Water education initiative strengthened by scholarships and additional courses

As the San Luis Valley and the state of Colorado grapple with a warmer, drier climate, the future health of our communities relies on people who understand how water works in the arid West.

To help students and community members meet this challenge, the Adams State University Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center offers scholarships to support those enrolling in the introductory Water 101: Water Essentials course this fall semester. Adams State students are eligible for $500 scholarships while community members can receive a $165 award to cover the course’s “listening fee.” The course is also available to high school students.

Local water expert Maya ter Kuile-Miller, a career agronomist and teacher, will teach the course. “In the arid West, water is more precious than gold. I look forward to navigating with you through these waters, including the basics of hydrology, water uses, administration, regulation, exploitation and some politics of this most valuable resource. I hope this course will help you find your niche as a citizen in a water scarce world.” Beyond the classroom, the course will also include local field trips that make the role of water come to life.

WATR 101 is the first of two required courses in the Water Studies Minor, which has added five new elective courses to the minor beginning this fall. These include Biology 330: Ecology, ENV 101: Introduction to Environmental Science, GSCI 109: Dynamic Earth, GSCI 201: Introduction to Cartography and GIS, and GSCI 212: Natural Resource Management on Public Lands.

Paul Formisano, Ph.D., Salazar Center director, worked with faculty across campus to add these courses to the minor. “I’m very pleased to see these revisions to the Water Studies curriculum. Bringing these STEM-oriented courses into the minor to join our current offerings in anthropology, business, economics, English, and history will not only offer a more well-rounded approach to a very interdisciplinary field, but will also provide students with in-demand skills required by many water professions.”

The Salazar Center is currently working to expand credentialing to include credit for prior work experience and a water certificate. “These additional offerings are aimed at supporting those who have experience in the water world but who need extra credentialing for career advancement or who perhaps are looking to enter the water field without having to complete an entire 4-year degree. As water-related professions see greater demand, we need to support our local communities by creating relevant educational opportunities.”

To register for WATR 101 or to learn more about the entire Water Studies Minor, please contact Dr. Formisano, at pformisano@usd.edu or 719-587-7111.