Transcript ACPA’s Presidential Task Force:

ACPA’s Presidential Task
Force on Sustainability
January 10, 2007
Kathleen Gardner, Co-Chair of the Task Force; and
Associate Director of Residence Life,
Southern Illinois U-Edwardsville
Kathleen G. Kerr, Member of the Task Force; and
Director of Residence Life,
University of Delaware
ACPA’s Presidential Task Force:
History
• The issue of sustainability was integrated
into the ACPA President’s platform;
• Taskforce members were strategically
chosen for their ability to represent a variety
of constituent groups within ACPA and the
profession; and
• Meetings were held in May 2006; July 2006;
and November 2006 (retreat).
ACPA’s Presidential Task Force:
Purpose
• “What do our students need to be
successful in their adult roles of career
person, family member and community
member?”
• Making invisible impacts visible.
• Practicing sustainability on campus and in
external communities connected to student
learning.
ACPA’s Presidential Task Force:
Accomplishments
• Created a “primer” document on sustainability
• Submitted program proposals for the Living
Learning (accepted), ACPA/NASPA Joint
Meeting (accepted), ACUHO-I, and First-Year
Experience and Students in Transition
Conferences.
• Integrated sustainability into current professional
development opportunities provided by ACPA
(i.e. The Residential Curriculum Institute).
• Developed a website which highlights ACPA’s
commitment to sustainability, Points of Pride,
PowerPoint presentations, the primer document,
and a suggested readings list.
ACPA’s Presidential Task Force:
Accomplishments (cont.)
• Collaboration with other national higher
education associations:
– AASHE – for example, assisted with the
selection of campus sustainability leadership
awards
– HEASC– committee participation
• Development of Student Learning
Outcomes and Strategies
Student Learning Outcomes
ACPA’s Sustainability Taskforce, 2006
1.
2.
3.
4.
Each student will be able to define sustainability.
Each student will be able to explain how
sustainability relates to their lives and their
values, and how their actions impact issues of
sustainability.
Each student will be able to utilize their
knowledge of sustainability to change their daily
habits and consumer mentality.
Each student will be able to explain how
systems are interrelated.
Student Learning Outcomes
(cont.)
ACPA’s Sustainability Taskforce, 2006
5. Each student will learn change agent skills.
6. Each student will learn how to apply
concepts of sustainability to their campus and
community by engaging in the challenges and
solutions of sustainability on their campus.
7. Each student will learn how to apply
concepts of sustainability globally by
engaging in the challenges and the solutions
of sustainability in a world context.
Strategies:
•
Residence hall programs; FYE and orientation programs; campus speaker
series; bulletin boards; service and service learning experiences; curricular
and co-curricular collaborations (e.g. general education outcome and
infusion throughout the disciplines - first year community reading book);
town hall forums; study- and service-abroad experiences; film series;
speaker series; media festivals; information in campus media outlets; office
of multicultural affairs/diversity programming; curricular and capstone
projects, one-on-one conversations with student affairs staff members;
programs sponsored by campus faith-based organizations and offices;
curricular projects; signage on existing energy efficient/renewable energies
buildings/ operations; Residence hall, student organization, fraternity and
sorority, and intramural/club sports competitions; personal contracts;
community (floor) agreements; health & safety checks with resident
feedback; campaign by campus transportation units; sweatshop free
bookstores and purchasing policies catalyzed by students; development of
educational modules on change agent skills to be distributed for use by
educators; involvement in campus leadership positions; town hall forums;
conference attendance; problem based learning in curricular and cocurricular settings; attendance at meetings where policy is discussed and
decided upon: town and gown, city council, county council, Board of
Trustees.
Strategies (cont.):
•
Participation in political campaigns; service and service learning experiences;
modify the institution’s and student organizations’ practices, mission
statements, and constitutions; utilize student governance structures to
request compliance with LEED and other sustainability standards; awareness
raising campaigns; letter writing campaign and implementation project for
sustainable practices in dining services unit on campus; work with campus
facilities/grounds units to assess current practices; work with facilities and
business office to create more sustainable operations and standards;
organization of community recycling and reduced toxins program;
environmental impact statements from Residence Hall Governments and
campus student governance groups; “Walk Don’t Ride,” “Do It in the Dark”
campaigns; collaboration with campus transportation units; Facebook
groups; curricular “change” projects; utilize campus media to carry message;
career services center programming and ,counseling; graduation pledges or
FYE pledges (currently Graduation Pledge) that are implemented throughout
the undergraduate experience; alumni activities; speaker and film series;
service and service learning experiences.
ACPA’s Presidential Task Force:
In the Works
• Facilitate a sustainability-themed conference in
2008
• Develop an ACPA award recognizing leadership in
campus sustainability
• Create an e-learning seminar on sustainability
• Integrate sustainability into CSP/higher education
graduate programs via the Commission for
Professional Preparation
• Provide “train the trainer” sessions to prepare
ACPA members to be change agents on their
campuses
ACPA’s Presidential Task Force:
In the Works (cont.)
• Create a Senior Student Affairs Officer’s
pledge
• Develop a list of sustainability-themed
campus activities
• Articulate change agent skills and resources
• Continue to find ways to benefit individuals
and institutions committed to issues of
sustainability
ACPA’s Presidential Task Force:
Lessons Learned:
• Involve people who are willing to learn – and
have enthusiasm (despite their ignorance!)
• Utilize your resources (we’ve abused Debra!)
• Don’t recreate the wheel– there are lots of
resources out there!
• Division of labor – with tracking and
encouragement – maximize people’s strengths
• Keep a constant eye on future projects – but
don’t let the group get overwhelmed by what is
yet to be accomplished
• Have fun!!!
ACPA’s Presidential Task Force:
Contact Information
Kathleen Gardner
[email protected]
Kathleen G. Kerr
[email protected]