NEBRASKA EAS DEPARTMENT CLOSURE
the department’s curriculum, research, and outreach efforts. At present, the BS in Geology is sufficient to allow graduates to take the FG and PG exams (as I can attest to), and the BS in Meteorology opens up pathways at NOAA and NWS that are unique in Nebraska. Such a merger may save UNL some money, but it would hamper EAS’s ability to uphold the high standard it sets for its Geology and Meteorology graduates. It’s also been suggested that the Nebraska Foundation (part of the university’s discretionary endowment) could set aside the necessary $7.7 million to keep the programs solvent for at least a year. Last year, 50,000 donors contributed $389 million to the Nebraska Foundation, so less than 2% of that donation would be able to keep the six programs afloat until the University can find another way to reduce its budget deficit.8 Within this article by the Nebraska Examiner, it’s clear that keeping EAS intact was the most urgent, which I certainly agree with, but all of the programs deserve to be supported. It’s not my intention to say “keep the Geology program and get rid of this other one.”
The APC hearings gave the programs in jeopardy a chance to
provide feedback about the decisions. The final recommendations to the Board of Regents come on December 5, which will have the last word on who stays and who doesn’t. The cruel irony is that, as I write this, EAS’s fate hangs in the balance. But by this article’s publication date, the dust will have settled and the outcome will be known. I can only hope that the vast amount of support from the faculty, the alumni, the students, and Nebraskans far and wide were enough to cause the University to reconsider. In case of the worst outcome, it won’t take long for UNL to realize that it prioritized a shortsighted financial gain over the long-term pedigree of its academics, its commitment to science and innovation, and its ability to adequately train the next generation of Earth and Atmospheric Scientists. Students and staff will be forced to pick other universities, and Nebraska will emerge from its brain-drain poorer in spirit than $27.5 million.
8. Naff, Clay Farris. “UNL Cuts Diminish Us All; Emergency Fund Could Bridge Gap." Nebraska Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025, nebraskaexaminer. com/2025/10/15/unl-cuts-diminish-us-all-emergency-fund-could-bridge-gap/. (Oct. 2025).
AIPG Speaks Up
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s proposed closure of its Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences presents a moment of real consequence for the geoscience profession, because the program plays a critical role in meeting the state’s needs for water, energy, natural-hazards expertise, and workforce development. AIPG submitted a formal response to the UNL Board of Regents on December 2, 2025 ahead of the vote on December 5, 2025 to underscore why eliminating this program would weaken Nebraska’s scientific capacity and diminish the profession’s ability to serve the public. But safeguarding geoscience education and the integrity of our profession cannot rest on one letter alone. Therefore, we share our response here to inform our members, to model thoughtful advocacy, and to encourage each of you to speak up—in your institutions, communities, and professional networks—whenever geoscience education and public service are at risk.
The following are the two letters AIPG sent to the University
administration and regents. The first letter was sent to the depart- ment chair, dean and interim vice president and provost on October 13, 2025.
To: David Jackson, Ph.D., Interim Executive Vice President and Provost
Patrick Dussault, Ph.D., Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Clinton Rowe, Ph.D., Chairperson, Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Dear Drs. Jackson, Dussault, and Rowe,
The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) is the largest United States professional organiza- tion dedicated to the professional and ethical practice of geology across all subdisciplines of the profession. The AIPG has approximately 5000 members in 54 countries. While more than 95% of our membership lives and works
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in the United States, we are globally recognized for our professional education and certification programs.
The AIPG is shocked and saddened to learn that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is proposing the closure of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and the elimination of all degree programs housed within. We feel that this proposal is short-sighted and weakens the economic and scientific strength of both Nebraska and the United States. We strongly encourage the University to reject this proposal.
At the same time that the University proposes elimi- nation of the geology degree, the United States faces a critical shortage of college graduates suitably trained in geology and earth science. Two separate trends are com- bining to create this shortage. First, the post-war baby boom generation is retiring at a rapid clip, and the earliest members of Generation X are also reaching retirement age. The number of retiring geologists is outpacing the number of graduates each year. Data from the AIPG are consistent with that observation, with more than 50% of AIPG Certified Professional Geologists being over the age of 50. Second, fewer high school graduates are entering geology degree programs. The reasons for this lack of new geology students are unclear. Given the current rates of retirement and graduation rates for geoscientists, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) predicts a shortfall of 130,000 geoscientists by 2030. It is abundantly clear that eliminating geology degree programs will only exacerbate this problem.
The United States’ research I universities are the lifeblood of innovation and advancement in science and technology research. New discoveries by these “flag- ship schools” drive advancement in the applied sciences.
www.aipg.org
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