UCC/UGC/ECCC
Proposal for New Course
Please attach proposed Syllabus in approved university format.
1. Course subject and number: FOR 422
2. Units:
See upper and lower division undergraduate course definitions.
3. College:
CEFNS
4. Academic Unit:
3
Forestry
5. Student Learning Outcomes of the new course. (Resources & Examples for Developing Course Learning
Outcomes)
By the end of this course, students should be able to
 Understand the theories and concepts of planning and the range of issues and strategies
involved in forest planning including: public participation and collaboration, planning goal
setting, current conditions assessment, trends analysis, alternatives formulation,
alternatives assessment, alternative selection and management plan development, plan
implementation, plan monitoring, and plan updating.
 Students should also understand the practice of NEPA planning on federal lands, and the
concepts of leadership and ethics that are a foundation of professional resource planning
practice.
6. Justification for new course, including how the course contributes to degree program outcomes,
or other university requirements / student learning outcomes. (Resources, Examples & Tools for Developing
Effective Program Student Learning Outcomes).
This course allows for the separation of lecture-type material on forest planning from the
forestry capstone course. This will help to clarify the expectations for the two courses to the
students and also allow for greater flexibility in teaching assignments
7. Effective BEGINNING of what term and year?
See effective dates calendar.
Fall 2013
8. Long course title: FOREST PLANNING
(max 100 characters including spaces)
9. Short course title: FOREST PLANNING
(max. 30 characters including spaces)
10. Catalog course description (max. 60 words, excluding requisites):
Forest Planning describes the process of discovery and preparation that help frame forest
management actions. Planning documents (i.e. plans) record this process and serve as
guides for management. FOR 422--Forest Planning explores the theoretical foundations and
Effective Fall 2012
practical applications of planning, including professional leadership and ethics, and details
policies and procedures necessary to create effective and efficient resource management
plans.
11. Will this course be part of any plan (major, minor or certificate) or sub plan (emphasis)?
Yes
If yes, include the appropriate plan proposal.
No
12. Does this course duplicate content of existing courses?
Yes
No
If yes, list the courses with duplicate material. If the duplication is greater than 20%, explain why
NAU should establish this course.
13. Will this course impact any other academic unit’s enrollment or plan(s)?
If yes, include a letter of response from each impacted academic unit.
14. Grading option:
Letter grade
Yes
Pass/Fail
No
Both
15. Co-convened with:
14a. UGC approval date*:
(For example: ESE 450 and ESE 550) See co-convening policy.
*Must be approved by UGC before UCC submission, and both course syllabi must be presented.
16. Cross-listed with:
(For example: ES 450 and DIS 450) See cross listing policy.
Please submit a single cross-listed syllabus that will be used for all cross-listed courses.
17. May course be repeated for additional units?
16a. If yes, maximum units allowed?
16b. If yes, may course be repeated for additional units in the same term?
Yes
No
Yes
No
18. Prerequisites:
FOR 413
If prerequisites, include the rationale for the prerequisites.
BSF is taken sequentially and students must pass prior semester, which includes FOR 413,
with grades of C or better to move forward.
19. Co requisites:
FOR 423C
If co requisites, include the rationale for the co requisites.
Content in FOR 423C will cover the theoretical foundations of the planning process and lay
out the many procedures of planning, including NEPA, so that in conjunction with FOR 422,
students will successfully complete management plans.
Effective Fall 2012
20. Does this course include combined lecture and lab components?
Yes
If yes, include the units specific to each component in the course description above.
Dr. Bruce Fox,
21. Names of the current faculty qualified to teach this course: Dr. Stephen Dewhurst
No
Answer 22-23 for UCC/ECCC only:
22. Is this course being proposed for Liberal Studies designation?
If yes, include a Liberal Studies proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
23. Is this course being proposed for Diversity designation?
If yes, include a Diversity proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
Scott Galland
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
1/17/2013
Date
Approvals:
James Allen
1/13/2013
Department Chair/ Unit Head (if appropriate)
Date
Chair of college curriculum committee
Date
Dean of college
Date
For Committee use only:
UCC/UGC/ECCC Approval
Date
Approved as submitted:
Yes
No
Approved as modified:
Yes
No
Effective Fall 2012
No
No
Course Syllabus
COLLEGE AND DEPARTMENT:
Forestry, Engineering and Natural Science; Forestry
FOR 422 Forest Planning
SEMESTER OFFERED:
Spring Semester
CLOCK HOURS:
CREDIT HOURS:
TTH 8 – 9:15
3
INSTRUCTOR:
Denver Hospodarsky, PhD, CF (AKA DrH)
Associate Professor
School of Forestry
SW Forest Science Complex (SWFSC) – Bldg. 82
Office: Room 104 Ph: 928-523-7525
Email: denver.hospodarsky@nau.edu
OFFICE HOURS:
TTH 9:30-11, otherwise Open Door or by Appointment
COURSE PREREQUISITES:
FOR413
COURSE COREQUISITES:
FOR423C
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Forest Planning describes the process of discovery and preparation that occurs both before and after
management actions, which are conducted to achieve prescribed resource outcomes on forest lands.
