National Alliance for Green Education

National Alliance for Green Education
First Annual Round-Table Session
Hosted by Prescott College
August 1-3, 1997

Participating schools and delegates in attendance (student, faculty, administrative)

Meeting Summary

Friday Evening, August 1

I. Opening Reception, Delegate Introductions and Welcome to Prescott

II. Inspirational Presentation by Drew Dellinger

Context, Vision, Mission: The Universe Story, the Ecological Crisis & the Role of Education

III. Discussion of the Session Format and Logistics

Saturday Morning, August 2

IV. Introductory Presentations from the Participating Institutions

During this time, we explored the continuum of similarities and differences between our institutions. All participating schools, at this time, are small liberal arts colleges with a focus on issues of ecological literacy as well as environmental and social justice. In addition, each institution offers innovative programs with unique pedagogical elements, some of which are listed below.

A. Student centered learning
B. Project-based and experiential education
C. Hands-on application of skills to real issues/problems
D. Interdisciplinary programs
E. Cooperative educational style
F. Community and land centered curricular focus
G. Multi-cultural approaches

(for further information, please visit the web site http://www.ecotopia.com/naage)

V. Presentation from the NAAGE Project Founders, Craig H. Martinsen and James R. Pittman

Visioning a New Liberal Arts Agenda Through Consortium Building (For further reference, please see our original proposal at http://www.ecotopia.com/naage)

VI. Presentation by Ron Swenson, The National Awards for Environmental Stewardship

The National Awards for Environmental Stewardship is an annual high school environmental awards program designed to acknowledge the accomplishments of students who serve their communities and the nation each year as stewards of the environment. (For further reference, please visit the web site http://www.ecotopia.com/awards)

VII. Open Discussion of Proposed Ideas

What would be the general intention of such a consortium?

To strengthen each institution's academic programs through complementarity
To diversify student resources (such as program recruitment and job placement)
To collaborate in greening each institution's campus
To interface educational programs with professionals and activists

What would be the some specific purposes of such a consortium?

Share ideas and resources (curriculum, field stations, local/bioregional information)
Collaborate on projects and fund raising (while retaining individual integrity)
Diversify opportunities for students (field courses, jobs, internships, mentors, etc.)
Enhance interface with businesses, activist groups and other establishments
Hone use of internet as an educational tool
Increase potential for collective as well as individual institutional fund raising
Connect people/projects with similar goals
Present collaborative continuing education programs and annual symposia

What other considerations would need to be explored?

Agreement of joint publicity and shared academic resources
Common ethic and value
Retention of individual institutional integrity in collaborative programs
Membership scale
Level of formality
Preservation of academic integrity
Incorporation of multiple perspectives on similar issues
Alumni relations
Progression of consortium building

Saturday Afternoon, August 2

VIII. Small group discussion

(randomly selected) on consortium priorities and next steps, then presented to the larger circle. Common priorities revealed a cohesive sequence:

A. Create a common ethic/mission/vision around which consortium is structured.

B. Plan second annual Round-Table Session.

C. Establish communications (virtual and real) based on resources and interests.

Phone list
Lists of institutional liaisons and student representatives
Listserve
Web site: first static (html), then interactive (asp)
Further work featuring programs, campus activities and other information

D. Begin logistical planning for resource sharing

Faculty and student exchanges
Field station time-sharing
Consortium wide courses (such as a bioregional orientation)
Collaborative teaching efforts
Continuing education programs

E. Examine possibilities and logistics of consortium expansion.

Membership dues
Size
Institutional type
  • Business members
  • University members
  • Non-accredited Institute members

F. Other hot ideas included:

Campus Greening Reports- providing updates on specific strategies as well as symbolic awards for overall goals met in creating an ecologically sound campus.

Consortium Green Pledge- signed by individual participants in consortium related programs in recognition of a common green ethic (with possible award).

The National Awards for Environmental Stewardship- awarding scholarships to high school students who show merit as environmental leaders.

G. Common sentiment indicated that the consortium should continue to hold its student-centered nature, should be held at the current size (10 schools initially solicited for participation, as listed above) and that development/fund raising efforts for the consortium should be done as a joint-venture effort. This latter element would provide cooperative communication of strategies for the administrative hub of the consortium to solicit funds for general administration and project seed money while the member institutions raise funds for their own programs and scholarships.

IX. Break-out into task-oriented groups

Self-selected task-oriented groups (Ethics, Communication, Conference, Exchanges) with results to be presented to larger group on Sunday

Saturday Evening, August 2

Informal meeting and discussion among student delegates (at Craig's house)

Sunday Morning, August 3

X. Presentation from Saturday's task-oriented groups

A. Program Exchanges

D. Oswald, G. Antilla, P. Bartels, L. Koziol, X. Castro, N. Houston

Discussion created and elucidated many ideas, some of which are listed below.

Field courses (especially those under enrolled in host institution)
Internships
One-to-one faculty exchanges (full-term)
Scholar-in-residence programs (short-term)
Student Semester exchanges (with faculty recommendation)
Student initiated collaborative independent studies
Cooperative field courses (co-teaching)\
Topic-based information exchange within courses

Also, the group began to explore exchange possibilities, there was recognition that, prior to launch, many financial and logistical ramifications will require a great deal of discussion among the member institutions' administrative officers. Next steps that were identified in this realm are listed below.

