GRA is proud to be a supporter of the CSUS/USGS collaborative venture. On April 19, the GRA Board of Directors held their board meeting at Placer Hall and had a complete tour of the department and building. 

How this unique partnership began goes back to 1992, when, then geology department chair Greg Wheeler met with representatives of the Water Resources Division to discuss how CSUS and USGS could facilitate cooperation on mutual research and teaching interests. By the next year, agreement was reached on forming a partnership that would allow construction of a building on campus to house both the geology department and the Water Resources Division. The CSUS Foundation agreed to sell bonds to help construct the building that will be paid off, in large part, by lease payments from the USGS. 

Placer Hall represents the first building constructed as the result of a partnership between a university and the USGS. The five story building, completed in December 1996, includes the geology department, USGS labs, offices, conference rooms, and the California district office headquarters. 

The first floor includes geology department faculty offices, display cases and three geology labs, including one in which hydrogeology and earth structure will be taught and another, funded by the Homestake Mining Company, for minerology, paleontology and the study of sedimentary rocks. Wheeler said all the new equipment and furniture for students and faculty was funded by non-state sources. 

The second floor includes the geology department office and what Wheeler said may be the most frequently used room in the building -- the lunch meeting room. "One of the many benefits of working with the USGS on this project is the incredible opportunity it will mean for students and faculty to work directly in the lab with Water Resource Division scientists," explained Wheeler. "We already have an outstanding job placement record for our students and with these new opportunities, including a room where faculty, students and USGS staff can network, I can't help but think our students will have a direct career link to the federal government." 

"When the geology department was formed 25 years ago, the science building was already up and there weren't any labs specifically designed for our students," said Wheeler. "We've had to struggle over the years to provide the space and equipment necessary. We're very pleased now to be moving into a building that was designed with our direct input for our specific needs." 

Wheeler anticipates other academic departments on campus will be sending students and faculty to Placer Hall on USGS-related projects. "Because USGS work involves many disciplines, there are going to be research and project opportunities related to biology, chemistry, computer science, civil engineering, geography, and even communication."  

Wheeler said the USGS's top executive, Director Gordon Eaton, is already hailing Placer Hall as an example of cost-conscious scientific partnerships. "In an era of tightening fiscal resources and increasing demands on both earth resources and human resources, the partnership that has developed between CSUS and the USGS will certainly become a model for further efforts in the public sector," Wheeler added. 

Placer Hall's uniqueness has been bolstered by two state-of-the-art laboratories for hydrogeologic studies, established and equipped as the result of a $220,000 grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation. 

CSUS President Donald R. Gerth said CSUS is pleased to become a part of the prestigious Keck grant family. "Over the years, the Keck Foundation has contributed immensely to the enhancement of learning in higher education. Through this generous gift we expect over the years ahead to have one of the strongest water geology programs in the United States." 

The W. M. Keck Foundation, headquartered in Los Angeles, is one of the nation's largest private grantors to universities and colleges in the United States, with particular emphasis in the fields of science, engineering and medical research. The Foundation was established in 1954 by the late William M. Keck, founder of Superior Oil Company. 

The Keck Foundation's commitment to higher education reflects its founder's belief that by nurturing the minds and talents of exceptional people and in strengthening their academic and research environments, the Foundation is able to make critical investments in the future of our society. 

Diane Carlson, current chair of the geology department, said the Keck grant "provides state-of-the-art equipment for students to use in laboratory classes and in collaborative research with faculty and the USGS. Our students currently benefit from one of the largest on-campus well fields in the nation and the funding from the Keck Foundation allows us to expand the capabilities of our existing well field and provide additional equipment for students, laboratory analysis and computer modeling of hydrogeologic systems." 

GRA has a unique partnership with the CSUS Geology Department. GRA is able to use the well field for our short courses as well as the new building for branch meetings and short courses. To demonstrate appreciation and support, GRA recently gave a $1,000 donation towards furnishing the science labs. It is hoped we can pledge a total of $5,000 over five years to endow a scholarship fund in GRA's name that could be used to support students pursuing hydrogeology. For more information how you can help with the GRA scholarship fund, contact Vicki Kretsinger at (916) 661-0109 or Brian Lewis at (916) 323-3632. 

Portions of this article were reprinted from the Capital University Journal.