Environmental Literacy: A Lifelong Learning Approach
Claire Sweigart, J.D.
Sustainability Coordinator
Mary Beth McGrew, AIA
Associate VP of Planning + Design + Construction and University Architect
Presentation Outline
• Sustainability at UC
• Environmental Literacy Certificate– Staff Track– Student Track
• Future Developments
Sustainability at UC
Why Environmental Literacy?
• Everyone’s individual decisions have an impact
• Sustainability conversation on campus is currently limited to small group
• Broader engagement needed for real change on campus (behavioral and institutional)
Our Goals
• Raise awareness of UC’s sustainability priorities
• Spur critical thinking and creativity• Behavior change• Peer outreach• Encourage participation in other events
Our Guides• Environmental Literacy*
– Understanding of the environment
– Understanding of society’s impact on the natural world
– Individual and collective actions towards addressing environmental challenges
* Partnership for 21st Century Skills, http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/830
• Adult Education*– Include opportunities to
interact and discuss– Allow for personalization
and collaboration– Maintain physical and
mental comfort in an informal atmosphere
*Knowles, M. The Modern Practice of Adult Education; From Pedagogy to Andragogy. Cambridge, The Adult Education Company. NY. 1980.
Our Approach – Staff
• Staff Track– 9 monthly meetings
each on a different topic
– Participants selected from one department
– Required to attend by supervisor in lieu of staff meeting
Staff Track Details
• 1st Group: Housekeeping Supervisors– 22 participants ranging from age 19 to 56– Mostly African Americans who lived in urban areas– All had high school diploma, some had associates
degree– Based on a preliminary questionnaire, we found a
wide variety of opinions and behaviors on environmental topics and some foundation of environmental knowledge
Example Questions
Example Questions
Staff Track Sessions• 9 Meetings:
– Introduction
– Waste
– Food
– Soil & land use
– Water
– Energy
– Chemicals
– Consumption
– Summary
• Guest Presentations:– Hamilton County Solid
Waste & Recycling District
– Landscape Architect– Professors from
Environmental Studies, Architecture, and Engineering
Staff Track Goals & Evaluation
• Our goals are to start a conversation, engage new participants, and change behaviors
• A final questionnaire was administered to gauge results
Staff Track Goals & Evaluation
Our Approach - Students
• Student Track– 7 monthly meetings
using NWEI discussion course book
– Open to anyone– Required attendance
at other events
Student Track Details
• Must attend:– 4 Lectures– 4 Film discussions– 5 Sustainability Suppers– 3 Volunteer activities– 4 More from any
category– Total of 20 events
(approx. 40 hours)
Student Track Details
• Can be completed within 1 year, but there is no time limit
• Open to students, staff, professors, community members, etc.
• Online registration system
Student Track Goals
• Further engagement with sustainability beyond mere passive attendance
• Provide more substantial benefit to attending sustainability events
Future Developments
• Staff Track– Voluntary enrollment,
but still focused on a narrow staff set
– Refinement of guest presentations
– Possible addition of 1 or 2 sessions for economics and policy
• Student Track– Determine evaluation
method– Partner formally with
Environmental Studies Department
– Engage more students from other disciplines
Contact Info
Claire Sweigart
Mary Beth McGrew
www.uc.edu/sustainability
www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/get_involved/environmental_literacy.html
Facebook: UCSustainability & UCBikeKitchenTwitter: UCSustainable
Instagram: UCSustainability
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