Appendix A.
Letters of support
Oregon geography educators:
1. Alec Murphy, Professor and former Chair, Department of Geography, University of Oregon and former President of the Association of American Geographers.
2. Heejun Chang, Chair, Department of Geography, Portland State University.
3. Art Benefiel, Instructor and lead, GIS certificate, Central Oregon Community College
4. Lynn Songer, Instructor and lead, GIS instruction, Lane Community College
5. Christine Friedle, Instructor and lead, GIS certificate, Portland Community College
6. Shaun Huston, Chair, Geography, Western Oregon University
7. James Proctor, Chair, Environmental Studies Program, Lewis & Clark College
Alumni and members of the CEOAS Board of Advisors
8. Dick Marston, alumnus, Former Chair, Geography, Kansas State University and former President of the Association of American Geographers.
9. Wiley Thompson, alumnus, Chair, Geography, West Point.
10. Sharon Kelly, alumna, Transportation Planning Program manager, Portland
11. Brady Callahan, Alumnus, GIS Professional
12. Greg Verret, Alumnus, Director, Benton County Planning Department
Employers and internship providers
13. David DiBiase, Esri
14. Doug Sackinger, GIS Coordinator, Benton County Planning Department
15. Austin McGuigan, Director, Polk County Community Development
16. Brian Latta, Administrator, City of Harrisburg
17. Jeff Powers, Benton County Planning Department
18. John Gabriel, Alsea Geospatial, Inc.
19. Russ Faux, Quantum Spatial, Inc.
Current students
20. Gareth Baldrica-Franklin, undergraduate student
21. Yingqi Tang, undergraduate student
22. James Sharp, undergraduate student
October 9, 2015
Julia Jones
Director, Geography Program
CEOAS
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
Dear Julia,
Thank you for sharing your new degree proposal with me. It seems like a good opportunity for OSU students to major in Geography and geospatial science. My best wishes for the success of your proposal.
Heejun
Heejun Chang
Professor and Chair
Department of Geography
Portland State University
October 13, 2015
Julia Jones
Director, Geography Program
CEOAS
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
I am writing this letter of support for the proposed OSU BS Geography and Geospatial Science degree. The curriculum supports a strong undergraduate foundation in the discipline. In addition, enhanced articulation between Central Oregon Community College and Oregon State University will exist.
Geospatial science is rapidly becoming entrenched in many professions. Geographic Information Systems professionals require a knowledge of specific disciplines to provide maximum efficacy. The proposed curriculum establishes a strong base for which graduates may find employment in many interdisciplinary sectors. It will also lead to potential graduate study in specialized fields.
Of particular interest to COCC is the possibility of articulation. There have already been exchanges with OSU faculty that look promising. Articulation will provide an avenue for COCC GIS graduates to transfer to a BS degree program either as Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) or Associate of Science (AS) completers.
I fully support the proposed Geography and Geospatial Science degree program. I look forward
to the opportunities it provides for COCC to interact with OSU and the expanded choices our graduates have in pursuing further academic education in GISciences.
ArthurNBenefiel,,Professor,GISPCentralOregonCommunityCollege
2600NWCollegeWayBendOR97701
541-‐383-‐7703,
Lane
CommunityCollegeSM
JuliaJones
ProfessorandDirector
GeographyProgram,CEOAS,OSU.
I0/12/15
DearDr.Jones,
IwasveryexcitedtolearnthatOregonStateUniversitywasdevelopingaBSdegreein GeographyandGeospatial Science. AsaninstructoratLaneCommunityCollege inEugene,Oregon,Ihavehad theprivilegetoteachgeographyandGIStomanystudentswhowishtopursueadegreeinthesefields. LaneCommunity Collegehasenjoyedalong-termrelationship withOSUwithrespecttoprogram articulationandIlookforwardtodevelopingstrongarticulationagreementswiththisprogram.Offering aBSingeographyandgeospatial science wouldgreatlybenefitourstudents.
LaneisintheprocessoflaunchingaGeography AssociateofArtsOregonTransfer(AAOT) degree. Ourprogramwillprovidefoundations ingeographyandGIStopreparestudentsforupper divisionclassesinthesesubjects. Thetimingforthisnewprogramcouldnotbebetter.
