Environmental Literacy Certificate of Achievement

Office of Sustainability

Pre-Approved Honors Experience

Environmental Literacy

Pursuing environmental literacy offers the opportunity to gain insight into the complex relationship between ourselves as humans and the natural world we depend on for our sustenance. This understanding touches on everything from ecology to economics, social justice to sustainable design, allowing individuals to make informed, responsible choices in their daily lives. This literacy is also increasingly necessary across professional disciplines, as a wide range of fields employ the language of sustainability, green development, and resource conservation.

The Environmental Literacy Certificate of Achievement, offered by the UC Office of Sustainability,can be modified to count as a pre-approved honors experience. Students who wish to pursue the Environmental Literacy Certificate of Achievement as an Honors Experience must submit their application to the Office of Sustainability within the first week of the semester. The basic qualifications for the Environmental Literacy Certificate of Achievement are registration and attendance at:

  • 4 lectures
  • 4 films
  • 5 small group discussions
  • 3 volunteer events
  • 4 other events in any of the categories, for a total of 20 events

In order for the Environmental Literacy Certificate of Achievement to qualify as an Honors Experience, students must additionally:

  • attend quarterly meetings of one Office of Sustainability action team
  • submit one 250 word assessment and recommendations for action team in first semester of Honors Experience
  • organize and facilitate one small group discussion (re: action team)
  • organize and lead one volunteer event (re: action team)
  • submit one 750 word reflection on action team in final semester of Honors Experience
  • present action team reflection to PACES (President's Advisory Council on Environment & Sustainability)
  • identify and invite 5 students, faculty, or staff to participate in action team

Timeline

  • Submit application for the Environmental Literacy pre-approved honors experience two weeks prior to the start offall, spring, or summer semester (see UC Academic Calendar)
  • Fulfill all requirements of the Environmental Literacy pre-approved honors experience (includingattendance at action team meetings, volunteer events, small group discussion,written reflections, and presentation to PACES) within 2 calendar yearsof start date

Office of Sustainability Action Teams

Students will work collaboratively with Office of Sustainabilityprofessional staff, University staff and faculty and student Sustainability Advocatesthroughout their Honors Experience. Each student will select one of the following action teams to work with for the duration of their Honors Experience:

  • Dialogue (outreach, communication, collaboration)
  • Life Cycle (purchasing, waste minimization)
  • Resources (buildings, energy)
  • Transportation
  • Landscape (ecology, food)

The Honors Student will work closely with theOffice of Sustainabilityand associated faculty, staff, and students to improve the effectiveness of their chosen action team. Once the student has made their action team selection, the Office of Sustainability will provide an orientation to the issue (generally and specifically at UC) and introductions to action team members. As part of this orientation, the student and the Office of Sustainability (in collaboration with the University Honors Program) will select 5 resources to support their action team involvement. These resources might include critical films, regular review of external action team news and info (blog, website, etc), articles, or conversations with experts (academic or professional).