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Academic Initiatives

Union College’s classroom offerings and research opportunities form an excellent foundation from which to expand its commitment to sustainability. We believe that the following goals should be adopted in order to integrate sustainability into the academic curriculum even more completely:

  • Every undergraduate should graduate with a general knowledge of the issues of sustainability.
  • Issues of sustainability and the environment should be incorporated into as many courses within the undergraduate curriculum as possible.
  • Union College should track and publicize undergraduate research on issues of sustainability and the environment.
  • The development of such interdisciplinary programs as Environmental Studies/Science and Environmental Science and Engineering should continue.

    Ongoing Initiatives at Union College

    MAJOR PROGRAM: Environmental Science and Policy Program is a thriving interdisciplinary program that offers both a major and a minor in Environmental Studies, with tracks in Environmental Science, Engineering, and Policy



    COURSES: Issues related to sustainability and the environment are addressed in a variety of courses in at least 13 departments and in the Core Curriculum.

  • The number of students taking these courses has more than doubled over the last 5 years
  • The number of students petitioning for Introduction to Environmental Studies (ENS 100) has increased each term, and this course is now being offered every term at Union College to meet the demand

    Some of the activities in the these classes in recent years have included:
    • Calculating Union College’s Carbon Footprint and presenting the finding in a poster session – ENS 100 – Winter 2008
    • Visiting a local waste water treatment plant to understand the processes and mechanisms…- ENS 100 – Winter 2008
    • Testing water quality of a number of city, well, and surface water samples – poster session – CHM 240 - Spring 2007
    • Determining Changes in Discharge in Rivers in the Northeast – ENS 460 – Poster Session in conjunction with the Environmental Speaker Series – Winter 2008
    • Visiting local high schools to discuss major Environmental Issues with Grade 11/12 students in Environmental Science – ENS 460 – Winter 2008
    • Energy and … SRS this term – poster session
    • Writing and submitting editorial letters to local and regional newspapers arguing the importance of understanding current climate change – GEO 109 – winter 2008
    SEMINAR SERIES: The Environmental Studies program sponsors an annual seminar series that brings in world-renowned experts. In 2006-2007, the series focused on Abrupt Global Climate Change. These seminars are widely attended by the Union College community and the surrounding local community.

    UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH:
  • As recorded in the Union College Schaffer Library holdings, from 2000 – 2006, 43 honors theses were published on topics related to sustainability and the environment (an average of ~ 6 per year). The honors theses were distributed among 16 departments and the Environmental Studies program, indicating the presence of faculty in many departments whose research interests include sustainability and environmental issues.
  • Students present their research on sustainability and the environment at the annual Steinmetz Symposium
  • Some recent Steinmetz presentations:
    • Daniel Amira (Political Science, ’07): “Environmental Sustainability at Union College”
    • Kate Swartz (Communication, Organizing Theme major, ’07): “Promoting Environmental Awareness Amongst College Students”
    • Amanda Mishler (Environmental Studies, ’07): “Sorption of Ultra-Violet Filter Chemicals to Natural Sediments”
    • Alexander Krickx (Physics, ’07): “Mercury Detection and Concentration in Seafood by PIXE (Proton Induced X-Ray Emission) Using Union College’s Pelletron Particle Accelerator”

    Future Initiatives

  • Develop “Sustainability Modules” for use by faculty interested in including issues of sustainability or global change into existing courses. These modules would include a powerpoint presentation and notes and/or discussion topics
  • Establish an “Environment Across the Curriculum” initiative to fund faculty development grants to encourage the integration of sustainability into existing courses.
  • Develop an Environmental Literacy requirement so that all Union Students graduate with a knowledge of the environment and issues of sustainability

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    U Sustain seeks to promote sustainability initiatives and educate the campus community about ways to live, work, and enjoy Union in the most environmentally friendly and sustainable ways possible.

     

    Academics
    In an age of pressing environmental concerns, the government, businesses, and universities need graduates that understand basic environmental concerns and solutions. By incorporating environmental and sustainability education, we empower our students to participate in and strengthen our changing society.

    Recycling
    Everything we purchase, use, throw away, or recycle has an impact. U Sustain seeks to help you diminish or eliminate that impact as much as possible through recycling, reduction, and reuse.

    Energy
    Energy is an important component of sustainability and encompasses the electricity that keeps the lights on and the gas that keeps us warm in the blustery Schenectady winter. Knowledge about reducing our energy, and, in turn, our carbon footprint, can enable us all to make a difference.

    Food
    One way we can all make a difference is by being conscious of what we eat and how we eat it. U Sustain seeks to help us all lower our environmental impact by eating local and organic, buying fair trade, using less packaging, and making vegetarian options appealing.

    Financial Resources
    Union College is a large economic power - what the college invests in and purchases can make an important statement. U Sustain strives to help the college make the best economic statements possible.

    Transportation
    Union is a residential, walkable campus, but U Sustain is working on ways to help you get around Union and the greater Schenectady area comfortably, while keeping the environment in mind.