A $95,000 grant awarded to the University three years ago will finally be put to use come fall with a new one-year graduate certificate program in sustainable practices — the first of its kind in the nation.
“This is a program that will give you the overall understanding of sustainability,” Program Director Vicki Elmer said. @@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=staff&d=person&b=name&s=Vicki+Elmer@@
Other graduate programs in environmental studies and sustainability typically focus on one specific area within the field, Elmer said. The University’s program, titled Oregon Leadership in Sustainability, approaches sustainability more broadly and includes classes on everything from water conservation to politics and economics. @@http://sustain.uoregon.edu/@@
“It’s a boot camp program for sustainability,” Elmer said.
Over three terms, the program will focus on four core courses taught by faculty from the business school, environmental studies, architecture, and public policy and planning management. Along with these courses, participants will participate in a yearlong practicum with a local business on a sustainability project.
“It provides students academic resources and gives them the opportunity to test them in the real world,” University Sustainability Director Steve Mital said, adding he hopes it will help “move Oregon into a leadership position in the green economy.” @@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=staff&d=person&b=name&s=mital@@
Mital first proposed the idea for the program to Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner in the summer of 2008 and almost immediately got approved to move forward. @@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=staff&d=person&b=name&s=George+Pernsteiner@@
“It was the simplest, smoothest grant process I have ever gone through,” Mital said of the $95,000 grant later awarded by OUS.
The program will be offered through the planning, public policy and management department, and it started accepting applications last month. The program plans on admitting 30 students in its first year.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to apply for a program that will help me make a contribution to the sustainability movement,” said University alumna and fall applicant Shelley Deadmond, noting the importance of the program’s broader approach to teaching sustainability. @@Shelley Deadmond@@
“Sustainability by nature is multidisciplinary — it encompasses everything we do,” Deadmond said. “I’m hoping to equip myself with the tools I need to essentially save the world.”
Mital said he hopes all students will come out of the program prepared to do the same.
“Sustainability professionals are like a postmodern librarian,” Mital said. “They motivate and inspire people to action.”