I continue to have concerns with the inconsistency among the MSU off campus grads' depth of knowledge. I write this as an individual and not as a member of the AMS Board of Broadcast Meteorology.

For example, if one is a Penn State grad, there is no guarantee of brilliant forecast skills, but we can safely assume a minimum educational depth. The same, to varying degrees, can be said of most atmospheric science grads. There is TOO wide a range among MSU off campus grads. I have seen weathercasts from many of these grads which are exemplary. But anomalous though they may be, I continue to view the work of a few grads whose work can only be described as abominable.

There is no room for abominable in ANY program. How did these few pass their exams? What grading standards are employed? It is a mystery to me how any institution could allow such ignorance to go unchallenged with the awarding of a certificate or degree. I honestly believe Dr. Binkley himself would consider the work of such individuals an embarrassment.

For those of you MSU grads who plan on submitting applications and tapes for the AMS seal, fear not. As I've written Dr. Binkley, I have seen many of his grads do superior weathercasts, and they've been graded accordingly. Again, my personal comments in no way represent a consensus view of the Board.

Don Paul
WIVB Buffalo
donpaul@mailexcite.com