THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

FACULTY SENATE

Senate Document Number 6410S

Date of Senate Approval 04/08/10

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document 51: Change course description for BIOL/ENVR 442

Effective Date: Fall 2010

1.  Delete: On page 86, the course description for BIOL 442, Forest Ecology (ENVR 442)

Study of the principles governing forest plant/animal populations and communities. Prerequisite: BIOL 211. Odd years spring.

Add: On page 86, in place of deleted entry:

Class and laboratory activities will offer an overview of the different forest ecosystems in our region, their ecological significance and economic importance. Discussions will include management strategies at the local, state and federal level, current threats (including air pollution, climate change and biological invasion) and how these threats disrupt evolved ecological interactions. Prerequisite: BIOL 211 or ENVR 241. Odd years Spring.

2. Delete: On page 139, the course description for ENVR 442, Forest Ecology (BIOL 442)

Study of the principles governing forest plant/animal populations and communities and management policies at the federal, state and local levels. Prerequisite: ENVR 241. Odd years spring.

Add: On page 139, in place of deleted entry:

Class and laboratory activities will offer an overview of the different forest ecosystems in our region, their ecological significance and economic importance. Discussions will include management strategies at the local, state and federal level, current threats (including air pollution, climate change and biological invasion) and how these threats disrupt evolved ecological interactions. Prerequisite: BIOL 211 or ENVR 241. Odd years Spring.

3. Delete: On page 82, under Concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

three courses from BIOL 322, 331-337, 340 or 348, 342, 350, 351, 356, 357, 360, 365,

Add: On page 82, in place of deleted entry:

three courses from BIOL 322, 331-337, 340 or 348, 342, 350, 351, 356, 357, 360, 365, 442,

Impact statement:

A new instructor (Horton) is taking over this established course that is cross-listed between Biology and Environmental Studies. The instructor has redesigned this course and has edited the course description to reflect his proposed course topics. This course has not been taught in several years, and through many iterations of the course catalog, the course descriptions in the two departments differed. Additionally, the course was not listed in the courses available to fulfill the Biology Department’s Concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The re-addition of this course to this concentration will result in no increase or decrease in the number of hours required for graduation. Because this course is already listed in the Environmental Studies program of study, there will be no change in the degree requirements for their majors. The course will build on concepts taught in BIOL 211 and ENVR 241 and will use many of the same resources, so no additional laboratory space or equipment is necessary. The teaching load will be 6 faculty contact hours (lecture and lab) every other year.

Rationale:

This is an existing course that has languished due to faculty retirement. Dr. Horton has training in Forestry and is excited to teach another plant-based ecology course that will be offered odd-year spring semesters. The lecture and laboratory will focus on features of forests in the southern Appalachian Mountains and will make use of the natural classroom that surrounds UNC-Asheville.