Geological Engineering Major Eliminated at University of Arizona

The UA Faculty Senate accepted a proposal to eliminate the geological engineering undergraduate major and merge the degree with mining engineering, according to the University of Arizona’s campus newspaper, the Daily Wildcat.

The Wildcat says the proposal to eliminate the major was brought to the Senate by by Mary Poulton (Mining and Geological Engineering Department Head) and Jeff Goldberg (Associate Dean of College of Engineering).

Dr. Ben Sternberg, one of two geological engineering faculty in the Materials Science and Engineering Department opposed the elimination of the major.

Geoprac.net reports that, "It seems relatively clear from Dr. Sternberg’s remarks reported in the article that he feels that he and presumably Dr. Kulatilake were not included in the discussion regarding the MGE Department’s proposal and he questions the process that was taken by the Senate to reach their decision. Although not directly quoted as saying it, the Daily Wildcat reported that Dr. Sternberg feels that the College is trying to get rid of him. However, the Dean of the College of Engineering, Tom Peterson indicated very strongly that this was not the case."

[above - Ben Sterberg, UA prof; photo by Jacob Rader, UA Daily Wildcat]

Goeprac.net reports that "the new degree will be a B.S. in Mining and Geological Engineering and there will be a mining engineering track and a geological engineering track. Budget cuts and small enrollment were the main reasons cited for the elimination of the degree. "