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New degree would focus on pollution

Proposed program designed to help clear local air quality

Cougar News Services

Members of the UH System Board of Regents will consider a proposal to create a bachelor of science program in environmental systems and modeling, a course of study designed to train Houstonians to deal with the city's air quality problems, during committee meetings today.

The program, which would be based in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, would address air quality by studying the interactions between the Earth and its atmosphere. It would draw on resources of the Chemistry, Mathematics and Geosciences departments.

Between five and 10 students would initially be enrolled in the program, increasing to about 15 majors per year within five years, according to a board report. Five new courses already added to the University catalog will serve the program, meaning no additional courses or faculty members would be required.

The aim of the program is to add professionals trained in improving air quality to the local work force, helping the city comply with federal air standards.

The regents will also hear reports on private support for the last four months of 2003 from the four UHS universities.

UH received about $8 million in private gifts and pledge payments in those four months, down $877,564 from the same time period in 2002. The Systemwide total private gifts for the last four months of 2003 was $10.5 million, $620,195 short of the same period the previous year.

The System received about $36.8 million in private gifts during fiscal year 2003.

Among other items up for consideration is a proposal to name a conference room in UH's Justin Dart Center for Students with Disabilities after Elwyn C. Lee, the University's vice president for Student Affairs.

The board committees will meet at 9 a.m. at the UH System at Cinco Ranch. The regents' first spring meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Feb. 19 at UH-Victoria.

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