Fall 2008 SEMESTER OPENING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dear Geology & Earth Science Education Students,

We hope that you will find the information below useful in participating in the department and planning coming semesters.  We encourage you to bookmark the important links below or keep this e-mail in a place where you can find it when you need it.

What a wonderful environment we enjoy in the department!  Much of this results from your efforts to get to know, enjoy, and support one another.  Keep up the great work!  Know that we care about and desire to help you each of you. 

Warm Regards,

The Faculty & Staff of the Geology Department

______________________________

Calendar Information.  The Department opening social will be held on Wednesday, September 17^th from 6-7 pm at Smith Park (near the Hospital).  At the opening social, we get to know each other, enjoy some food together, and answer student questions.  The University Forum September 18^th will feature Dr. Bart Kowallis from the Geology Dept. at BYU (Provo).  He will speak on the destruction described in the Book of Mormon at the time of Christ’s visit to the America’s from a geologic perspective.  We strongly encourage all to attend.  University calendar information (academic deadlines, etc.) is located here: <http://web.byui.edu/Calendar/>.  Other important department calendar items (e.g., geology society events, seminar dates) can be found at the websites described below. 

Geology Seminars.  Every semester the department hosts a Geology Seminar Series.  The purpose of the seminars is to expose you to new science and scientists.  These seminars are a significant and important part of your education.  We strongly encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to expand your horizons.  They are a great way learn, get great advice, and meet potential advisors.  (The majors courses you take will require that you attend these seminars.)  The semester’s Geology Seminar schedule is found here: <http://www.byui.edu/geology/forums.htm>.

Department Course Offerings.  A semester-by-semester listing of the courses offered by the department over the next several years is located here: <http://www.byui.edu/geology/course%20offerings.htm>.  This information is critical to your planning.  Feel free to express your opinion about when a particular course could be offered to help you meet your goals.  If there are enough students who express a similar need, we will try to accommodate it.  The course schedule becomes unchangeable about a semester and a half before that semester begins.  So, you need to express your opinion early.  There are two new courses that you’ll want to take note of.  The first course, Geol 340: Introduction to GIS/GPS, will replace Geog 230: Introduction to GIS in the Geology curriculum.  It is being offered for the first time this semester.  Typically, it will be offered each fall and will be taught by Sister Willis.  (There is one seat left this semester, if someone is in need of taking it now.)  We are also offering it next semester (Winter 2009) because there is a back-log of students interested in taking it.  For students who are just beginning our program, Geol 340 will be a required course that will be taken during the same semester that students take Geol 350 (i.e., during the sophomore year).  The second course is Geol 425: Introduction to Petroleum Geology, which will be taught by Bro. Lovell.  It will be offered once a year and will alternate between W & S semesters.  It will be offered for the first time during the first block of spring semester 2009.

Geology & Earth Science Education Curriculum.  A pdf file containing the majors, minors, and clusters offered in the Geology Department is attached.  If you are interested in other clusters, a listing of all pre-approved clusters is available in the University Catalog and on the Advising Center’s website.

Scheduling Your Courses (for Geology Majors).  There are two semesters where we require/strongly recommend that certain courses are taken together.  During your sophomore year (as a geology major) you should take Geol 350 and Geol 340 together.  During your junior year (as a geology major) you should take Geol 370, 311, & 210 together.  For those of you who have switched your major to Geology recently, you should get into see your advisor and get into Geol 350 (& 340) as soon as possible.

Academic Advising.  Each of you should have an academic plan.  If you have not already done so or if your current plan is out of date, we strongly encourage you to create/modify your plan.  Make sure you allow your advisor to check your plan for errors and help ensure your plan will prepare you to meet your career goals.  While we recognize that your plan will likely change multiple times during your undergraduate education, we also know that operating without a plan is risky and could cause you to delay graduation.  Create a plan early as early as possible and keep it up to date.

Student Geology Society / AAPG Student Chapter.  As you are probably already aware, the department has a Student Geology Society (that doubles as the AAPG Student Chapter).  Plan on being involved.  The society sponsors activities geared toward fostering camaraderie between our majors and providing enriching educational experiences.  Further information is found here: <http://www.byui.edu/geology/geosociety.htm>.

Department Employment Opportunities.  We hire many Geology and Earth Science Education majors to work in the department as lab assistants, teaching assistants, faculty assistants, and research assistants, or to carry out department projects.  To work for the department, you must typically have completed Geol 250 or 350.  If you meet those requirements and are interested, contact Sister Mitchell in the department office.  (Occasionally—especially during Spring semester, we can hire those who have only completed Geol 111.)

Scholarship & Grant Opportunities.  Department scholarships and awards are administered each semester.  Further information about the awards is found here: <http://www.byui.edu/geology/scholarships.htm>.  University financial aid information is found here: <http://www.byui.edu/FinancialAid/>.  There are more financial aid opportunities available than most students realize.  For example, most students are unaware that there are university grants that are needs-based.  We encourage you to take advantage of all the opportunities for financial support that are available to you.  If you are in need, speak with a representative in the university Financial Aid & Scholarship Office.  If you have questions about the departmental awards, speak with Sister Nielson.

Internship Opportunities.  Internship opportunities are numerous.  Advertisements for those opportunities that we receive through the mail are posted on the bulletin board across the hallway from the department office.  Other opportunities are posted here: <http://www.byui.edu/geology/internships.htm>.   Periodically, we will send internship announcements (usually those that are time-sensitive) to you via your campus e-mail account.  Other Career Job Postings can be found at <http://www.byui.edu/geology/careerlinks.htm>.  When you are an intern, it is important for you to realize that you represent the department.  Your performance will impact the opportunities available to future students.

Research Opportunities.  One of the great opportunities of your undergraduate education is to work on a mentored student research project with one of our faculty.  Talk with faculty to discover the specific research projects that are available.  Some faculty members list these projects on their website.

Reminders.  Please remember to:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->Only allow department majors in ROM 143 & 149.  If you’re studying with a group that includes non-major students, please use ROM 141 or 158 (if available).

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->Care for our department facilities.  Be proactive in helping us care for our department facilities.  For example, if you see something that needs to be fixed, let us know about it.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->Never leave personal items laying around—in any of the rooms.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->Keep the food area in ROM 143 clean.  Food should not be stored in the refrigerator for prolonged periods of time.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->Maintain sufficient space in your campus e-mail account to receive the messages that we send you.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->Help us improve our website.  If you find something that doesn’t work, is out of date, or does not provide the information that you think it should, let Bro. Jordan know so that he can have it fixed/updated.

Other.  Miscellaneous items follow:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->We hope you enjoy, make good use of, and protect the new computers and monitors in ROM 141.