Collegiate Times

In a peer study done by Auburn University, Virginia Tech’s forestry department was ranked the highest in North America out of 53 other forestry programs. A peer review study is one in which every program in the selection poll evaluates each other.

The study consisted of both public and private institutions including Yale University and Duke University. However, most of these schools were land-grant universities like Tech. Only four- year professional institutions were evaluated.

“The important part was that (the programs) should base the ranks on research not on things such as teaching,” said Harold Burkhart, a university-distinguished professor and head of the Department of Forestry at Tech.

There were two parts to the evaluation. The first part consisted of a ranking of the schools’ perceptions. In this category, Tech ranked second just behind Oregon State University and above North Carolina State University.

The second section of the study consisted of the schools’ research productivity. Here, Tech came in third place.

“The fact that our scores were almost equal makes our reputation well deserved,” Burkhart said.

Burkhart said that the study was carefully done, and it made a continuous effort to look at all aspects of the different forestry departments.

“I think they are very accurate in my judgment and visiting of other campuses being reviewed,” he said.

The study will be published as an article in the “Journal of Forestry.” This will be the first study that Tech forestry department has taken part in that will be published in a well-known journal. Tech’s results will hold value for students all over North America.

“The value is that it will help students to select grad schools,” Burkhart said.

In the 1980’s, the University of Illinois conducted a study where Tech came in the top five. This is the second study in which Tech has participated and the first to be peer reviewed.