Discussion of balance between cooperation and competition
Examination of administrative logistics (tuition, transfer credit, financial aid)
Calendar comparison and possible synchronization
Selection of student resource coordinators for consortium communication
Identification of a bioregional tour guide at each institution
Creation of orientation for each institution and bioregion
Posting of exchange opportunities
Marketing (promote within institutions and attract new students)

B. Communications and Internet Resources

C. Robinson, R. Swenson, D. Hyslop, A. Scott, M. Fridley, M. Versen

Suggestions were made to compile information about the consortium and each of the participating schools, to be placed in a central location at each school with an informational poster. Further discussion carried several emerging ideas further, like the creation of a consortium Listserve as a beginning, as well as producing new ideas.

Questions lingered as to where a server could be utilized for these purposes, and it was noted that Goddard College is a possible resource for this assistance. As our virtual networking ability expands once this is clarified, different uses for an internet resource brokerage are listed below.

Listserve, chat line, topic-based virtual discussion threads/think tank
Bioregional description of each institution and local issues
Maps showing consortium members
Documentation of campus greening efforts
Calendars coordinating exchanges and facility time-shares
Listings of student/faculty program focuses (self-registry)
Featured student/faculty projects and papers
Virtual-reality keynote presentations and seminars (distance education )
Databases of course offerings, syllabi and curricula
Annotated bibliographies
Databases scholarships, grants, internships and career opportunities
Search engine
Inspirational quotes

C. Round-table Conference/Symposium

H. Brugger, J. Shaw, G. Herman, B. Davis, J. Pittman, R. Swenson

It was determined that the annual session should be rotated among participating member institutions. Institutional delegations were identified as a necessary focus of the first few events, with a minimal registration fee.

The next Round-table event will be hosted by Northland College, the theme will be Sense of Place. Contact Grant Herman with suggestions for, or to get information regarding this event. Elements that were identified as possible event programming are listed below.

Local/bioregional highlights (historical, environmental, economic)
Annual green awards
Keynote presentations (1-2)
Student/faculty presentations
Community partners (environmental entrepreneur/green business)
Electronic proceedings

D. Ethics/Mission

S. Shope, C. Martinsen, K. Vachta, G. Burford

This is by far the most difficult, and most important task before the consortium: defining what it is that we are gathering around. Four areas of vision were identified by the group:

Commitment to presenting a "green" education
Acceptance of common ethics of exchange
Learning to walk our talk
Inspiring creative environmental and community leadership

The conclusion was drawn that the student-centered nature of the project is central, and should be supported by faculty and administrative elements.

XI. Presentation of individual tasks

J. Pittman Secure institutional commitment (through the Council of Independent Colleges?)
Begin fund raising
Assist in internet design
R. Swenson Act as interim web master
Continue organizing National Awards for Environmental Stewardship
Begin Campus Greening Program
A. Parker Talk to Naropa's President
Create network of interested students at Naropa
Work with exchange committee, focusing on internships
Explore the question "What is greening the campus?"
B. Davis Work on first draft of mission statement
Talk to President and Dean at Warren Wilson and act as institutional liaison
Explore logistics of faculty exchanges
Participate on conference committee
G. Antilla Act as liaison between student, faculty and administrative elements at PC
Work on exchange programs
R. Devine Communicate with administration and Environmental Studies faculty at Antioch
Explore exchange possibilities
Work on conference content, design and student interest
K. Vachta Work on mission statement
Talk with Environmental Studies folks at Antioch
Assist with exchange logistics
X. Castro Present NAAGE to Antioch students
Work on exchange programs
Assist in poster design
H. Brugger Distribute benchmark tuition survey
Work on mission statement
Present NAAGE to Unity faculty and help to secure institutional commitment
Provide support for conference logistics
D. Hyslop Networking with students at Unity
Assist with poster/brochure design
Work with exchange and internet committee
N. Houston Collect information from all the colleges
Present NAAGE to Sterling folks
Work on exchanges
Compile bulletin board of classes and collaborative academic calendar
S. Shope Find a student delegate for Sterling
Consult on campus greening efforts
Explore internship opportunities
Assist in brochure design
A. Scott Work on student outreach programs
Develop a campus organization at PC
Assist in brochure/pamphlet design
Work on exchanges
Compile Ecopsychology resource e-bank
C. Martinsen Work as institutional liaison
Help in conference planning
Assist in any visual design efforts
Compile minutes of meeting
C. Robinson Talk to others at Naropa
Work on internet and spread word of Ecopsychology
M. Versen Work on poster design
Student Development
D. Fuller Communicate with Northland President, faculty and students
Provide administrative support
Work on cooperative program exchanges
Communicate with administrators at other institutions
Assist in conference planning
G. Burford Assist in communications and syllabi exchange
Provide religious studies perspective on listserve
Compile bibliographies
L. Koziol Work on information distribution
Present NAAGE Northland students
Work on conference planning
Assist in internet logistics
D. Oswald Present NAAGE to PC faculty
Work on exchange

XII. Institutional Liaisons for 1997-98 Academic Year

XIII. Closing Circle

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has!
Margaret Mead