Thread by @jennyspatial

I'm devastated. @UVMcas announced today they plan to eliminate the @uvmvermont Geology department due to low enrollment. This is the latest casualty from nationwide austerity measures in academia 1/n

This is occurring after a UVM geology professor recently brought in a $3.2 million dollar grant. We are about to become one of only two public land-grant universities without a geoscience program 2/n

Undergraduates will no longer be able to get a BA, BS or minor in geology. The master's program will also be eliminated 3/n

I'm sad this is happening during AGU, of all weeks--how many other universities are considering similar measures? 4/n

I spoke to a faculty member of the department and learned they found out only hours before it was announced. For shame @uvmvermont 5/n

Vermont's only geology museum: gone. Our only geoscience graduate degree: gone. Geoscientists critical to mapping landslides, tracing hazardous chemicals, and tracing the past history of Vermont: gone 6/n

Vermont's state geology department only has three employees and very little funding, so this will have a huge impact on our statewide capacity 7/n

For more details, read the press release: vermontbiz.com/news/2020/dece…