SNRE bachelor's degree to get new name

Beginning this fall, the natural resources management bachelor’s degree will have a new name: natural resources and environment.

UAF Provost Susan Henrichs recently approved the name change sought by the academic faculty of the School of Natural Resources and Extension. Academic Director Dave Valentine said the faculty felt that the new name better reflects what the degree is about. Many of the school’s classes relate to the environment, such as air and water quality, forests, wilderness and park management, and environmental decision making and ethics.

Valentine also feels the name change will help recruit students. UAF Admissions says it gets a number of students who want to study the environment and don’t necessarily think of natural resources management as environmental studies. “More student who are looking for us will find us,” he said.

The name change will not bring any changes to the curriculum. Students currently earning a bachelor’s degree and graduating in 2019 or later will have the option of graduating with a degree in natural resources management or in natural resources and environment. The name change will be reflected in the academic catalog posted this summer. SNRE is still waiting for approval for the same name change for its master’s degrees.