July 22, 2010

Briar Cliff Class Held in Pacific Northwest

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University environmental science students and faculty recently transported their classroom to the Pacific Northwest, where they saw firsthand whales, rain forests and natural habitats in Western Washington State’s diverse ecosystem.

BCU students Hector Serna, Salina, Kan.; Logan Teut, Ute, Iowa; and Jordon Watkins, Sioux City, were on the tour, which was led by Brian Hazlett, Ph.D., professor of biology and environmental science and director of both the Center for Prairie Studies and the Environmental Science Program at BCU.

The group visited Mount Rainier National Park, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument, Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, Olympic National Park, Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and the Seattle Aquarium, among other sites.

“BCU’s experiential learning allows students to gain greater insights to what they have studied in their classes on campus,” said Dr. Hazlett. “Taking our classroom to the Pacific Northwest allowed students to look beyond the scenery and begin to understand the intricacies of the landscape.”

Briar Cliff University is a Catholic institution with an enrollment of more than 1,100 students from 28 states. Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care and compassion. For more information, please visit briarcliff.edu.

-30-