BC Environmental Programs Articulation Committee
Annual Business Meeting
Monday May 30th 2005, Northern Lights College, Fort St. John
Members Present:
John Morgan – Malaspina University College
Andrew Mosi – Langara College
Susan Purdy – TRU – Biological Sciences
Lorne Sampson – BCIT
Rob McGreggor – Douglas College
Paul Richard – Kwuntlen
Dianne Humphrey – Camosun College
Anna Colangeli - Camosun College
Lisa Verbisky – Northern Lights College
Mike Rutherford – UNBC
1. Meeting called to order at 9:00 am
2. Agenda approved. Minutes from previous EAC meeting approved.
3. Institutional Reports
UNBC – see the written report for complete information.
Joint UBC/UNBC Environmental Engineering program – students spend the first
two years at UNBC, then go down to UBC. The program started in 2002. Getting the
word out has been a problem, but this fall they expect 20-25 new admissions. Peter
Jackson is stepping down as chair, two new faculty Drs Jianbing Li and Jueyi Sui will
be the co-chairs as of July 1st. Environmental Science program (Bsc) has three new
faculty, increasing curricula and research in atmospheric and soil fields. Also a
Masters and doctorate in Natural Resources and Environmental Science. PhD in
NRS – unique, focusing on interdisciplinary aspect. There are several 700 level
graduate courses that are on the books, but never given. Also have 400/600 level
courses which the Dean of Graduate Studies has closely examined and stressed the
need for separate course outlines and separate exams for the undergrads and grads.
The masters requires 15 credit hours of course work (3 core and 2 electives) and a
thesis worth 12 credits.
NORTHERN LIGHTS - see the written report for complete information.
Offers the Land and Resource Management Program (LRM) – two year diploma
program that focuses on Land Administration, Land Agency and Land Reclamation.
Last year they started with 15 students, down to 12. There are more summer jobs
than students. Big problem with late applications, especially by First Nation students
who apply on the 1st day of classes! Also pre-requistes are a problem, with 1st year
computers being one, also students need to pass the Canadian Adult Achievement
Test (CACT). New degree in Applied Science in Land Reclamation and Soil
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Remediation with the expected start date being Sept 2006. Students will already
have the first two years from the LRM program, and then will need to take 18 courses
over 2 years (10 are already developed), and also there are UNBC courses that are on
the books but have never been taught. There is a potential for block transfer from
Vermillion College in Alberta.
CAMOSUN - see the written report for complete information.
Environmental Technology program, started in 1991 with the first grads in 1994.
Three year program – now accredited by ASTTBC (Applied Science Technicians and
Technologists of BC). Website is undergoing updates and revamps
www.camosum.bc.ca Entrance requirements are still tough, with Bio 12, Math and
Chem.. There were 30 students starting last year, with 26 entering 2nd year – the
biggest intake so far. 21 graduates expected in 2005. There is a high success rate,
high satisfaction rate and high job placement after graduation. Approx 50% of
graduates continue with further education. There is full block transfer to Royal Roads
(although no-one went this year). Students also transfer to the BCIT Environmental
Engineering and Environmental Health programs. Most students have work within 6
months. The Co-op component is under review – as some students balk at paying
$600 course fees for a semester of co-op. May end up being a ‘c’ instead of a ‘C’
designation. New chair is Anna Colangeli (colangel@camosum.bc.ca)
Best wishes to out-going chair Dianne Humphrey!
LANGARA - see the written report for complete information.
Langara offers a two-year academic diploma program in Environmental Studies.
Most students transfer to other institutions after first year, with only a few getting a
diploma (6 in 2005). The program uses courses in Biology, Chemistry and
Geography, plus core courses in Environmental Law, Environmental Issues seminar
and Environmental Field Techniques. New co-op option for Arts and Science
students starting next summer. Also new is a field school in Haida Gwaii Studies
(www.langara.bc.ca/haidagwaii) from June 1st to 21st. This is fully enrolled this year
with 20 students. They first spend four weeks at Langara taking four courses
(Biology, geography, Aboriginal Issues and English), and then a two week field trip
to Haida Gwaii. Worth 16 credits. The field trip portion costs $1,500.
KWANTLAN - - see the written report for complete information.
Offers an Environmental Protection Technology program. Currently have 15
second year and 18 first year students (with enrolment numbers being up). Now teach
Chem 12 and Math 12 “in house” as Environmental Math at a Math 12 level, and
Basic Chemistry. A new course Environmental Physics starts this September.
