Environmental Geoscience Program Review Summary
The Applied Earth and Environmental Studies (EES) Certificate and the Associate Degree of Science - Environmental Geoscience Specialization (EGS), are part of Coast Mountain College’s University Credit (UC) Program. Both of these credentials were included in this review and are herein referred to as the Environmental Programs.
This review took place between September 2018 and February 2023. It was initiated and supported by the Center of Learning Transformation (COLT) and completed by members of the Geography and Biology departments. The Self-Study process required conducting institutional research and surveys of faculty, current and former students, and local industry. A Self Study Report was finalized in April of 2020.
Program and Self Study Summary
Our Environmental Geoscience programs, provide a balance of theoretical and applied course work designed to challenge students to think critically, analyze problems, and seek resolutions; strengthen communication skills; and deliver a range of other employable skills. Our students will enhance their theoretical learning with applied skills in scientific communication, environmental analysis, and biogeography. In addition, students have the opportunity to take a wide variety of field school courses within the program that provide a range of experiences and training in a field environment.
There are currently 23 faculty located in Terrace and Prince Rupert that teach courses in the University Credit Department. Of these faculty, three faculty primarily deliver the Biological, Environmental and Geoscience courses that are considered core for these programs. Applied research and scholarly activity pursued by these instructors include hydrological studies, glacial research, climate change studies, alpine ecology, and contribution to research on applied experiential learning. These faculty are also involved in a wide variety of service activities both on and off campus, including Search and Rescue, coaching various youth sports teams, and serving on community boards such as My Mountain Co-op, the cooperative that runs the local non-profit ski hill. The faculty support strong connections between academic and practical learning and between teaching and research by engaging learners in applied research and field-based activities.
Our programs align with CMTN’s institutional priorities, including the college’s Strategic Plan and the three core values of CMTN: Adventurous, Transformative and Integrity.
ADVENTUROUS
We explore and take calculated risks to engage in learning. We are innovative in finding new ways to move courses into the field. We explore adventurous career paths with our students. We seek to discover new ways to apply pedagogy to our teaching processes. We are actively engaged in finding unique ways to partner in our field-based research. We take advantage of our geography and climate in order to provide field-based education to all learners.
TRANSFORMATIVE
We enrich lives through learning. We include experiential learning in our program renewal. We transform our learning spaces to respond to an ever-changing educational landscape. We help others improve their lives, families and communities through education. We also help others in the communities we serve, to seek new career opportunities to improve their lives. We recognize how many of our alumni have transformed their lives through education. We take education to our communities when we engage in field-based pedagogy research. We embed our curriculum in a cultural context relating to the rich First Nation cultural diversity of our region.
INTEGRITY
We are respectful, transparent and accountable to our learners. Our faculty live by example and conduct ourselves in an ethical manner. We communicate with clarity so everyone can understand our intent. We promote the concept of sustainability where social, environmental, and economic values must all be considered.
External Review Process
An external review was conducted in December 2020. An External Review Panel (ERP) was nominated by the SST, and appointed by VP, ESSI. This is a panel of three experts was comprised of one panelist who was a college instructor from a different Cluster than the program under review. The other panelists were academic peers from Yukon College and Selkirk College.
Because of Covid-19 restrictions an in-person site visit was not possible, so a virtual site visit occurred over the first two weeks of December. The ERP was prompt in producing a thorough and comprehensive report by the end of the month. The SSR then responded to the ERP and worked to integrate and formulate learning from that review into the Action Plan
Action Plan
In June of 2021 the Action Plan was initiated with 20 action items outlined in collaboration with the SST, Dean, COLT, and VP ESSI. The vision was that the results of a successful implementation of this Action Plan would improve the following for students within the Associate Degree of Science – Environmental Geoscience Specialization (EGS) Program:
Provide a better balance of theoretical and applied course work designed to challenge students to think critically, analyze problems, seek resolutions; strengthen communication skills; and obtain a range of employable skills.
Enhance students theoretical learning with applied skills in scientific communication, environmental analysis, biogeography, and indigenous perspectives and ways of learning and knowing.
In February of 2023 the SST gave a One-Year Update on their Action Plan. This Program continues to align with CMTN’s institutional priorities, including the college’s Strategic Plan and the three core values of CMTN: Adventurous, Transformative and Integrity. The hope is that continued work with the Action Plan and beyond will help allow this Program to continue to build on these core values.