III Periodic
Review of Centers (Academic Policy 100.o)
Senate
Recommendation
A.
Written Report Summary:
1. Purpose: The Wilderness Institute works to further the
understanding of wilderness and its stewardship through education, outreach,
and scholarship. The Institute provides
students, agencies, and the public with information, education, and an
understanding of the issues and social and ecological values of wilderness.
2. Objectives: Provides Wilderness education that is
integrated, interdisciplinary, and experiential where appropriate; Broadens community and public understanding
and support of wilderness through outreach;
disseminates quality wilderness information through media appropriate to
a broad range of audiences; Promotes
scholarship on wildland issues, including research,
think tanks, and conferences.
3.
Activities: (1)
Continue leading regional, national, and international dialogues on the role of
wilderness and protected areas; (2) Maintain existing programs and projects at
their current high quality with enhancements, review, and further development,
where appropriate; and (3) Develop new programs in the arenas of education and
scholarship.
Current programs and
projects:
Wilderness Information Network- provides online resources for wilderness
professionals and the public through a partnership with the federal land
management agencies.
Wilderness and Civilization Program- a one-year interdisciplinary
campus-and field-based immersion program for undergraduate students. The program leads to a Wilderness Studies
minor.
Wilderness Management Distance Education Program– offers university
courses through distance education for a comprehensive study of wilderness
management.
Wilderness Lecture Series – Each spring the Lecture Series brings
together local, national, and international speakers to focus on a current
issue in wilderness studies. The Lecture
Series is open to the public and is offered as a 1.0 credit undergraduate course.
Wilderness Medicine Courses – The Wilderness Institute cosponsors
Wilderness First Aid, First Responder, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
courses at UM with the Aerie School of Backcountry Medicine. The EMT courses are offered for undergraduate
credit
Matthew Hansen Endowment- The Wilderness Institute oversees promotion,
fundraising, and the selection process for the Matthew Hansen Endowment, which
funds projects that focus on
Semi-Annual research Workshops and Seminars with Proceedings- cosponsor
The Treehouse Program –brings UM, Wilderness
Institute and the University of Natal Centre for
Environment and Development together with land management agency partners to
focus on an improved understanding of the social aspects of protected areas in
Southern Africa and the U.S.
Summer, Intersession, and Special Session Courses
Ongoing Research Programs -sponsors graduate research, including work on
cross-boundary conservation on the Rocky Mountain Front, and land claims and
protected areas in South Africa.
4. Other organizations involved:
5. Reporting line:
Associate Dean,
Dean,
Provost,
6. Relationships with academic units: The Wilderness
Institute contributes to the
Departments on campus involved in Wilderness and Civilization include English,
Society and Conservation, Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, Economics,
Native American Studies, and the Center for the Rocky Mountain West.
7. Similar programs:
The University of Idaho’s Wilderness Research Center focuses on the
human dimensions of wilderness ecosystems.
The Wild Rockies Field Institute offers entirely field based short
courses for undergraduate credit through the
8. Budget:
a. 1. Current faculty and percentage of
time: 2 full time faculty:
Director and Instructor
5 faculty teach a 3 credit course and, 1
teaches a 2 credit course.
Current staff: Field and Outreach
Coordinator, Web Programmer, and Coordinator- Wilderness Distance Education
Program
Current cost is approximately
$254,700 excluding the Director or non-Wilderness Institute faculty who teach in the Wilderness and
Civilization program.
2. Need and cost for new faculty
(next five years): New Director and a faculty member in the
3. Need for other personnel: Half time administrative assistant. Specific anticipated expenses are, in part,
dependent on the projects and programs pursued by the incoming director.
b. Use and anticipated needs (next five
years) of University Resources:
1. Library:
2. Technology/equipment: Three new computers and two new printers ($7000),
Field Safety equipment ($1000), and Research equipment ($3000).
3. Facility and space: One additional office and a small meeting
room space
c. Source of Funding (Provide figures
for the last fiscal year):
|
Arkwright Endowment |
$150,382 |
57% |
|
|
|
$45,929 |
18% |
|
|
Aldo
Leopold Wilderness Research Institute |
$30,374 |
12% |
|
|
Wilderness
and Civilization Student Fees |
$12,550 |
5% |
|
|
Wilderness
Management Distance Education Program Tuition and Fees |
$21,835 |
8% |
|
|
Total |
$261,070 |
|
|
Workshops and research projects have cosponsors that provide financial
support. Wilderness Lecture Series speakers
are occasionally supported, in part, by other University of Montana
Departments, federal agencies, or other organizations.
Anticipated source of funding for the
next five years: Sources listed
above. Other possible sources of funding
include federal research grants, partnerships with community organizations, and
publishing funds for edited volumes.
Specific sources of future funding are dependent on the programs and
projects pursued by the incoming Wilderness Institute Director.
B. Review and Approval Process
2. The Faculty Senate through its Chair,
ECOS, and Committees as appropriate shall recommend continuance or
discontinuance by vote.
Review
in terms of Scope as stated in academic policy 100.0
To provide instruction, scholarship, or service to the
University, state or world by: (1)
focusing attention on an area of strength and/or addressing a critical issue,
or (2) facilitating collaborative, multi-disciplinary endeavors to combine
resources from several programs or institutions to address issues of common
interest.
Review
in terms of the University’s mission.
§
Comments:
None
§
Does
ECOS/Faculty Senate consider this center controversial?
No.
§
Is
the relationship with academic units beneficial?
Yes. The Wilderness
Institute offers several programs and projects that enhance a student’s
educational experience beyond the classroom.
§
Is
the program revenue neutral or does it consume more resources than it
generates? If so, is the use of University resources justified?
No state funds are used.
Several departments on campus absorb the cost of faculty members
teaching one course per year for the Wilderness Institute. The center is funded by an endowment that
covers personnel and general operating costs.
§
Is
the entity making progress toward objectives?
Yes.
Recommendation: Continue