Respectfully,
LynnSongerPh.D. Geography-GISInstructor LaneCommunityCollege Eugene,Oregon
4000 East30thAvenue•Eugene,OR97405-0640 •Phone:(541) 463-3000•Web: anequalopportunity/affirmativeactioninstitution
October 11, 2015
Julia Jones
Professor, Director, Geography program
CEOAS
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
Dear Julia,
I fully support OSU developing an undergraduate program in Geography and Geospatial Science. This would be a great place for students at PCC to continue their education in Geography & GIS and complete a bachelor's degree. Our students are already interested in geospatial science and having a specialized 4-year degree option in Oregon would be valuable to our students.
I look forward to working with you to implement the articulation agreement for course equivalencies so that transferring students could do so with limited obstacles.
best,
Christina
Christina Friedle
Geography Faculty & Department Chair
Portland Community College
<>, 971-722-4072
WesternOregon
UNIVERSITY
14 October 2015
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing in support of the current proposal for a BS in Geography and Geospatial Science from faculty in the Geography program at OSU. The proposed degree offers a well- rounded education to potential majors. With the growing use and application of GIS across fields and professional areas, the grounding in the fundamentals of geography, alongside technical training, provided in the proposed program of study will serve students well and is to be applauded.
Shaun Huston
Professor
Geography and Film Studies
Western Oregon University
October 26, 2015
Julia Jones
Professor and Director, Geography Program
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
Dear Julia,
Thank you for sharing with me your proposal for a new undergraduate major in Geography and Geospatial Science at OSU. I offer support for your proposal as a PhD geographer (Berkeley, 1992) and professor at an Oregon liberal arts institution (Lewis & Clark College). The proposed new major builds on a longstanding position of OSU faculty strength and student interest in geography, and a more recent position of strength and interest in geospatial science. The two are closely related: in particular, geography provides a much fuller substantive context for Geospatial Science practice than if Geospatial Science were to be taught alone. The link between the two is clear, as both are fundamentally interested in space (and spatial analysis). What’s more, space (including spatial process, spatial pattern, and spatial scale) is integral to a wide variety of disciplines across the physical and life sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and humanities; in this respect, geography, coupled with geospatial science, offers focus on an important crosscutting dimension of scholarly inquiry. A major in Geography and Geospatial Science, then, is not only conceptually coherent, but offers undergraduates emphasis in an area of crosscutting scholarly value.
I have read the attached proposal for the Geography/Geospatial Science major, and believe as a geographer that it strikes an appropriate balance between breadth in the discipline and relevance to geospatial science (for which certain areas of geography are more applicable than others). Relative to other geography programs in Oregon, the blend of geography and geospatial science OSU could offer would be a highly desirable option; and relative to other non-geography programs in Oregon (e.g., in environmental or earth science), the proposed major generally offers both greater breadth (via geography) and technical depth (via geospatial science). It seems, therefore, that there is indeed a suitable niche for the proposed major at OSU.
These brief comments constitute a strong endorsement for your proposal; I wish you the best toward its eventual success.
Regards,
Jim P.
James D. Proctor
Professor & Director
Environmental Studies Program
348 JR Howard Hall
Lewis & Clark College
0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, MSC 62
Portland, OR 97219
503.768.7707
7October 2015
Dr. Julia Jones, Professor and Director
Geography Program, CEOAS OregonState University Corvallis,OR 97331-5503
I am pleased towritein supportoftheproposal tocreatea newBS degree program in Geographyand Geospatial Sciencein CEOAS at OregonStateUniversity.I feel qualified tocomment on the proposal for several reasons.First, I receivedmy MS (1976) and PhD (1980) degrees in Geography at OSUand continue to believe it iscentral tothe mission ofOSUand CEOAS.Iserved on the Geosciences (now CEOAS)Board of Advisors (2001-07) and I have remained familiarwith the personnel, capabilities and directions of OSU Geography…in part because my daughter, Brooke,earned herMS in Geography from OSU in2014. Second, I served as Head ofthe Department of Geography at Kansas State University from 2005-11, andwas elected President of the Association of AmericanGeographers for 2005-06…both experiences allowed me todirectly observe major trends in the discipline.Third,Iamfamiliar with major scholarly advances in the discipline through service on variousprofessional panels and program committees, extensive reviews of research and other academic programs, and service for the past 17years as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Elsevier journal,Geomorphology.Fourth, Ihave considerableexperience as a consultant for business, industry andgovernment that involved the applicationofGeospatial science.
