Urban and Environmental Policy Program 

Environmental Problem Solving, Fall 2007
Thursdays, 01:30pm-02:55pm

Professor Mark Vallianatos
mvalli@oxy.edu
323-259-1458 

Office hours: Thursdays, 12:30-1:15 at UEPI/UEP building or by appointment

The Environmental Stewards class allows students to become campus greening practitioners and to advocate for a more environmentally sustainable Occidental College. The four primary objectives of this semester’s class will be to:

1. Continue and build upon the Cooling the Ivory Tower theme launched in Fall 06.  Students will promote policies and practices at the College related to climate change and renewable energy issues.
2. Research and promote opportunities connected to Occidental’s new Campus Master Plan. Students will analyze the master plan to identify opportunities for implementation of the plan’s sustainability components. Each student will prepare a memo with recommendations on a specific section of the master plan. 
3. Understand campus environmental concerns in the context of the underlying social and ecological issues. Students will discuss international, national, and local policy debates on climate change, energy policy and green building and relate them to campus greening.
4. Understand the challenges of institutional change on a campus setting and expand alliances with student groups at and beyond occidental.

Course Readings:

Rappaport and Creighton, Degrees that Matter: climate change and the university, MIT Press, 2007.

Articles and memos. Available in electronic reader.

Blogs on climate and thee environment such as:

• http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/
• http://climatechangeaction.blogspot.com/
• http://www.treehugger.com/
• http://gristmill.grist.org/
• http://www.worldchanging.com/

Class Schedule

 August 30: introduction to course theme, goals and methods.

Discuss previous class priorities, including:

Occidental College Climate Change and Renewable Energy Initiative

Referendum to Create a Renewable Energy and Sustainability Fund

September 6: Climate Change and Renewable Energy issues and debates

Readings:

• Degrees that Matter, Ch. 2
• Energize America

Assignment:

• Write one page essay on a priority action that the United States should take on climate change and energy issues as well as a priority action that Occidental should take.

September 13: Cooling the ivory tower: climate and energy strategies for colleges.

Readings:

·        Degrees that Matter, Ch. 3-4

• Campus Climate Challenge Campaign Planning Guide, pgs 1-9
• Occidental carbon emissions data

September 20:  Campus Planning and Sustainability

Readings:

• Degrees that matter, ch. 9
• Occidental Campus Master Plan

Assignment:

• Write a one-page proposal focusing on one specific section of the master plan that you are interested in researching further and coming up with recommendations for how the college can implement. Summarize the topic, briefly explain what you are interested in it, and note down some questions that you will be looking into.

September 27:  Green Buildings and beyond

Readings:

• Degrees that Matter, Chapter 6 plus either Chapter 7 if your master plan topic involves buildings or Chapter 8 if your topic involves transportation, grounds or other non-buildings issues.

October 4:

October 11: 

Assignment:

• First draft of master plan memo due

October 18:

October 25: 

November 1:

Assignment: Final draft of master plan memo due

November 8:

November 15:

November 22: Thanksgiving, no class

November 29:  last class

Grading:

The class is a 2 credit, graded course.

*****

Two 1-page essays: 10%

Master Plan Memo:  30%

Class Participation: 30%

Project participation: 30%

***** 

Attendance Policy:

• 2 unexcused absences will result in a grade no higher than a B
• 3 unexcused absences will result in a grade no higher than a C
• 4 or more unexcused absences will result in a failing grade.

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