The UWRF Plant and Earth Science Department this past August has had the honor of
receiving the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award for
Academic Departments. When asked about the award, Professor Holly Dolliver stated how the
department is proud of the accomplishment and the system in place for the Earth and Science
Department that allowed for them to win such an award.
“This award is not only meaningful for those that are here present day, but also
recognizes the work and accomplishments and the foundation that has been laid by faculty that
have now since retired.
”Commented Professor Dolliver As part of the nomination process,
applicants must submit a narrative and documentation a year in advance for nomination.
Thankfully for the Earth and Science department, they have had a long history with cultivating
their program thanks to excellent support of the faculty, going all the way back to the beginning
of the program.
The Earth and Science Department is one of the most unique departments in higher
education. The department is made up of six individual majors, but with how the class material
is laid out, each individual major will overlap with the others in some way, giving students a more
rounded education and different ways to apply their major to their fields.
This interdisciplinary training also has a focus on a system of “High Impact Learning and
Teaching.
” The UWRF campus is fortunate enough to have a variety of wildlife and outdoor
areas easily accessible to students. These areas range from either the natural geography of
River Falls such as the South Fork of the Kinnickinnic River and registered campus forests to
areas that are easy to cultivate into learning environments such as the campus farms and newly
established Wildflower Farm. This mainstay of the Earth and Science Department has students
of all majors frequently visit these areas for a more tactile experience with their education.
Apart from the educational opportunities, the Plant and Earth Science Department also
has a heavy investment with its support staff. The most notable of the staff includes the
Greenhouse Managers, who help take care of the greenhouses on campus, and the Ecological
Restoration Institute who help with various projects available to students.
This award, received by the diligence and care put into the department is not only a
reflection of the great staff and faculty of the Earth and Science Department, but also the
support from other department.