Board, educators warn Sonoma State geology cuts could shrink licensure pipeline

The Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists on April 3 discussed the announced elimination of Sonoma State University's geology program and the effect the change could have on producing qualified geologists for licensure and public-safety work in California.

Board Executive Officer Rick (last name not specified in transcript) told members he and staff visited Sonoma State and that the board had already circulated an advocacy letter. "We need to put a letter out before the next board meeting," he said; the board's staff sent the letter on March 18 to the Sonoma State president, the California State University chancellor and the CSU trustees office, and to several professors.

The board and multiple university faculty and professional groups emphasized why the program matters. Maddie Mukherjee, chair of the geology department at Sonoma State University, said the university received a one-year extension of the department's layoff date that will allow the faculty to teach out current students. "Our layoff date was extended by a…