This process is recorded in a planning document, and this ‘plan’ serves as both process record and
guide for future management activity. FOR422 Forest Planning establishes the theoretical
foundations of the planning process and lays out the many procedures of planning, including NEPA,
so as to result in effective and efficient resource management practices. The roles of professional
leadership and ethics in planning success are also stressed.
STUDENT LEARNING
EXPECTATIONS & OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, students should be able to
 understand the theories and concepts of planning and the range of issues and strategies involved
in forest planning including: public participation and collaboration, planning goal setting, current
conditions assessment, trends analysis, alternatives formulation, alternatives assessment,
alternative selection and management plan development, plan implementation, plan monitoring,
and plan updating.
 Students should also understand the practice of NEPA planning on federal lands, and the
concepts of leadership and ethics that are a foundation of professional resource planning practice.
Effective Fall 2012
COURSE STRUCTURE
& APPROACH:
Two, 75 minute combination lecture and discussion sessions per week. Sessions will be structured to
allow considerable opportunities for discussion and questions in response to the lecture material.
Small-group learning activities will frequently be used in conjunction with evaluating planning issues
and procedures. Lectures topics will largely expand upon readings assigned from the texts.
TEXTBOOK & REQIURED
MATERIALS:
Bettinger, P., K. Boston, J.P. Siry, D.L. Grebner, 2009. Forest Management and Planning. Elsevier,
New York.
Eccleston, C., J.P. Doub. 2012. Preparing NEPA Environmental Assessments: A User’s Guide to
Best Professional Practices. Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton, FL.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Weeks 1 –3 Course introduction; planning theory and concepts
Weeks 4 – 7 Forest planning issues and processes
Weeks 8–13 NEPA planning procedures for federal lands management
Weeks 14-15 Planning case study analysis
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
A variety of assessment methods, in sufficient numbers, will be used in order to account for
variability in student learning styles and daily vagaries in individual performance.
METHODS OF ASSESSMENT:
Two exams will be given to assess comprehension of lecture and discussion material. Four
announced quizzes will be given during the semester to encourage students to remain current with
the assigned readings, and to evaluate comprehension of topics prior to their treatment in lecture and
discussion. One case study analysis report will be assigned as a summary project in the class.
Analysis Group work involved will evaluated in terms of both overall group performance and
individuals’ contributions to the group effort.
Effective Fall 2012
TIMELINE FOR
ASSESSMENT:
Semester Week 3
Week 5
Week 7
Week 9
Week 12
Week 13
Week 15
Week 16
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Mid-term exam
NEPA Quiz 1
NEPA Quiz 2
NEPA Exam
Planning case study analysis
Report
Final exam
GRADING SYSTEM:
Two exams at 20% each; final exam at 25%; four quizzes at 5% each; and a planning case study
analysis at 15%. The course will be graded using the scale: 90-100% = A; 80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% =
C; 60 – 69% = D; and < 60% = F.
COURSE POLICY:
This course will be conducted in accordance with the following policies. Please read these policies
carefully.
RETESTS AND MAKEUP TESTS:
No makeup exams, quizzes, or late assignments will be allowed without a signed medical excuse, or
under conditions where the student has notified the instructor at least one-week in advance for
mutually acceptable personal /professional reasons.
ATTENDANCE:
Regular attendance is required. Role will be taken at the beginning of each class period. Please be
on time in order to be counted on the role, it is both professional and courteous.
STATEMENT ON PLAGIARISM & CHEATING:
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating are grounds for dismissal from FOR 283. The complete policy
statement on academic integrity can be found in Appendix F of the NAU Student Handbook. Be sure
to read this statement for your own protection.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES:
Five NAU Policy Statements are particularly relevant to this class viz., Safe Environment Policy,
Students With Disabilities, Institutional Review Board, Academic Integrity, and Academic Contact
Hour Policy. These are statements are cited in this syllabus for reference (see pertinent NAU Policy
Statements in the Student handbook: http://www4.nau.edu/avpaa/UCCPolicy/plcystmt.html.)
OTHER:
Your thinking about forest planning in this class may benefit from consideration of the forester code of
ethics. Please read the Society of American Foresters Code of Ethics.
Effective Fall 2012
Effective Fall 2012