Professional Licensure & National Academic Accreditation:

Opportunities and Constraints for Geology Practice in the Millenium

Geological Society of America Section Meetings - 2005

We are proposing a series of Geology & Public Policy Committee-sponsored discussion panels at four regional GSA meetings in 2005: the Northeast, Southeast, South Central, and Cordilleran Sections. We have invited participants representing pertinent associations such as ASBOG, ABET, AAPG, AIPG, and AEG, as well as the civil engineering and legal profession.

Our purpose is to create discussion among GSA members regarding the role GSA should play in the education, support, and advancement of professional "civic" geologists employed in consulting firms, utilities, and regulatory agencies. The distinguishing feature of the work of the civic geologists is that it is done under the purview of the public interest. This work directly affects the public health, safety, and welfare by promoting the inclusion of geologic considerations in architectural and engineering design (both original and remedial), land use planning, environmental projects, codes and regulations, and public policy.

Professional geologists who practice in this arena benefit from strong and focused undergraduate curricula, and have specific continuing education demands. The strong "civic" orientation of their practice aligns and allies these geologists with practitioners in the traditional legal and design professions, eg. architecture and engineering. Practice "in responsible charge" in the design professions is characterized by statutory licensure, and education for responsible-charge practice is characterized by undergraduate program accreditation. Licensure and accreditation enhance and support opportunities for these geologists to translate basic geologic research for use in public policy decisions. Licensure for geologists is well established; thirty states have it. Undergraduate and graduate program accreditation is standard nationwide in the civil engineering and legal professions. Accreditation of undergraduate programs would certainly benefit career paths, but at the same time, it places constraints on the flexibility of the university system and might fuel a bureaucratic agenda. Accreditation is, nonetheless, an important tool by which the academic community can attract students, fine-tuned programs, and develop an alumnae community practicing in the civic community.

Serving the public as GSA members and in undergraduate education will require GSA and the academic community to address new challenges. What stand should GSA take; what should it do?

Conveners:

Chair: Lou Gilpin
CoChair South Central: Melanie Barnes (April 1-2, San Antonio, TX)
CoChair Cordilleran: Scott Burns (April 29-May 1, San Jose, CA)
CoChair Northeast: Dale Ellifrits (March 14-16, Saratoga Springs, NY)
CoChair Southeast: Darrel Schmitz (March 17-18, Biloxi, MS)