The University of Connecticut's board of trustees is expected to vote in favor of dissolving the school's department of geology and geophysics at its 23 March meeting. The board has been prompted to act for several reasons, including a perceived lack of cohesion and direction within the department. An Internet petition drive to save the geology department had garnered nearly 3,800 signatures by 6 March. However, some individuals, including department chair Raymond Joesten, view dissolution as a positive measure that would allow geology and geophysics studies in the university to move forward.