Integrating STEM and Sustainability in a College-wide

Core Curriculum

Debbie Dalrymple, Professor NursingSam Wallace, Assistant Professor Geography

Introductions & Agenda

• Introductions• Sustainability and the Core

– Deciding what sustainability is– Fitting STEM and Sustainability into the

core general education requirements • Happenings on campus as a result• Questions and Discussion

The Core

– Written & Oral Communication

– Analytic Skills– Quantitative Skills– Computer Fluency– Information Literacy– Intellectual Heritage– Aesthetic Sensibility

13+ Goals– Physical & Life

Sciences– Behavioral & Social

Science– Exercise & Health

Science– Civic Responsibility– Global Perspective– Ethical Reasoning

The President’s Council

• American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment

• President’s Climate Commitment Advisory Council

• Commitment to Sustainability http://www.mc3.edu/sustainability/

The First Discussion

• What exactly is sustainability?– Initially definition primarily environmental

focus• A mandate, but how did it fit with the

other goals?– Does it need its own?– Can it fit somewhere?

The Curriculum Committee

• How to include sustainability– Independent Goal– Goal 12 Recommendation

• Sensitivity to Global Perspectives and Cultural &Social Diversity and Sustainability

– 12-1: Demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of human diversity and the individual, social, economic and global forces that shape it

– 12-2: Demonstrate an appreciation for sustainability and diverse cultural and social perspectives.

Civic Responsibility

– Goal 11: Civic Responsibility Demonstrates self discipline, perseverance, and cooperation in the pursuit of personal success and positive civic engagement.• 11-1: Demonstrate an ability to work with

others to achieve a common goal.• 11-2: Demonstrate personal engagement in

civic life • 11-3: Understand the importance of personal

engagement in civic life and sustainability efforts.

Outcome 11-4 (new): Explore the cultural and environmental impacts of human society on the non-human world and on the ability of future generations to achieve their goals, as well as the motives of societal sustainability efforts.

Outcome 11-4: Explore the cultural and environmental impacts of human society on the non-human world and better ensure societal sustainability.

...and as revised and immediately approved by Curriculum Committee in early December

Outcome 11-4: Analyze the cultural or environmental impact of human society on the non-human world or on future generations to better ensure sustainability.

…but somewhere along the way, changed to:

What a difference a word can make.

Making the Case

• Fitting Core Goals in all programs– Quantitative versus Physical/Life Science– Individual Courses– Threading

• Course Combination (ECO 121 and 122)• Course and program activities

Sustainability

• Course re-design• New Courses• Academic Programs

– Drinking Water Operator Certification– Wastewater Operator Certification– Environmental Science

• BIO 115 Environmental Biology

Jerry ColemanAssistant Professor BiologyJColeman@mc3.edu

• GLG 125, The Science of Climate Change

• NASA grantRob KuhlmanProfessorGeologyRKuhlman@mc3.edu

• POL 101 Intro to Political Science

• POL 124 American National Government– Voter Registration

Project

Jodi Empol-SchwartzAssistant Professor Political ScienceJEmpol@mc3.edu

• Sustainability BrochureJill Beccaris-PescatoreAssistant ProfessorEconomicsJBeccari@mc3.edu

• ECO 117 Introduction to Environmental Economics– Service Learning Project– Research

• GEO 235 Sustainable Climate Communities

Sam WallaceAssistant ProfessorGeographySWallace@mc3.edu

New Courses to Fill Gaps

civic responsibility

diversity

• Grinding the issue of

changing climates through

the College’s need for a course

that fulfills values goals

• Thank you.• Discussion and Questions

– http://pinterest.com/mc3mustangs/sustainability/– http://mc3green.wordpress.com/

DDalrymp@mc3.edu