ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL ******************************************************************************

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1 ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM:.D.1 DATE: September 27, 2007 ****************************************************************************** SUBJECT: Intent to Plan SDSMT - BS in Wildland Fire Management SDSM&T has submitted an intent to plan for a B.S. in Wildland Fire Management. The University intends to develop program that will prepare scientists to use physical science processes to manage and control wildland fires. ****************************************************************************** RECOMMENDED ACTION Provide any comments and concerns to Dr. Gough for COPS memorandum AAC_.D.1_i2plan_SDSMT_wildland_fire_mgmt Page 1 of AAC_.D.1_i2plan_SDSMT_wildland_fire_mgmt

2 South Dakota Board of Regents Intent to Plan for a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree Program Use this form to request authorization to plan a new baccalaureate major, a new associate degree program, or a new graduate program. The Executive Director or the Board may request additional information. UNIVERSITY: SDSMT DEGREE(S) AND TITLE OF PROGRAM: B.S. in Wildland Fire Management INTENDED DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION: FALL 2008 University Approval To the Board and the Executive Director: I certify that I have read this intent to plan, that I believe it to be accurate, and that it has been evaluated and approved as provided by university policy. Charles P Ruch September 2007 President of the University Date After approval by the President, a signed copy of the proposal should be transmitted to the Executive Director. Only after Executive Director review should the proposal be posted on the university web site and the Board staff and the other universities notified of the URL. 1. What is the general nature of the proposed program? What is the expected demand for graduates in South Dakota? What is the need for the proposed program? The proposed program, which is designed to link the atmospheric, ecological and biological sciences as they pertain to wildland fire potential and behavior, will educate and train students in the important physical processes that affect the management of wildland fire. Students will also gain an understanding of the effects of wildland fire on the landscape, including both the ecological and practical impacts. The program is expected to attract approximately new students per academic year. The need for the proposed academic program based upon the following factors: (1) The expected continuation of increased wildfire activity in the local region, across North America, and across the world due to anticipated and recently observed climate change; (2) The growing demand for prescribed fire to be used as a tool to meet wildland fire management objectives for managing today s forests; () The implementation of new government hiring standards 1 requiring stronger academic course requirements for existing jobs, which the proposed program would meet; () This is a first-of-its-kind academic program in wildland fire management grounded in the physical and atmospheric sciences. Our program is designed to meet the burgeoning demand for 1 New government hiring standards for fire professionals (see AAC_.D.1_i2plan_SDSMT_wildland_fire_mgmt Page 2 of 8 Last printed 9/2/ ::00 PM

3 greater numbers of better trained wildland fire managers both nationally and internationally and to complement existing programs that are training students to manage healthy forests. Traditional forestry programs are addressing this need by offering one or two courses in the physical and atmospheric sciences while maintaining their core courses in fire ecology and forestry. This is a significant opportunity for the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology some university will be the first to offer this type of sought-after degree program; (5) Anticipated attrition in government hiring agencies (USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service) offering additional employment opportunities for graduates; (6) There is recent evidence among other academic institutions with forestry undergraduate programs indicating that courses in fire science and fire management are being added to their current curriculum due to either increased interest from students or perceived need from the hiring community to better train and educate students graduating in traditional forestry programs. 2. What is the relationship of the proposed program to the University s mission as provided in South Dakota statute and Board of Regents Policy? South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, SDCL The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, formerly the State School of Mines, located at Rapid City, in Pennington county, shall be under the control of the Board of Regents and shall provide undergraduate and graduate programs of instruction in engineering and the natural sciences and other courses or programs as the Board of Regents may determine. The Board may authorize additional programs and courses. The proposed program is related to existing programs in natural sciences (M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences; Ph.D. in Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences). The proposed program meets the ideas captured in the University s mission statement by allowing students to prepare for leadership roles by receiving a well-rounded education in the physical and technical processes relevant to wildland fire management. The student-generated research and scholarship is expected to benefit the state, region and nation through the collaborative efforts of education and economic development.. Are there any related programs in the regental system? If there are related programs, why should the proposed program be added? If there are no related programs within the system, enter None. NONE AAC_.D.1_i2plan_SDSMT_wildland_fire_mgmt Page of 8 Last printed 9/2/ ::00 PM

