2008 Institutional Report

Reporting Institution  

Langara College

Representative

Mark Smith

Course Enrollment

GEOL 1110 Introduction to Geology 110 in 4 sections

GEOL 2207 Natural Hazards 29 in 1 section

GEOG 2290 Advanced Geomorphology 27 in 1 section

Over the past year 3 sections of GEOL 1110 were originally offered, two in the fall term and one in the spring term. Due to student demand, an additional section was offered in the spring term with full enrollment. Four sections are tentatively scheduled for the 2008/2009 school year. Beginning in Sept 2008 a new textbook will be used for GEOL 1110. “Earth: Portrait of a Plant” by S. Marshak is the new course text in place of Plummer et al's Physical Geology and the Environment.

Natural Hazards, GEOL 2207, has proven to be a very successful course. It has been offered twice, both times in the spring semester, and enrollment has exceeded expectations. This course is important in that it deals with timely and relevant issues such as climate change and flooding in British Columbia . The course text is Natural Hazards and Disasters by Hyndman and Hyndman, Thomson Nelson Publishers.

Advanced Geomorphology, GEOG 2290, which articulates as a geology course at some institutions, remains a successful course. Alan Trenhaile's book, “Geomorphology: A Canadian Perspective” is the course textbook. The search is on for a replacement text.

First and second year geology classes, and the geography department as a whole, continues to enjoy full course enrollment. However, student numbers are down in some first year classes in physical geography. In previous years it was the second year classes that suffered from lower student numbers. This kind of trend is apparent across the college and, it would appear, across the province in post-secondary institutions. As a result the college has proposed a new scheduling matrix whereby classes are arranged into two 2-hour blocks instead of three or four 1-hour blocks. While this will not directly affect lab science classes which must accommodate lab sections, it may have indirect consequences as different schedules compete for preferred times and space.