ALONE BUT NOT LONELY: THE BENEFITS OF BEING SOLO AT A SMALL SCHOOL

The benefits of being the solitary instructor of geology at a small (~900 students) private college (Emory & Henry College) outweigh the challenges. Benefits include independence, small class size, and flexibility.

I independently design the curriculum for the Physical Geology course. The four-hour laboratory activities are 80% field-based and take advantage of being located in the Valley and Ridge province with close proximity to Mt. Rogers (the highest mountain in Virginia), the Blue Ridge province, and the resource-rich Appalachian Plateau. I created an Environmental Geology course that incorporates place-based education by focusing on the economic and environmental geology of a nearby community. Because of small class sizes (10-19), students present a talk, participate in a debate or panel discussion, and prepare and present a poster for 30% of their grade. At Emory & Henry College, there are ample opportunities for teaching and improving introductory geology courses. In the future, there will be additional opportunities for teaching upper-level courses. I am currently writing an Environmental Hydrology course description that will be taught in the 2010-2011 academic year.

It is also possible to do research as the only geology instructor at a small private college, but it is challenging. There is a lack of geology-specific analytical equipment and a lack of face-to-face interaction with fellow geologists. However, the ideal location of Emory & Henry College presents opportunities for geologic mapping, at all scales and in various lithologies. In addition, local environmental consequences of resource extraction encourage the development of multi-discipline research projects involving chemistry, ecology, and geology. At a teaching-focused undergraduate institution such as Emory & Henry College, research that is incorporated into the framework of a course enables one to conduct research while improving rather than compromising the quality of teaching.

It may seem limiting to be the only geology instructor, but in my experience, the possibilities for quality teaching and rewarding research are vast.