FIELD GEOLOGY INSTRUCTION AT THE FLAGSHIP INSTITUTION IN ONE OF THE POOREST STATES IN THE USA

Prior to 1986, field geology at the University of New Mexico was taught on weekends during the academic year, with 319L (Introductory Field Geology, 4 cr) during the Spring semester, and 420L (Advanced Field Geology, 4 cr) in the Fall. In 1986, the field program was transformed into two back-to-back 4-credit courses, from mid-May to the end of June. The reason a single, 8-credit course was not established is that UNM does not charge out of state tuition for 4-credit classes in the summer, permitting nonresidents to take each course at low cost. In hindsight, this decision was excellent, as numerous non-UNM students have provided viable enrollments (typically 17-25 for 319L). Academic separation allows the classes to be taught independently and their budgets defined separately. Official support is negligible (a total of $18K out of the College summer budget), which all goes to instructor salaries, split evenly between courses, regardless of enrollments in each class. Student fees, which increase annually, have been the principal way to pay for TA salaries, vehicles, and supplies. Our teaching philosophy for the camping-based 319L emphasizes a high degree of instructor interaction and feedback using three relatively well-exposed, exemplary field areas that are well-known to the instructors and increase in complexity through the course. Each exercise involves both bedrock and surficial deposit mapping. Given the enormous range in backgrounds and abilities of our students, as well as a lack of prior understanding and integration of basic geoscience principles for many, fundamental field observation and mapping skills are emphasized over and over. We use hand-held GPS units used to reinforce site location but emphasize topo map reading as a still-indispensable skill. Innovations include the use of GPS-defined fine-scale topo maps for select, well-exposed parts of the field areas containing key relationships. All students map these “postage-stamp” areas together, discuss their observations, and receive feedback immediately after mapping. The 319L field course at UNM must be and has been done on the cheap. Its survivability may depend on our ability to convince the College of the need for increased level funding. Relying on Department support is unreasonable as other parts of the field program are already heavily subsidized.