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Environmental Literacy Workgroup Meeting

Environmental Literacy Workgroup Meeting . April 8, 2009 Student Union, Room 325. Meeting Agenda. Welcome & Introductions  (1:00-1:10) EL Team Progress Reports  (1:10-2:10) Climate Action Plan (CAP-EL) Team (1:10-1:30) EcoHouse Team (1:30-1:50) Environmental Studies Team (1:50-2:10)

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Environmental Literacy Workgroup Meeting

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  1. Environmental Literacy Workgroup Meeting April 8, 2009 Student Union, Room 325

  2. Meeting Agenda • Welcome & Introductions  (1:00-1:10) • EL Team Progress Reports  (1:10-2:10) • Climate Action Plan (CAP-EL) Team (1:10-1:30) • EcoHouse Team (1:30-1:50) • Environmental Studies Team (1:50-2:10) • Other Business & Upcoming Events (2:10-2:30) • Global Warming Town Hall Meeting • Earth Day Spring Fling 2009 • Environmental Leadership Awards • Other? • Meeting Adjourn (2:30)

  3. Meeting Agenda • Welcome & Introductions  (1:00-1:10) • EL Team Progress Reports  (1:10-2:10) • Climate Action Plan (CAP-EL) Team (1:10-1:30) • EcoHouse Team (1:30-1:50) • Environmental Studies Team (1:50-2:10) • Other Business & Upcoming Events (2:10-2:30) • Global Warming Town Hall Meeting • Earth Day Spring Fling 2009 • Environmental Leadership Awards • Other? • Meeting Adjourn (2:30)

  4. Climate Action Plan Team Updates Meghan Ruta

  5. Climate Action Plan Team Updates Quick Recap - The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) • Presidents signing the Commitment are pledging their institution to eliminate its contribution to global warming over time. • This involves: • Establishing an institutional structure… • Completing an emissions inventory… • Within two years, establish a climate neutrality action plan… • Taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions… • Integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience • Modified from pg. 6, ACUPCC Implementation Guide

  6. Environmental Literacy & the Climate Action Plan Specifically, the Climate Action Plan should include sections that… Describe plans to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all students as well as actions to expand research, community outreach and/or other efforts toward the achievement of climate neutrality; This section should include subsections on education, research, andcommunityoutreach.” - pg. 21, ACUPCC Implementation Guide

  7. Team Progress Surveying the ‘Existing Environment’ • Through CAP-EL team meetings compiled a list of: • Centers & Research Programs • Related University Task Forces & Committees • Organizations • Outreach Programs & Events • Majors, Minors or Certificate Programs • Courses • Scholarships, Grants & Assistantships • Internship Opportunities • Listed online:

  8. Team Progress Surveying the ‘Existing Environment’ • Continue to Collect Data Using Departmental/Office Survey • Requesting EL Workgroup assistance with distribution / collection of data • Not want to confuse departments previously contacted for Environmental Studies efforts Summer 2009 - Compile results to develop: (1) Recommendations & Goals (2) Metrics to Measure Progress

  9. EcoHouse Team Updates Dave Ouimette, Jennifer Sayers

  10. EcoHouse Updates Now accepting applications for EcoHouse Faculty Director(s): … will provide academic oversight and vision and engage undergraduate residents of the EcoHouse Learning Community in classroom and out-of-classroom scholastic activities… • Sample responsibilities to include: • Serve as instructor of record for a 2-credit course held each semester • Encourage collaboration among different environmental activities on campus • Develop a speaker series • Promote awareness of EcoHouse and attend fundraising and/or outreach events as appropriate • Develop program assessment strategy focused on educational outcomes

  11. EcoHouse Faculty Director Search • Candidates should have: • Status as tenured full-time faculty members • Commitment to undergraduate education & advising • Environmental research & teaching interests • Enthusiasm and organizational skills for building a high-quality program from its inception • Compensation • Faculty Director: 1 month salary or Faculty Directors (2): ½ month salary each • Release time/other matters negotiated between Vice Provost Makowsky and your Dean or Department Head

  12. Student Recruitment Upperclassmen Freshmen • 25 students currently placed in the building • 3 Community Assistants selected out of 16 applicants • Sunday, April 19: • 13 EcoHouse upperclassmen traveling to New Haven for the “Sustainable Choices” exhibit at the Peabody Museum • Recruitment efforts are underway • Information on Residential Life and New Husky websites • Saturday, April 18: Open House • Targeted emails/mailings to students in environmentally related majors

