4 PAST TENSE The Beginning: Geology at Portland State SU’s preparation of students in the field of geology traces its roots to the emergence of Vanport Extension Center (VEC) in 1946, when returning World War II veterans helped create demand for an institution of higher education in Portland. At VEC, popularly called Vanport College, various science courses were initially offered in the summer of 1946, with geology soon following in the 1948-49 academic year. Hollis M. Dole, MS, Instructor of Geology, taught the first undergraduate courses in Geology (G 201, 201, 203). Offered in sequence for three credits per term, each course was titled Geology with the same course description: “Processes of nature by which earth’s surface has been built up, deformed, and torn down; natural history and occurrence of Vanport’s second home, where the first geology classes were taught in 1948-49 by Hollis M. Dole. common rocks, and useful minerals; outline of history of earth and life.” Hollis Dole taught this geology sequence at VEC for three years, followed by John O. Dart, MA (later PhD), who arrived to teach geography and geology in 1951-52. The 1952-53 school year began with VEC having moved to the South Park Blocks in Portland to become Portland State Extension Center. Geology and all other fields of study at Portland State were initially taught in Old Main (now Lincoln Hall). Faculty teaching geology courses in the early 1950s included John Dart; Ruth Hopson Keen, PhD, Associate Professor of General Science; and Ralph S. Mason, BS, Instructor of Geology. Geology courses added during these founding years included Geology 204, 205, 206 and an accompanying one-credit laboratory course “for all students desiring a more intimate knowledge of geology.” Upper division courses Geology 350 Rocks & Minerals and 352 Geology of Oregon soon followed. In 1955 program development in geology was spurred when Portland State Extension Center became Portland State College (PSC), a four-year degree-granting institution. In 1956, Will V. Norris, Chair of the Division of Science-Mathematics, recruited John Eliot Allen, PhD, Professor of Geology, to start a program in geology at PSC. By 1962, fall term enrollment had grown from 89 to 345 students, four faculty were teaching 72 credit hours of geology, the program had graduated 21 students with degrees in General Science, and the Department of Earth Sciences was officially established along with the initial granting of BS and BA degrees in Earth Sciences. In 1980 John Eliot Allen described the fundamental beliefs of the department: “The educational philosophy to which most of the faculty of the department has subscribed during the past 24 years may be summarized in six short statements: Geology should be enjoyable; Geology starts outdoors; Geology continues in the laboratory; Geology results in talks and publications; Geology is related to all aspects of life; Geology students need to be kept informed.” More than six decades later, Vanport Extension Center is now Portland State University and the Department of Earth Sciences has become the Department of Geology. The department is over 50 years old, and over 28 tenure track faculty have cycled through the department during that time. Today the department has 10 tenure track faculty teaching 135 undergraduate majors and 35 MS and PhD students. In addition, there are 30 adjunct faculty who help with the teaching and research. Over 500 alumni populate many of the consulting firms, governmental agencies and universities of the Pacific Northwest and are leaders in the field of geology. --Steve Brannan, History Preservation Committee Co-chair, and Scott Burns, Professor of Geology PAST TENSE features glimpses into Portland State’s history. To submit a story (or an idea for one), email the RAPS History Preservation Committee at raps@pdx.edu. P John Eliot Allen, founding chair of the Department of Earth Sciences
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