FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 5, 2016

For More Information:
Glenville State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115

GLENVILLE, WV - The Associate of Science in Forest Technology program at Glenville State College has been awarded accreditation by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). The SAF is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States and is the largest professional society for foresters in the world.

“It is a great honor for the forest technology program to be accredited by the Society of American Foresters. Our program is one of only 24 others nationwide to achieve accreditation by SAF. The program has a long history of success and the faculty and staff are dedicated to continuing that tradition,” said Dr. Brian Perkins, Associate Professor of Forestry and Program Chair.

The accreditation process assures students, parents, employers, and the forestry community that the program continues to provide a rigorous and high quality education and that students will be knowledgeable and skilled upon graduation. Standards for accreditation, set by the Society of American Foresters, include requirements for program objectives, curriculum, faculty, students, program components, institutional support, and facilities. Prior to being accredited GSC’s program was continually recognized by SAF since 1971. The recognition process was essentially the same as accreditation except that it did not include a site visit to the campus. SAF began transitioning from a recognition process to an accreditation process for forest technology programs in 2009.

“Accreditation by the Society of American Foresters assures students, graduates, and employers that our Forest Technology Program maintains high quality academic standards. Our graduates are prepared for the workforce, possessing the appropriate skills and content knowledge,” said GSC Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Milan Vavrek.

The SAF accreditation process evaluates whether the program meets all of the required standards. The year and a half long process was led by Perkins along with faculty and staff within the Land Resources Department including Dr. Rico Gazal, Mr. Thomas Snyder, Ms. Ashley Reed, and Vavrek. The team assembled a 400 page self-study report which was reviewed by an evaluation team appointed by the SAF. The evaluation team visited Glenville State College in May 2015 where they met with faculty, staff, students, alumni, advisory board members, and administrators. The team toured the new Waco Center where the Land Resources Department is housed and the 325 acre college forest. The evaluation team presented their findings to an independent committee convened by SAF. The committee evaluated all of the information and determined that the program met all of the accreditation standards.

“On behalf of the program, I would like to thank all who helped with the accreditation process including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and advisory board members. I would like to thank the GSC administration for their strong support for the program and the members of the evaluation team for their time and effort in helping to improve our program,” Perkins concluded.