Carleton College Geology Department: Seventy Years of Planning for Change

On the back of a fire door leading to the Carleton geology lounge and classroom, students have painted a geologic time scale representing the history of the geology department from its establishment in 1933 to its present configuration. Along the way, Laurence McKinley Gould, George Gibson, Duncan Stewart VII, Leonard Wilson, Eiler Henrickson, Ed Buchwald, Shelby Boardman, Mary Savina, David Bice, Clem Shearer, Bereket Haileab, Clint Cowan, Cam Davidson, Jenn Macalady and a host of other faculty have contributed to an excellent undergraduate program. Features that have maintained the strength of the program over the years include:

Outstanding support staff (Betty Bray and Tim Vick);

Weekly department meetings that include discussion of department goals and pedagogy, including attention to giving students the tools to complete the major and capstone project;

Regular department retreats that allow more comprehensive discussion;

Encouraging different teaching styles among the faculty;

A curriculum that emphasizes active learning from day one in introductory geology through the senior capstone experience;

Involving students in the department, from planning field trips to hiring to TAs;

Increasing student role models by having sophomore, junior and senior majors in most courses;

Emphasizing the liberal arts character of geology, rather than pre-professional;

Bringing alumni back to campus on a regular basis;

Publishing an annual alumni newsletter and maintaining a department web site;

Creating a social and intellectual space within the department for students and faculty;

Making a particular effort to be welcoming and affirming to people of all colors, ethnicities, affectional orientations and gender identities;