2012 National Contest
To ask a question or request more information on the 2012 National Collegiate Soils Contest at West Virginia University, please contact Jim Thompson:
Phone: (304) 293-2921
Email: james.thompson@mail.wvu.edu
Q: A student on the team graduated in December. Can she participate in the national contest?
A: Yes. According to the National Collegiate Soils Contest Rules (Sec. II.B.1), “any student who has participated in the qualifying regional contest and has received a B.S. degree or equivalent prior to the national contest would be eligible to participate in the national contest provided graduation is not more than one (1) semester or two (2) quarters prior to the national contest.”
Q: I have a student that could not travel to the regional contest, but wishes to participate in the national contest. Is he eligible for the national contest?
A: Yes. According to the National Collegiate Soils Contest Rules (Sec. II.B.3), “A team member may participate in the National Collegiate Soils Contest as long they are classified as an undergraduate student by their institution.” Therefore, any student who was eligible for the regional is eligible for the national, even if they did not participate in the regional.
Q: What resources will be available to students during the contest?
A: As has been established over the last few years, the 2012 National Collegiate Soils Contest will be “open book,” such that students may have a copy of the Handbook for Collegiate Soil Judging in the Southeast Region. Additionally, each contestant may have other resource materials prepared for the contest, such as specialized keys for soil classification. The following items are NOT permitted:
- Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils
- Keys to Soil Taxonomy
- Soil Taxonomy
- Textbooks
- Soil texture samples
- Practice pit scorecards (keys or completed)
- Electronic devices other than calculators
Q: When will the practice sites be available?
A: Access to the 20 practice sites is scheduled to begin on Sunday, March 25, and continue through Wednesday, March 28. Each team will be given approximately 90 minutes to describe, interpret, and review the soil and site conditions at each practice pit, with every team following a prescribed rotation for each day of practice.
Some teams may wish to begin practice on Saturday, March 24. This will be permitted. However, any team that begins practice on Saturday will have to follow their practice schedule for one of the other practice days.