structures to foster collaboration between faculty members for success of these programs. The proposed program described in this document offers KSU an opportunity to take a leadership role in this emerging interdisciplinary field in the Commonwealth and among HBCUs.
An additional goal of the program is to provide courses and course-project activities that are oriented towards providing policy options and potential solutions to the community, adjoining communities, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It is also believed that the proposed MES program will complement the current Regional Stewardship initiative under development at KSU.
Two surveys were conducted in order to gauge interest in the proposed MES program. One survey was conducted to assess the demand for the program among state personnel working in the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC), the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. This survey was conducted in March, 2008. The other survey involved middle and high school teachers who attended a week-long stream ecology workshop at KSU last summer. These groups were targeted due to the likelihood that they would enroll in the MES program.
Our existing contacts in the three state agencies decided how to administer the state personnel survey. It was sent to all Frankfort area EPPC personnel through the Deputy Commissioner's office and to a select group of people in the KYTC and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. The state personnel survey included an open-ended comments section following three questions:
Eighty-one (81) responses from state personnel employees were received. In response to the first question, 87.6% indicated that they would be interested in the KSU
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