WKU News

Five nationally certified GIS professionals now comprise WKU’s geographic information science (GIS) faculty.

WKU Geography and Geology faculty members Scott Dobler, Pat Kambesis and Amy Nemon received notification this week about their new credential as a certified geographic information systems professional (GISP).

Dr. Jun Yan, GIS Program Leader, and Kevin Cary, GIS Center Director, are the other two GISPs on WKU’s GIS faculty. Cary is also a reviewer of GISP applications for the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) and will be recertified this month for his third term as a GISP.

“WKU has the only GIS program in Kentucky with all coursework delivered by nationally certified GIS professionals,” said Geography and Geology Department Head Dr. David Keeling. “With new geospatial technologies changing the way that humans interact with their environments, and with Big Data becoming more relevant in the 21st century, earning the GISP certification is an important step in keeping WKU on the cutting edge of spatial analysis and in providing students with the training they need to be globally competitive.”

To be nationally certified as a GISP, applicants must meet minimum standards established by the GIS Certification Institute in educational achievement, professional experience and contributions to the GIS profession. Professional experience includes at least four years of full-time (or equivalent) work in GIS applications or in GIS data creation and management.

In addition to educational achievement and professional experience, applicants also must have evidence of contributing to the GIS profession through publications, conference participation and membership in a mapping-related organization (www.gisci.org).

Once certified, a GISP is expected to practice in an ethical manner as a result of signing a code of ethics and rules of conduct. Every five years, a GISP must be recertified to continue using the GISP designation. GISCI began certifying GIS professionals nationally as early as 2004, but discussion of certification began in the early 1990s with The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) and The Association of American Geographers when GIS emerged as a distinct profession and an applied technique.

For information on WKU’s GIS program, visit http://www.wku.edu/gis or contact Kevin Cary, GISP in WKU’s Center for GIS, at (270) 745-2981 or kevin.cary@wku.edu

Contact: Kevin Cary, (270) 745-2981