The proposal correctly points out that Geography is an ancient discipline that has gained modernrelevance from remarkable breakthroughs in field methods, lab techniques, and geospatial technologies.Geographic concepts, theory and technology hasimproved our ability tounderstand a rapidly changing world, including challenges created bythedistribution of Earthsurfacephenomena and the relationships between environment and society.In the funded research projects I have undertakenwith my students, we have used Geospatial sciencetodocument effects of forest coveronslope failures and flooding in theHimalaya ofNepal, sources of sediment in an arid watershed of Wyoming, stages of stream channel degradationin Kansas, and effects of dams on rivers, floodplainvegetation,and wildlife in Wyomingand France.Every one of those studies generated findings that weredifferent than Ioriginally predicted, largelybecause of the insights provided by geospatial sciencecoupled with data acquired by field methods.The results of these studies havechanged the way natural resources are managedin those diverse geographic settings. Moreover, I have used Geospatial science as a consultant for government and industry, and observed(during my year employed in the U.S. Department of State)how it can be used togreat advantage in the gathering and analysis of intelligance data relatedtoenvironmental security.
Inthe 1970s,a university graduatewith a bachelor’s degree ingeographyfaced difficultyin finding a job, but that is no longer the case IF the studenthas gained training and experience in geospatial science.In a survey of over 700 Geography alumni from Kansas State University, Ifoundthat 46% were employed in the corporate world, 29% in government(federal, state, local), 10% inacademia, 5% in the military, 5% in NGOs and 5%in other categories. When asked what skillthey utilized themost (or wish they had beentrained in), geospatial technologies (remote sensing, GPS, and GIS) ranked highest.I compiled a longlist of jobtitles for our alumni, many of which include some versionof GIScientist.The Cartographicand Geographic Information Society (CaGIS) alsomaintains a list of typical job titles from all employment sectors of American society. In 2004, the U.S.Department of Labor identified geotechnology asoneof the three most important emerging and evolving fields (alongwith nanotechnology and biotechnology)in our country, with highpotential for employmentand expanding commercialmarkets.Their projectionshave proven true. Worldwide,the marketfor Geospatial science has grown totens of billions ofU.S. dollars per year.A new B.S.degreein geography and geospatial science would betterprepare OSUstudents toenter this market.
Iwhole-heartedlyendorse the program objectives, programmatic focus outlined in the newdegree proposal. It was a big mistake tohave dropped the Geography BA and BS degrees and relegateGeography toan option in the EarthScience major inCEOAS.At the same time, a mere minor or certificate program in GIScience wouldbe inadequate in servingtoday’s students.I viewthe mixof Geography and Geospatial Science courses in the proposed curriculumas ideal…retaining the disciplinary focus in geography but addingthe substantial in-depth training in geospatial sciencenecessary tomake OSUgraduates competitive. I was especially pleased tosee that a 400-level course in Experiential Learning ispart of theproposal.Many universities have learnedthat providing research experience for undergraduate students willallow them to see whether they have the aptitude for advanced researchor applied studies.Undergraduate researchin Geography and Geospatial Sciencewill allowstudents to seefirst-hand the expectations ofundertaking a project and carryingit through tocompletion. Again, this willimprove their prospects for employment or advancing tograduate work inacademia.Assuming that CEOAS will be abletorecruit and retain a faculty member tofill the vacant line left open by the departure of the talentedProfessor Jenny, the number of OSUGeography faculty will be sufficient tocoverthe curriculum. The Digital Earth computer classroom (Wilkinson 210) offers a fine teaching laboratory.It seems to me that theproposed degreeprogram more than satisfies the mission of OSU and CEOAS.
It was a pleasure toreviewthis proposal for a new BS degree in Geographyand Geospatial Scienceand I urge OregonState Universitytoadopt the proposal atthe soonestopportunity.
