Mission Statement

Graduates will have knowledge, analytical skills, and communication abilities to fill employer needs for the wood industries, consulting firms, and government agencies involved with the management of timberland, marketing of timber, wood products manufacturing and similar activities. This associate degree program operates with an active advisory committee and the program is one of 18 recognized by the Society of American Foresters.

Goals

  • Graduates will have the educational background to achieve the experience necessary to be a Registered Forest Technician in West Virginia.
  • Students will earn a private application license to purchase and use plant pesticides.
  • Students will achieve the standards required in best management practices, first aid and chainsaw safety to become a certified logger in West Virginia.
  • Graduates will be able to obtain a B.S. degree in two additional years at Glenville in biological science or business management.
  • Graduates will be eligible to become forest technician members in the Society of American Foresters and foresters with the West Virginia Forestry Association.

Objectives

A graduate of this program will:
  1. Be able to identify trees and complete timber volume estimates of standing timber for acquisition or sale.
  2. Understand the procedure for investigating courthouse records to obtain property boundary specifics and locate these properties on the ground.
  3. Prescribe silviculture regeneration systems to meet site quality and landowner objectives.
  4. Evaluate the value of standing timber and write legal contracts for buying or selling.
  5. Recommend the most effective combination of equipment to harvest timber and be in compliance with required regulations of the WV "Logging and Sediment Act".
  6. Understand the characteristics and movement of forest fires and organize crews for suppression.
  7. Qualify to obtain a license to harvest timber in WV.
  8. Be able to identify objects on aerial photographs and take accurate measurements to complete forest stewardship plans.
  9. Compile necessary field measurements and write forest stewardship plans to meet forest landowner objectives.
  10. Identify forest pests and be able to prescribe environmentally acceptable control measures.
  11. Complete tests to obtain a private pesticide application permit.
  12. Be able to prescribe forest management activities that enhance wildlife and fish habitat.
  13. Be able to lay out nature trails for all age groups.
  14. Be able to grade trees, logs and lumber.
  15. Be able to complete timber harvesting plans that include lay out of skidroads, haul roads and landings and provide recommendation for reclamation upon completion of the operation.
  16. Be able to locate and identify property corners and collect field measurements to produce computer assisted maps.
  17. Be able to complete written technical reports and/or oral presentations of their assignments in a professional manner.
  18. Upon completion of four years of acceptable experience be qualified to be registered to practice forestry independently in West Virginia.