Environmental Literacy: A Lifelong Learning Approach Claire Sweigart, J.D. Sustainability Coordinator Mary Beth McGrew, AIA Associate VP of Planning + Design + Construction and University Architect

Presentation Outline Sustainability at UC Environmental Literacy Certificate –Staff Track –Student Track Future Developments

Sustainability at UC

Why Environmental Literacy? Everyone’s individual decisions have an impact Sustainability conversation on campus is currently limited to small group Broader engagement needed for real change on campus (behavioral and institutional)

Our Goals Raise awareness of UC’s sustainability priorities Spur critical thinking and creativity Behavior change Peer outreach Encourage participation in other events

Our Guides Environmental Literacy* –Understanding of the environment –Understanding of society’s impact on the natural world –Individual and collective actions towards addressing environmental challenges * Partnership for 21 st Century Skills, framework/830 Adult Education* –Include opportunities to interact and discuss –Allow for personalization and collaboration –Maintain physical and mental comfort in an informal atmosphere *Knowles, M. The Modern Practice of Adult Education; From Pedagogy to Andragogy. Cambridge, The Adult Education Company. NY

Our Approach – Staff Staff Track –9 monthly meetings each on a different topic –Participants selected from one department –Required to attend by supervisor in lieu of staff meeting

Staff Track Details 1 st Group: Housekeeping Supervisors –22 participants ranging from age 19 to 56 –Mostly African Americans who lived in urban areas –All had high school diploma, some had associates degree –Based on a preliminary questionnaire, we found a wide variety of opinions and behaviors on environmental topics and some foundation of environmental knowledge

Example Questions

Staff Track Sessions 9 Meetings: –Introduction –Waste –Food –Soil & land use –Water –Energy –Chemicals –Consumption –Summary Guest Presentations: –Hamilton County Solid Waste & Recycling District –Landscape Architect –Professors from Environmental Studies, Architecture, and Engineering

Staff Track Goals & Evaluation Our goals are to start a conversation, engage new participants, and change behaviors A final questionnaire was administered to gauge results

Staff Track Goals & Evaluation

Our Approach - Students Student Track –7 monthly meetings using NWEI discussion course book –Open to anyone –Required attendance at other events

Student Track Details Must attend: –4 Lectures –4 Film discussions –5 Sustainability Suppers –3 Volunteer activities –4 More from any category –Total of 20 events (approx. 40 hours)

Student Track Details Can be completed within 1 year, but there is no time limit Open to students, staff, professors, community members, etc. Online registration system

Student Track Goals Further engagement with sustainability beyond mere passive attendance Provide more substantial benefit to attending sustainability events

Future Developments Staff Track –Voluntary enrollment, but still focused on a narrow staff set –Refinement of guest presentations –Possible addition of 1 or 2 sessions for economics and policy Student Track –Determine evaluation method –Partner formally with Environmental Studies Department –Engage more students from other disciplines

Contact Info Claire Sweigart Mary Beth McGrew Facebook: UCSustainability & UCBikeKitchen Twitter: UCSustainable Instagram: UCSustainability