Creating a Sustainable Campus Culture through Student
Engagement: Capitalizing on Living-Learning Communities and
Creative Inquiry Teams Presented by: Tyler Gailey, M.Ed., Community
Director, Clemson University Contributors: Jennifer Goree,
Catherine Mobley, David Ladner, Beth Kunkel, Leidy Klotz
Slide 2
Participant introductions and personal goals for this session
Clemsons Commitment to Sustainability Capitalizing on existing
structures Creative Inquiry Teams Living-learning Communities
Tracking our Progress Small group discussion and sharing Session
Agenda
Slide 3
Learning Outcome: Participants in this session will be able to
capitalize on pre-existing structures within their own institutions
such as housing, project-based and research-based classes, student
organizations, and dining services to implement sustainable change
on campus. Session Learning Outcome
Slide 4
American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment
Signatory: Presidents Commission on Sustainability Formed November
2009 Sustainability Plan presented to President Barker December
2010 Three major emphasis areas: Education and Research Culture and
Leadership Carbon Neutrality 2030: Target for Carbon Neutrality
Clemson Universitys Commitment to Sustainability
Slide 5
The essence of sustainability is within the DNA of Clemsons
ideology. President Jim Barker Education and Research Carbon
Neutrality Plan Conservation, Resource Management and Waste
Elimination Planning and Design Comprehensive, Sustainable
Transportation System Culture and Leadership Culture of Healthy,
sustainable living Overview of Clemson Universitys Sustainability
Plan
Slide 6
Sustainability will be an integral part of the educational
experience for all members of the Clemson Family. Presidents
climate commitment to provide sustainability education for all
students carbon neutrality requires culture shift 7 out of 10 of
best high-school students prefer green universities Clemson
students and South Carolinians for green jobs Clemson as a national
model for sustainability education Clemsons Focus on Education
& Research
Slide 7
Leading a cultural shift requires that we impact the campus
community on each of the following levels: Individual Interpersonal
Organizational Community Policy Culture & Leadership
Slide 8
Integration and Infusion Science and Technology courses
Required seminars Quality Enhancement Plan Sustainability Education
Institute Creative Inquiry Teams Living-learning Communities
Education & Research
Slide 9
Utilizing Existing Structures to Bring about Change Creative
Inquiry Teams Dirt to Food Trailgating BioFuels Environmental
Teach-In and Focus the Nation Forum to Action Program Engineers
Behavior in Sustainable Energy Decisions Maximizing Infiltration
Volume in Rain Gardens Campus sustainability improvement planning
and design People-Place-Sustainability Clemson Farm-Fresh Farmers
Market Developing Linkages for a Sustainable Food System Green
Crescent project: Sustainability in community TRAILS and
GREENWAYS
Slide 10
Living-learning Communities LIEF: Leading and Innovating for
the Environment and Future
Slide 11
Significant interest from faculty 18 month planning and
implementation period First LIEF students moved into Calhoun Courts
in Fall 2011 Required enrolment in team-taught LIEF Creative
Inquiry with faculty from: Environmental Engineering and Earth
Science Sociology Biology Food Science and Nutrition Civil
Engineering Student Affairs LIEF: Leading and Innovating for the
Environment and Future
Slide 12
Students will work across disciplinary lines to think
critically about how they can address great societal challenges
related to sustainability. To achieve this course goal, students
will: define sustainability identify and discuss fundamental issues
of sustainability; analyze how their values relate to
sustainability, and how their actions impact sustainability issues;
recognize interrelated systems; evaluate the role of their major in
sustainability issues; apply sustainability concepts on local and
global scales; practice change agent skills for sustainability;
develop a plan to address sustainability challenges through
engagement at Clemson and beyond. LIEF: Student Learning
Outcomes
Slide 13
Students Leading the Way Students for Environmental Action
Student Sustainability Initiative Reusable coffee mug program Dirt
to Food Project Game day recycling efforts Clemson University
Environmental Teach-in Seven pro-environment student groups 65
majors and 700+ courses related to sustainability. New bike rental
program Leave no Trace Tailgating
Slide 14
Assessment is a powerful tool to show progress and demonstrate
need for improvement. President gives annual report to the Board of
Trustees We set measureable goals for our sustainability plan and
hold ourselves accountable Gives us data to support areas that need
improvement Sample Data: Students were asked the extent to which
they agreed with the following statement In the development of our
society, we must strive to meet the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs. (93.0%) strongly or mildly agree with this statement about
sustainability, with just 4.9% mildly or strongly disagreeing with
this statement. Assessment
Slide 15
Are there ways to tie your student-driven sustainability
efforts to course credit? What faculty incentives exist to
encourage faculty participation in out of the classroom learning?
Is interdisciplinary work encouraged? What successes have you had
with students leading the way? How have you used assessment to
inform your work? Small Group Discussion
Slide 16
http://www.clemson.edu/sustainability/ Sustainability Plan PCS
Report Card
http://www.clemson.edu/academics/programs/creative-inquiry/
http://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/housing/living-learning.html
LIEF Syllabus Sustainability Survey Clemson Dining and Housing
Living-learning Community Planning Guide Resources
Slide 17
Tyler Gailey Community Director [email protected] Jennifer
Goree Director of Healthy Campus [email protected] Catherine Mobley
Professor of Sociology [email protected] David Ladner Assistant
Professor Environmental Engineering And Earth Science
[email protected] Leidy Klotz Associate Professor Civil
Engineering & Chair of Presidents Commission on Sustainability
[email protected] Beth Kunkel Professor Food Science and Nutrition
[email protected] Contacts