Graduates have 100% employment in their field within 6 months. The EPT program
offered a 12 day intensive short course in environmental monitoring to students of the
Tahltan Nation.
MALASPINA - see the written report for complete information.
Resource Management Officer Technology (RMOT) program is a two year
technology diploma that prepares students for careers in Environmental Law
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Enforcement, such as park rangers and wardens. Pre-requitses are now Math 11
instead of Math 12 and Biol 11 instead of Biol 12. There are more students than
seats, with the capacity being increased from 18 to 24 (55 applicants). BCIT and
Selkirk have many similar courses, so there is easy transfer into the second year of the
RMOT program. Also graduates of the program have one year’s worth of credits into
a BSc in Biology and 1.5 years into a Forestry and Aquaculture degree. Also, there is
a transfer agreement where RMOT students go directly into 3rd year at Lethbridge
Community College in their applied degree in Environmental Protection. New degree
proposal for a Bachelor in Resource Management and Protection now at DQAB and
has been sent out for external review. A Sept 2005 start date is hoped for – there are
already 18 applicants, but it might be Set 2006. The DQAB application fee is $3,500
and then an extra $4,500 for the external review. Once the degree is approved they
need to hire a Wildlife Biologist and a technician.
BCIT - see the written report for complete information.
Environmental Engineering Technology has a new Associate Dean – Barbara
Dabrowski. There are three other new faculty who teach part-time and work in the
field as consultants. The program currently has 24 students in the Planned Program
and approx. 150 students active in the part-time program. A major part of the
program is the student project which is worth 8 credits and is like a thesis in some
cases. The program includes three semesters, from September to July to complete the
core courses. Part-time students have 7 years to complete the program. Program
revisions include consolidation of courses, and changing the course times from 6 to
12 weeks in length. Two thirds of the courses are offered in the evening. There are
no morning classes. BCIT is now offering a new Degree Transfer Program with 1st
and 2nd year courses, so students can now do all 4 years at BCIT, or transfer
somewhere else after 2nd year.
THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY (TRU) - see the written report for complete
information.
New proposal for a Masters Program in Environmental Studies, granting either a
MSc, MES or MA depending on the core courses and thesis vs. project. The proposal
is currently under review internally and will then be sent to DQAB for external
review. In the Department of Biological Sciences several students undertake the
Major in Ecology and Environmental Biology, accounting for 5 out of the 32
biology grads. New courses in biology that have an environmental flavour are Biol
104 (Biology of the Environment) and Biol 426 (Plant Ecology). The
Environmental Chemistry major graduated two students this year, although many
students take the environmental chemistry courses: Chem 301 (Aquatic chemistry),
Chem 302 (Atmospheric chemistry) and Chem 303 (Geochemistry). The
Department of Natural Resource Sciences graduated 30 students from this four
year degree program. Three new courses have been added over the last year; NRSC
111 (The Science and Management of Natural Resources), NRSC 414 (Natural
resource Policy and Planning) and NRSC 424 (Research Design). Also, TRU is
developing a two year associate diploma in Water Treatment Technology to be
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delivered by distance formal with two practical components at the Water Education
and Treatment Centre in Kamloops.
DOUGLAS - see the written report for complete information.
Associate Degree in Environmental Science underwent extensive revision in 2004.
The program includes 1st and 2nd year science courses in Biol, Chem, Geol, Math and
Physics, and also a new course SCIE 1100 (Environmental Issues) with guest
speakers and SCIE 1107 (Introduction to Environmental Science) which is switching
textbooks to Cunningham. Also included in the program is SCIE 2307 (Field
Research Project). A new 2-year diploma in Environmental Studies is under
development, and there is an Associate of Arts Degree in Environmental Studies..
Douglas also offers a Building Environment Systems (BES) under licence from
Seneca College in Ontario to train building operators and managers. Also there is the
Institute of Urban Ecology at Douglas.
4. Chair Election – it was agreed that this would be done by email.
5. Environmental Studies Educational Pathways Grid – on BBCAT online.
www.bccat.bc.ca/otg/program/environmental/grid.htm
Needs to be looked at and updated.
6. Next meeting: Malaspigna University College, Nanamio May 28, 29 and 30th
7. Meeting adjourned at 3:00pm