Building Ecoliteracy: A General Education Track in Sustainability

FAIN: AK-255344-17

Loras College (Dubuque, IA 52001-4327)
Christoffer Lammer-Heindel (Project Director: October 2016 to October 2022)
Benjamin Darr (Co Project Director: May 2018 to October 2022)

The development of four interdisciplinary courses with student engagement activities and a lecture series, study group, and workshop series, linked by the theme of ecoliteracy.

This proposal establishes a Sustainability Certificate Program as a part of Loras College’s general education curriculum. The Sustainability General Education Track will consist of four courses, each containing significant interdisciplinary content and connections to the humanities. Successful completion of the Track will ensure that students meet Loras College’s general education requirements while also obtaining a certificate in Sustainability. The college’s strength and experience in community-based learning will provide ample opportunities for faculty to arrange high-impact learning experiences, and each course has several such activities planned. The project’s outcomes will be disseminated throughout the surrounding community and to other regional and national faculty via both conference presentations and workshops. Evaluation of student progress toward learning outcomes will be based on an existing rubric developed by the grant applicants.

Media Coverage

Loras nabs nearly $100,000 for sustainability program (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Telegraph-Herald Staff
Publication: Telegraph-Herald
Date: 4/1/2017
Abstract: Brief newspaper announcement concerning grant award.
URL: http://www.telegraphherald.com/news/tri-state/article_b0f03512-e58a-5948-b921-76ef09fc0ada.html?sp-tk=6D62CAB97777B79591D5DF7933944BD9BCB4A2EFBF917FC6AF0030DCC0692BF1EB9412F36F0185FDEEBC5D48A33734CDBF51ADD45D60C6CF4788ADE50E8CB56488877357AF16623BD0DCD1EB1E8F3B36D79B7FB8573CD69AF2E729557522DCB50DEB59447784BAC243D7783B087463D0F09D6457BCF3031C219AE6FF6D4BBAF08CAD152869BBFF6B2FA30051EBB08D623CB9BBB1

Event to feature readings from 'The Driftless Reader' (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Telegraph-Herald Staff
Publication: Telegraph-Herald
Date: 2/25/2018
Abstract: Brief newspaper announcement concerning book reading and signing event associated with NEH guest speaker event.
URL: Event to feature readings from 'The Driftless Reader'

Associated Products

High Impact Practices for Developing Ecoliteracy and Civic Action (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: High Impact Practices for Developing Ecoliteracy and Civic Action
Author: Denise Mitten (Prescott College)
Author: Emily Shields (Iowa Campus Compact)
Author: Christoffer Lammer-Heindel (Loras College)
Abstract: Dr. Denise Mitten of Prescott College, and Emily Shields, Executive Director of Iowa Campus Compact, examine best practices for engaging students in high impact practices that develop civic engagement and ecoliteracy on the part of students. Introductory remarks by Dr. Christoffer Lammer-Heindel, Loras College. (Eighteen faculty from Loras College and two other area institutions, Clarke University and the University of Dubuque, participated in the workshop.)
Date Range: 09/09/2017
Location: Loras College (Academic Resource Center), 1450 Alta Vista Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
Primary URL: https://buildingecoliteracy.wordpress.com/2017/08/31/workshop/
Primary URL Description: Project webpage announcement.
Secondary URL: https://buildingecoliteracy.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/ecoliteracy_civic-action-workshop-1.pdf
Secondary URL Description: Promotional poster, which was distributed on the Loras College campus and to other area institutions (Clarke University and the University of Dubuque).

The Anhinga and the Anthropocene: Ecoliteracy in Many Languages (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: The Anhinga and the Anthropocene: Ecoliteracy in Many Languages
Abstract: Dr. Barbara Eckstein (University of Iowa) examines the meaning and import of ecoliteracy in the anthropocene, arguing that non-human species have their own stories. As we seek to practice a "wild hospitality" and create communities which are attuned to the natural world, we must attend to the spaces other species make for themselves and recognize the "slow violence" to which they are subjected. This violence is, itself, inescapably bound up with colonization and capitalism.
Author: Barbara Eckstein (University of Iowa)
Date: 11/02/2017
Location: Loras College (Alumni Campus Center), 1450 Alta Vista Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
Primary URL: https://buildingecoliteracy.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/public-lecture-by-barbara-eckstein/
Primary URL Description: Project website announcement.
Secondary URL: https://buildingecoliteracy.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/eckstein_poster.pdf
Secondary URL Description: Publicity poster.

