Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 2 : Fall 2010 | Page 66

UMFK’S FOREST TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
LOOKS FORWARD TO PROFESSIONAL
ACCREDITATION THIS FALL

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Forest Technology
Program faculty is cautiously optimistic about receiving
accreditation from the American Society of Foresters (SAF) later
this fall, following a two-day visit from an accreditation team
earlier this year. The anticipated accreditation should come as
no surprise, however, as SAF recently extended its recognition
of UMFK’s Forest Technology curriculum through 2017. SAF
accreditation for forest technology
programs is new, having begun this
year.

“The Society of American
Foresters is the professional
organization for forestry across
North America. As such, it sets the
standard for professional forestry
education -- what every forester
or forest technician should know
from their college,” said Dave
Hobbins, professor of Forestry and
Environmental Studies at UMFK.
“The Society evaluates a college
or university based on a number
of factors, including: a faculty
member’s education and experience,
the institution’s commitment to the
program, the success of its graduates,
and other components, including
curriculum,” Hobbins adds.

UMFK is the only SAFrecognized college or university
forest technology program in Maine,
and one of only two such programs
in all of New England.
UMFK Boasts State-of-the-Art GIS Facilities

UMFK recently completed an upgrade of its Geographic
Information System (GIS) classroom and laboratory. The
facility now provides students interested in careers in forestry,
environmental studies, or computer applications with the most
modern, comprehensive learning facilities available anywhere.

The 16-seat laboratory houses a modern teaching
station and a GIS digitizing station. The laboratory serves the
forest technology and environmental studies programs, as well
as students in computer applications, business, and rural public
safety. The GIS lab is the center of computing and technology
application for forestry, surveying, digital cartography, spatial
analysis, and global positioning systems (GPS). The lab is
located adjacent to the University’s Forestry laboratory on the
first floor of Cyr Hall. The facility also is equipped with a bank
of GPS receivers that are used for scheduled classes and student
projects.

The program utilizes the latest in GIS software, using
the ArcGIS family of software, which provides 3-D and image
64 Higher Education FALL & WINTER 09

analysis capabilities, as well as software used for analysis of
satellite imagery.
Giving Back to the Community

The UMFK GIS program was established in the late
1990’s as a concentration in Computer Applications and
Environmental Studies. A minor in
GIS was added later. A dedicated
GIS laboratory was established in
2000 to support both programs,
as well as to provide training for
regional professionals and ][