University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

The wildlife curriculum at the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point integrates multiple fields of study into its core offerings. The program requires students to complete substantial coursework in communications (12 credits minimum), forestry, and soils, while also incorporating elements of human dimensions, fisheries, water resources, and waste resource management. Several introductory courses fulfill general education requirements in critical thinking, communication, and global studies.

Policy education is woven throughout the curriculum, with explicit coverage in required courses such as People, Resources, and the Biosphere (100-level) and Human Dimensions of Wildlife (400-level). In spring 2024, the Wisconsin Center for Wildlife at UWSP sponsored a seminar series focusing on major environmental policies and laws.

Boone and Crockett Club Support and Mission Alignment

The program is supported by two Boone and Crockett endowments. The Douglas R. Stephens endowment funds 1-2 undergraduate research fellows annually, with fellowships awarded competitively to students working with faculty who have secured additional extramural funding focused on game species. These undergraduate fellows develop complementary research projects that align with existing graduate student work. The Searle-Dew-Thomas Black Bear Fellowship Endowment supports one student annually under the UWSP College of Natural Resources’ Stephens Family Black Bear Research Project.

The program actively promotes hunting as a conservation tool through various initiatives. Faculty members collaborate with organizations like Ducks Unlimited and Becoming an Outdoors Woman to provide hunting education opportunities. The UW-Stevens Point Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society conducts firearm safety training, and faculty and staff volunteer for outdoor education programs. In 2024, two college instructors served as instructors for Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow.

To ensure alignment with Boone and Crockett Club priorities, fellowship projects undergo review by an independent faculty committee and are evaluated against charter agreements. For the Douglas R. Stephens fellowship specifically, project proposals are ranked and reviewed to maintain consistency with current Club priorities. This oversight ensures that program investments and focus areas remain well-aligned with the Club’s mission and policies.

Boone and Crockett Club Support and Mission Alignment

Under the leadership of Jason Riddle and Cady Sartini, the program secured significant funding through multiple sources in 2024. Total research expenditures reached approximately $404,500, combining endowed professorship funds and project expenses. The program demonstrated strong financial leverage, with a 16:1 ratio of non-Boone and Crockett funds ($344,152) to Boone and Crockett endowment funding ($21,404).

Both program leaders maintained active teaching schedules. Dr. Riddle taught five courses, including Ecological Basis for Natural Resources Management and Quantitative Methods for Wildlife Research. Dr. Sartini taught seven courses, including Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management and Black Bear Ecology and Management.

Research output included two peer-reviewed publications from Dr. Riddle. Professional activities were extensive, with Dr. Riddle serving on multiple Wildlife Society committees and chairing the Policy Priorities Committee. Dr. Sartini served on several university committees and delivered two keynote addresses at educational events. Both leaders maintained active outreach programs, with Dr. Riddle co-organizing workshops and symposiums, and Dr. Sartini focusing on STEAM education and research presentation opportunities for students.

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