We recognize that the University has an opportunity to engage and increase its environmental educaion, and raise environmental awareness. Therefore, we propose to incorporate stewardship and sustainability as a curriculum theme into the proposed First Year Experience, more specifically the Living and Learning Program, as outlined in the current QEP in accordance with the Strategic Plan.
Poster session for the Environmental Studies Senior Seminar/Geography Capstone

Ehmer, Janet Goldbach

Li, Minyao

English

University of Richmond

Overall Grade: B Works	Cited	and	Acknowledgements	Introduc6on	Conclusion	2014	Survey	Comparison	Climate	Change	Educa6on	Surveys	  	 	The	mission	of	the	University	Strategic	Plan	2017	is	to		educate	students	in	an	academically	and	intellectually	challenging	atmosphere	that	trains	them	for	lives	of	purpose,	prudent	inquiry,	and	being	accountable	role	models	in	the	world.		 	The	5th	value	(Stewardship	in	a	changing	world)	described	in	the	Strategic	Plan	is	to	“be	a	leader	in	innova6ve	prac6ces	that	sustain	our	environmental,	human	and	financial	resources	in	response	to	emerging	environmental	and	financial		challenges	globally.”				Our	proposal	incorporates	3/5	of	the	values		described	in	the	Strategic	Plan:		•  Academic	excellence	•  Thriving	and	inclusive	University	community		•  Stewardship	in	a	changing	world				The	University	of	Richmond’s	Quality	Enhancement	Plan	2017	(QEP)	learning	outcomes	for	the	First	Year	experience	are	to:	•  Introduce	students	to	a	culture	of	liberal	arts,	•  Bond	students	with	a	sense	of	place	and	purpose,	and	•  Help	students	see	the	bigger	picture	of	their	educa6on	and	make	course	and	co-curricular	choices	in	the	context	of	opportuni6es	available	in	and	outside	of	the	classroom.		We	recognize	that	the	University	has	an	opportunity	to	engage	and	increase	its	environmental	educaFon,	and	raise	environmental	awareness.	Therefore,	we	propose	to	incorporate	stewardship	and	sustainability	as	a	curriculum	theme	into	the	proposed	First	Year	Experience,	more	specifically	the	Living	and	Learning	Program,	as	outlined	in	the	current	QEP	in	accordance	with	the	Strategic	Plan.	 Sustainability-related Programs  Office for Sustainability Academic Research First-year Seminar or equivalent First-year Living & Learning or equivalent UVA ✔ ✔  ✔ VCU ✔ ✔  ✔ Oberlin ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Richmond ✔ ✔ ✔          Potential for an establishment Research on Climate Change Education at University of Richmond  and Proposal for a Stewardship/Sustainability Themed First Year Experience Janet Goldbach Ehmer and Minyao Li Department of Geography and the Environment and Environmental Studies Program University of Richmond Climate Change Seminar/Capstone Poster Session, April 20, 2017 University	of	Richmond	Professors	A	total	of	206	students	were	surveyed.	98.1%	of	respondents	believe	that	human	accelerated	climate	change	is	a	(moderate	or	immediate)	threat	to	humans	and	ecosystems.			79	University	of	Richmond	professors	from	36	different	departments	were	surveyed.		A	total	of		97.5%	believe	climate	change	is	accelerated	by	humans.		With	72.8%	of	students	strongly	believing	that	climate	change	is	accelerated	by	humans	and	81.1%	responding	that	climate	change	is	a	threat	that	needs	to	be	addressed	immediately,	there	is	a	heightened	demand	for	educaFon	on	sustainable	living	and	stewardship.		The	students’	desire	is	equally	matched	by	the	professors,	as	79.7%	responded	that	it	is	very	important	for	students	to	learn	about	climate	change.		A	stewardship/sustainability	themed	FYE	will	help	the	University	immerse	students	into	the	intellectual	community	environmental	values	into	consideraFon.		Students	will	have	an	opportunity	to	develop	an	aXenFon	to	stewardship	to	conFnue	to	carry	throughout	their	lives.			Fretz,	Eric	J.	Climate	change	across	the	curriculum.	Lanham:	Lexington	Books,	2016			|			Orr,	David	Wesley.	Earth	in	mind:	on	educaFon,	environment,	and	the	human	prospect.	Washington,	D.C:	Island	Press,	2004			|			University	of	Richmond,	“University	of	Richmond	Strategic	Plan”.	2017			|			University	of	Richmond,	“University	of	Richmond	Quality	Enhancement	Plan”.	2017			|			Sammy	Easby	and	Tess	Manning,	University	of	Richmond	Survey	Results.	2014			|			Laura	Harrison,	Office	of	the	Provost,	University	of	Richmond			|			Rob	Andrejewski,	Office	for	Sustainability,	University	of	Richmond			|			Sustainability	at	the	University	of	Virginia.	hXps://sustainability.virginia.edu/			|			Office	of	Environmental	Sustainability	at	Oberlin	College.	hXp://new.oberlin.edu/office/environmental-sustainability/index.dot			|			Office	of	Sustainability	at	Virginia	Commonwealth	University.	hXp://sustainability.vcu.edu/			|			“Hundreds	of	volunteers	clean	up	James	River.”	WTVR.com.	September	11,	2016.	hXp://wtvr.com/2016/09/11/james-river-regional-cleanup/			|			Pixelbell.	