Sustainability-in-Action course proposal

VANIER COLLEGE – UNIVERSAL COMPLEMENTARY COURSE COURSE TITLE:

SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION – THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

COURSE NUMBER:

365-XXX-va

COURSE HOURS PER WEEK:

1 Hours of Theoretical Work 2 Hours of Practical Work 3 Hours of Homework

TEACHERS: Mark Cohen

OFFICE: D-545A (744-7500 ext.7801) E-MAIL: cohenm@vaniercollege.qc.ca

Richard Klopp

AUTUMN 2013

OFFICE: N-342 (744-7500 ext.7239) E-MAIL: kloppr@vaniercollege.qc.ca OFFICE HOURS:

TBA and by appointment

PREREQUISITES: None COURSE DESCRIPTION: More than 25 years ago, a landmark commission on environment and development defined sustainable development as something “that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” We are the future that the Brundtland Commission was referring to. Have our needs been compromised? Is there such a thing any more as sustainable development? Are the needs of future generations being, not compromised, but made untenable? Sustainability in Action is a course that seeks to understand the impacts of human behaviour on our environment and ourselves. Major topics will include food, energy, waste, biodiversity, and consumer culture. These topics will be approached from a multi-disciplinary perspective that examines the historical, social, economic, scientific, and literary contexts of these issues. Consequently, readings will span a large palette of contemporary writing from local journalism to academic articles, from literary non-fiction to poetry. Experts from various fields will speak to students about their areas of knowledge. A key component of the course will also be a service learning experience in which students identify a challenge to sustainability in their local environment, try to find a solution, and then write about their experience.

OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS: The objective of this course is to enable students to deal with a sustainability issue from a crossdisciplinary perspective. Students will learn to present a research problem related to sustainability by considering the problem from various disciplinary perspectives and formulating a research question which will be investigated in the context of a service learning experience. They will be able to select an appropriate research method and analytical framework to apply to their problem. Finally, they will be able to propose solutions to this problem, taking into account the inter-disciplinary perspectives they have studied. Their findings will be presented in a 750-word research paper.

METHODOLOGY: Through lectures, class discussions, and group and individual assignments, students will be invited to explore, discuss and clarify a broad range of issues related to sustainability. Experts from various disciplines will speak to the class about their particular perspectives on these issues. In class, we will engage in a variety of learning activities that may include responses and assignments, and pair and group work and projects. Other assignments may include out-of-class activities such as visiting a farmers’ market or undertaking some work on the college campus. The service learning experience will be a key focus of the course, requiring time both within and beyond class time.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Each of the following texts is available at the Vanier book store: Sustainability in Action: Course Texts and Writing Guide. Compiled by Mark Cohen and Richard Klopp. Montreal: Vanier College Press, 2013. Print.

Other course material will be available through Lea/Omnivox.

Students will also be expected to have a standard college English-English dictionary.

EVALUATION: Assignment Content quizzes (short-answer questions on course readings) Unit tests (in-class test at the end of each of 3 course units) Eco-advocacy exercise (students produce a public document on a sustainability issue) Group work on service-learning project (formulation of project, research, and participation in group work) Service-learning report (750-word take-home research paper)

Value Timing 10% (Unannounced) 25% (End of each unit) 15%

(Week 6)

25% 25%

(Throughout) (Week 15)

COURSE POLICIES: Cheating and Plagiarism Plagiarism means “to present the ideas or writings of another as one’s own.” Vanier College policy stipulates that any form of cheating or plagiarism will result in a grade of zero on the text or assignment, and a letter from the teacher will be placed in the offending student’s file. A repeated offence may lead to even more serious consequences. Please consult the Vanier Student Writing Guide, the Vanier College Catalogue, the Student Handbook, the college’s policy online (http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/acadean/policy/7210s31.pdf) and your teacher for more information.

Attendance Regular attendance and active participation are required throughout the term. Missing more than 10% of in-class work without a valid reason seriously jeopardizes a student’s chance of passing the course. Students who miss 20% of in-class work will likely fail. Students whose religious obligations require them to be absent from the College on a holy day not formally recognized in the College calendar must inform their teachers, in writing, during the first week of classes, of the particular date(s) and times of the religious holy days on which they must be absent. Absences approved in this manner are considered to be excused absences. Students with other justifiable absences must submit original and verifiable documentation, such as a medical note, upon their return to class. For all absences, students are responsible for material covered in class and for making up any work missed.

The complete version of the college’s absence (http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/acadean/policy/7210s20.pdf).

policy

is

available

online

OTHER COLLEGE POLICIES: General Academic Policies It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with and adhere to the Vanier College Academic Policies. These policies can be found online under “Academic Policies” at http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/academic-dean/academic-policies-new.php Student Academic Complaints (Policy number 7210-8) The Vanier College Student Academic Complaints Policy and procedures puts an emphasis on mediation as the primary means to resolve complaints in the academic area. If you have a problem with a teacher and have been unable to resolve it by talking with him or her, you may wish to enlist the help of the Faculty Mediation Committee. The committee member names and contact information are available in Student Services or through the office of the Faculty Dean. The complete version of this policy is available online (http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/acadean/policy/7210s8.pdf).

Student Misconduct in the Classroom (Policy number 7210-19) This policy provides guidelines for handling cases of student misbehaviour in the classroom and other instructional settings. Such cases may include conduct that is abusive to the teacher and/or other students, or disruptive to the teaching/learning process. This policy does not limit the teacher’s or the College’s right to take immediate action in cases of imminent danger to persons or property.

The complete version of this policy is available online (http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/acadean/policy/7210s19.pdf).

Zero Tolerance (Policy number 7110-2) The following disruptive behaviours will not be tolerated in any degree on campus: Unauthorized Use of Alcohol/Illegal Drugs; Violence against Persons or Property; Possession of Weapons; Verbal or Written Abuse or Intimidation; Theft or Gambling. The complete version of this policy is available online (http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/policies/7110s2.pdf).