Sincerely,
Richard A.Marston
University Distinguished Professor
DEPARTMENTOF THEARMY UNITEDSTATESMILITARY ACADEMY
DEPARTMENTOF GEOGRAPHYENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING WESTPOINT,NEWYORK10996
ATTENTION OFOctober14,2015
Dr.JuliaJones
CollegeofEarth,OceanandAtmosphericSciences
104CEOASAdministrationBuilding
Corvallis,OR97331-55003
DearDr.Jones,
Iappreciatetheopportunitytocommentonyourinitiativetocreateabachelorof science(BS)inGeographyandGeospatial ScienceatOregonStateUniversity. Imakemy observationsinthecapacityofamemberoftheboardofadvisorsfortheCollegeof Earth,OceanandAtmosphericSciences,andwithmyperspectiveasthechairofthe DepartmentofGeographyandEnvironmentalEngineeringatWestPoint. My departmenthasbothGeographyandGeographicInformationScience(GIS)majors. Lastly,Ihaveamaster's('99)andadoctoral('08)degreeinGeographyfromOregon State,addinganelementofpersonalinterestandstakeinyourproposal.
PrimarilywhatIseeinthisproposalisamovetowardsefficiencyandaninitiative
thatprovidesbothgraduatesandthemarketplacewhateachneedsmore of-potential employeeswithacompletesuiteofcomplementaryskillsandperspectives. AsIwrite thisletter,weatWestPointareundergoingacurriculumreviewinwhichevery departmentisdefendingitsprogramandinmanycasesupdatingnotonlycourse offerings,butalsothedepthandbreadthofcoursesfromwhichstudentsmayselectto buildtheirprogram. Wehavealsoseeninanumberofcases,andinmyown departmentinparticular,whereverycloselyalignedandmoresocomplementary disciplinesandsubjectshavebeencombinedtonotonlystrengthentheprogram, butto createefficienciesinresources-especiallythoseoffacultyandstudenttime. AsIwalk throughthisproposal,IcanseesimilaroutcomesgainedfortheGeographyProgramat OSU.
Thispastsummer,myGISprogramwasoneofthefirsteighteenuniversitiesto
receivethedesignationasaNationalGeospatial lntelligenceAgency(NGA)-United StatesGeologicalSurveyCenterofAcademicExcellenceinGeospatialScience. The goal ofthisprogramisto"build,strengthenandcultivatethecurrentandfuture geospatialsciencesworkforcefortheU.S.government-makeitsecondtonone". At theU.S.Geospatial lntelligenceFoundation,wherethe"plankowner"programs were recognized,theDirectorofNGAbroughtapanelofanalystsandproductionsspecialist fromNGAtotalkabouttheirexperiencestotheassembledgroup. Universally, the commentsfromall,regardlessofhowtheywereemployedatNGA,werethattheywish theyhadabetterbalancedportfolioofskillsandperspectives. Thosewhowere exceptionallyskilledGISers,felttheywerelackingintheirunderstandingofthephysical environmentorinthehumanorculturallandscape. Anemployeehiredforhisorher
expertiseasahumangeographerandemployedasaregionalexpert,foundthatifheor
shehadastrongerbackgroundinhardskillsets,likemodellingoranalysis,better communicationandcollaborationcouldbeachievedwithintelligenceanalyst colleagues. Thepointis,theyallwishedtheyhadmorebalanceinall-things-geefrom theirundergraduateexperienceandtheprogram,asproposedbyyourGeography Program,appearstocreatetheopportunityforjustthat.
Iwouldliketoclosebyofferingthatthismoveappearstobeawin fortheCEOAS,
theGeographyProgram,butmoreimportantlytheOSUStudent. Therewillcertainlybe theneedforsomeupfrontenergyinmarketingthisnewopportunitytoprospective studentsandalsoeducatingandmessagingtointernal(CEOAS)andexternal audiencesacrossOSU,butinthelongrun,theworkwillpayoffandthisverycomplete andmorecomprehensiveofferingwillbeagreatadditiontotheCEOASbrand.
Sincerely,
October 14, 2015
Julia Jones
Professor
Director, Geography Program
CEOAS, Oregon State University
Corvallis Or 97331
Hi Julia,
Thank you so very much for sharing with me the program description for the proposed new BS in Geography and Geospatial Science at OSU. I am very excited to see this new program moving forward.
Every day I see the need for planners trained with a broad understanding of earth sciences and the ability to effectively illustrate research and science through GIScience. It’s clear from reading the proposal you have put a lot of research into defining the need and proposing a great solution.
Over the years we (the Board of Advisors) have discussed the need for re-defining the Geography program, and I am especially pleased to see it coupled with the geospatial science discipline. As a practicing planner for almost 40 years, I can assure you that the need for people trained in these combined disciplines will be in demand and will contribute extensively to the planning profession. It’s especially nice for me to see the focus on earth sciences and analysis, as we all collectively see that policy decisions at all levels (local, state, federal and global) need clear data and science guidance.
