2009 Institutional Report

Reporting Institution

Simon Fraser University

Representatives

Robbie Dunlop, rdunlop@sfu.ca , phone (778) 782-4925

Kevin Cameron, kjc@sfu.ca

Changes to Programs/Courses

Prerequisite/corequisite changes include:

Field Geology I (EASC 206) – changed from having only Physical Geology (EASC 101) as a prerequisite to having Physical Geology as a prerequisite and Historical Geology (EASC 210) as a prerequisite/corequisite. This change will be effective September 2009.

Mineralogy (EASC 202) – changed from having Physical Geology as a prerequisite and CHEM 121 as a corequisite to having Physical Geology as a prerequisite and CHEM 121 as a prerequisite.

In the fall we will be offering EASC 108 for the first time. This is a first year breadth course called Exploring the Solar System that is not intended for majors or minors.

Field Geology II (EASC 306) and Field Geology III (EASC 406) have traditionally been held at the end of the spring term and offered in the spring term. They will now be moving to the summer term.

The university is imposing a new scheduling policy starting in the Summer of 2009 which may cause scheduling problems with the other departments in Science in the fall when there are more courses offered.

Staffing Changes

Dr. Peter Mustard will be retiring at the end of August 2009. Peter was a founding member of our department and created many of our undergraduate and graduate courses, led the way in curriculum development, and guided our program from its inception to maturity. He will be greatly missed.

Cindy Hansen, our lab instructor is off on maternity leave until January 2010 after delivering a healthy baby girl at the end of April.

We currently have 17 full time faculty members and several sessional instructors.

Our adjunct faculty has risen to 16 members this year.

Research personnel make up another 5 faculty. We are fortunate this year to have Marta Chiarle and Marco Giardino as visiting scientists from Turin, Italy.

Enrolment Trends

Grad students currently number 48 .

Undergrads number 72 (Majors 60 and Minors 4 + 8 undeclared) with 14 (not included in the 72 total) convocating in June.

Enrolment for lower level Writing (W) and Breadth (B) courses has risen slightly. Upper level enrolments have stayed about the same.

Fall 2008 enrolments were:

Physical Geology (EASC 101) – 114 + 19 Surrey (evening course) students

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs (EASC 103) – 68 students

Geohazards: Earth in Turmoil (EASC 104) – 228 students

Economic Resources (Easc107) Harbour Center – 40 students

Spring 2009 enrolments were:

Physical Geology (EASC 101) – 117 students

Earth Through Time (EASC106) – 207 students

Geohazards: Earth in Turmoil (EASC 104) – 238 students

Historical Geology (EASC 210) - 19 students

Summer 2009 enrolments are:

Physical Geology (EASC 101) – 73 students

Geohazards: Earth in Turmoil (EASC 104) – 250 students