4 . Are there related programs at public colleges and universities in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming? 2 If there are related programs in these states list below under each state and explain why the proposed program is needed in South Dakota. If there are no related programs in a state, enter None for that state. Minnesota - NONE North Dakota - NONE Montana NONE Wyoming - NONE 5. Are students expected to be new to the university or redirected from other programs? How many majors are expected in the first years of the program? How many graduates are expected? The majority of the students are expected to be new to the university. Approximately students are expected in the first year of the program with the same approximate number of graduates. 6. Does the university intend to seek authorization to deliver this entire program at any off-campus locations? If yes, enter location(s) and intended start date(s). Does the university intend to seek authorization to deliver this entire program by distance technology? If yes, identify delivery method(s) and intended start date(s). Off-campus Distance delivery NO NO 7. What are the University s plans for obtaining the resources needed to implement the program? Indicate yes or no in the columns below. Development/Start-up Long-term Operation Reallocate existing resources YES YES Apply for external resources YES YES Ask Board to seek new State resources NO NO 2 This question addresses opportunities available through Minnesota Reciprocity and the Western Undergraduate Exchange in adjacent states. List only programs at the same degree level as the proposed program. For example, if the proposed program is a baccalaureate major, then list only related baccalaureate majors in the other states and do not include associate or graduate programs AAC_.D.1_i2plan_SDSMT_wildland_fire_mgmt Page of 8 Last printed 9/2/ ::00 PM

5 8. Curriculum Example: Provide (as Appendix A) the curriculum of a similar program at another college or university. The Appendix should provide the required and elective courses in the program. Catalog pages or web materials may be used. Identify the college or university and explain why the program may be used as one model when the proposed program is developed. The intended curriculum for the SDSMT proposed degree program in Wildland Fire Management, offered through the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at SDSMT, will use as a beginning point components of related programs offered at Humboldt State University (see Appendix A) and Colorado State University (see Appendix B). However, taken as a whole, the proposed program will provide a unique approach to preparing scientists who are able to use their understanding of physical science processes to better manage and control wildfires. There are numerous -year undergraduate programs nationwide that offer degrees in Forestry or Forest Management that specialize in managing healthy forests with tracks in Fire Science, but fail to educate students in managing wildland fire from both a physical science and resource management perspective. 9. Additional Information. Additional information is optional. Use this space to provide information not requested above. This item may be deleted if it is not used AAC_.D.1_i2plan_SDSMT_wildland_fire_mgmt Page 5 of 8 Last printed 9/2/ ::00 PM

6 APPENDIX A 09-07AAC_.D.1_i2plan_SDSMT_wildland_fire_mgmt Page 6 of 8 Last printed 9/2/ ::00 PM

7 APPENDIX B COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY Forest, Rangeland, & Watershed Stewardship Department MAJOR IN FORESTRY Forest Fire Science Concentration FRESHMAN YEAR F S SOPHOMORE YEAR F S BZCC 120 CCC 107 CCC 108 COCC 150 ECCC 202 F 210 MCC 11 PHCC 110 SPCC 200 Principles of Plant Biology Fundamentals of Chemistry Fundamentals of Chem Lab College Composition Principles of Microeconomics Health and Wellness Forest Ecogeography *Calculus in Mgmt. Sciences Descriptive Physics Public Speaking 1 2 AT 50 BY 20 F 22 SC 20 STCC 01 Introduction To Weather Ecology Fire Measurements Soil Science Intro Statistical Methods Electives Arts and Humanities Global and Cult. Aware. 2 1 PINGREE PARK SUMMER PROGRAM: NR 220 Natural Res. Ecology & Measurements 5 cr. F20 Forest Field Measurements 2 cr. FIELD EXPERIENCE: Dates Employer Position JUNIOR YEAR F S SENIOR YEAR F S 09-07AAC_.D.1_i2plan_SDSMT_wildland_fire_mgmt Page 7 of AAC_.D.1_i2plan_SDSMT_wildland_fire_mgmt

8 BI 65 COCC 00 F 11 F 21 F 22 F 2 F 25 F 0 NR 19 NRCC 20 Integrated Tree Health Mgmt Writing Arguments Forest Ecology Forest Biometry Econ of the Forest Environ Fire Effects and Adaptations Silviculture Timber Harvesting & Environ Geomatics for Foresters Natural Resource Hist & Policy JUNIOR OR SENIOR YEAR F S F 25 Fire Behavior 2 F 21 F 22 F 2 NR 20 NR 25 NR **Timber Management Quant Methods in Forest Mgt Forest Fire Management (becomes B course in Fall 0) Integrated Ecosystem Mgmt Sustainability Renew. Res (becomes -B course in Fall 0) Fire Economics & Policy Electives 2 DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: 120 total credits; including 2 credits at level; 2.0 GPA cumulative and in AUCC courses; PLUS acceptable field experience. Students are also responsible for knowing and meeting requirements in the University catalog. *Students considering graduate study in Forest Fire Science should substitute MCC155-MCC255 or MCC160-MCC161 (with appropriate prerequisites) for MCC11. **Prerequisite F20. Revised 0/15/ AAC_.D.1_i2plan_SDSMT_wildland_fire_mgmt Page 8 of 8 Last printed 9/2/ ::00 PM