UAF FORESTRY PROGRAM GETS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 1997

Fairbanks, Alaska - The forestry curriculum at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has earned accreditation from the national Society of American Foresters, becoming the first and only accredited four-year forestry program in the state.

Administered by UAF's department of forest sciences, the newly accredited program leads to a bachelor of science degree in natural resources management and forestry. It is one of only 48 accredited, four-year programs in the U.S. which award a professional forestry degree. The forest sciences department at UAF is housed within the School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management.

"This is a great tribute to the quality of education available at UAF and to our hard working and dedicated faculty, staff and students," said John D. Fox, head of the department of forest sciences.

"Modern forestry acknowledges ecological complexity, recognizes risk and uncertainty, and works within social and economic reality. Our goal is to continue serving Alaskans by producing competent and well-rounded professional resource managers. Being accredited by SAF tells prospective students and employers that our program meets the society's rigorous national standards and will undergo an external, independent and objective assessment on a regular basis, " Fox said.

SAF is sanctioned by the Postsecondary Accreditation Commission as the specialized accrediting agency for forestry in the U.S.

CONTACT: UAF Forest Sciences Department Head John D. Fox (907) 474-7084.

DPD/2-24-97/97-059