Sustainability Certificate Proposal (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: Sustainability Certificate Proposal
Author: Christoffer Lammer-Heindel
Author: Benjamin Darr
Abstract: Proposal to establish the Sustainability Certificate credential and course identification. Submitted to Loras College's Academic Council in November 2017.
Year: 2017
Primary URL: https://buildingecoliteracy.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/ac-certificate-proposal.pdf
Primary URL Description: PDF of Academic Council Proposal
Audience: Undergraduate

Radical Climate Justice and the Humanities (Online Mini-Conference) (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: Radical Climate Justice and the Humanities (Online Mini-Conference)
Author: Benjamin Darr, Organizer (Loras College)
Author: Christoffer Lammer-Heindel, Organizer (Loras College)
Author: John Foran, Speaker (UC Santa Barbara)
Author: Ken Hiltner, Speaker (UC Santa Barbara)
Abstract: On November 29 and 30, Loras College will host an online mini-conference, "Radical Climate Justice and the Humanities," featuring John Foran, professor of sociology at UC Santa Barbara, and Ken Hiltner, professor of environmental humanities at UC Santa Barbara. The conference is made possible by a Humanities Connections grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Participation is free and open to anyone in the world with internet access.
Date Range: 11/29/2017-11/30/2017
Location: Loras College, 1450 Alta Vista Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
Primary URL: https://climatejusticehumanities.org
Primary URL Description: Webpage for the mini-conference, including free registration.

Communicating for the Long Run: Aldo Leopold and the Development of Sustainability Thinking (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Communicating for the Long Run: Aldo Leopold and the Development of Sustainability Thinking
Abstract: Dr. Curt Meine, Senior Fellow at the Aldo Leopold Foundation, surveyed the history of sustainability, examining the language, terminology, and framing used to communicate sustainability principles to the broader public. Particular attention was paid to the insights and challenges identified by Aldo Leopold in his writings and public advocacy.
Author: Curt Meine
Date: 03/03/2018
Location: Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa)
Primary URL: https://buildingecoliteracy.wordpress.com/2018/02/20/guest-lecture-by-curt-meine-march-3/
Primary URL Description: Promotional materials.

Public screening and discussion of Koyaanisqatsi (1982) (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Public screening and discussion of Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
Abstract: Licensed for theatrical presentation at Loras College by Park Circus, Inc.
Author: Godfrey Reggio
Date: 04/23/2018
Location: Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa)
Primary URL: https://buildingecoliteracy.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/koyaanisqatsi-poster.pdf
Primary URL Description: Promotional poster.

Building Ecoliteracy: An Embedded General Education Track in Sustainability Studies (Conference Paper/Presentation)
Title: Building Ecoliteracy: An Embedded General Education Track in Sustainability Studies
Author: Benjamin Darr
Author: Christoffer Lammer-Heindel
Abstract: This panel discussion was organized by members of the University of Iowa General Education Committee and Office of Sustainability. Dr. Benjamin Darr and Dr. Christoffer Lammer-Heindel of Loras College described their successful NEH grant proposal and the subsequent development of their certificate program at Loras College, focusing on the set of choices they confronted for general education requirements and the challenges they have encountered. Dr. David Bennett (Geographical and Sustainability Sciences) and Dr. Charles Connerly (Director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning) of the University of Iowa served as respondents on the panel.
Date: 02/22/2018
Primary URL: https://buildingecoliteracy.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/ui-potential-talking-points-1.pdf
Primary URL Description: Notes for panel discussion presentation.
Conference Name: University of Iowa, Office of Sustainability, Panel Discussion

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