Our new President Tom Rochon has made it explicitly clear that - while
HE strongly supports campus and community sustainability, he needs to
hear that the CAMPUS itself is in support of broader, deeper internal
support for sustainability here at Ithaca College and that the community
itself values what we are doing as a partner organization. What
President Rochon hears "loud and clear" and consistently throughout the
"Listening Process" that he is conducting himself this fall will no
doubt be reflected in the development of Ithaca College's new long-range
strategic plan.
Please note that our Strategic Visioning Process is not intended to only
determine our direction related to campus sustainability, but to setting
Ithaca College's entire future direction across all academic,
operational and community outreach efforts. However, we do want to take
full advantage of this unique and potentially powerful opportunity to
make sure that President Rochon hears that Ithaca College's future
should include strong commitment to and support for campus
sustainability as well as strengthening college support for regional
sustainability development efforts.
One of President Rochon's Listening Sessions is intended for members of
the local community to attend and share your voice, your ideas, your
concerns, your visions for how Ithaca College can be a more effective
community partner. This community listening session will be held on
Saturday, December 6th from 9:00 - 10:30AM in Emerson Suite Room A.
So please mark your calendar and plan to attend. Continental breakfast
will be served. Here's how to get to campus for this Community
"Listening Session" event.
The Emerson Suites are on the second floor in the Campus Center, which
is also called Phillips Hall.
Here is our campus map which shows the location of Phillips Hall/Campus
Center - building 9A on the map.
http://www.ithaca.edu/map/
There should be free parking for visitors in front of the Campus Center
that morning in "U" lot (or if for some reason it's full, you can parkin
in "O" lot behind the Park School of Communication - building 20 on the
map. There is disabled access to the building at this entrance and
special parking in "U" lot close to the front entrance.
http://www.ithaca.edu/map/parking.php
Note: You are strongly advised NOT to try to park in E lot, reserved for
Admissions parking. That office is likely to be open on that Saturday
morning and if so, they WILL have Public Safety patrols working to keep
that lot clear for parking by prospective student families. Don't chance
getting ticketed!
TCAT bus Route 11 stops on the first level of the Park School on the
lower "O" parking lot side. Just come through the building, up the
stairs (or elevator) to the second level and exit the building. You'll
be directly facing the Campus Center across the "U" lot parking area.
Here is the Route 11 schedule - look for the Saturdays. Route 11 runs
between Ithaca College and the Commons stops.
http://tcat.nextinsight.com/routes.php?mrnid=257
For more information about Ithaca College's Strategic Visioning Process
and the purpose of the"Listening Sessions", go to:
http://www.ithaca.edu/visioning/
Please note that Saturday, December 6th is the same morning as the
Alternative Gift Fair at the 1st Presbyterian Church, but the Gift Fair
is on from 10am to 4:00PM. Please think about coming and sharing your
thoughts with Tom Rochon and his co-listeners about the importance of
Ithaca College being a visible, strong and active partner in the local
sustainability movement. Then come SHOPPING for your friends and family
at the Ithaca Alternative Gift Fair.
Thanks!
Marian
The Partnerships in Sustainability Education group (the partnership
between Ithaca College Environmental Studies and EcoVillage at Ithaca)
has developed some potential talking points that may be of interest to
you. These relate primarily to the campus sustainability efforts, but
you may find them instructive and useful as you think about what you
might want to add.
1. *What are the key elements of mission that define Ithaca College
as a community of learners?*
1. Sustainability needs to be an explicit mission of the college.
2. Experiential learning, especially within the larger IC community
3. Literacy in matters of civic engagement: politics, ethics,
diversity, the environment, health
4. Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary thinking and
practice: especially in the ability to majors in two
different schools
2. *What are the most important issues and opportunities that we
should address?*
1. Broader participation in sustainability education by
faculty, staff and students to integrate sustainability
throughout the curriculum; develop sustainability as a
distinct academic discipline
2. Making our operations and endowment more sustainable so that
the way we operate becomes part of our curriculum and mission
3. Working closely with Ithaca community to build its
reputation as a hotspot for academia, progressive thinking
and community action
4. When other institutions think about sustainability issues
they should say “let’s ask Ithaca College how they did it.”
3. *What are the existing assets and strengths that serve as a
foundation for achieving the goals identified above? What new
assets and strengths need to be developed?*
1. IC is already internationally recognized for sustainability
in terms of academics, buildings and operations
2. Environmental Studies Program is vibrant and connected to
the greater community
3. Plans to meet the Presidents Climate Commitment (including
our wind turbine) are well underway
4. We have many double majors in both schools
BUT……
5. Other institutions with bigger publicity machines are
aggressively promoting themselves. IC must remain committed,
inventive and nimble.
6. Sustainability would be better integrated between academics,
student affairs, and operations if coordinated and supported
through a center or office
7. Service commitments for sustainability both at I.C. and
within the community must take on greater importance for
evaluation of tenure and promotion
8. Efforts directed towards achieving carbon neutrality need to
be integrated into the curriculum
9. Environmental Studies Program structure and resource
allocation needs to be increased to foster further growth
and serve as a resource to the rest of the I.C. community
3. *Five years from now, what should be the defining characteristics
of an IC education? These may relate to our students, faculty,
curriculum, approach to teaching and learning, community
partnerships, academic and administrative support systems, quality
of student life, or other dimensions. *
1. Ithaca College is known as the place to go if you want to
make a difference in the world
2. Sustainability should be a required component and
integrating theme of our general education system
3. A cross-disciplinary educational component (provided by
sustainability studies)
4. Systems thinking, analytical thinking, critical thinking,
aesthetic appreciation, global perspectives, historic
perspectives, and technology are addressed in a more
deliberate and comprehensive way.
4. *How will we measure our progress? *
1. Number of students pursuing degrees in sustainability or
related fields (Environmental Studies, etc.)
2. Numbers of student projects relating to sustainability;
including involvement in the community
3. Decreasing resource use, carbon emissions and waste output
4. Sustainability literacy among graduates
5. Other institutions sending faculty, staff, and students to
Ithaca for training and workshops.
6. Evidence of strong partnerships in our community.
_______________________________________________
For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please
visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/
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