVT 3790 ENVT 4790 ENVT 3850 Major Elective Courses CHEM 1120 CHEM 1125 CHEM 2310 CHEM 2315 CHEM 2310 CHEM 2315 ENVT 1210 ENVT 1360 ENVT 3010 ENVT 3320 ENVT 3330 ENVT 3550 ENVT 3700 ENVT 3750 ENVT 3770 ENVT 3800 ENVT 282R ENVT 482R ENVT 495R GEO 3080 GEO 3200 GEO 4500 Introduction to Soils GIS and GPS Applications for the Earth Sciences Introduction to GIS Environmental Law Environmental Management Systems Hydrology I Hydrology II Environmental Policy Sub-Total Need 16 Hours Elementary Biochemistry Elementary Biochemistry lab Organic Chemistry I Organic Chemistry I lab Organic Chemistry II Organic Chemistry II lab Water Reclamation Introduction to Water Treatment Environmental Toxicology Hydraulics of Water Water Resource Management Site Investigation Current Topics Land Use Planning Natural Resource Management Energy Use Environmental Internship Environmental Internship Special Projects Earth Materials Geologic Hazards Sedimentary Geology Sub- Total Total Number of Credits 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 44 4 1 4 1 4 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1-5 1-3 1-6 4 4 4 16 125 New Courses to be Added in the Next Five Years Since the proposed degree will replace a virtually identical degree that has been offered since 2004, this change will require no new courses. 12 Appendix B: Program Schedule Fall of First Year ENGL 1010 American Institutions HLTH 1100 or PES 1097 ENVT 1110 MATH 1050 Title Introduction to Writing from list Personal Health and Wellness or Fitness for Life Credit Hours 3 3 2 Introduction to Environmental Management 3 College Algebra 4 Semester total: 15 Spring of First Year Title Credit Hours ENGL 2020 Intermediate Writing 3 Humanities from list 3 ENVT 2710 Environmental Careers 1 GEO 1010 Introduction to Geology 3 GEO 1015 Introduction to Geology Lab 1 MATH 1060 Trigonometry 3 Semester total: 14 Fall of Second Year Title Credit Hours Fine Arts from list 3 BIOL 1010 General Biology 3 CHEM 1010 Introduction to Chemistry 3 MATH 1210 Calculus I 5 Semester total: 14 Spring of Second Year Title Credit Hours CHEM 1210 Principles of Chemistry I 4 CHEM 1215 Principles of Chemistry I Lab 1 ENVT 1200 Environmental and Worker Safety 3 ENVT 1270 Environmental Microbiology 3 MATH 2040 Statistics 4 Semester total: 15 13 Fall of Third Year Soc/Behavior CHEM 1220 CHEM 1225 ENVT 1300 ENVT 1510 ENVT 3630 Spring of Third Year ENVT 3000 ENVT 2560 ENVT 2730 ENVT 3280 ENVT 3530 Fall of Fourth Year CHEM 3020 ENVT 3790 Spring of Fourth Year PHIL 2050 ENVT 3850 ENVT 4790 Title from list Principles of Chemistry II Principles of Chemistry II Lab Environmental Lab and Sampling Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Introduction to GIS Semester total: Title GIS and GPS Applications Environmental Health Introduction to Soils Environmental Law Environmental Management Systems Semester total: Title Environmental Chemistry Hydrology I Major elective courses Semester total: Title Ethics and Values Environmental Policy Hydrology II Major elective courses Semester total: 14 Credit Hours 3 4 1 3 3 3 17 Credit Hours 3 3 3 3 3 15 Credit Hours 3 4 10 17 Credit Hours 3 3 4 6 16 Appendix C: Faculty List current faculty within the institution, with their qualifications, to be used in support of the program. Do not include resume. Jim Callison, Department of Earth Science, Ph.D. in Watershed Management from University of Arizona. Teaches courses related to water resources, resource management, water treatment. Eddy Cadet, Department of Earth Science, Ph.D. in Environmental Science (pending) fromTuskeegee University. Teaches courses in environmental health and planning. Steve Emerman, Department of Earth Science, Ph.D. in Geophysics from Cornell University. Teaches courses in hydrology. Joel Bradford, Department of Earth Science, M.S. in Anthropology from the Univeristy of Utah. Teaches courses in environmental policy and worker safety. Fern Caka, Department of Chemistry, Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Brigham Young University, 1993. Teaches environmental chemistry. 15 Appendix D: Letter from Reviewer 16