Marian: I'll be out of town on Dec 6th but otherwise would have added my voice to this conversation. Is there a mechanism for contributing written comments?
LEVEL GREEN - fostering sustainable community through collaborative initiatives in hospitality, education and the arts, in the 150 year-old democratic spirit of the Danish Folk School. 1519 Slaterville Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 339-9472 --- On Thu, 11/13/08, Marian Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Marian Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Community Input sought related to Ithaca College's sustainability direction To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" <[email protected]> Date: Thursday, November 13, 2008, 10:34 AM 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/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
