Overview

This workshop will focus on strategies for infusing sustainability content into curricula, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Workshop participants will explore culturally responsive teaching methods and practices, as well as teaching modules from the InTeGrate project and from programs at HBCUs. Emphasis will be placed on activities that enrich thoughts and attitudes and inspires action. Proven examples and models will provide participants with approaches for incorporating sustainability concepts into their courses and programs to better prepare students to solve 21st century challenges and increase effective community engagement.

In advance of the workshop, all participants will contribute a relevant teaching activity, course syllabus, or program description that will form the foundation for discussion and exchange. Using these examples, participants will identify and discuss common strategies for putting sustainability into action. A synthesis of the discussion and the example collection will be published to support others in the design of interdisciplinary teaching activities that address infusing social and environmental sustainability into the curriculum.

This is the third in a series of HBCU InTeGrate Geoscience Workshops. The HBCU Geosciences Working Group in collaboration with InTeGrate is committed to strengthening geoscience curriculum and teaching, increasing the number of students entering the field, and broadly increasing earth science literacy. An immediate goal is to increase HBCU participation in the InTeGrate project funded by a STEP Center grant from the National Science Foundation that supports the teaching of geoscience in the context of societal issues both within geoscience courses and across the undergraduate curriculum. Workshop participants are invited to become members of the HBCU Geosciences Working Group.

This workshop is designed to bring together multi-disciplinary teams of at least two or three members comprised of faculty, sustainability coordinators, and one community member. Individuals may also apply. Ideally, workshop participants will have interest in teaching sustainability in their courses or administering sustainability projects in their program or at their institution. We are especially interested in learning from expertise outside the geosciences and we encourage applicants from the education, social sciences, and humanities.

Workshop Goals

Develop culturally responsive methods, practices and strategies to embed sustainability activities into curriculum by addressing both faculty and administrators;
Learn about existing programs that integrate geoscience and sustainability, the strengths and weaknesses of various program designs, and the challenges and opportunities that they address;
Learn how faculty are teaching about the Earth and social and environmental sustainability, especially on HBCU campuses;
Develop strategies to incorporate workshop resources and/or principles into courses;
Expand the network and community of people interested in sustainability and Earth Science at HBCUs; and
Invite participation in the HBCU InTeGrate Impact Research Project.

Dates: October 26-28, 2017

Participants should plan to arrive in Tallahassee, FL in time for the first workshop event at 5:00 pm on Thursday, October 26th. The workshop will be over at 2:00 pm on Saturday, October 28th, and participants should plan return travel no earlier than 5:00 pm that day.

Expectations

By applying to the workshop, participants agree to do the following, if accepted:

Each participant must submit a teaching activity, course syllabus, or program description using the form provided on the workshop website before October 10th, 2017.
Each team must submit an essay describing how they putting social and environmental sustainability into action on their campus using the form provided on the workshop website before October 10th, 2017.
Prepare in advance for the workshop discussions via readings, writings, discussion, or other activities developed by the workshop leaders.
Participate fully in the entire workshop and attend all workshop sessions. Many participants will be invited to make presentations or serve as discussion or working group leaders at the workshop

Cost

The InTeGrate project will fully support travel and lodging for the workshop. Funding is contingent on submitting all workshop materials (activity/syllabi/program description and essay) and participating in all workshop sessions.

Hotel reservations will be double occupancy. Participants can pay for a single room upgrade.

Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and they will be reimbursed after completion of the workshop.

Application and Selection Criteria

Teams will be selected to provide a range of perspectives and experiences putting social and environmental sustainability into action through courses and program. The final list will be developed with the goal of assembling a diverse group from a spectrum of HBCUs.

The application deadline is October 3, 2017 (extended)