GEOG 4742: Environments and Peoples—Boulder’s Open Space
Instructor: Elizabeth Pike Email: pikee@colorado.edu
Office Hours: immediately after class & by appointment Office: Guggenheim 104
Class Meeting: Monday-Thursday 9:00-12:00 (plus Friday, June 4), Guggenheim 201E
course website: GEOG4742.blogspot.com
I. Readings: Required texts: (abbreviation used in syllabus)
• Jill Barron (ed) Rocky Mountain Futures
• Aldo Leopold Sand County Almanac
II. Required reserve readings:
Additional readings will be assigned in class. Reserve readings are accessible online.
III. The Class Content and Objectives
Boulder’s “open space” is a crucial foundation of our local identity. Whether providing a scenic backdrop, recreational opportunities, a buffer against encroaching urbanization, or wildlife habitat, our open space is a tangible reflection of community values. How did we end up with this unique landscape? What challenges face open space managers in the future?
This class will provide an overview of the local open space programs in Boulder. We will begin by looking at the history, holdings, and management tasks facing local open space departments. Your final project will be a research proposal that integrates the various topics and issues that we will discuss this semester. This proposal will be presented to the class in poster form as well as being submitted in written form. Weekly tests will encourage you to keep abreast of the significant amount of basic factual material presented in the class. The midterms will test more in-depth knowledge and your ability to synthesize what you have learned. You will also be responsible for summarizing and developing questions for one week’s work during the semester.
IV. Grading Details: The final grade will be comprised of the following components:
10% Summary and Test Question Preparation
5% Participation
30% Daily Tests or reflection papers
25% Midterm Exams
30% Final Project (field trip plus background materials)
No makeup tests or exams will be given. Students who miss a quiz or test without a documented and acceptable excuse (e.g. medical) will receive a score of zero for the missed work. If you know of a valid conflict with any of the scheduled tests or the final exam, contact the instructor in advance.
Students with special needs: please contact the instructor as soon as possible to discuss any necessary arrangements or adjustments which would facilitate your success in this class.
GEOG 4742 Summer 2010: Schedule of Class Meetings and Assigned Readings
Weekly Schedule
June 1 (Tuesday): Introductions
Intro, review syllabus
definitions, maps, etc
Kesda lab web exercise
June 2 (Wednesday): West Trail Study Area Plan
Read Leopold “Conservation Esthetic” and “The Land Ethic” before class
Read Visitor Master Plan executive summary and Chapter 1 before class
Students able to attend TSA meeting will not attend class—
meet at East Boulder Rec Center at 6:00 pm (own transportation)
Students unable to attend TSA meeting will meet at 9:00 am to begin TSA research
June 3 (Thursday): West Trail Study Area Plan
Read Leopold “Wildlife in American Culture” and “Wilderness” before class
Test on reading, Tuesday material
Meeting group and research group will present summaries to the class
Leopold discussion
June 4 (Friday): Prairie Ecology Field Trip
Read Chapter 11 in Rocky Mountain Futures before class
Test on reading, Wednesday material (take on the way to the field trip)
Meet at 9:00 in front of Sewall Hall
Hike with COB OSMP Naturalist Dave Sutherland
June 7 (Monday):
TBA
June 8 (Tuesday): Midterm Exam I, Conservation Easements
Midterm I
June 9 (Wednesday):
TBA
June 10 (Thursday):
TBA
June 14 (Monday): TBA
June 15 (Tuesday): TBA
June 16 (Wednesday): TBA
June 17 (Thursday): Midterm Exam II, projects
Midterm II
discussion of project topics
June 21-22
Individual meetings to discuss field trip projects
June 23-25
Work independently on projects
June 28 (Monday): NO CLASS
June 29 (Tuesday): Student led field trip I
Half of class will lead field trip
June 30 (Wednesday): Student led field trip II
Other half of class will lead field trip
July 1 (Thursday): Final Field Trip
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact:303-492-8671, Willard 322, and http://www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See polices athttp://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and Harassment, the University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh
All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu;303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.htmland at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/
