The organization that will serve as the context for my work in this class is the Geomatics Program at the University of Florida, for which I currently work. The field of Geomatics encompasses many different areas, most notably surveying and mapping, but also photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic informaion systems (GIS), and global positioning systems (GPS). The University of Florida's program remains the only ABET-accredited program in the state of Florida, and even at that, enrollment is not overly high. Despite the current economy dictating low demand for professionals in this field, the truth is there is still a demand. Employers currently have the luxury of being very selective when it comes to hiring, but there may soon be the scenario of there not being enough qualified workers to meet the demand. The Geomatics Program fully expects enrollment to increase as the economy continues to look unstable, and distance education will play a big role in this. A couple years ago, with the help of the Geomatics Advisory Committee, the program decided to expand by establishing two satellite campuses - one in Plant City and one in Ft. Lauderdale. These campuses each have a faculty member or two, and students connect to the Gainesville class offerings through the Polycom videoconferencing system.<br><br>
This past academic year was the first using Polycom. There were approximately four students in Plant City and one in Ft. Lauderdale. The total number of students in the program ranged from 60-72, with the majority being based in Gainesville. The goal of the expansion was to reach a consistent total of 90+ students in the program, with better representation at the satellite campuses. Through better recruiting efforts, I believe these satellite campuses can increase enrollment. At the undergraduate level, a large majority of students are interested in the surveying and mapping field. Many students come in with prior work experience and wish to earn their bachelor's degree in order to apply for state licensure. There are surveying and mapping firms located throughout the state, and crew members typically do not have bachelor's degrees. Potential students certainly exist, yet recruiting remains a challenge.<br><br>
The Geomatics Program already maintains excellent relationships among professional organizations and firms in Florida and around the country. Distance education could be utilized in a way it is not currently by reaching out to even more companies and being more accessible in general. The bachelor's degree curriculum requires students to complete two co-operative work experiences prior to graduation. Students work at Geomatics-related companies in order to gain valuable experience before being thrust into the real world. A common complaint from employers is that students have little work experience and demand high salaries because of their degrees. Complaints from the student side include doing hours and hours of tedious, non-beneficial work. Obviously, this is an area that could be improved on from both sides, and distance education could be used to alleviate some of that by establishing better communication between companies and potential co-op students.<br><br>
A professional distance education organization such as Sloan Consortium could certainly help refine the Geomatics Program distance education program. Having indviduals who specialize in this area is far more advantageous than seeking counsel from various individuals that may also have other responsibilities within the Geomatics Program, the School of Forest Resources and Conservation (the parent department), the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, or the University as a whole.