Sustainability & the Campus (ENVIRON 391)
The three-credit Sustainability & the Campus course, being offered during Winter 2012 (MWF, 10-11 a.m.), explores the ecological, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability in higher education—using U-M as a "living laboratory" as part of the process. (Click here for syllabus)
This interactive, interdisciplinary course draws upon theory and practice in sustainability, environmental management, organizational change, and social advocacy. Students conduct a substantial, hands-on group project in conjunction with a university sponsor. Through site visits, guest lectures, discussions, lectures and the group project, this course addresses real-life challenges of campus environmental sustainability. Students complete the course with an understanding of the campus as a lever for social/environmental change and with the personal tools to act as change agents. The course instructor is Mike Shriberg, Ph.D.
As part of the class, students present their findings and recommenations for how to improve sustainability efforts on the U-M Campus. Please see below to learn about multiple "Sustainability & the Campus" projects students have pursued.
Winter 2012 Group Projects:
- Sustainable Workplace Certification Program
- Post-Consumer Food Waste Composting Project at Michigan League
- Sustainable Transportation Options for the Matthaei Botanical Gardens
- Creating a Restorative Landscape at Music, Theatre and Dance
- Sustainability & New Media
- Infusing Sustainability in the U-M LeaderShape program
Fall 2011 Group Projects:
- Greening Commencement II: Education & Recycling
- Student Sustainable Commuting
- Sustaining Camp Michigania: Next Steps
- Interactive Campus Sustainability Map
- Campus Garden
- Assessing a Campus Energy Monitoring System
- Kill-A-Watt
Winter 2011 Group Projects:
- Greening Commencement (and Other Major Ceremonies)
- Reusable Water Bottles and Behavior (a Project Associated with the Winter 2011 LSA Theme Semester on WATER)
- Starting a Garden for Outdoor Adventures (and the Rest of the Campus)
- Promoting Sustainability in Research Labs
- Scoping A Solar Roof on the Power Plant
- "Greening" Campus Landscapes
- Zero Waste Camp Michigania
Fall 2010 Group Projects:
- Reinvigorating the Office Supply Reuse Program
- "Water Literacy" Project for the 2011 LSA Theme Semester on WATER
- Assessing and Planning for a Student Sustainability Fee & Fund
- Identifying and Encouraging Green Products Purchasing
- Greening the Outdoor Adventures Program
- "Zero Waste" University Unions
- Advancing Students' Sustainability Engagement through Social Media
- Energy Conservation in the Labs
- Options for Reducing or Eliminating Bottled Water Use on Campus
Winter 2010 Group Projects:
- Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Reporting System (STARS) for U-M
- Creating a Student Sustainability Guide
- Transitioning the Campus to a Single-Stream Recycling Program
- Building a University Unions Education for Sustainability Program
- Reducing Paper Usage
- Trayless Dining: Pilot II
- Big Ten Sustainability Report
- Ann Arbor Bike Sharing
2009 Group Projects (Final Reports):
- Green I.T. Certification
- LEED Assessment of Building
- Trayless Dining
- U-M Football Stadium Solar Power Feasibility Study
- University Unions Sustainability Assessment
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