I think we can agree that there is much diversity in what a biology or environmental science program is. However, there are also bare minimums in supporting programs, faculty and student resources that certainly must be in place for a program to not only be viable but also adequately supported to ensure student success.
Hence my question. I don't think that a biology accreditation program could be as regimented as the one in chemistry. However, I also think that we as biologists have a civic responsibility to monitor our own field. The world of higher education is rapidly changing, and new programs are popping up all over. Something to think about? So, maybe I should reword my question! What are the bare minimum resources that a biology program should have in place? What kind of faculty curricular diversity and numbers should there be? What laboratory resources are necessary and should be in place before the program is started? What supporting programs are critical? This is cosmetic and academic at most institutions, but not all. On Thu, May 20, 2010 at 9:11 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > Chemistry has standardized the undergraduate curriculum to a few standard > subjects- organic, physical, biochemical, inorganic. We've got an astounding > diversity of college-level biology courses taught; would accreditation mean > giving that up to create standard curricula? That might not be a bad thing, > but its pretty far from where we are. > > > > Quoting malcolm McCallum <[email protected]>: > > Chemistry currently has accreditation, why not biology? >> >> Malcolm >> >> -- >> Malcolm L. McCallum >> Managing Editor, >> Herpetological Conservation and Biology >> >> 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert >> 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, >> and pollution. >> 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction >> MAY help restore populations. >> 2022: Soylent Green is People! >> >> Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any >> attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may >> contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized >> review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not >> the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and >> destroy all copies of the original message. >> >> > > > Daniel (Max) Taub > Associate Professor and Chair of the Biology Department > Southwestern University > 1001 East University Ave > Georgetown TX 78626, USA > > email: [email protected] > phone: (512) 863-1583 > fax: (512) 863-1696 > -- Malcolm L. McCallum Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
