Kevin Boston

Currently offers one undergraduate degree◦ Degree receives accreditation from both:

The Society of American Foresters Accreditation Board of Engineering Technology

◦ This allows are graduates to become an Registered Professional Forester in California or a Forest Engineers in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

ABET requires that we document that all students are able to meet the 17 learning objectives (11 are standards of all programs with 6 developed by the FE department)

Some are: ◦ Ability to apply knowledge of math, science and

engineering◦ Ability to communicate effectively◦ Knowledge of contemporary issues◦ Ability to use the techniques, skills and modern

engineering tools necessary for engineering practices◦ Ability to plan and manage economics and safe forest

operations◦ An understanding of soil and water resources and an

ability to tailor harvesting operations and infrastructure development to protect those resources.

We have mapped these learning objectives to the classes in our degree program to where each class receives 2 to 4 learning objectives –

◦ All learning objectives are measured in 2 to 4 classes. For example - FE 480 Forest Professionalism - will show that students will gain knowledge of contemporary issues.

All syllabi are modified to include the statement – all students must pass all assignments to pass the course – this is necessary to prevent problems regarding grading. An “I” is given to students who have not completed all assignments with a passing mark.

We achieve our WIC requirements through our capstone design courses – A fall and winter set of courses where the student apply their knowledge and skills to two forest planning problems

◦ One is to develop an area forest plan for approximately 1200 acres using remotely sensed data.

◦ One is to develop a bid to purchase a single unit for harvesting using their own field collected data while meeting the requirements of the Oregon Forest Practices Rules.

Both projects require a project plan ◦ Approximately 3-5 pages that describes the approach

they are going to take to solve these open ended problems. Additionally, they are required to submit 2 progress reports each term that are in 1 page business letter format.

◦ In addition to communication this meets the learning objective (e) The ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems

Minimally graded assignmentso These are used to stimulate thinking about how to do

forest planning and are about 2 to 3 pages each

Development of certification measurements ◦ This is a research paper where the students must develop

set of actions at the tactical planning level that will increase the level of protection for water and soil resources. A five to seven page paper.

◦ This is to familiarize the students with forest certification – knowledge of contemporary issues – learning objective (j)

An understanding of soil and water resources … learning objective (m)◦ Students must apply these criteria to their own planning

problems.

◦ The revisions of the paper are incorporated in the first and final draft of the area planning report.

First draft and final draft of area plans ◦ These are comprehensive plans that contains 8 to 15

pages of writing and approximately 30 to 40 pages of supporting material (some will go 200 pages)– primarily maps and results of their engineering analysis. (yes, they will be scanned in pdf’s for incorporation into portfolios)

First draft is due in end of fall term Final draft is due in middle of winter term

The single unit problem – ◦ Report is due at end of winter term and is approximately

5 pages.

As ABET requires communication skills, there are presentations for much of their work.◦ They give 10 minute talk to class prior to completing their

first draft – think first and write second

◦ They give 30 minute talk open to faculty for final talk. Revise their paper and talk from last term first – present second – as the presentations are the biggest hurdle for them.

◦ Many of their assignments are given orally – I want them to develop good listening skills that are required to be successful in their work place.