May 23-24, 2002

ITEM 115-1011-R0502  Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Geology on David Alt, College of Arts and Sciences; The University of Montana-Missoula

THAT:  David Alt, in his thirty-sixth year of dedicated service to The University of Montana, has merited the commendation of the Board of Regents of the Montana University System, and has earned the title of Professor Emeritus of Geology.

 

EXPLANATION:  David Alt earned his Ph.D. in 1961 from the University of Texas, and joined the Department of Geology at The University of Montana in 1965.

Professor Alt, winner of The University of Montana's 1971 Teacher of the Year Award, taught various introductory Geology courses throughout his career. Many who started their Geology education in Professor Alt's introductory course made it a point to also take his junior-level Geomorphology course and participate in the summer field Geology course which he directed for many years. Professor Alt extended his teaching well beyond the confines of The University of Montana campus. With colleague Professor Don Hyndman, he originated the Roadside Geology series published by Mountain Press, Missoula, Montana. Their first effort resulted in Roadside Geology of the Northern Rockies, and the series has progressed in the subsequent three decades to include individual volumes on almost all the Western states. Professor Alt has authored or co-authored several of them. Alt and Hyndman's Roadside Geology of Montanabecame a long-term regional best-seller. His most recent book, Glacial Lake Missoula and Its Humongous Floods, will undoubtedly prove popular as well. Besides being an active and successful teacher and writer, Professor Alt served as chair of the Faculty Senate and a career-long advisor of undergraduate Geology majors.

The Department of Geology proudly recommends Professor David Alt for Emeritus status.