Green Studies at the University of Arkansas?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Provost Sharon Gaber has appointed a committee charged with the development of an undergraduate minor and a graduate certificate in sustainability.

Steve Boss, director of the university’s environmental dynamics program, is leading the committee, which includes representatives from each college and school as well as the Associated Student Government president, Mattie Bookhout.

“The committee is working on details of the undergraduate minor at this time and will tackle the graduate certificate once the minor is defined,” Boss said. “It is the committee’s intention to create a minor that will be accessible to every University of Arkansas student regardless of discipline, yet still have meaning and academic identity as a minor in sustainability. This is a challenge, but the committee has made very good progress so far in developing this curriculum.”

A particular challenge faced by the group, given the current economic situation across Arkansas and within the university’s budget framework, is a request from Gaber that they develop both programs maximizing incorporation of existing courses at the university. An additional challenge to the committee is to develop these curricula with the intent to start enrolling students in them as early as fall 2010, pending approval.

“This is a critically important initiative which we envision will prepare our students to be knowledgeable citizens in a changing global society,” said Gaber. “The University of Arkansas is currently a leader in sustainable practices and sustainability research, and we want to be certain that our students are getting this infused in the curriculum.”

In 2007, the University of Arkansas was among the first 100 signatories to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, whereby institutions pledge to reduce greenhouse gasses through a broad array of sustainability initiatives. Those initiatives are being incorporated into the university’s curriculum.

“There are growing numbers of students on our campus who desire to study sustainability as part of their education here, so we are fulfilling Chancellor Gearhart’s Students First philosophy in developing curricula to meet educational aspirations of our current and future students,” Boss said. “Offering these curricula and ensuring we teach top-notch, state-of-the-art skills from some very dedicated faculty also positions the university as a national leader in this area.

“Finally, it’s simply the right thing to do at this time given the many environmental, economic and social challenges facing our nation and the world. We aim to train the next generation of new thinkers who will help move us toward more sustainable lifestyles,” he said.

The committee and the area each member represents is listed below:

• Gregory Benton, College of Education and Health Professions

• Mattie M. Bookhout, ASG president

• Stephen Boss, geosciences/environmental dynamics

• William John Fleming III, ASG sustainability officer

• Carol Schubert Gattis, Honors College

• Betsy Howlett, Sam M.Walton College of Business

• Jon Johnson, Walton College and the Applied Sustainability Center

• Kim LaScola Needy, College of Engineering department of industrial engineering

• Marty D. Matlock, bio-ag engineering and the Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability

• Tahar Messadi, Fay Jones School of Architecture

• Harrison Mauzy Pittman, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the School of Law

• Jennie Popp, bio-ag engineering and the Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability