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Using the

Using the ‘Faculty Sustainability Ambassador’ Model to Catalyze Sustainability Curriculum Initiatives Paul Morgan Carol Smith Lynn Monahan. I. Context II. Objectives & Strategy III. Process IV. Stories, Reflections, Future Directions V. Comments & Questions.

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  1. Using the ‘Faculty Sustainability Ambassador’ Model to Catalyze Sustainability Curriculum Initiatives Paul Morgan Carol Smith Lynn Monahan

  2. I. Context II. Objectives & Strategy III. Process IV. Stories, Reflections, Future Directions V. Comments & Questions

  3. West Chester University’s Green Campus Committee was charged by President Madeleine Wing Adler in November 1992 “to function as a task force and spend one year studying the feasibility of West Chester University becoming a green campus.” But . . . . . . West Chester University: Green Campus Pioneer . . . sort of

  4. By Fall 1999, the only remnant was the Campus Beautification Committee, which was selecting furniture for Main Hall.

  5. Plan for Excellence 2007 Update “Encourage environmental awareness through training, curricula, and co-curricular programming, assess and reduce the ecological impact of the University, and promote research and service that foster regional and global sustainability.”

  6. Curriculum Integration Workshop for WCU Faculty 2 Days, 2 Local/Organic Meals 15 Participants 3 Colleges, 13 Departments Anthropology & Sociology, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Elementary Education, English, Geography & Planning, Geology & Astronomy, Library, Philosophy, Professional & Secondary Education, Psychology (History, Foreign Languages) $50 Stipend! “Environmental Sustainability Across WCU”Linking Pedagogy, Operations, Research, and Service – January 28-29, 2008 Dr. Debra Rowe

  7. Mitch Thomashow President of Unity College Visited WCU: February 23-25 2009

  8. “Regardless of our students' choice of major, upon graduation from West Chester University, they should be clearly identifiable as champions of the environment.” (September 25, 2009) President Greg Weisenstein’sInaugural Address

  9. C. Within two years of signing this document, develop an institutional action plan for becoming climate neutral, which will include: • A target date for achieving climate neutrality as soon as possible. • Interim targets for goals and actions that will lead to climate neutrality. • Actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experience for all students. • Actions to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate neutrality. • Mechanisms for tracking progress on goals and actions.

  10. Education for SustainabilityCertificate ProgramsUndergraduate & Graduate Are you ready to start earning a certificate in Education for Sustainability? Learn how to help others understand the challenge of sustainability and become active participants in solutions. You’ll be prepared to create real change in your profession, community, and daily life with courses that emphasize outdoor, experiential, and project-based learning. Visit www.wcupa.edu or contact Dr. Paul Morgan at 610-436-6945 pmorgan@wcupa.edu

  11. Office of Sustainability Sustainability Coordinator (Half-Time)

  12. Key Objectives 1. Make Sustainability Part of the Experience of all WCU Students 2. Get to the Tipping Point

  13. Strategy Make more connections in order to create a campus-wide culture of sustainability that will support significant curricular change (i.e. Go beyond the Usual Suspects)

  14. Process Spring 2010: Applied for internal grant ($2,500) (Provost Stimulus Fund Grant) Fall 2010: Call for Faculty Sustainability Ambassadors (Five: One from each College)

  15. Assumption Reaching out is easier when people are lured in with money ($500), a title (Ambassador), and significant work (sustainability).

  16. The Call The WCU Sustainability Advisory Council invites faculty from all colleges and disciplines to apply for one of five Faculty Sustainability Ambassador positions for 2010-2011 (one position for each college).  The primary charge of the Ambassadors is to collaborate with members of the Sustainability Advisory Council to develop and co-lead a series of sustainability curricular and pedagogical workshops during the Spring 2011 semester.  The workshops will be targeted to all faculty with the aim of infusing sustainability content into existing courses, promoting pedagogies that foster active engagement in sustainability-related issues, and strategizing ways to ensure that all WCU graduates understand and are able to address the challenge of sustainability.  To this end, the ambassadors will function as liaisons to their home college where they will conduct outreach, recruit participants, and assist in additional fundraising efforts.  The Ambassadors will be expected to participate in an orientation session during Fall 2010 and regular planning meetings in Spring 2011.  A follow-up meeting will be held in April 2011 to assess the initiative, celebrate successes, and plan next steps.  The positions carry a stipend of $500.

  17. Faculty Sustainability Ambassadors Dr. Joy Fritschle (CBPA) Dr. Lynn Monahan (CHS) Dr. Daria Nikitina (CAS) Dr. Patricia Powell (CVPA) Dr. Carol Smith (COE)

  18. Faculty Sustainability Ambassadors Orientation December 16th, 2010 Reality: Possibly the most destructive period in 65 million years Challenge: Sustainability, not Less Unsustainability

  19. A Hard Truth “Almost everything being done in the name of sustainable development addresses and attempts to reduce unsustainability. But reducing unsustainability, although critical, does not and will not create sustainability” --John R. Ehrenfeld, Sustainability by Design

  20. Activities February 5th, 2011: The Ambassadors Submitted a Proposal for an Internal ‘Pedagogy for Engagement’ Grant: Infusing Sustainability across the WCU Curriculum: A Three-Day Curricular and Pedagogical Workshop for Spring 2012 ($2,000) February 23rd, 2011: Introduction to Sustainability Workshop April 14th, 2011: Submitted Abstract for this AASHE Panel April 21st, 2011: Introduction to Sustainability Workshop

  21. Peter BardaglioFebruary 9-10, 2012

  22. Introduction to Sustainability Workshop

  23. LEED SILVER CELEBRATION FOR SWOPE MUSIC BUILDING & THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

  24. Welcome to SWOPE: Dr. Timothy Blair Program Introduction: Dr. Patricia Powell Performances A Beautiful Sunset that was mistaken for Dawn by Jay Moss Entropy By Mary Gemmel LEED Silver: Dee Giardina, Facilities SAC: Dr. Tim Lutz, Sustainability Coordinator Plaque unveiling Dr. Greg Weisenstein

  25. Reflections & Lessons Go after internal grants (the odds are good, the goods are odd). One successful proposal can be tweaked and retweaked. Titles matter: Ambassadors wear them proudly Money and titles may draw people in, but they stick around for the significant work Recruiting insiders makes a huge difference Newer, probationary faculty find the grant writing and conference submission process very helpful Don’t underestimate the power of having real, intellectual conversations with colleagues from across the University

  26. Next Steps Begin lobbying for General Education curricular change ACUPCC Climate Action Planning Team – Ambassadors will be involved with the curricular component My Questions for the Ambassadors Aha moments? Most/least significant experiences? Weaknesses and suggestions?

  27. Sustainability AmbassadorsLooking Forward West Chester University West Chester PA

  28. Current Role • Disseminate information on introducing sustainability in our home colleges • Within the College of Health Sciences • Meeting with New Chair • Presentation to CHS faculty • Why important? • WCU’s commitment and accomplishments • Invitation to infuse Sustainability issues into the curriculum • Resources, including myself !

  29. Nutrition Program • Curriculum for NTD 205 Food Preparation to include outdoor classrooms at a local farm. • Student Dietetic Association (SDA) students prepared foods (local / sustainable) for our holiday parties and for summer programs. • Sustainability topics are infused within introductory nutrition courses

  30. Nutrition Initiatives • Partner with ARAMARK • Farmer’s Market • CSAs – community supported agriculture • Product line of local foods with labeling • Market and communicate

  31. Looking Forward • Ambassador as the “GO-TO” person. • Report on Sustainability within meetings • Events on campus • Sustainability Informational and How/To Modules • What is sustainability? • How to “green” your classroom, office?

  32. Looking Forward • Include Sustainability Ambassador into Statement of Expectation and/or job descriptions? • Student Ambassador Program?? • Goal: create culture of sustainability behavior

  33. Comments, Questions, Reflections

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