“James	River/Downtown	Richmond	|	Richmond	Virginia	Presents.”	Pinterest.	July	19,	2014.	hXps://www.pinterest.com/pin/461830136761764280/			|			“University	of	Richmond‘s	Dining	Services	wins	two	naFonal	awards”.	University	of	Richmond			|			hXp://news.richmond.edu/releases/arFcle/-/13520/university-of-richmonds-dining-services-wins-two-naFonal-awards-.html			|			Charlie	Kline	(’09),	Environmental	Senior	Seminar:	UR	Green:	Campus	Energy	ConservaFon,	University	of	Richmond			|		"Inter–	or	trans–disciplinary:	the	perils	of	definiFons	(and	diagrams)”,	26/03/13,	Gendered	Knowledges	Blog.		University	of	Richmond	Students	Literature	Review	and	Methods	Stewardship/Sustainability	First	Year	Experience	Recommenda6ons	University	Programs	Comparison	1 ‘Human	accelerated	climate	change	is…’	To	what	extent	do	you	believe	that	climate	change	is	accelerated	by	humans?	Strongly	Believe	Believe	Neutral	Do	Not	Believe		A	threat	that	needs	to	be	addressed	immediately		A	moderate	threat	to	humans	and	ecosystems	Not	happening	Not	a	threat	to	humans	and	ecosystems		‘Is	it	important	for	students	to	learn	about	Climate	Change	on	campus?’	How	do	you	view	UR’s	efforts	on	promo6ng	sustainability?	Very	Successful	Good	Fair	Poor	Have	Not	No6ced	Any	Strongly	Agree	Somewhat	Agree	Agree	Neutral	Somewhat	Disagree																									•  Take	part	in	a	sustainability	affiliated	student	organizaFon	event Select	Ac6vi6es	Student	Involvement	•  Green	Room	Program	•  ParFcipate	in	UR	Recycle-Mania Recycling	Compe66on		•  Have	a	Solar	Tour	on	campus	•  Read	the	University’s	Climate	AcFon	Plan	•  Energy	evaluaFon	and	cost-benefit	analysis	of	campus	buildings	Renewable	Energy	Green	Dining	and	Food	Waste	•  Try	a	Tray-less	Week	•  No	PlasFc-BoXle																																														CompeFFon	•  Community	Garden	Project	•  Research	on	organic/local	food	on	campus	Map of Campus Certified Green Offices  and Third Spaces for Environmental Education   Created by Minyao Li University of Richmond Climate Change Capstone Poster Session April 20, 2017 			Transportation Hub Solar Panel International Center Globe Marcus Weinstein Ellipse Robins Business School Pathway Jepson Hall Quad Library 1st Floor Patio MRC Patio Boatwright Hill Gazebo  Westhampton Lake Commons Pathway Westhampton Forest  The University Forum Westhampton Creek Westhampton Green Gambles Mill Trail Westhampton Creek Intramural Fields  45.6%	 41.8%	79.7%	 81.1%	 72.8%	Transdiscplinary	Approach	&	Problem-Based	Learning		Inside	the	classroom	and	in	everyday	life,	climate	change	needs	to	be	connected	to	poliFcs,	religion,	culture,	economics,	ethics	and	social	life	in	order	for	people	to	fully	internalize	the	issues.	As	a	University,	we	must	invite	first	year	students	into	acFviFes	where	they	can	develop	vital	criFcal	thinking	skills	and	further	discuss	and	argue	global	environmental	issues	through	a	transdisciplinary	curriculum.		(Fretz	2016,		Orr	2004)		In	our	project,	we	researched	and	analyzed:	•  The	Climate	EducaFon	Surveys	at	the	University	of	Richmond	•  First	Year	sustainability	programs	of	compeFng	universiFes	•  PotenFal	stewardship/sustainability	themed	acFviFes	and	projects	for	a	First	Year	experience			In	2014	Easby	and		Manning	2014	conducted	a	similar	survey.	In	2017,	college	students	have	a	greater	concern	for	climate	change			Campus	Green	Tour	Campus	Cer6fied	Green	Offices	Boatwright	Memorial	Library									InternaFonal	EducaFon	Office										Office	for	Sustainability Academic	Advising	Center																		Bonner	Center	for	Civic	Engagement	Public	transportaFon	Hub	Solar	Panel														InternaFonal	Center		Westhampton	Lake																Westhampton	Green	Gambles	Mill	Trail	2134532132165498710 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 •  “3rd	space”	refers	to	the	environment	separated	from	the	two	usual	social	spaces	--	home	(“1st	space”)	and	the	workplace	(“2nd	space).	These	spaces	on	campus	are	highly	recommended	for	environmental	educaFon	purposes.		List	of	Some	Third	Spaces	on	Campus	 Third	Spaces	on	Campus	53% 42% 58% 81.10% 72.80% 72.30% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Climate Change is a threat that needs to be addressed immediately Strongly belive that Climate Change is accelerated by humans Hotter longer summers and shorter winters are a consequences of Climate Change 2014	Survey	2017	Survey	11 16 17 

Research on Climate Change Education at University of Richmond and Proposal for a Stewardship/Sustainability Themed First Year Experience

https://scholarship.richmond.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&amp;context=geography-capstone

Research on Climate Change Education at University of Richmond and Proposal for a Stewardship/Sustainability Themed First Year Experience

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