College of Forestry revisited

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Part of Forestry Leaves

Title: College of Forestry revisited
Language: English
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Fulltext: Dr. Hardy L. Shirley, Dt':an of the State University of New York's College of Forestry· at Syracuse College of Forestry Revisited It has been my good fortune to visit the Philippine College of Forestry at Los Banos in 1960, 1962 and again in 1965. The changes I have observed on each successive visit have been highly gratifying. Between 1960 and 1962 physical development and increased size of faculty stood out as major accomplishments. What seems most noticeable in 1965 is a change in quality-better students, a more competent and able faculty, improved curriculums, closer ties with other forestry agencies and industries, a ten-year development plan showing imaginative educational statesmanship, integration of instructional program with that of the College, and good prospects of outside grants for expansion of its programs. The joint AID, University of the Philippines, State University of New York Contract is terminating June 30, 1965. It is well at this time to review briefly the objectives and accomplishments of the past 5 years under this program and of the 3 preceding years under the Cornell contract. Eight major objectives were set forth. Seven of these have been largely attained. 1. Modernizing the curriculum.-The curriculum has been divided into separate curriculums--one for forest resource management and one for wood science & Lechnology. A five-year program for each will probably be adopted by next academic year. 2. Training faculty members.-The faculty has been increased from 15 to 49 members. More than half of these have pursued graduate education at universities of the USA and other countries. All have had the benefit of working in association with visiting professors. 3. Improving teaching methods.-New teaching methods have been introduced, laboratory work expanded, and various teaching aids supplied. 4. Improving .~tudents recruitment, and increasing the number of professional graduates.-Enrollment has expanded considerably while al the same time admission standards have been raised. The number of professional graduates has increased some 4-fold. 5. Enlarging the physical plant and acquisition of instructional and laboratory equipment.·-A student dormitory of 164 beds has been built, a forest technology building has been built and equipped, a wood products laboratory & sawmill have been made available. The water system has been enlarged. The library collection has been greatly increased and the stacks air conditioned. Some $120,000 has been expended on new equipment. 6. Improving College-wide organization & administrative procedures.-The faculty has been organized into 4 separate departments for instruction and research each headed by a chairman. Four additional administrative assignments have been made to handle the Makiling Forest, business affairs, academic affairs and College secretary. A University Vice President has been appointed for Agriculture and Forestry. 7. Strengthening & expanding cooperative relationships of the College with organizations both within & without the University .-Relations with the College of Agriculture have become much more intimate SAN~* ~IF!1:~!~ PLYWOOD ... elegance pre£erred by the discriminating and the prRctical. . . . guaranteed to last the life of your home and ol6ce. STA. CLARA LUMBER CO, INC. 1300 Leon Guinto Sr. Ermita. Manila Tel, Sl-12-36 Panicipanls and resource persons of the Short Coursl' on Communication Methods an•) Techniques sponsored by the Joint Committee on Public Information and Education in Forestry and the General Forestry Committee held on April 19 to May 1, 1965 at the UPCF. From left to right are Erico Enriquez. Artemio Rivera, Benjamin Cariii.o, Satumino Macaraeg, Basilio Cruz Jr., Virgilio Fernandez, Felix Eslava Jr., Oscar Gendrano, Bunardo Sinues, George Gomez, Hari Garcia and Tcofilo Cruz. lnfront from left are Eliseo Casie and Winlove A. Cuda!, training director and andio-visnal representative respectively of the KODAK (Philippines) and resource persons for the short course. through forestry students attending classes on the Agriculture Campus and faculty members collaborating on research. Cooperation with the Forest Products Research Lab. on research has also grown. fte]ations with the Bureau of Forestry, Reforestation Administration, Parks & Wildlife Office, are extensive and increasing. Industry understanding and support has grown markedly especia1ly within the last three years. Industry financed scholarships have increased. Various extension and short course activities have helped immensely to cement relationships. The College sponsored Kaingin Conference elicited wide participation and support. B. Developing effective programs of graduate education, research & extension. An extension department has been organized, financed, and has started an ambitious program of bringing forestry to the people through news articles, radio programs, films, lectures, short courses, and conferences. It is only in graduate education and research that a hare beginning only has been made in relation to needs. It was recognized at the beginning that faculty training to the Masters & PhD level must necessarily precede graduate education and research so that little was expected to be accomplished in the first 8-year program. The College for Forestry and USAID can therefore be justifiably proud of the accomplishments of the College under the State University of New York Contract. Generous and understanding support has been provided by AID and the College has responded in a gratifying manner. Though the SUNY contract closes June 30, 1965, participant training for 3 PhD's and 2 MS faculty members is expected to continue for one or two more years. It is therefore time to close the current AID-SUNY program and to give thought to what lies ahead. The major task is lo organize a strong program of graduate education backed by a vigorous research effort. No nation can be self sufficient .. in forestry until it can educate its own teachers, research workers and top level administrative men. It is particu]arly important that the Philippines do so because it is a tropical country. No truly strong program of graduate instruction and research in tropical forestry now exist in the Southeast Asia area. The Philippines despite flagrant misuse of forest still have a magnificent forest heritage. Modern technology will be needed for its perpetuation and exploitation if the people of the Philippines are to reap maximum benefits from it. It is estimated that a minimum of 20 Filipinos shou]d be graduated annually at the Master of Science level mostly trained in the Philippine tropics where they will work. This then is the major task ahead for the College. For its realization it will require a five-year program of development involving added faculty members, graduate assistantships, visiting professors, and special facilities and equipment for a high class post graduate educational program. The College is currently working out the details of such a program. It will require the backing of the University, other· government agencies, private industry and of a devoted alumni body for its realization. It is hoped that every alumnus will keep informed on the prgoram and give it his vigorous support. Now that the contract between State University of New York and the College of Forestry of the University of the Philippines is drawing to a close, I wish to express my thanks and those of all visiting professors for the wonderful response to our efforts of the faculty, students, and alumni of the College of Forestry at Los Banos. We cannot imagine a friendlier, more tolerant, or more appreciative response to our work. All of us have felt it to be a great privilege to have worked with you. Our interest in your continued development will but grow with the years. We expect your futnre to be bright and productive,