The Forest Resources and Conservation program develops professionals who can manage and grow forests and create sustainable wood products to support forest-based economies.
Programmatic accreditation is a non-governmental, peer-review process that ensures that a degree program meets quality standards established by the profession. The Society of American Foresters (SAF) accreditation ensures that degrees are preparing students for the forestry profession, facilitating entry into the profession through licensure and certification, and enhancing employment opportunities.
Our SAF-accredited offering currently
includes the Forest Management area of emphasis within the Forest Resources and Conservation undergraduate major.
Learn More About the Program Meet the Faculty
Student Success
Student success metrics were calculated for the 5-year period from Fall 2019-Spring 2024 using the Academic Performance Solutions (APS) analytical tool developed by EAB.com. Fall-to-fall program retention examines whether students enrolled in the program last fall are still enrolled this fall and involves excluding students who graduated.
Over the last five years, the annual program retention rate was 76.0%, which was higher than the average retention rate for the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (72.3%). The average number of students graduating from the forestry program was 15.4 students per year. The average annual enrollment level in the program was 76.8 students.
The most recent (2019) alumni survey of Forest Resources Management (name of program until Fall 2024) graduates indicated that just over 85% of respondents found employment in fields of forestry or natural resources, for those respondents who specified a field. In regard to where graduates were employed, 31% reported employment with private forestry companies, 27% were with government forestry agencies, 17% employed as arborists or urban foresters, 10% were in higher education and 15% were “other” employment. In terms of annual salary of FRM graduates, the recent alumni survey showed that 60% reported earning $20,000-<$50,000; 20% reported earning >$50,000; and 15% did not report their salary.
Society of American Foresters Code of Ethics
Preamble
Service to society is the cornerstone of any profession. The profession of forestry serves society by fostering stewardship of the world's forests. Because forests provide valuable resources and perform critical ecological functions, they are vital to the wellbeing of both society and the biosphere.
Members of SAF have a deep and enduring love for the land, and are inspired by the profession's historic traditions, such as Gifford Pinchot's utilitarianism and Aldo Leopold's ecological conscience. In their various roles as practitioners, teachers, researchers, advisers, and administrators, foresters seek to sustain and protect a variety of forest uses and attributes, such as aesthetic values, air and water quality, biodiversity, recreation, timber production, and wildlife habitat.
The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to protect and serve society by inspiring, guiding, and governing members in the conduct of their professional lives. Compliance with the code demonstrates members' respect for the land and their commitment to the long-term management of ecosystems, and ensures just and honorable professional and human relationships, mutual confidence and respect, and competent service to society.
On joining the SAF, members assume a special responsibility to the profession and to society by promising to uphold and abide by the following:
Principles and Pledges
- Foresters have a responsibility to manage land for both current and future generations. We pledge to practice and advocate management that will maintain the long-term capacity of the land to provide the variety of materials, uses, and values desired by landowners and society.
- Society must respect forest landowners' rights and correspondingly, landowners have a land stewardship responsibility to society. We pledge to practice and advocate forest management in accordance with landowner objectives and professional standards, and to advise landowners of the consequences of deviating from such standards.
- Sound science is the foundation of the forestry profession. We pledge to strive for continuous improvement of our methods and our personal knowledge and skills; to perform only those services for which we are qualified; and in the biological, physical, and social sciences to use the most appropriate data, methods, and technology.
- Public policy related to forests must be based on both scientific principles and societal values. We pledge to use our knowledge and skills to help formulate sound forest policies and laws; to challenge and correct untrue statements about forestry; and to foster dialogue among foresters, other professionals, landowners, and the public regarding forest policies.
- Honest and open communication, coupled with respect for information given in confidence, is essential to good service. We pledge to always present, to the best of our ability, accurate and complete information; to indicate on whose behalf any public statements are made; to fully disclose and resolve any existing or potential conflicts of interest; and to keep proprietary information confidential unless the appropriate person authorizes its disclosure.
- Professional and civic behavior must be based on honesty, fairness, good will, and respect for the law. We pledge to conduct ourselves in a civil and dignified manner; to respect the needs, contributions, and viewpoints of others; and to give due credit to others for their methods, ideas, or assistance.
Other Resources
The Forest Resources & Conservation (FRC) program is committed to supporting
a demographically diverse student body and a safe place within the institution
for students, faculty, and staff to voice or lodge complaints or grievances.
For faculty and staff:
WVU Faculty Ombudsperson Office WVU Public Employees Grievance Procedure
For students: