The Sustainable Learning Community: One University's Journey to the Future

by John Aber, Tom Kelly, Bruce Mallory

Overview

University communities have the potential to serve as models in the development and application of sustainability principles and practices, not only by what they teach and study, but also by how they operate facilities and engage with off-campus partners. With the oldest endowed campus-wide sustainability program in the country, established in 1997, the University of New Hampshire has become a leader in advancing a campus culture of sustainability. The UNH experience provides a unique window into the development of a new and integrated approach to teaching, learning, research, and operations. It is also a valuable guide for other institutions that aim to enhance the quality of campus life while reducing their environmental footprint. The book's organization along four functional domains (curriculum, operations, research, and engagement) allows faculty, staff, students, and managers to focus on sections of particular relevance to their university roles. Each chapter develops standards of best practices and presents interesting case studies to humanize the larger effort.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781584657712
Publisher:	University of New Hampshire Press
Publication date:	06/01/2009
Series:	UNH Non-Series Title
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

JOHN ABER is Professor of Environmental Science and former Vice President for Research, University of New Hampshire. TOM KELLY is Chief Sustainability Officer and Director, Office of Sustainability Programs.

BRUCE MALLORY is Provost and Executive Vice President.

Table of Contents

Editor’s Preface – John Aber
Acknowledgments
SUSTAINABILITY AS AN ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION – Tom Kelly
TEACHING AND LEARNING SUSTAINABILITY: CURRICULUM AND PEDAGOGY – John Carroll, editor
Curriculum: Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Engaging Students in the Sciences – George Hurtt
How Does a Local Master of Public Health Program Address Global Emerging Infectious Disease? – Rosemary Caron
Sustainable Science and Engineering – Kevin Gardner and Nancy Kinner
UNH-EcoQuest and Sustainability in New Zealand—Te Rarangahau Taiao – Ria Brejaart, Kim Babbitt and Donna Dowal
Curriculum: Climate and Energy
ESCI 405: Global Environmental Change – Cameron Wake
The Energy Waste Watch Challenge and Student Energy Captains – Michele Holt-Shannon and Sara Cleaves
Organizing a Curriculum on the Environment—Inclusiveness or Security? – John Aber
Science, Politics, and Policy from Global to Local in an Undergraduate Seminar – Stacy Van Deveer
Curriculum: Food and Society
Dual Major in EcoGastronomy – Joanne Currancelentano
Integrating Sustainability into the Professional Development of Dietetic Interns – Joanne Burke
“The Real Dirt” – John E. Carroll
UNH CREAM – Drew Conroy and Peter Erickson
Curriculum: Culture and Sustainability
The Promise of the Sun – Tom Kelly
Artistic Engagement—Discovering and Developing a Theatrical Response to Sustainability – David Kaye
The University Dialogue and a Sense of Place – Joanne Curran-Celentano
How the Sustainable Living Minor Came to Be – Robert Eckert and Bert Cohen
PRACTICING SUSTAINABILITY: CAMPUS OPERATIONS – Douglas Bencks, editor
Operations: Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Landscape Master Plan – Douglas Bencks
Land Use Committee – Tom Lee
The MUB Meadow – John L. Hart
Operations: Climate and Energy
It’s Risky Business Doing the Right Thing—The Co-Gen Plant and EcoLine – Paul Chamberlin and Matt O’Keefe
Transportation and Land Use – Steve Pesci
The UNH Greenhouse Gas Inventory – Brett Pasinella
The Energy Task Force—A Cross-Campus Collaboration to Address Climate Change – Sara Cleaves
Operations: Food and Society
The UNH Compost Program—From Waste to Compost – Elisabeth Farrell and Rick MacDonald
Acting Locally—The UNH Local Harvest Initiative – Elisabeth Farrell and Rick MacDonald
Innovative Dining Hall Hours and Plate Waste – Rick MacDonald
Operations: Culture and Sustainability
Developing Our Sense of Place—The Role of the Committee for Campus Aesthetics – Vicki C. Wright
Sustainable Building Design – Douglas Bencks
Moving the Kingsbury Mural – Douglas Bencks
Sustainable Buildings—Do You Want Fries with Your Building? No Thank You! – Douglas Bencks
CREATING THE INTELLECTUAL BASIS FOR SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP – John Aber and Cameron Wake, editors
Research on Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology – Rich Langan and Dolores Leonard
The History of Marine Animal Populations – Andrew Rosenberg, Jeff Bolster, Karen Alexander, and Bill Leavenworth
The Stormwater Research Center – Tom Ballestero
Oyster Restoration—Planning, Research, and Implementation in New Hampshire – Ray Grizzle
Research on Climate and Energy
The Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space – David S. Bartlett
The Environmental Research Group – Kevin Gardner and Taylor Eighmy
Multidisciplinary Design Competition – Jenna Jambeck and Kevin Gardner
Regional Climate Assessments—Supporting Informed Public Policy – Cameron Wake
Research on Food and Society
The UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm – John E. Carroll and Tom Kelly
The Atlantic Marine Aquaculture Center – Rich Langan and Dolores Leonard
The UNH Community Food, Nutrition, and Wellness Profile – Joanne Burke
From Campus Farm to Dining Hall – John McLean
Research on Culture and Sustainability
The Undergraduate Research Conference—A Key Ingredient in the Sustainable Learning Community – Eleanor Abrams
The Carsey Institute—Building Knowledge to Support Opportunity for Families in Sustainable Communities – Mil Duncan
The Growing a Green Generation Project – John Nimmo
SUSTAINING THE LARGER COMMUNITY: ENGAGEMENT – Jeffrey A. Schloss, editor
Engagement in Biodiversity and Ecosystems
The New Hampshire Lakes Lay Monitoring Program—A Sustainable Model for Engaging Citizens – Jeffrey A. Schloss
Forest Watch—Enhancing Pre-College Understanding of Biodiversity and Ecosystems – Barry Rock
The UNH Marine Docent Program – Mark Wiley
Students Without Borders – Jenna Jambeck and Kevin Gardner
Engagement in Climate and Energy
Collaboration for a Low-Carbon Society—Carbon Solutions New England – Cameron Wake
The New Hampshire Carbon Challenge – Chris Skoglund, Denise Blaha, and Julia Dundorf
WildCAP Discount Program – Brett Pasinella
Informing Public Policy—Engagement on Climate with the State of New Hampshire – Cameron Wake
Engagement in Food and Society
The New Hampshire Farm to School Program – Elisabeth Farrell and Lynda Brushett
Cooperative Fisheries Research—The Innovative Fisherman – Ken LaValley
The Organic Garden Club – Rebecca Grube
New Hampshire Center for a Food Secure Future – Elisabeth Farrell
Engagement in Culture and Sustainability
Deliberation in the Civic Sector—The Role of Higher Education in Sustaining Democracy – Bruce L. Mallory
Building a Sustainable Community of Engaged Scholars—The UNH Outreach Scholars Academy – Julie E. Williams, Eleanor Abrams, and Christine Shea
Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail – Valerie Cunningham
Four Hands, One Heart—Ed and Mary Scheier Documentary and Exhibit – Tom Kelly
HOW THE SUSTAINABILITY ETHIC DEVELOPED AT UNH AND THE NEXT PHASE OF OUR “JOURNEY TO THE FUTURE” – Sara Cleaves, Tom Kelly, and John Aber
Contributors
Index

What People are Saying About This

"In higher education we realize that our students will live out their personal and professional lives in circumstances enormously different from those that shaped our own studies and perceptions. One important response to this has been the effort to bring 'sustainable development' into the teaching, research, public service, and management of American universities. But the effort is recent; it gets diverted and confused by uncertainty about what kind of development is desirable and for whom. And, of course, it raises issues of intellectual sovereignty within the faculty. This book tells you why education for sustainability is important, and it offers an inspirationally diverse set of case studies that illustrate what can be done. Read here to learn how sustainability can be converted from an abstract theoretical idea into a large number of efforts that are changing teaching, research, public service, and management at a real university."

Mitchell Thomashow

“Campuses nationwide are endorsing sustainability initiatives. But there is much more to it than meets the eye. This comprehensive handbook provides detailed case studies for all aspects of campus sustainability projects. It is deep, integrative, and visionary. It is filled with great ideas for how to bring an entire campus together.

Dennis Meadows

"In higher education we realize that our students will live out their personal and professional lives in circumstances enormously different from those that shaped our own studies and perceptions. One important response to this has been the effort to bring 'sustainable development' into the teaching, research, public service, and management of American universities. But the effort is recent; it gets diverted and confused by uncertainty about what kind of development is desirable and for whom. And, of course, it raises issues of intellectual sovereignty within the faculty. This book tells you why education for sustainability is important, and it offers an inspirationally diverse set of case studies that illustrate what can be done. Read here to learn how sustainability can be converted from an abstract theoretical idea into a large number of efforts that are changing teaching, research, public service, and management at a real university."
— Dennis Meadows, co-author of the 1972 report, The Limits to Growth and Professor Emeritus of Systems Policy and President of the Laboratory for Interactive Learning.

Anthony D. Cortese

“It has become clear that finding a way to meet the basic needs of all current and future humans on a finite and stressed planet requires transformative change in thinking, values, and action which must be led by higher education. The Sustainable Learning Community demonstrates how the University of New Hampshire is addressing this challenge in innovative and exciting ways. Highlighting 60 independent voices across its programs and academic disciplines, The Sustainable Learning Community provides an excellent framework for aligning the core functions of a university with sustainability principles, including integrating formal learning and campus operations to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and values they will need to be effective citizens and professionals in the twenty-first century.”

Paul R. Epstein

“This is not an academic exercise. The Sustainable Learning Community describes the ten-year transformation of a university with ideas and aesthetics: using organic farming techniques to train and feed students; constructing a 12.7 mile pipeline to bring landfill gas to a new co-generation plant; and fostering lively engagement in public policy. An outstanding accomplishment! A privilege to read. A beacon and blueprint for all.”

Editorial Reviews

"This book provides excellent examples of the type of cross-campus dialogue needed to develop sustainability curricula, innovative course outlines for introductory or capstone courses in global environmental issues, approaches for university provosts, vice-presidents for research, sustainability officers, and university presidents to follow in evaluating their university strengths, combining them with external funding, and generating academic excellence as leaders in campus sustainability programs."—Ecology

"In higher education we realize that our students will live out their personal and professional lives in circumstances enormously different from those that shaped our own studies and perceptions. One important response to this has been the effort to bring 'sustainable development' into the teaching, research, public service, and management of American universities. But the effort is recent; it gets diverted and confused by uncertainty about what kind of development is desirable and for whom. And, of course, it raises issues of intellectual sovereignty within the faculty. This book tells you why education for sustainability is important, and it offers an inspirationally diverse set of case studies that illustrate what can be done. Read here to learn how sustainability can be converted from an abstract theoretical idea into a large number of efforts that are changing teaching, research, public service, and management at a real university."—Dennis Meadows, co-author of the 1972 report, The Limits to Growth and Professor Emeritus of Systems Policy and President of the Laboratory for Interactive Learning

From the Publisher