Please share my appreciation for seeing this move forward with the other faculty and staff who have obviously put a lot of work into getting it this far.
Please let me know if I can help support it in any way as you move it forward.
Sincerely,
Sharon Kelly
2487 NW Lovejoy
Portland, OR 97210
Federal Way Link Extension Consultant Team Project Manager
HDR Engineering, Transportation Planning Program Manager
CEOAS Board of Advisors,
BS, Geography, 1979, OSU
HDR
Direct @ Sound Transit 206 398-5440 Cell 503 201-8538
or
28283Stage Stop Ln
Corvallis,OR97330
Dr. Julia Jones
Professor andDirector GeographyProgram,CEOAS Oregon StateUniversity
October7,2015
DearDr. Jones,
I ampleasedtooffermysupportfor thecreationofaBS in Geographyand Geospatial ScienceatOregon State University.
I believethe need forcollegegraduateswithextensiveskills inspatial scienceisstrong. Thegovernment sector in Oregonand the PacificNorthwestreliesheavilyon geographers and GIS professionals for everything fromwildland firefighting supporttotransportation planning.Spatialanalyticshavealso becomeincreasinglyimportanttobusinessascustomer and logistical dataofallkindscan betied to location.
Demand can alsobeseen in theagriculturesectorasmanaging cropyieldshasbecomeincreasingly technical,data driven,andlocation based.Resourceextraction along withagricultureisalsopartof the emerging marketforautonomouslygathered remotesensingwhich requiresspatial knowledgeand training toturn raw data intouseableinformation.
Oregon StateUniversityisbestsuited among thestate’scollegesand universitiesfora full complement of degreesin geographyincluding theBS. A programatOSUwill generatehigh qualitycandidates.Its elitestatusasaLand,Sea,Sun,and SpaceGrantInstitution setitdistinctlyapartin theabilitytofund and producescientificresearch and provideanexcellentcrossdisciplinaryenvironmentforstudents.
I stronglysupporttheproposal tocreatea BS in GeographyandGeospatial ScienceatOSU.
Sincerely,
BradyCallahan,GISP MS Geog (OSU ’99)
October 15, 2015
Julia Jones
Professor
Director, Geography Program
CEOAS, Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
dear Julia,
Geography, as an integrative science, produces graduates who can synthesize as well as analyze, who can see the big, integrated picture as well as the details. This perspective is incredibly valuable in a world of increasing complexity. We need people who see the connections and can apply that vision to finding practical solutions in land and resource management, land use planning, public policy and other fields.
I earned an MS in Geography from OSU in 1995. Over my twenty years in land use planning, that integrative perspective on understanding situations and solving problems has served me extremely well.
The proposed BS in Geography and Geospatial Science would combine geographic thinking with technical skills to provide graduates with a rare (and employable) combination of perspective and applied techniques. I see this as providing a valuable opportunity to students and a valuable pool of talent to help solve the complex issues our society faces.
I encourage approval of the BS in Geography and Geospatial Science.
Sincerely,
Greg Verret, Director
Benton County Community Development Dept.
360 SW Avery Ave., Corvallis OR 97333
(541) 766-6819 | ilto:
October 7, 2015
Julia Jones
Professor, Director, Geography program
CEOAS
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
Dear Julia,
On behalf of Esri I’m pleased to endorse the proposal to create a new bachelors degree program in Geography and Geospatial Science at Oregon State University.
When the U.S. Department of Labor identified “geospatial technology” as a high-growth technology industry in 2003, it observed that understanding and awareness of the field remained low. That lack of awareness was evident in the rarity of undergraduate programs focusing on geospatial technology, methods, and perspectives. Although awareness of GIS and related geospatial technologies has increased over the past decade, only a few U.S. universities have established specialized undergraduate programs. More universities are talking about the possibility today, but Oregon State will be among the first if it approves this proposal. I believe the proposed program is likely to succeed in preparing students for meaningful and rewarding careers so long as it prepares students to be makers, not just users, of geospatial information products and applications.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment upon this forward-looking proposal.
David
David DiBiase | Team Lead - Education Sector
Esri | 380 New York Street, Redlands CA 92373
Office 909-793-2853 x 3934 | Mobile 814-777-7639