  13. Green Building • Applied for a $23,000 grant from the Clinton Global Initiative as seed money for green building projects • Rain garden • Rainwater collection • Porous paving • Vegetable garden • Providing students with CFL light bulbs • Interpretive/educational materials for associated outreach projects • Residential Life is committed to moving forward with guiding student-led building projects

  14. Environmental Studies Team Updates Jennifer Sayers & Tim Byrne

  15. Environmental Studies Updates April 24: Meeting with Provost Nicholls • Emphasize feasibility of program as a low cost initiative • Demonstrate need: • Reflects interests of students • Workforce training • Linkages with Academic Plan • Peer institutions have already moved forward with similar programs • Currently no room for Humanities & Social Sciences in the ENVS major • Represents a demographic of students currently not being recruited

  16. Program Vision • Essential feature: interdisciplinary examination of the relationship between humans and the environment • Goals include: • Mastery of a body of knowledge • Mastery of a set of critical and analytical tools for understanding this knowledge and for independent study • Understanding of and appreciation for different responses to the environment • Individually defined, considered, ethical practice based upon student’s studies

  17. Thoughts on Program Structure • Introductory Course: Introduction to Environmental Studies topics • Foundation & Core Courses: Ensure familiarity with: • Natural Sciences • Means by which we map and measure nature • Policies and practices used to manage nature for human benefit • Ways in which humanity defines and draws meaning from the natural world

  18. Program Structure (cont.) • Areas of concentration will provide depth in: • Current issues of global citizenship including environmental justice, sustainability, and the communication of environmental concerns to the public • Ideas of nature across cultures and time periods, as expressed in policy, works of intellectual history, and creative responses to the environment • Methods and dynamics of human environmental policies • How the environment is transformed by human culture and social practices • Capstone course: How should we live in nature?

  19. Meeting Agenda • Welcome & Introductions  (1:00-1:10) • EL Team Progress Reports  (1:10-2:10) • Climate Action Plan (CAP-EL) Team (1:10-1:30) • EcoHouse Team (1:30-1:50) • Environmental Studies Team (1:50-2:10) • Other Business & Upcoming Events (2:10-2:30) • Global Warming Town Hall Meeting • Earth Day Spring Fling 2009 • Environmental Leadership Awards • Other? • Meeting Adjourn (2:30)

  20. Global Warming Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, April 14th 6:30 – Reception 7:00p panel presentation Storrs Campus, Rome Ballroom Panelists: • Congressman Joe Courtney • Professor Anji Seth • Professor Phoebe Godfrey Come listen to the panelists speak about the problem of global warming and how individuals and the federal government can be part of the solution! For more information contact uconnpirg@gmail.com

  21. 2009 Earth Day Spring Fling April 22nd 11-2p To learn more visit: www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/earthday2009.html or email Catherine.pomposi @uconn.edu

  22. UConn's 2008-2009 Environmental Leadership Awards Undergraduate Student: Emily Galanto, 6th semester, Environmental Science • Finalist: Heather Heenehan, 8th semester, Environmental Science Graduate Student: Ross Friedberg, JD and MPH candidate, UConn Law & UCHC • Finalist: Justin Fair, MS candidate, Chemistry Staff: Amy Crim - Dept. of Residential Life • Finalists: Nancy Crouch - School of Business, Jordanna Hertz - University Communications Faculty: Dr. James Stuart (Emeritus) - Chemistry • Finalist: Dr. David Wagner – Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Dr. Brenda Shaw - Chemistry (formerly First Year Programs)

  23. UConn's 2008-2009 Environmental Leadership Awards Team: Avery Point Campus Environmental Awareness Team (SymaEbbins, Christine Green, Jamieson Densmore) • Finalists: • EcoMadness Team (EcoHusky, ResLife, Facilities, OEP) • Hillside Environmental Education Park Team (AES, Chris Mason & Associates, Prof. Kristin Schwab, OEP) Student Organization: Environmental Law Society (UConn Law School) • Finalists: • EcoGarden Club (UConn Storrs Campus) • Green Grads (UConn Storrs Campus) External Organization: Willimantic River Alliance (Vicky Wetherell, Meg Reich) • Finalist: • Ad Hoc Environmental Group (Joan Buck, Becky Lehmann)

  24. Thank You! Environmental Literacy Workgroup Meeting April 8, 2009 Student Union, Room 325

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