Sustainability Environmental Project Leadership

Earn an Experiential Certificate in: Sustainability & Environmental Project Leadership

Description

Students pursuing the Sustainability Project Leadership certificate participate in and lead sustainability projects by uniting diverse skill sets and identities with education to work collaboratively towards a sustainable future. This certificate drives students to think critically, and creatively, to design and implement sustainability projects through cross-campus and community partnerships.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this certificate, students will be able to:

  • Analyze sustainability issues and solutions through a social justice lens
  • Recognize how to engage with local and extended community partners in order to foster mutually beneficial relationships
  • Apply systems thinking in design of a sustainability project
  • Implement a sustainability project
  • Appraise relevant career and graduate school opportunities

 

Purpose Courses

Students will choose at least three academic courses through Albion College in consultation with the Faculty Director of CSE. Courses should introduce issues related to themes of approved advocacy/education projects. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • Environmental and Ecology Field Trip course (ENVN 201) 
  • Sustainable Living Seminar (ENVN 206)
  • Sustainability Projects (ENVN 188/288)
  • Both 200-and 300-level elective courses listed in requirements for Environmental Science and Environmental Studies majors.  
  • Other project-based learning courses (e.g. AEXL 296/396/496)

Honors courses and special topics courses that match the purpose of the Hospitality Management certificate also may be approved. 

Professional Development

Professional development hours can be fulfilled through any relevant Albion College training including workshops and Innovation Badges offered through the School for Public Purpose and Professional Advancement and college programs. External certifications and professional training offered by third party providers may also be approved by CSE staff.  

Students will design or select the appropriate number of professional development hours for their catalog year. 

Recommended professional development opportunities include: 

  • Intersectional Environmentalism Innovation Badge
  • Environmental Justice in Albion Innovation Badge
  • Environmental and Sustainability Leadership Innovation Badge
  • Career workshops offered by the Career and Internship Center

 

Experiential Learning

Students will design or select the appropriate number of experiential learning hours, including community engaged experiential learning hours, for their catalog year.

It is anticipated that most students will complete at least half of their experiential learning hours by leading a single sustainability project on campus or in the community.  Students may lead or participate as a team member in other projects.  At least one of the completed projects should be community-based and include extensive engagement.   

Examples of possible opportunities include:   

  • Off-campus or on campus internship that involves student designing and leading a project. 
  • Student project for implementation of rain or pollinator gardens on campus,  in collaboration with Grounds Department
  • Student project for developing recycling or composting programs, in collaboration with Grounds Department
  • Student project for the implementation of bicycle infrastructure on campus in collaboration with Facilities Operations
  • Student project for on transportation at college or in the community  in collaboration with Facilities Operations or city organizations
  • Student project on the energy efficiency with Facility Operations
  • Student project on habitat restoration or sustainable agriculture entrepreneurship in collaboration with the Whitehouse Nature Center
  • Student project for developing the student farm in collaboration with CSE and the Whitehouse Nature Center
  • Student project leadership on Green Day or on hosting films/speakers in collaboration with CSE 
  • Student participation and leadership in the Sustainability Council

Interested in earning this Experiential Certificate? Please contact Professor Thom Wilch by email at [email protected].